Bed Bug Activity in the UK Up 44%, Rentokil Reports

LONDON - The latest data from Rentokil Pest Control shows confirmed bed bug activity in the UK increased by an average of 44%* year-on-year between 2023 and 2025, highlighting the growing challenge posed by one of the world's most notorious hitchhiking pests.

Rentokil noted that with mosquitoes and biting midges also active over the summer months, bed bug bites can be easily mistaken for mosquito bites and those of other biting insects, meaning people may not realize they’ve picked up a pest hitchhiker until an infestation has already taken hold back home. 

Paul Blackhurst, head of Technical Academy at Rentokil Pest Control, said bed bugs are incredibly cryptic by nature, meaning they’re experts at staying hidden and avoiding detection. "They're often described as silent assassins, emerging under cover of darkness, moving quickly, feeding at night, and hiding in the smallest cracks and crevices near where people sleep," he said. "By the time people realize they're there, an infestation may already be well established. 

Blackhurst added that bed bugs' ability to remain hidden for long periods is what makes them such a challenging pest to manage. "That's why early detection is so important," he said. "Knowing what signs to look for when you arrive at your accommodation, and taking a few simple precautions with your luggage, can help prevent bed bugs from being brought home and reduce the risk of an infestation taking hold.”

* Rentokil Pest Control reported pest activity (Jan-Dec, 2023, 2024 &  - 2025). 'Reported activity' is 'Confirmed pest activity following a visit from a frontline colleague’.