The Bed Bug Resurgence

Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) were nearly eradicated in Australia by the 1950s thanks to widespread use of DDT. Since DDT was banned and international travel exploded, bed bug populations have rebounded dramatically. Today, bed bugs are one of the fastest-growing pest issues worldwide — and Gold Coast is no exception.

The tourism-heavy nature of the Gold Coast — with millions of visitors passing through hotels, motels, hostels, and holiday rentals in Broadbeach, Surfers Paradise, and Coolangatta each year — creates ideal conditions for bed bugs to spread into residential homes.

What Are Bed Bugs?

Bed bugs are small (4–5mm), flat, reddish-brown insects that feed exclusively on blood. They don't fly or jump — they crawl and hitchhike on luggage, clothing, second-hand furniture, and bedding. Despite their name, they don't live only in beds. They hide in any crack or crevice close to a sleeping host, including mattress seams and box springs, bed frames and headboards, bedside table joints and drawers, carpet edges and skirting boards, electrical outlet plates, and picture frames and wall hangings.

How Bed Bugs Spread

Understanding how bed bugs travel helps prevent introduction:

• Accommodation: Hotels, motels, hostels, and Airbnb properties are the most common source of infestation. Bugs hide in mattress seams and transfer to luggage during a stay
• Second-hand furniture: Beds, lounges, and bedside tables from op shops, Facebook Marketplace, and kerbside collections can harbour bed bugs and eggs
• Visitors: Guests can unknowingly bring bed bugs in infested luggage
• Shared laundry: Infested clothing or bedding in communal laundries can spread bed bugs to other residents
• Multi-unit buildings: Bed bugs can travel between apartments through wall cavities and shared spaces

How to Tell If You Have Bed Bugs

Physical Signs

• Small, dark spots on mattress seams, sheets, and bed frames — these are bed bug excrement
• Rust-coloured stains on sheets and pillow cases from crushed bugs
• Shed skins (translucent, empty shells) in mattress seams and crevices
• Live bugs — look with a torch in mattress seams, joints of the bed frame, and behind the headboard
• Musty odour in heavily infested rooms — some people describe it as similar to overripe raspberries

Bite Signs

Bed bug bites typically appear as small, red, itchy welts — often in a line or cluster pattern on exposed skin (arms, neck, face, and legs). However, around 30% of people show no reaction to bed bug bites, which is why physical inspection of the sleeping area is essential rather than relying on bite patterns alone.

Bites alone are not diagnostic — many other insects produce similar reactions. If you suspect bed bugs, inspect the bed and sleeping area for the physical signs above.

What NOT to Do

Incorrect responses to a suspected bed bug infestation can make treatment significantly more difficult:

• Don't move to another room — bed bugs will follow and spread the infestation to new areas
• Don't throw out furniture immediately — it's rarely necessary, costly, and can spread bugs through the property or neighbourhood
• Don't use bug bombs or foggers — these are ineffective against bed bugs and cause them to scatter to new hiding places
• Don't attempt DIY treatment with supermarket products — bed bugs are resistant to most over-the-counter insecticides

What Does Actually Work

Bed bug treatment requires a combination of approaches. There is no single product or method that reliably eliminates an established bed bug infestation. Effective treatment includes heat treatment (raising room temperature above 50°C), professional chemical treatment using commercial-grade insecticides with residual activity, steam treatment of mattresses and furniture, and in severe cases, a combination of all three.

Multiple treatment visits (typically 2–3) are required to catch bed bugs that were in less accessible areas during the first treatment and to eliminate newly hatched nymphs from eggs that survived initial treatment.

Preparation for Professional Treatment

Before professional treatment, we'll ask you to wash all bedding, clothing, and soft furnishings on the highest heat setting and tumble dry for 30 minutes, clear clutter from floors and around furniture, vacuum thoroughly and dispose of the vacuum bag immediately in a sealed plastic bag, and provide access to all sleeping areas in the property.

Preventing Bed Bugs When Travelling

• Check reviews of accommodation for bed bug mentions before booking
• On arrival, inspect the mattress seams and headboard before sleeping
• Keep luggage off the floor and bed — use the luggage rack
• After travel, unpack luggage outside, wash all clothing immediately on high heat, and inspect luggage before storing

If you think you may have bed bugs, don't delay. Bed bug populations double every 16 days under ideal conditions. Early treatment when populations are small is far simpler, faster, and less expensive than treating a full infestation across multiple rooms.