Bedbug consultations surge in Tokyo, Osaka as infestations spread
- According to Tokyo’s pest control association, the capital received 306 bedbug-related enquiries as of November
- Bedbug bites can trigger an allergic reaction in some people, resulting in intensely itchy welts
Bedbug-related consultations in the major Japanese metropolitan areas of Tokyo and Osaka have surged this year to hit their highest numbers on record, according to pest control associations in the two prefectures, with experts warning that infestations are spreading nationwide.
Bedbugs, which are around 5 millimetres long and nocturnal relatives of the stink bug, hide in cracks and gaps in furniture during the day, coming out to feed on humans at night. Their bites can trigger an allergic reaction in some people, resulting in intensely itchy welts.
Difficulties in detecting the tiny critters and a female’s ability to lay hundreds of eggs in her lifetime mean that infestations can easily spread if they hitch rides on clothing or belongings.
While bedbugs have been present in Japan since the late 19th century and were once rampant throughout the country, their numbers sharply decreased around 1970 with the widespread use of potent insecticides. However, from around 2000, some of the bugs began to develop resistance to the insecticides.
According to Tokyo’s pest control association, the capital has received 306 bedbug-related consultations as of November, already eclipsing the total 247 consultations in 2022.
