Bedbug Infestations Surge in Andorra Hotels and Homes

Pest control companies in Andorra are reporting a sharp rise in bedbug infestations affecting both hotels and private homes, particularly in Andorra la Vella and Escaldes-Engordany.

Firms including Anticimex Andorra and Ambitècnia have noted increased cases across all parishes, driven by higher travel volumes. Cèlia Vendrell, manager at Ambitècnia, confirmed the trend, while Xavier Cardete, Anticimex manager and technical director, pointed to denser populations and activity levels in the capital and Escaldes-Engordany as factors behind more detections there. He added that many incidents now occur in private residences.

The insects, known scientifically as Cimex lectularius, hitch rides in luggage and personal items during trips by plane or bus. Pandemic travel curbs had curbed their spread temporarily, but renewed mobility has reversed that. Victims describe the problem as disruptive, with hotels facing room closures, economic losses, and reputational damage from affected guest areas.

Bedbugs, roughly five millimetres in size, lurk in suitcase zippers, mattress folds, bed frames, and headboards. They feed on blood at night, often leaving bites in lines of three or more, blood smears on sheets, or black fecal specks. Experts stress early detection to limit damage.

Preventive steps include elevating luggage away from hotel floors and beds, checking mattresses, bed surrounds, and headboards for bugs or signs. On returning home, vacuum suitcases, launder items in water above 70°C or freeze them below -18°C for three days, and dispose of vacuum contents immediately. Cardete warned against household insecticides, which can scatter the pests and complicate eradication.

Treatments remain challenging, lengthy, and expensive. Traditional chemical methods often require repeats due to the three-month life cycle and may leave rooms unusable for 24 hours. Anticimex now uses thermal treatment, raising room temperatures above 50°C for eight to 10 hours to kill all stages, allowing immediate re-entry. One hotel operator reported success with this after an initial chemical approach failed, with no recurrence.