Lithuania’s largest cities are facing a growing bedbug problem, with pest control experts reporting a significant spike in infestations since the end of the Covid-19 pandemic. Calls to exterminate bedbugs have doubled, and the situation is worst in the capital, Vilnius, followed by Kaunas and Šiauliai.
“Before, we had about three calls per week. Now we receive that many in a single day,” said Edgaras Valys, development manager at the pest control company Derapro.
Valys said bedbugs are most often found in wooden bed frames, especially beneath mattresses. “Those tiny black dots – that’s their feces. They feed on human blood,” he explained, adding that hotel guests should lift mattresses to check for signs of infestation.
Bedbugs spread easily between people
The parasites can go undetected for months. “You may not feel the bites, especially if you have thicker skin. But if someone stays over, gets bitten, and unknowingly brings one home on their clothes, the problem spreads,” Valys said.
According to pest control company Sterilus, people are often unsure how bedbugs entered their homes and frequently blame neighbours or nearby renovations. Most reports come from apartment dwellers, and eliminating bedbugs can require multiple treatments.
Sterilus representative Edgaras Baltrušaitis noted that warming temperatures and increased resistance to chemicals are also factors. “Bedbugs are extremely hard to kill. Household products like vinegar won’t do the job – unless you literally soak the bug in it, which still might not work due to their thick exoskeleton,” he said.
International travel, second-hand items
Biologist and pest control expert Liutauras Grigaliūnas said the surge in bedbugs has no single cause, but international travel plays a major role. “People bring them home from hotels, summer camps, or even their luggage,” he said.
“Bedbugs can come with used furniture or even be present in top-tier hotels. And we’ve seen outbreaks in student dormitories in both Vilnius and Kaunas,” Grigaliūnas added.
Kaunas Polyclinic family physician Rimantė Pakutienė-Aleksė said that patients often report bedbug bites after returning from vacations. The bites, which frequently appear in a straight line, typically affect the arms, legs, back, neck or stomach.
“Bedbug bites resemble mosquito bites – red and swollen – and can lead to secondary infections if scratched. Disinfection is important,” she said, recommending antiseptic sprays or anti-itch creams.
Valys warned that people should also be cautious with takeout deliveries or taxi rides. “Bedbugs can hitch a ride from warm countries like Italy, Spain, India, or Pakistan. Some cases we’ve seen originated from those regions,” he said. “Even ordering food to your home can be risky. I don’t use taxis myself – one reason being the chance of bringing a bedbug home.”
Prevention and treatment
To prevent infestations, returning travellers are advised to wash clothes at high temperatures, steam-clean luggage, and check for bite marks. Experts stress that cleanliness and vigilance are key to controlling outbreaks.
Professional extermination can cost up to a few hundred euros, and experts agree that do-it-yourself methods are largely ineffective.
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