TOKYO: The number of reports about bedbugs has been increasing rapidly in Japan since last year, according to insecticide makers.

Earth Corp., known for products such as Earth Jet sprays, received 975 such reports in 2023, up from 313 in 2022.

The spike seems to reflect concerns among many households, which intensified following media reports about bedbugs resistant to widely used pyrethroid insecticides.

Bedbugs are expected to increase in spring and summer as they become active in temperatures around 25 degrees Celsius.

Responding to the rising number of reports about the bug, Fumakilla Ltd. in November 2023 added a page to its website listing products effective against bedbugs.

Bedbugs are 5-8 millimeters long and live in small spaces in and around beds or other furniture. They are prolific and cause strong itches when they bite.

With international travel recovering after the removal of COVID-19 restrictions, inbound tourists and people returning to Japan may bring bedbugs into the country unintentionally.

To eliminate bedbugs resistant to existing insecticides, Earth has released products using tenebenal, generally known as broflanilide, which is more effective.

“We hope people will take measures before the peak” of bedbug season, an Earth official said.

JIJI Press