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Pest control

Insects and bed bugs

Treating fleas, bed bugs, ants and other insect infestations.
Post a task Insects and bed bugs by county

Whether this needs a licence in Ireland

Ireland

Licence required

Registered professional user of biocidal products

Registered professional user of biocidal products, issued or supervised by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Ask for the registration number before the work starts and check it on the public register. Check the register: www.pcs.agriculture.gov.ie

Wording approved by Talqero; not yet reviewed by a solicitor

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marinewww.pcs.agriculture.gov.ieChecked

Insects and bed bugs: what the job involves

Treating insect infestations in the home — bed bugs, fleas, carpet and clothes moths, cockroaches, ants, silverfish and cluster flies — by identifying the insect, finding where it lives and breeds, and using the right mix of preparation, treatment and follow-up.

Also asked for as: bed bug treatment · fleas in house · cockroach pest control · carpet moths · ants in the kitchen

How the job is usually done

  1. Identify the insect from a specimen, photograph or the survey — treatment depends entirely on it.
  2. Survey where it lives and breeds: mattresses and bed frames, carpets and edges, wardrobes, kitchens, attics.
  3. Give the household a preparation list — washing, vacuuming, clearing floors and wardrobes.
  4. Treat with an insecticide authorised for that use, heat treatment, or a combination.
  5. Return for a follow-up treatment to catch insects that hatch after the first.
  6. Check results and advise on preventing a return.

Insects and bed bugs: what is included

Usually included

  • Identification and a treatment plan
  • The first treatment and the agreed follow-ups
  • A written preparation and aftercare sheet

Usually not included — agree it separately

  • Laundry, vacuuming and preparing rooms, which the household does
  • Replacing infested mattresses, carpets or furniture
  • Treating a pet — that is for a vet
  • Treating neighbouring apartments, unless arranged

Materials and who supplies them

  • Insecticides, monitors and heat equipment — supplied by the pest controller
  • Mattress encasements — usually supplied by the pest controller or bought by you

How long it takes

A first visit of one to three hours, then a follow-up after about two weeks; bed bugs and cockroaches often need three visits.

When to book

Fleas and ants peak in warm months; bed bugs are year-round and often arrive after travel or second-hand furniture, so act as soon as you see signs.

Insects and bed bugs: the rules in Ireland

What the official sources say, checked against them on the date shown. A summary, not legal advice — follow the link to read the rule itself.

  • Rodenticides, insecticides and other biocides may only be sold and used as their authorisation allows, including who may use them — products authorised for professional or trained-professional use are not for householders. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is the competent authority and keeps the register of authorised products.

    Applies to: the pest controller and anybody using a biocide

    EU Biocidal Products Regulation (EU) 528/2012; Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Pesticide Registration and Control Divisions · pcs.agriculture.gov.ie · Checked 9 October 2026

  • A rented home must be kept in a proper state of structural repair, and where necessary adequate provision must be made to prevent harbourage or ingress of pests or vermin.

    Applies to: the landlord

    Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 17/2017), regulation 4(4) · irishstatutebook.ie · Checked 9 October 2026

  • The trader must give the total price, or how it will be calculated, before you agree, and must supply the service with reasonable care and skill and with materials fit for purpose.

    Applies to: the pest control company

    Consumer Rights Act 2022; Citizens Information · citizensinformation.ie · Checked 9 October 2026

Paperwork to ask for at the end

  • A treatment report: products used, rooms treated and dates
  • Preparation and re-entry instructions
  • A note of any guarantee, and its conditions

Safety

  • Stay out of treated rooms until the time given, and keep children and pets out.
  • Cover or remove fish tanks and turn off their pumps before a spray treatment.
  • Do not use foggers or garden insecticides indoors to treat bed bugs — they scatter them.
  • Fleas in the home usually mean a pet needs treating by a vet at the same time.

Insects and bed bugs: before you hire

Questions to ask a tradesperson

  • How many visits does the price include?
  • What do I need to do before you come?
  • Is the product safe for my children and pets once dry?
  • Is there a guarantee, and what are its conditions?

What you can do yourself

Ants and occasional moths can usually be managed with good hygiene, sealed food and amateur products from a hardware shop; bed bugs and cockroaches almost always need a professional.

What to put in your task

  • What insect do you think it is?
  • How many rooms are affected?
  • What type of home is it?
  • Are there pets in the home?
  • How long have you noticed them?

Photos that help

  • A clear close-up of the insect, ideally beside a coin
  • Bites, marks on sheets, holes in clothes or damaged carpet edges
  • Where you see them — mattress seams, skirting, kitchen units

Insects and bed bugs by county

Choose your county for insects and bed bugs close to home.

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Questions about insects and bed bugs

Does insects and bed bugs need a licence in Ireland?

Yes. Registered professional user of biocidal products, supervised by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Source: www.pcs.agriculture.gov.ie. Ask for the registration number and check it on the public register. Wording approved by Talqero; not yet reviewed by a solicitor.

How do I know if I have bed bugs?

Look for small reddish-brown insects, dark spots or shed skins along mattress seams, bed frames and headboards, and itchy bites in lines on the skin. A pest controller can confirm it from a photograph or a visit. They are not a sign of a dirty home.

Why do I need more than one treatment?

Eggs of many insects survive the first treatment and hatch days later. A follow-up about two weeks on kills the new insects before they can breed.

Do I need to throw out my mattress?

Usually not. A treated mattress in a sealed encasement is normally fine. Badly infested or damaged items may be better replaced, but only after treatment, so new ones are not infested too.

Often booked with insects and bed bugs

Insects and bed bugs in Ireland — compare quotes | Talqero