A conference for environmental health professionals has looked at the public health implications of false widow spiders and the issue of bed bug infestations.

The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) Pest Control Conference saw a packed programme of speakers looking at the most pressing and topical issues facing the industry right now.

This year’s keynote session was led by John Horsley, Technical Support Officer at the British Pest Control Association (BPCA) and focused on the future of pest management qualifications which was of great interest to those in attendance working in this area.

Brandon Collier, a Doctoral Student in the Venom Systems & Proteomics Lab at the University of Galway, led a fascinating session on investigating the public health implications of the noble false widow spider in the UK and Ireland.

Another highlight from the day was a presentation delivered by Alexia Naylor, Business Manager at the Bed Bug Foundation, which looked at the issue of bedbugs in 2025, new frontiers in managing infestations and public awareness.

Meanwhile Duncan Bosomworth from the National Pest Technicians Association (NPTA) gave his insights on how best to pest proof a premises which offered some really useful guidance and tips for delegates.

Dr Matthew Davies, Head of Technical Department at Killgerm Chemicals Ltd, chaired the conference and said:

“We’re delighted with the success of this year’s CIEH Pest Control Conference, which brought together a fantastic range of speakers who delivered fascinating insights which were both timely and thought-provoking.

“Thank you to all our contributors for their expertise and passion which helped make the day so impactful and to all those who attended – I’m sure everyone took away some really valuable learnings from the event to help them in their roles.”