Merlin Environmental Solutions
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| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Pest control |
| Founded | 2011 |
| Founder | Adam Juson |
| Headquarters | Rusper, West Sussex, United Kingdom |
Area served | United Kingdom |
Key people | Adam Juson (Director) |
| Services | Bed bug detection, pest inspection, canine-assisted detection |
| Website | www |
Merlin Environmental Solutions is a commercial pest control company based in West Sussex, United Kingdom. It was founded in 2011 by Adam Juson, who remains a director and shareholder.[1]
History
[edit]It was formed in 2011 following the divestment of the pest control division from The Merlin Group to provide pest control services, with an early focus on bed bug detection through specially trained sniffer dogs. It became the first pest control firm in the UK to promote canine-assisted detection as a primary method for identifying bed bug infestations. Its work initially focused on the hospitality and travel sectors, later expanding into healthcare and housing.
It gained national attention during the 2023 resurgence of bed bug reports in the UK, as public concern over infestations grew across urban centres, including London. Its inspection teams, which include working spaniels trained to locate live bed bugs and viable eggs[2]
In addition to its core commercial operations, it has been involved in pest control research and has contributed to technical publications, including presentations at industry events such as PestTech and Pest-Ventures.[3][4]
Merlin’s detection dogs have been featured in media coverage related to pest control in the UK, including during a period of heightened public concern about bed bug infestations in 2023.[2] The company is a member of the British Pest Control Association (BPCA)[5] and is also listed as a registered firm with TrustMark.[6]
In 2010, the company was involved in the Pest-Ventures seminar held in Nottingham, where Adam Juson conducted a live demonstration of bed bug detection dogs in a simulated hotel environment.[3]
In 2014, Merlin Environmental exhibited at the first PPC Live conference, hosted by the British Pest Control Association (BPCA) at the AJ Bell Stadium in Salford.[7]
Its canine detection teams are used in environments such as hotels, hospitals, care homes, cinemas, student housing, and aircraft.[8][9]
In the aviation sector, it has worked on inspections of aircraft cabins and interiors.[10] its co-founders also contributed a chapter on bed bug detection in aircraft to the academic publication Advances in the Biology and Management of Modern Bed Bugs, published by Wiley in 2018. The chapter explores the detection and treatment of bed bug infestations in commercial aircraft, drawing on fieldwork and operational experience.[11]
Detection dogs
[edit]A core component of its operations is its use of trained detection dogs to identify the presence of bed bugs. It maintains a team of working dogs, including spaniels and Labrador crossbreeds, which have been trained to detect both live bed bugs and viable eggs through scent.[12]
Memberships and accreditations
[edit]It is a registered member of the British Pest Control Association (BPCA), the leading trade association for pest control professionals in the United Kingdom.
It is also listed with TrustMark, the UK government-endorsed quality scheme for trades, which suggests that the business has been vetted for technical ability and consumer protection practices.[6]
In addition, it is listed as a sponsor of the non-profit Bed Bug Foundation, an organisation focused on raising standards for bed bug detection and control across Europe.[13]
See also
[edit]Reference
[edit]- ^ "Merlin Environmental Solutions Ltd – Officers". Companies House. UK Government. Retrieved 23 March 2025.
- ^ a b "Sadiq Khan issues warning amid fears of Paris bed bug outbreak reaching London". GB News. Retrieved 23 March 2025.
- ^ a b "Pest-Ventures 2010 recap". PCT Online. Retrieved 23 March 2025.
- ^ "Bed bug detection dog myths busted at PestTech 2011". Pest Magazine. Retrieved 23 March 2025.
- ^ "Merlin Environmental Solutions Ltd". British Pest Control Association. Retrieved 23 March 2025.
- ^ a b "Merlin Environmental Solutions Ltd". TrustMark. Retrieved 23 March 2025.
- ^ "PPC Live 2014 – A great success!". British Pest Control Association. Retrieved 23 March 2025.
- ^ "Expert advice to deter bedbugs from your home". Daily Express. Retrieved 23 March 2025.
- ^ "Up in the air". PCT Online. 15 June 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2025.
- ^ Juson, Adam (2014). Management of Bed Bugs on Commercial Aircraft (PDF). Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Urban Pests. pp. 321–325. Retrieved 23 March 2025.
- ^ Doggett, Stephen L.; Miller, Dini M.; Lee, Chow-Yang, eds. (2018). "Chapter 38: Aircraft". Advances in the Biology and Management of Modern Bed Bugs. Wiley Blackwell. doi:10.1002/9781119171539. ISBN 9781119171539. Retrieved 23 March 2025.
- ^ "These spaniels have an important job catching bed bugs". Metro. 29 January 2022. Retrieved 23 March 2025.
- ^ "Bed Bug Foundation Sponsors". Bed Bug Foundation. Retrieved 23 March 2025.