Battling The GTA’s Growing Bed Bug Problem

For an increasing number of Toronto residents, the war on terror means battling a tiny, but stubborn army of quarter inch-long insects.

Bed bugs (Latin name Cimex lectularius) are multiplying in homes and public spaces across the city and causing paranoia and fear in the ranks of the sleep-deprived.

They are easy to pick up and notoriously difficult to get rid of. They hide in movie theatres, libraries, first-class hotel rooms, behind baseboards and, of course, on mattresses and box springs. Once attached to a sweater or a backpack, bed bugs can follow a host home and, if female, lay hundreds of eggs.

Bed bug-related calls to Orkin PCO Services, a pest-control company based in Mississauga, have jumped about 30 per cent each year for the past two years.

“There is no sure answer as to why bed bug activity has increased,” said Orkin’s Dan Dawson.

“Some people believe that the banning of chemicals like DDT may have contributed to the resurgence. But increased travel may also be a reason because people are sleeping on beds and in places that may have bed bugs and they may be bringing them back home.”

His company treats bed bug infestations with a combination of low-odour sprays, dusts, aerosols, vacuums and steam – a process that may take several visits.

The good news is there is hope for reversing the trend.

Dawson believes with raised public awareness, early detection, and using all the pest control methods in their arsenal, big cities can keep bed bugs at bay.


How to avoid taking bed bugs home with you

  • Dawson recommends not taking home used furniture, especially bed frames and mattresses. If you do, carefully inspect the items and consider where they came from.
  • When travelling, inspect the bed you will be sleeping on during your stay. Large infestations of bed bugs can create a musty, sweet odor, like soda pop syrup. They also leave behind brown or red spots on sheets. Bed bugs are nocturnal and hide in the crevices of mattresses, box springs, sheets, furniture, upholstery and hollow bedposts, as well as crevices behind baseboards, pictures and even torn wallpaper. Take some time to lift and look around all possible hiding spots for bed bugs, not just the mattress.
  • Examine your bags and luggage while repacking and once you return home, to make sure no bed bugs have stowed away in them. They are great hitchhikers, so check luggage and clothing for them before bringing your items into the home. Unpack in the garage or utility room.

For more facts and tips on bed bugs, visit the Toronto Public Health website.

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