In the face of a booming bedbug infestation in France, experts have outlined strategies for preventing the transportation of these pesky insects home. Bedbugs are diminutive, wingless parasites that feed on the blood of humans and animals. They are identified by their small size of around 10 millimeters, an oval silhouette, and a compressed body.
Parisian public spaces like buses, trains, and movie theaters acted as a backdrop for these insects during the recent Fashion Week, as trending online videos revealed. Despite common misconception, bedbugs do not transmit directly from individual to individual. Rather, they sneak into personal items like bags, shoes, and clothing, thereby spreading the infestation.
The situation in France should serve as a cautionary tale for other places, such as cities in Canada which could face a similar dilemma if the bugs are allowed to proliferate unchecked, warns Dale Kurt, manager at Orkin Canada in the Greater Toronto Area.
Kurt underlined the importance of prompt action in addressing bedbug infestations, citing the bugs’ rapid rate of reproduction as a potential cause for an infestation spiraling out of control.
Answering the query: “Where are they found?” Kurt pointed out that bedbugs predominantly reside in sleeping areas, where their meals are readily accessible. These insects are often discovered on mattresses, beneath wallpaper, inside electrical outlets, and night tables. He adds, “Bedbugs are typically lazy. They want to be close to where their food supply is…So they’re going to be close to the bed.”
In order to avoid these pests while traveling, Kurt recommends conducting a visual check of hotel rooms, particularly beneath mattresses, the box spring, and concealed areas around the bed. He cautions that bedbugs are not indicative of poor sanitation. They can infest any place, regardless of rating, reliant upon previous occupants.
These parasites can gain access to new environments through various means, such as furniture, pushchairs, laptop bags, or luggage. In this vein, Kurt recommends exercising caution when accepting second-hand furniture.
The ability of these pests to live for up to 10 months without steady blood meals complicates eradication efforts. Their nocturnal nature and small size also make spotting them a challenge.
Purchases from the second-hand market, particularly furniture, should be cleaned or professionally checked for bedbugs prior to introduction into a home. Kurt points out that heat is often the best weapon against these resilient bugs. High temperatures exceeding 50 degrees Celsius prove lethal to all life stages of the bedbug.
In Canada, urban centers like Toronto and Vancouver experience the highest instances of bedbug infestations. Oshawa, Ottawa, and Scarborough also feature prominently on this list. Kurt proposes transient populations as a plausible explanation for the appearance of Sudbury, Ontario in the third position. Among other cities struggling with bedbugs are Sault Ste. Marie, London, St. John’s, and Hamilton.
