Category Archives: Bed Bugs Ontario

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The bed bug report is back and several Ontario cities are among the 10 worst places in all of Canada for the pesky insects.

Pest control company Orkin Canada released its annual list of the countrys bed-buggiest cities earlier today. The list is based on the number of calls for commercial and residential bed bug treatments received by the company in 2023.

The top five spots on this years list are all Ontario cities.

Toronto once again tops the list. But Vancouver dropped from second to sixth place on this years ranking.

Sudbury rose to second place from third last year and Oshawa rose to third from fourth last year. Hamilton shot up to fourth place up from ten last year.

Winnipeg also cracked the top ten this year after placing eleventh in 2022, now ranking seventh across the country.

As people return to normal life after pandemic lockdowns, bed bugs can more easily spread.

As weve seen travel return to pre-pandemic levels, Canadians should be on guard for bed bugs, as these pests are extremely resilient and can hitchhike from place to place unnoticed and with ease, said Dr. Alice Sinia, an entomologist with Orkin Canada.

Known as expert hitchhikers, bed bugs cling to clothing, luggage and furniture to invade new spaces, stowing themselves in baseboards, electronics, bedding, wallpaper, wall hangings and sofas.

Following the Paris bed bug craze, Orkin Canada urges residents and tourists not to panic but to be vigilant and stay on the lookout for signs and traces of bed bugs.

Bed bugs can leave behind skins when they are molting and after feeding, bed bugs will regularly leave behind small spots of reddish-black fecal matter on bedding, mattress or box springs.

They will lay eggs in dark crevices near feeding areas.

Orkin Canada suggests calling a professional if you see signs of bed bugs. The company recently announced it also has a K9 team of detection dogs trained to locate bed bugs with incredible accuracy.

The complete list of Canadas bed buggiest cities can be found here.

For more information on how to spot bed bugs, find information here or here.

Read more here:
10 worst cities for bed bugs in Canada identified; number 1 is in Ontario | insauga - insauga.com

Alberta's two largest cities are on pest control company's top 25 list of places with the most bed bugs in Canada.

Alberta landed just off the top 10 list in Orkin Canadas list of CandasTop 25 Bed Bug Cities list.

Calgary was number 10 and Edmonton was number 11 on the annual list and were the only cities named in Alberta on the top 25 list. In the west, the only city on the top 10 was Vancouver, down from number 2 last year. Prince George came in at number 23 and Saskatoon at number 25.

Ontario is tops for the dubious title of most bed bugs treated by Orkin Canada in 2023. Six of the top 10 cities on the list are in Ontario. Toronto and Sudbury were first and second respectively for the most bedbug treatments. It is the seventh year in row that Toronto was found to have the most bed bugs in Orkins annual report.

"As we've seen travel return to pre-pandemic levels, Canadians should be on guard for bed bugs, as these pests are extremely resilient and can hitchhike from place to place unnoticed and with ease," said Dr. Alice Sinia, an entomologist with Orkin Canada. "Known as expert hitchhikers, bed bugs cling to clothing, luggage and furniture to invade new spaces, stowing themselves in baseboards, electronics, bedding, wallpaper, wall hangings and sofas."

A press release from Orkin advises people to look for black, inky-looking dots on their mattresses, behind baseboards, nightstands and soft furniture, like sofas and chairs, regularly and when buying second-hand furniture.

When travelling, keep suitcases and clothes in plastic bags and put clothes in the dryer upon returning home on high heat for more than 20 minutes, the press release says.

The pest is four to five millimetres long and are red to a dark brown colour, oval in shape and flat. They survive on blood and typically come out at night to bite people and pets while they sleep.

Alberta Health Services advises that if bitten by bed bugs you can:

Wash bites with soap;

Use anti-itch cream or an oatmeal-soaked face cloth to reduce the itch;

Put an ice pack on the bites for inflammation

Visit a doctor if the bites become infected.

Continued here:
List of cities with most bed bugs in Canada released - St. Albert Gazette

Toronto has once again claimed the top spot as the worst Canadian city for bed bugs, with Ontario rounding out the top five, according to Orkin Canada.

Ottawa placed fifth on the list while Toronto takes the top spot for the seventh straight year. Sudbury, Oshawa and Hamilton placed second, third and fourth respectively.

Pest control company Orkin Canada says cities are ranked by the number of bed bug treatments it performed from January 1, 2023, through December 31, 2023, and the rankings include both residential and commercial treatments.

The top 10 is as follows:

As weve seen travel return to pre-pandemic levels, Canadians should be on guard for bed bugs, as these pests are extremely resilient and can hitchhike from place to place unnoticed and with ease, said Dr. Alice Sinia, an entomologist with Orkin Canada.

Known as expert hitchhikers, bed bugs cling to clothing, luggage and furniture to invade new spaces, stowing themselves in baseboards, electronics, bedding, wallpaper, wall hangings and sofas.

As spring rolls in, Orkin Canada reminds homeowners and travellers to take precautions against bringing bed bugs back with them.

Youre encouraged to be vigilant and stay on the lookout for signs and traces of bed bugs in order to avoid infestations. While bed bugs are visible to the naked eye, Orkin Canada says they are cryptic and excellent at hiding, making them difficult to control.

Having a trained professional intervene at the first sight of a bed bug is highly recommended.

Go here to read the rest:
Toronto has the most bed bugs in Canada. Here's where else they're common - CityNews Toronto

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Bed bug infestations have been gaining the spotlight in Ontario recently, as people cant seem to get away from them in areas like Brampton and Mississauga. Beyond just the irritating nature of their bites, bed bugs also reproduce at an alarming rate and can potentially cause severe allergic reactions in some people.

But fear not, for there is help it just has four legs instead of two as Orkin Canadas mobile K-9 units are mobilized all over Ontario and ready to sniff out potential bed bug infestations.

These dogs with jobs are not alone and come with specially trained handlers who assess potentially contaminated areas before their furry friend goes in to sniff out potential pests.

I make sure it is safe for him to go in, I talk with our clients to make sure they understand the situation and then I remove any additional pets or other variables so he has everything he needs to have the most accurate search possible, says Brittany Borgal, one of Orkin Canadas dog handlers when talking about her K-9 coworker Hippo.

When it comes to a general assessment of a potentially contaminated area, it usually takes these specially-trained scent dogs roughly 15 minutes to determine whether or not an area has bed bugs.

Orkin Canada also has some quick tips for dealing with a potential bed bug infestation prior to an inspection, which include:

Once a case is confirmed, a full assessment and decontamination will then take place with Orkin staff.

According to Borgal, most provinces in Canada have usually two K-9 bed bug inspection units, however, due to Ontarios size and scope, the province has upwards of three to four K-9 teams operating at a given time.

Additionally, K-9 units can be used as a first line of defence, inspecting locations before a residential move-in or commercial usage. As for why she uses a K-9 inspection service above other formats, Borgal was quick to shout the praises of her teammate and furry friend.

Hes so beyond a dog to me, to rely on him and trust him, and to see him do things for me just because I ask, its incredible, says Borgal. He is so much more than a tool to me, Im going to adopt him because I cannot live without this dog.

Read more:
Dogs being used to sniff out bed bugs in Ontario | inBrampton - insauga.com

Bed Bug Heat Treatment Specialists Were #1 in Northern Ontario The fastest and most effective form of bed bug treatment is treating with heat. This method is a safe one-time event over a 24/hour period which kills all life stages of bed bugs, whereas pesticides only affect the adult stages. The use of pesticides is limited, bed bugs need to encounter the chemical for it to harm them and are evolving an increasing resistance to pesticides. Due to their small size, bed bugs and their eggs can hide in the smallest cracks and crevices, making them difficult to find and treat which require multiple pesticide treatments over a period of time. They can be found in furniture, under baseboards, floorboards, carpets, wall hangings and even wallpaper. Bed bugs have a million places to hide where vacuums and sprays cant reach. Treating with heat allows us to get rid of the problem fast and avoid bringing toxic pesticides into your home. Our equipment is designed for a better, safer way to exterminate bed bugs. Dont let the bed bugs bite Call to speak with one of our specialists

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Don't let the bed bugs bite - Sudbury.com