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North Bay has made the list of the top 25 bed buggiest cities in Canada.

Orkin Canada released last years annual list of the top bed buggiest cities in Canada Monday and North Bay squeaked in to the 24thspot.

North Bay wasnt the only Northern Ontario city to make the list. Sudbury clinched second.

Toronto topped the list for the third year in a row. Vancouver went up to No. 3 (up one), St Johns climbed to No. 4 (from No. 6), and Winnipeg dropped to No. 9 (from No. 5 in 2021).

Orkin said the findings, based on the number of commercial and residential bed bug treatments carried out by the company in 2021, show the overall number of bed bug sightings nationwide remained similar to the year prior, and remains below pre-pandemic levels.

This list comes as District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board is once again dealing with a bed bug issue at the Edgewater Apartment building on Lakeshore Drive.

Board chair Mark King confirmed there is a bed bug problem in the building and senior staff are dealing with it.

He said affected apartments will undergo heat treatments.

Its unclear how many apartments are infested and how many units will undergo heat treatments.

Weve identified and addressed the problem, and are trying everything possible to solve it. Its tough to handle, King said.

There is a business that sells used furniture and used clothing nearby and these are prime examples how bed bugs can be carried.

Residents at the Edgewater have been grappling with the bed bug situation for years. In 2020, there were more than five apartments at the Edgewater with bed bug infestations. The problem resurfaced in May 2021.

Travel bans, stay-at-home orders, and a general shift to working remotely have resulted in fewer hitch-hiking opportunities for these critters, and yet they have found a way to stick around. Bed bugs latch onto people, clothing, and furniture. All it can take is an airplane seat, hotel bed or even an office chair for these pesky bed bugs to invade your space, according to Orkin.

Due to their ability to double in population about every 16 days, it will not be difficult for bed bugs to regain their grip on Canadians. With blood as their only food source, bed bugs mainly feed on humans, having their dinners usually between midnight and 5 a.m.

These dedicated blood-feeding insects can travel up to 100 feet in search of a meal, which is quite a trek for these small but resilient creatures. As Canadians start to travel, whether to the office or on vacation, so too will bed bugs.

Concerned Canadians are encouraged to carefully examine furniture and clothing after guests leave your home, drying potentially infested bed linens or clothing on the highest heat setting, and sealing cracks in walls, trims, and bed frames.

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Bed bugs bugging North Bay | Mid-North Monitor

Bedbugs have been around for a long time and will continue to be a menace to homeowners. A well-informed agent can address the pros and cons of different remediation techniques to help assure buyers and sellers that they can sleep soundly again at night.

It may seem hard to believe that an insect the size of an apple seed can be so prolific and cause so many problems, but bedbugs are a menace thats both expensive and time-consuming to cure.

These bugs thrive on blood and, with their needle-sized beak, bore into a hosts skin for sustenance. Bedbugs do not fly but crawl from location to location.

Bedbugs have existed for more than 3,500 years, according to fossil finds by scientists, and it is believed that they first parasitized bats and then moved onto humans. A history of bedbugs reveals that they were first found in caves where civilization began, as early as 100 A.D.

In 600 A.D, bedbugs were found in China, in 1200 A.D. in Germany, and evidence of bedbugs has been found in France in 1400 A.D. Englands first infestations were around 1583, and soon after, they traveled to the New World, hitching a ride on ships with travelers coming to what would soon be America.

Bedbugs are hardy creatures who can survive without food for a year. They are small, oval, wingless creatures that must crawl to spread. As the bugs are often concealed in clothing or furniture, they may move more rapidly by relying on humans to transport them.

Bedbugs are also prolific, as females reproduce five to seven eggs per week, for a total of 250 eggs in a lifetime. It takes between two and eleven months for the bugs to reach maturity. Bedbugs thrive in temperatures between 46 and 113 degrees Fahrenheit and typically live within eight feet of where their human hosts sleep.

Due to the small size of the fully formed bedbug, between five and seven millimeters, they are hard to see. Bedbug droppings, the size of a poppy seed, are evidence of their presence, and they emit a musty smell.

Bedbugs are not easy to see, as they are translucent unless they have recently eaten, and then appear reddish-brown. Remember, a bedbugs diet is human blood, hence their brownish color.

Bedbugs can travel, although slowly, through cracks in walls and ceilings, on pipes and through spaces between floorboards.

Extremes of temperature, both cold and hot, can kill bedbugs, once an infestation has been established. Temperatures below zero degrees will kill bedbugs, as well as temperatures above 120 degrees. The standard cure for bedbugs is to launder all fabrics in very hot water and dry them in commercial dryers at high temperatures.

On the other end of the temperature scale, one effective approach is Cryonite freezing treatment, a completely green process that uses carbon dioxide to freeze, and this terminates the bugs. Of course, the other solution is to discard furniture, bedding and clothing to ensure that the bugs are out of your home.

It is always wise to be extra careful when shopping in thrift stores or used furniture stores to be sure that there is no evidence of bedbugs. Woe to the unsuspecting individual who brings home an upholstered chair or sofa cushion that they find on the curb on trash day!

To prevent bedbugs, keeping bedrooms clutter-free and clean, including frequent vacuuming, is advised. When traveling, avoid putting suitcases on beds or the floor, instead use a luggage rack. Doing laundry often is also the key to preventing bedbugs and their spread.

Evidence of bedbugs can take the form of bites on the sleepers body, although the bites may take up to two weeks to appear. Dark spots of dried blood on sheets and mattresses are also evidence of an infestation.

If an apartment building or multifamily dwelling has had an infestation of bedbugs, notice must be given once removal and remediation have occurred. Highly trained and sensitive dogs are currently used to determine bedbug infestations. These dogs qualify for their task by eight hundred hours of training and have a 96-98 percent effectiveness in detecting bugs within a three-foot radius.

Bedbugs have been around for a long time and will continue to be a menace to homeowners. A well-informed agent can address the pros and cons of different remediation techniques to help assure buyers and sellers that they can sleep soundly again at night.

GerardSplendoreis a licensed associate real estate broker withWarburg Realtyin New York. Connect with him onLinkedIn.

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What Real Estate Agents Should Know About Bedbugs - Inman

Bed Bugs all Gone specializes in bed bug inspections & bed bug remediation since 2014. As the only such specialist in Northern CA, they are expanding their service area.

Bed Bugs all Gone is a rare company doing nothing but bed bug inspections and bed bug remediation since 2014. As the only such specialist in Northern California, they are now reacting to strong demand by expanding their service area to San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties in addition to the seven counties surrounding San Francisco Bay, their original service area. You can reach them at (844) 416-4999 or through their website:www.bedbugsallgone.com.

Convenient, Fast and Lasting Results to Get Rid of Bed BugsThey have pioneered a uniquely comprehensive, single-service method that does not use toxic chemicals, requires virtually no preparation, allows the occupant to stay home during service, and stops bites from the day of service.

It comes with an unprecedented 15-month warranty which is important since bed bugs can live over a year between meals while they hide in tight, dark, undisturbed places close to the victim.

Bed Bugs all Gone uses a control material that remains bio-available for many years. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques are also employed along with other products that last indefinitely. In fact, in calling past clients from over four years ago, none had had a re-occurrence. In summary, the service outlasts the bugs, so they all die!

Education Is the KeyThe entire staff is trained to teach clients how to avoid getting bed bugs in their current and future residences. This includes how to avoid bringing bed bugs into your home after a trip. Founder, Steve Coy, points out that the staff is a group of born teachers who enjoy helping the client succeed.

We arent looking for repeat business from our clients, just repeat referrals! If you know what to do, you are unlikely to have this problem again.

About Steve Coy at Bed Bugs all GoneBorn in Palo Alto, CA and raised in Los Altos, his entrepreneurial career began at the age of 14, painting houses. With this endeavor, he put himself through Stanford University studying economics with a graduate MBA degree in finance.

Having practiced pest control for over 25 years, Steve learned about this new, never-before-heard-of product. He tried it out on the worst bed bug infestations he could find and it worked beyond his wildest dreams. He imagined starting a movement to rid the world of bed bugs.

Steve immediately sold his pest control operations in San Diego and moved back to the San Francisco Bay Area. It took over a year of preparation and planning, but once he started, he never looked back while continually perfecting his system of bed bug extermination.

People who know him say hes not bashful about his knowledge of bed bug control; he plays to win every single time he does a service. Steve published his entire protocol on the Bed Bugs all Gone website, hoping that others will follow his lead and adopt the program he has created. He invites you to contact him.

Media ContactCompany Name: Bed Bugs All GoneContact Person: Barbara HartleyEmail: Send EmailPhone: (650) 863-9128Country: United StatesWebsite: https://www.bedbugsallgone.com/

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Bed Bugs all Gone Expands Its Bed Bug Inspections ...

Sudbury -

Mellissa Bergeron first moved into her unit on Bruce Avenue in Sudbury a year ago, but it wasnt until a fire next door about six months ago that she said bed bugs and cockroaches infiltrated her unit.

Bergeron said her son is covered in bites, and she worries for her young daughter. She said because of all of the things wrong with her unit, she's refusing to pay rent to Sudbury Housing.

Housing wont fix it -- they say it's my fault, that Im a dirty woman," she said. "Theres been no help. Ive pleaded and begged. Theyve taken me to court for withholding my rent (but) they wont see it on my side."

She said there's a host of other problems connected with her apartment that badly need to be addressed.

My basement wall is molding and falling apart -- you can pull the whole plywood off of the wall and it would crumble everywhere," said Bergeron.

"Theres walls bubbling, finishing nails that are popping out because of the water damage from them putting the fire out. Theres a dead raccoon living in the ceiling above my bed. My attic roof fell on my head and gave me a concussion.

While shes concerned about her home, it's the health of her nine-year-old son and 14-month-old daughter shes most concerned about.

My son is so covered in bites that he is so itchy, hes ripping them wide open and he looks battered and bruised from it," she said.

"My 14-month-old daughter has them all over her legs, all over her body. (She) has something called cockroach fever and is getting very violently ill.

In order to fix the infestation, Bergeron said Sudbury Housing told her she would have to pay the rent she owes and get rid of everything she owns.

They havent done anything," she said. "I have to throw out everything I own, my children own. I dont get to keep anything because of this. Then they will come and clean out my home for me to be comfortable in it.

When CTV reached out to the city for comment, we received the following statement:

We have an extensive pest management program that provides support to our residents during a pest infestation. We have been working closely with our pest contractor to resolve pest issues, and we stepped up our program in September to provide greater assistance to our residents.

"As with any pest management process, cooperation from residents is required in order to assist with treatment. During the COVID-19 pandemic, some residents have not reported their infestations to the maintenance department or been willing to permit staff and pest contractors to have access to their units to complete necessary treatments.

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Sudbury Housing tenant says shes living with bed bugs ...

Bed bugs are synonymous with mattresses as they can live between the seams of it and even inside of it. but they will infest any furniture that is close to the hosts bed. This includes wooden furniture and even metal pieces. As long as there are cracks where they can hide, and these are in plenty on any type of furniture, bed bugs can live there and you need to consider bed bug exterminator services.

The answer to the question whether bed bugs can live in wood depends on what it means exactly to live in wood. You may be pleased to know that bed bugs dont burrow into wooden materials the same way termites or carpenter ants do. In fact, bed bugs will prefer not to infest a flat wood surface.

Since bed bugs like to stay out of sight, the will hide in existing cracks and gaps on wooden furniture or structures. This means that any wooden surface with cracks, grooves or another kind of space is a potential hiding place for bed bugs.

There is also a myth that bed bugslike to infest wood. Research indicates that these critters dont care for one surface or another as long as there is a tight, preferably dark place available to hide. Such a surface may be metal, plastic or any other habitable material for that matter.

In summary, it makes no difference what kind of surfaces you have. The only requirement that bed bugs need to infest it is a safe place to tuck away and close to the human hosts. Surfaces close to where you spend most of your time such as the bed and couch are most likely to be infested.

Unfortunately, any pest control technician will tell you that a wooden floor, particularly hardwood floors is possibly the worst choice of flooring for a bed bug prone home or location. It is not so much the wood itself that is attracting the critters but the bountiful hiding places that it offers.

Wooden floors generally have numerous joints, cracks, unfinished wood, knot holes and imperfections which make great hiding places for bed bugs. Changing flooring is an extreme measure that is rarely recommended although a wood floor will definitely give the pest control technician a real challenge.

Some DIY enthusiasts recommend vacuuming or steaming the floors. These are both logical solutions that may work in other situations except some of the cracks may be too deep. The temperature needed to kill bed bugs (at least 122 degrees Fahrenheit) couldnt possibly reach most of these bugs as they tend to tuck away as far as possible.

A better solution might be to fill larger cracks with clear silicone caulk and smaller ones with food grade diatomaceous earth. The former essentially seals the bugs in while the latter kills them. This is, of course, a long-shot since the cracks are too numerous for you to seal and treat each one successfully. You may have no choice but to call in apest control technician.

Bed bugs can live in wood furniture just as in any other furniture that has potential hiding spaces. Some people suggest that switching wooden furniture for metal helps to get rid of bed bugs. Apart from the expense of buying new furniture, there is simply no evidence to give credence to this claim. There is no reason to believe bed bugs like wooden furniture for any other reason except that this type of furniture naturally tends to have more gaps, cracks, cracks and other potential hiding places.

Another common myth is that a new coat of varnish on your wooden furniture will kill the pests. There is also no evidence to suggest that this is true. Finally, proponents of metal furniture as an alternative to wooden argue that the smooth metal surface makes it hard for the bed bugs to climb the furniture. Although the metal does appear smooth, there are tiny grooves sufficient to allow bed bugs and insects of all kinds free reign on the furniture.

Heat treatment such as steaming the furniture may not work if the bed bugs are ingrained deep in the furniture. You will definitely have to take apart at least some of your furniture to treat it whether that is with chemicals or steam. Again, this is a job best left to a pest control technician.

Aside from caulking grooves, gaps and cracks, there doesnt seem to be much that you can do to prevent bed bugs on your wooden furniture. Avoid introducing second-hand furniture of any kind into your home unless you are 100% sure that it is not infested. It is best to avoid used furniture altogether if you can help it.

The best way to prevent bed bugs at all is to avoid picking up used furniture. In most cases used furniture is there for a reason, if not being damaged or not needed anymore. Bed bugs will hide in any dark and dark spot that will give itself room to stay hidden from people. Below you will find signs of bed presence in wooden furniture.

Bed bugs do not have a preference for wood per se, but rather have a preference for seams, crevices, cracks, and voids which all give the bed bug the perfect opportunity to stay hidden away from human detection. Bed bugs rather have a preference for their host. It is for this very reason that you can find these critters hidden in between the seams of your mattress. The reason why they choose the mattress is that it gives them easy access to nourishment which is human blood for their blood meal. Apart from that, they can also be found on any piece of furniture where the host likes to rest, sleep, and relax. Wooden furniture also gives bed bugs a great opportunity to infest a home since they are not adept at travelling long distances themselves. People who are wanting to pick up second-hand furniture should be wary of the fact that there is a high chance of bed bug presence in the furniture present.

Bed Begs do not eat wood, despite being able to stay hidden there for a long time. Bed bugs sustain themselves through blood meals and are dependant on their hosts. This means that bed bugs go to humans for nourishment and are dependant on them. Bed bugs prefer to stay close to them as much as possible and that is why they stay between the seams of mattresses for easier access. They usually do this at night. Bed bugs do not eat wood, but rather make use of it by staying hidden in crevices, holes, voids, cracks, and anything that will shield them from exterior forces. They have the ability to stay in the most extreme conditions possible and that is why it takes a huge effort to get rid of them. If you suspect bed bugs in wood, it is better to contact professional pest control technicians.

It is no accident that bed bugs, which are aptly named, primarily infest beds. This is because they like to stay as close as possible to the human host. The second most commonly infested piece of furniture is a favourite couch or chair. Since you spend a lot of time on the couch, sometimes even napping there, you might expect bed bugs to conveniently take up residence.

Upholstered couches are far more likely to get infested. Signs that you might have bed bugs in your couch include thin black streaks or spots, dried blood stains, moulted skins, bed bug eggs and actual bed bugs.

To remove bed bugs from your couch, start by stripping all the upholstery, covers or any fabric that comes off. Wash in the washing machine with at least 122 degrees Fahrenheit for at least 30 minutes and throw in the dryer at similar temperature and duration. Put anything that you cant launder immediately in a plastic bag and seal tightly.

Your cushions and pillows may be too large or bulky to put in washer or dryer. Place them in a bed bug -proof bag or sealed plastic bag and take to your local dry cleaners. Be sure to let the cleaners know that the cushions may have bed bugs.

Next, vacuum the couch thoroughly to pick up eggs and live bed bugs as well as the undesirable remnants including feces and bed bug skin. Pay special attention to the cracks, edges, corners and seams. Place the used vacuum bag in a plastic bag and dispose of safely.

Use your steam cleaner to thoroughly seam the couch. Pay close attention to cracks and seams. Finally, use the chemical spray if you think its necessary or if you suspect there are bed bugs left in the couch.

Note that this process only gets rid of the bed bugs in your couch. There is no telling if your wallpaper, appliances or other obscure locations are infested. The best guarantee that you are rid of your bed bug problem for good is to hire a pest control technician

Bed bugs also infest carpets. They prefer carpets near the host such as around your bed or favourite couch or chair. Theyll lay eggs in the carpet and since the eggs are about the size of a sesame seed and translucent, it is highly unlikely you will notice their presence.

Although bed bugs cant fly or jump, they will crawl their way painstakingly through the even thick carpet to get to the host. Keep in mind that bed bugs arent the only pests to infest carpets. A carpet beetle is another common culprit and looks much like a bed bug to the untrained eye. A sure way to tell them apart is carpet beetles tend to have patterns such as stripes or spots on their backs while bed bugs have a consistent colour. Carpet beetles dont feed on blood although they can bite humans.

The best way to get rid of bed bugs in your carpet is a combination of vacuuming and steaming. Vacuum thoroughly and be careful when disposing of the used vacuum bag and the steam thoroughly. A carpet shampooer is not a good alternative for a steam cleaner since the former doesnt get hot enough to kill the bugs. Vacuum and stream the carpet regularly for at least a few months.

Once more, getting rid of the bed bugs in your carpet doesnt mean that your problems are over. The parasites might as well be infesting other fabrics in the vicinity including stuffed animals, blankets and upholstery. Hire a pest control technicianto remove bed bugs permanently and ask for a warranty for the service.

Note that bed bugs are not just restricted to the bedroom. Again, these pests want to be close to the host so furniture within a few feet of the couch is also ripe for infestation. Bed bugs dont have a preference for any type of furniture as long as there is somewhere to hide and is in close proximity to food (read human blood).

Pest control techniciansin Canada report that most of their calls come from desperate homeowners who have tried everything to get rid of bed bugs. This is hardly a surprise since bed bugs are among the most stubborn pests to treat even for professionals. Most infestations require multiple visits and lengthy and complicated treatments to eradicate completely.

Home remedies such as cayenne pepper, baking soda, ginger and so on are nothing short of old wives tales. If these homemade remedies were effective, pest control technicianswouldnt have to spend money on expensive chemicals and pesticides and would gladly go the all-natural way.

Over-the-counter insecticides are hardly any better than home remedies. The stringent pesticides regulations in Canada means that products with potent active ingredients are only available to licensed pest control technicians. What is available over the counter is simply a much milder version of what professionals use.

A professional pest control technician will first inspect the entire house to find all the bed bug hiding places. These pests love gaps, cervices and cracks so this inspection needs to be lengthy and thorough. Only then can the pest control technician decide which control method to use and which insecticides are most appropriate for the type of infestation. He also has the equipment to reach gaps and holes that would be impossible to treat otherwise.

Finally, the professional can advise on what you can do moving forward to prevent the infestation from recurring. Make sure you get a warranty for at least six months from The Exterminators. A warranty ensures that you dont have to go out of pocket on the rare occasion that the treatment is not successful.

Contact The Exterminators: 647-496-2211 to deal with bed bugs now. If you are interested in DIY methods please check our store forbed bugcontrol products.

Article Updated: October 16, 2020

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Can Bed Bugs Live In Wood Furniture & How to Remove Them