Everything you never wanted to know about bed bugs
Mar 1, 2024
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Discover the resurgence of bed bugs in Canadian cities, especially Toronto, where infestation reports have skyrocketed. Learn about the challenges in combating these persistent pests, recognizing, preventing, and handling infestations. Dive into the history of bed bugs, the fear they evoke, and the unsettling realities they bring. Explore Toronto's status as the bed bug capital of Canada and the city's efforts in controlling and exterminating these unwelcome guests.
Bed bugs have become a major concern in Toronto due to their resilience and rapid spread.
Identifying bed bugs is crucial, and effective treatment involves thorough inspection and communication with landlords.
Deep dives
Toronto's Bed Bug Problem and Resurgence
Bed bugs have made a significant resurgence in Toronto and other cities, evolving and becoming harder to eradicate. With an increase from a few dozen reported cases to thousands annually, these pests have become a major concern. Factors contributing to this resurgence include increased travel, resilience to pesticides, and their ability to hitchhike. Bed bugs' stealthy nature and rapid reproduction make them challenging to combat, leading to widespread infestations.
Challenges in Identifying and Dealing with Bed Bugs
Identifying bed bugs can be challenging due to mistaken identities with other bugs. Their apple seed-like appearance and blood-related excrement are key indicators of infestation. The journalist's personal experience highlights the shock and panic caused by discovering bed bugs in her apartment. Dealing with infestations involves thorough inspection, steam treatments, chemical sprays, and clear communication with landlords to address the issue effectively.
Efforts to Combat Bed Bugs and The Ongoing Battle
Toronto, labeled as Canada's bed bug capital, has implemented prevention and awareness efforts to control infestations. Pest control companies use various methods like chemical sprays, heat treatments, and education to combat bed bugs. Ongoing research focuses on innovative solutions such as biopesticides to counter the pests' evolving resistance. Despite the challenges posed by bed bugs, efforts are ongoing to stay ahead in the battle against these resilient insects.
Just 20 years ago, Canadian cities were seeing a few dozen bed bug infestation reports a year. Now they get thousands—and in Toronto, tens of thousands. In Canada and around the world, the terrifying creatures are back, and they're getting stronger. (Seriously, they're becoming harder to kill, we told you this was stuff you "never wanted to know".)
How did bed bugs come back to become such a huge problem? What works against them and what doesn't? How can you recognize them, prevent infestations and how should you handle one it it happens? Also: Why are these bugs, of all the things that crawl on this Earth, the ones that make us so nauseatingly uncomfortable and paranoid?