Bed bugs

By Manvir Kaur

Bed bugs have become a major concern for many Windsorites, and a recent report from Orkin Canada puts Windsor in the top 10 list for bed bugs infestations.

According to Orkin Canada, bed bugs often hide in hard to find places and are capable of withstanding temperatures ranging from near freezing up to 50 degrees Celsius. A bedbug bite can take as long as 14 days to appear and can happen anywhere on the body. Bites are often found on the face, neck, legs and chest.

Ranupreet Bains, 25, is a student in the International Business Management course at St. Clair College.

“When I experienced the first bites of bed bugs, I assumed that I was getting bitten by mosquitoes, but after some time I came to know about bed bugs from my friends, when my whole body turned a red colour and made it itchy,” said Bains.

Bed bugs are mostly active at night, with peak activity around 3 a.m. or 4 a.m. They typically feed every seven to ten days, although some have survived for more than a year without a meal.

According to Orkin Canada, Windsor is in the ninth position on the top 10 for worst cities in Canada for bed bugs.

Chris Ortner, 45, is an Orkin Canada branch manager in Windsor.

“The main cause behind the increase in bed bugs is people are moving around much more,” said Ortner. “So, people are travelling more and they are bringing bedbugs with them.” (2:58)

According to Ortner, bed bugs are more likely to be found in Windsor- Essex, Chatham-Kent compared to other areas of the country. Bed bugs reproduce by having a blood meal from humans and are the size of an apple seed.

According to Ortner, it does not matter if you are male, female, rich or poor, it makes no difference to bed bugs.

“Usually the bed bugs are hosting wherever you are sleeping or resting,” said Ortner.” “So it could be on the bed, couch and chair. There is zero concern if bed bugs bite somebody and then bite you, no kind of disease will be transmitted from one person to another person through bedbugs.”