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Paris, France experienced a well-documented struggle with bedbugs in 2023.

According to a feature in at the time, bed bugs aren’t the result of poor hygiene. They also aren’t limited to lower income communities.

Bedbugs can be anywhere

Zachary DeVries, assistant professor of entomology at the University of Kentucky, told the magazine he’s dealt with reports of bedbugs at five-star hotels, first-class airline seats and high-end apartments.

DeVries noted in the piece: “Anybody can get bedbugs, but only those with resources can get rid of them.”

Also 2023, a appeared to show the tiny blood suckers hitching a ride on a TTC subway seat.

Identification

Bedbugs are small, wingless insects that feed on the blood of people and animals while they sleep, Health Canada notes.

These tiny blood suckers are easily moved from room to room on infested objects but cannot easily climb metal or polished surfaces and can’t fly or jump.

Bedbugs are oval shaped and can grow up to four to five millimetres long.

Bedbug eggs are white, about one millimetre long, and are almost impossible to see on most surfaces, Health Canada adds.

Prevention tips

March break vacationers should leave their pillows at home, Health Canada warns. If you bring your pillow along for the trip, it gives bedbugs another place to hide and a chance to come home with you.

Vacationers should also pack some large white resealable plastic garbage bags in case they need to separate any belongings while on the road.

You should avoid placing your luggage on the hotel bed. Place it on the floor or away from any upholstered (soft) surfaces.

Bedbugs emerge at night

Health Canada notes bedbugs come out at night to feed, attracted by the carbon dioxide people exhale. Bedbugs prefer locations where they can hide easily and feed regularly, like sleeping areas. Bedbugs have flattened bodies that allow them to hide under wallpaper, behind picture frames, in electrical outlets, inside box springs, in mattress pads, and in night tables.

While bedbug bites aren’t known to spread disease, a bedbug bite can take as long as 14 days to appear. Some people do not react at all to the bites, while others may have small skin reactions.

Toronto’s bedbug issues

Toronto has consistently ranked among the top cities in Canada for bedbug calls, according to pest control contractor .

Orkin Canada warns bedbugs are extremely efficient hitch hikers. They can move easily across a room and climb onto baggage, or anything left on a bed.

Here are some to avoid bringing home bedbugs.

• Check your hotel room for any signs of bedbugs. Keep an eye out for small red stains on the bed sheets. All courtesy bedding, including the mattress, pillowcases, and soft furniture should be examined for extra precaution.
• Always use metal luggage racks. Bedbugs cannot easily climb metal surfaces, so they make an ideal overnight spot for your suitcase. Keep the rack away from the walls and any wooden furniture.
• Use suitcase/bag protector plastic bags. These bags are specially designed to encase a suitcase, luggage, or carry on, hence protecting them from hitchhiking bed bugs. The protector can be inserted prior to travelling or upon reaching the hotel. Once in the hotel room, insert the suitcase in the protector bag, making sure the suitcase is tightly zipped. This should keep your personal items safe from any bed bug invasion.
• Lift and search underneath typical bedbug hiding zones. This includes: the mattress and box spring on the beds, furniture such as couches and soft chairs, and behind wall coverings including baseboards, hanging photographs, and tears in the wallpaper.
• Elevate your baggage to a safe zone. Placing your luggage and carry-on bags away from the bed or wall will help prevent any potential insects from entering your personal items. Placing them on counters or in the bathroom tub is the best thing to do.
• Examine your personal items. Your luggage should be examined before you leave and once you re-enter your home after a vacation.
• When you get home, vacuum your travel suitcase or bags promptly, using the crack and crevice tip of your home vacuum. Clean both the inside and outside of your suitcases thoroughly. Dispose of the vacuum bag or empty the canister in an outside garbage receptacle.
• Place your clothing in the dryer. For the most effective precaution, run the drier for 20-45 minutes at its highest setting to get rid of any potential pests you may have carried into your home.