Ontario is the Bed Bug Capital of Canada With All 5 Most Infested Cities

A bed bug is pictured in a file photo. (whitejellybeans/Shutterstock)

Most of the bed bugs in Canada can be found in southern Ontario cities, according to a new report.

Pest control professionals at Orkin Canada released a list of the top 25 cities across Canada that have the most cases of bed bugs, with the majority being in Ontario, including the top location: Toronto.

Orkin’s list of top bed bug cities includes 15  locations in Ontario with just one or two cities in other provinces making the list.

“Cities are ranked by the number of bed bug treatments the company performed from January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023,” Orkin said. Both residential homes and commercial properties are considered for the ranking.

Here are the top spots in Canada for bed bugs:

1. Toronto, Ont.
2. Sudbury, Ont.
3. Oshawa, Ont.
4. Hamilton, Ont.
5. Ottawa, Ont.
6. Vancouver, B.C.
7. Winnipeg, Man.
8. St. John’s, Nfld.
9. Sault Ste Marie, Ont.
10. Scarborough, Ont.
11. Calgary, Alta.
12. Edmonton, Alta.
13. London, Ont.
14. Montreal, Que.
15. Timmons, Ont.
16. Windsor, Ont.
17. North York, Ont.
18. Moncton, N.B.
19. Halifax, N.S.
20. Etobicoke, Ont.
21. Mississauga, Ont.
22. Niagara Falls, Ont.
23. Prince George, B.C.
24. Peterborough, Ont.
25. Saskatoon, Sask.

Toronto also topped the list in 2022, followed by Vancouver and then Sudbury.

Bed bugs are difficult to catch as they are nocturnal, Orkin said.

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“Contrary to popular belief, bed bugs are visible to the naked eye, but are excellent at hiding,” Entomologist Alice Sinia said. “Involving a trained professional to identify bed bugs that have been introduced or are in the early stages of an infestation is recommended.”

One female bed bug can produce one to five eggs every day, or up to 500 in her lifetime, Orkin said. Female bed bugs can live from four months up to a year.

Battling a bed bug infestation can be a challenge, Ms. Sinia said.

“Bed bugs are extremely resilient, making them difficult to control,” she said, advising Canadians to learn how to protect themselves if they are travelling.

Preventing Bed Bugs

The Quebec government offers some advice for keeping your home free of bed bugs, beginning with how to recognize them.

“Adult bed bugs are usually brown in colour. When filled with blood, their colour ranges from red to dark brown,” said a government webpage.

Bed bugs are oval; about the size of an apple seed, or four to seven millimetres long. They are not able to fly or jump and move “at the speed of an ant.”

Bites are similar to mosquito bites and are itchy, the website said. They are often noticed on parts of the body that are not covered while sleeping.

They can hide in various places, including seams and bottoms of mattresses, headboards, clothing, bags, sofas, carpets, curtains, papers, books, radios, and clocks.

Quebec’s government website offers some tips on how to avoid bed bugs, which include:

• Avoid clutter
• Inspect second hand clothing and items
• Seal items if moving to a new home and inspect the moving truck when it arrives
• Regularly check around bedrooms, using a flashlight to look in darker places like cracks in the wall
• When travelling, don’t leave your suitcase on the floor
• Keep clothing and other items off the floor of hotels or other temporary accommodations
• Before returning home, inspect luggage for signs of bed bugs