By Kellah Lavoie

Bed bug numbers are up

Nov 6, 2010 | 7:34 AM

paNOW Staff

Bed bugs are on the rise in the city.
Earlier this week it was reported they were in two rooms at the Victoria Hospital. They have since been cleaned out.
Steve Gilroy, a technician with Poulin’s Pest Control, said it’s been a steady increase in the city over the last 10 years, but he’s noticed the numbers jump lately.
“We get calls every day concerning bed bugs,” he said.
The company recently started using a new heat treatment. It dehydrates the pests and the eggs without using any chemicals.
The chemical treatment would take two or three treatments since there was no way to kill the eggs. The heat only takes one treatment.
He said the treatment is very successful, but there is a wait list for it.
“Our waiting list for our heat treatment is now booked into the eighth of December. Heat treatments are generally done within 3 to 4 days (of being called).”
Gilroy said if you do see one of the apple-seed sized bugs, tell you landlord or if you own the home get a hold of a professional.
He said they are all over the place.
“We’ve had calls in a bank. We’ve had calls in several different stores.”
“We’re finding that they are being brought home even by library books, by renting out library books. People get into bed, they open the book up and they fall out of the binding onto their chest while they are reading,”
He said when you are at a restaurant don’t put your purse on the floor. Bed bugs can get picked up off the ground and you can take them home.
“They are easily transported from one place to the next.”
Gilroy also suggests checking hotel room beds for bugs or blood. He said to be thorough and check behind the headboard and around all corners of the mattress and box spring.
klavoie@panow.com