Bed bugs are not an indication of poor housekeeping. They are highly effective hitchhikers and can be transported in luggage, furniture, clothing and other belongings.

Hotels, apartments, dormitories and other buildings with frequent occupant turnover can be particularly vulnerable because bed bugs can be introduced repeatedly and may move between rooms or units.

Understanding the Bed Bug

Adult bed bugs are flat, oval insects that are generally reddish-brown. Newly hatched nymphs are much smaller and lighter in colour, becoming easier to see after feeding.

Bed bugs feed primarily at night and usually hide close to areas where people rest or sleep. They cannot fly or jump, but they can crawl and can be transported considerable distances on belongings.

Bites Alone Cannot Confirm Bed Bugs

Skin reactions are not a reliable way to diagnose a bed-bug infestation.

Some people develop visible marks relatively quickly, others develop delayed reactions, and some people show little or no visible reaction. Other insects and skin conditions can also produce marks resembling bed-bug bites.

For that reason, physical evidence and a proper inspection are much more reliable than bites alone.

Signs of Bed Bug Activity

Look for:

• Live bed bugs or nymphs
• Dark fecal spotting around mattress seams, bed frames and harbourage areas
• Shed skins
• Small whitish eggs or eggshells in protected crevices
• Blood spotting on bedding
• A distinctive sweet or musty odour in some heavy infestations

Where Bed Bugs Hide

Most activity initially occurs close to where people sleep or remain stationary for extended periods.

Common inspection areas include:

• Mattress and box-spring seams
• Bed frames and headboards
• Night stands and nearby furniture
• Upholsteredchairs and sofas
• Baseboardsand carpet edges
• Behindpictures and wall-mounted objects
• Cracks,crevices and utility penetrations

In multi-unit buildings, adjoining units may also require inspection or monitoring because bed bugs can move through cracks, crevices and utility pathways.

How NorthPoint Manages Bed Bugs

Successful bed-bug management usually requires a combination of methods rather than a single treatment.

NorthPoint’s approach may include:

1. Detailedinspection and monitoring to determine the location and extent of the
2. Preparationand clutter reduction so harbourage areas can be properly inspected and
3. Physicalremoval, including appropriate vacuuming where 
4. Physicaltreatment methods, where 
5. Mattressand box-spring encasements, when appropriate as part of the control 
6. Targetedpesticide treatment using products registered in Canada for bed-bug control and applied only to locations permitted by the product label.
7. Follow-upinspection and treatment because more than one service may be 

Health Canada likewise recommends combining physical and preventive measures with appropriate professional treatment and specifically notes that bed bugs can be very difficult to eliminate.

Special Considerations for Apartments and Multi-Unit Buildings

Treating one apartment without considering surrounding units can allow an infestation to persist undetected.

Where appropriate, units beside, above and below an infested unit should be considered for inspection or monitoring. Building management and residents also need to coordinate preparation, treatment and follow-up.

In Alberta, pesticide applications in multi-family dwellings are subject to specific notification and occupant-preparation requirements.

Prevention Tips

• Inspect sleeping areas when 
• Keepluggage elevated and away from beds when 
• Inspectsecond-hand furniture carefully before bringing it 
• Launderor otherwise appropriately treat potentially infested washable 
• Reduceunnecessary clutter around sleeping 
• Considerbed-bug-proof mattress and box-spring 
• Reportsuspected bed bugs early in apartments and multi-unit 

Do not apply pesticides to mattresses, bedding, furniture or other surfaces unless the Canadian product label specifically permits that use.