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Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are found all over the world and the number of reported cases in Canada has been increasing rapidly since the year 2000. Bed bugs are reddish brown insects that have oval-shaped bodies with no wings. Prior to feeding, they are about 5 mm (1/4 inch) long, or about the size of an apple seed, and flat as paper. After feeding, they turn dark red and become bloated. They can live for several months without feeding. Baby bed bugs are smaller, whiter, and harder to spot. Eggs are whitish, pear-shaped and about the size of a pinhead. Cluster of 10-50 eggs can be found in cracks and crevices. Bed bugs have a one-year life span during which time a female can lay 200-400 eggs. Eggs hatch in about 10 days.

For more information on bed bugs, please click here.

If you have concerns about bed bugs, please contact your local environmental health office.

Resources

Public

• Bed Bugs Questions and Answers (PDF - 175.06 KB)
• Bed Bugs in the NWT
  • Booklet (PDF - 1.83 MB)
  • Poster (PDF - 687.01 KB)
• http://bedbugsinfo.ca/
• Avoiding Bed Bug 'Hitch Hikers' (Toronto Public Health)
• All About Bed Bugs (WoodGreen)
• Bed Bugs (Health Canada)
• Bed Bugs Are Back: Are We Ready? (WoodGreen)
• Myths and Facts about Bed Bugs (Toronto Public Health)
• What to do...if you live in a building with bed bugs (Toronto Public Health)

Landlords and Property Managers

• Bed Bugs Questions and Answers (PDF - 173.45 KB)
• Bed Bugs (Health Canada)
• Bed Bug Information for Landlords and Property Managers (Toronto Public Health)
• Bed bug treatment preparation including preparation check (Toronto Public Health)
• Integrated Pest Management to Control Bed Bugs (Toronto Public Health)
• Top 10 Tips for Landlords to Keep Bed Bugs Away (Toronto Public Health)

Healthcare Professionals

• Information for healthcare professionals (Toronto Public Health)