The manager of a private student residence in Granby, on the South Shore, called Nova Extermination after several occupants reported symptoms consistent with bed bug bites. This type of collective accommodation, frequented by students who regularly travel between the residence and their family home, constitutes a high-risk environment for the spread of these insects. The turnover of occupants at the end of the session, the many shared pieces of furniture and the high occupancy density are all aggravating factors. Granby and neighbouring areas such as Sainte-Julie are seeing a growing demand for student housing, which makes preventive pest management particularly relevant.
Infestation inspection and mapping
Our technicians carried out a systematic inspection of all the rooms in the residence, starting with those whose occupants had reported bites. The inspection revealed active outbreaks in several rooms spread over two floors, with varying levels of infestation: from a few individuals in some rooms to a well-established population in others. Common areas such as the shared living room also showed signs of activity on a sofa whose cushions had obviously served as refuges. Accurate mapping of the infestation was developed to guide the treatment plan. This type of large-scale intervention in a congregate setting is part of our documented expertise in our implementation in congregate living settings. Our bed bug extermination service has the resources to treat buildings of this size.
Congregate treatment protocol
Treatment was planned in consultation with the manager to minimize disruption to residents’ studies. We proceeded by floors, treating half of the rooms one day and the other half the next. For each room, a low-odour residual insecticide spray treatment was applied to all known refuge surfaces: bedding, baseboards, window frames and electrical outlets. The most heavily infested rooms benefited from an additional passage of high-temperature water vapor on mattresses and pillows. The common living room has been completely renovated, including the underside and back of the sofas and armchairs. Diatomaceous powders were applied in the wall voids at the electrical outlets and behind the baseboards. Our team of exterminators in Granby coordinated the operation so that the students could return to their rooms the same evening.
Monitoring, awareness and sustainable prevention plan
Checks were carried out at two and four weeks after the initial treatment to ensure complete eradication. Bed bug traps have been installed in each room for continuous monitoring. The manager has been given a periodic inspection program to be put in place at each change of tenant: inspection of mattresses, box springs and upholstered furniture before the arrival of any new occupant. An information session was organized for residents on preventive behaviours, including the inspection of luggage on return from travel. We strongly recommended that he have an annual pest prevention plan in place for the residence. For a similar example in another collective context, see our recent achievement in a collective residential setting. Our extermination company is the trusted partner of property managers in Granby and Montérégie.