However, insects that invaded the French capital during Fashion Week should not be a cause for concern in Montreal, according to an entomologist with pest control company Orkin Canada.

This text is a translation of an article from CTV News.

Kurtis Brown says that while the situation in France is alarming, bed bug populations are already widespread in major Canadian cities.

Last year, Montreal ranked 12th on Orkin’s list of Canadian cities most affected by bed bugs. Toronto took first place, meaning the company performed the most bed bug treatments there.

“From time to time, many cities report increased bed bug activity, particularly when we see them in public places,” Brown said.

Security guards at Aéroports de Montréal airport expressed the same opinion when asked if they were concerned about travelers returning with bed bugs.

She says no additional precautions are being taken at this time.

“In the event of an epidemic, (additional) protocols should first be established and enforced by government authorities at all Canadian airports,” a spokesperson said in a news release Friday.

She also urged travelers to take precautions to reduce their risk.

Bed bugs: travel advice

Bed bugs can hide in your luggage and clothing. To avoid bringing home an unwanted souvenir, Health Canada offers the following advice when traveling:

• Don’t bring a pillow
• Bring white, sealable plastic bags to separate your belongings
• Do not place luggage on the beds in the hotel room. Have them ready on the dedicated support
• Inspect the mattresses carefully by lifting each corner
• Don’t store anything under the bed

When returning from a trip, keep the following tips in mind:

• Check your luggage for bed bugs before bringing it home
• Wash all clothing and fabrics in hot water
• Tumble dry items that cannot be washed for 30 minutes
• Vacuum your luggage and throw away the vacuum bag immediately

A new fight against bed bugs

As cities around the world battle bed bugs, there are a few factors that worry experts.

And a warmer climate is part of it.

Bed bug populations tend to increase in summer and fall. If the warm season lasts longer, the pests will last longer, Brown said.

Last month was the hottest September on record worldwide, with an average surface air temperature of 16.38 degrees Celsius, according to Copernicus Climate Change Services, a European data agency.

“When we have high temperatures for longer periods of time, there tends to be faster population growth because the generation time is shortened,” he pointed out.

Another problem is that it is becoming increasingly difficult to eliminate insects.

Bed bugs are becoming more resistant to insecticides because of overuse of certain species, Brown said.

“We naturally select the recalcitrant members of these groups. They survive, reproduce and then pass these genes on to their offspring.”

What to do if you have a bed bug infestation?

When it comes to fighting bed bugs, time is of the essence. Therefore, it is important to know how to recognize the telltale signs.

The parasites are about the size and color of an apple core. If they are present, you may have mosquito bite-like, itchy skin or small black spots on your sheets and mattress seams.

If you are facing an infestation in Montreal, you can find information at what to do here.