More bugs than usual expected in yards and houses in Ontario this summer

Wasps, ants and bed bugs are just three of the creepy critters expected to be even more ubiquitous than usual in Ontario this year, as the unusually warm winter has all but guaranteed that we’ll be seeing more of them than we’re used to. 

“Typically with pests, there’s a social factor and an element factor,” Bernie Grafe, residential branch manager for the GTA, Orkin Canada, told insauga.com. 

Grafe said that some insects, such as bed bugs, are proliferating because of social factors while others, such as ladybugs, centipedes, silverfish and earwigs, will be more numerous than usual simply because they didn’t die off during the colder months. 

“With the social factor, people gather and get together and pests like bed bugs will spread through social interaction. They’ve been increasing across Canada and in Mississauga and Toronto in particular.” 

Grafe also says bugs can make their way into homes on packaging.

“Now, we’re in the era of packages, so every time you get a cardboard box, you increase the risk of a pest being transferred–especially a package that might be from someone else’s house.” 

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Elemental factors are also a huge driver of insect increases–especially now.  

Earlier this month, Orkin Canada, a leading pest control company, said that pest populations might be higher than usual this summer. Citing both climate change and El Nino as factors, Orkin’s blog says that many of the overwinter pests (think stinkbugs, boxelder bugs, ladybugs and cluster files) have survived the winter, meaning more will be breeding and making tiny new pests.

Winter, which the blog says is a natural form of pest control, simply wasn’t cold enough to reduce certain insect populations. 

“When winters are very cold and you have a lot of snow, it tends to make it more difficult for pests to survive. When spring arrives, you’re going to have a smaller population to start the next generation of pests,” Alice Sinia, one of Orkin’s entomologists, says in the blog. 

Grafe told insauga.com that the increase in overwintering pests can be “exponential” if not many die. 

“Already, our phones are ringing off the hook to have those pests treated.” 

Grafe says increases in pest sightings have been ticking up over the past two years and that Orkin has noticed a substantial increase in calls regarding wasps and ants. 

“Last year, we saw record-breaking numbers of yellow jacket wasps. Not enough died over the winter, and we saw a huge increase over the summer,” he says, adding that they’re a particularly worrisome pest because not only can they sting their victims (which is especially serious for people with allergies), they can also behave much more aggressively than more mellow pollinators such as bumblebees. 

“Once wasps identify a food source–proteins, sugars, or carbohydrates–they send a signal back, and one can turn into 20.” 

Orkin has also seen an increase in calls regarding bed bugs and while bed bugs are not known to be dangerous, they’re a particularly anxiety-provoking pest–not to mention a heavily stigmatized one. 

“People are noticing them more and more communication helps improve the situation, but they have a social stigma and people don’t know how to react. Some people are not comfortable with bed bugs and will take action immediately, but others are not as concerned and might not understand what’s happening or they’ll take short cuts [to get rid of them].” 

Grafe also says bed bugs can proliferate in difficult domestic situations, such as in homes where hoarding is taking place. 

“Mental health and hoarding can be a significant factor,” he says.

“It’s also a social and economic issue, and getting rid of bed bugs can cost a lot of money. There’s a stigma with bed bugs. If you have a problem with your dishwasher, you seek advice from friends. When it comes to bed bugs and cockroaches, people don’t like to ask questions because they’re afraid of social reprisal.” 

Which pests are most cause for concern? 

While many people fear centipedes, spiders and silverfish because of their unsightly appearance, Grafe says these insects are generally harmless and aren’t known to act aggressively or spread disease. 

Other pests–particularly outdoor or “recreational pests” such as ticks and mosquitos–pose a greater risk to human health. 

“Ticks will hide in tall grass and wait for victims–people, pets, wild animals–to walk by,” Grafe says.

“Even if rodents and other pests are around, ticks still thrive. They are more of a recreational hazard, but if your home backs onto a hill or ravine, you might have a greater risk. Also, another animal, such as a skunk, fox or rabbit, can bring ticks into your environment.” 

Dr. Sergio Borgia, medical director and division head of the infectious diseases program at William Osler Health System, told insauga.com that tick-borne diseases are a public health concern. 

“Ticks and mosquitoes are common in southern Ontario and [this winter] was slightly warmer than seasonal, so you’ll get more encroachment and expansion into territory from ticks and mosquitos,” Borgia told insauga.com  

“They’re not new, but they can come forward earlier and stick around later due to climactic changes. They feed on intermediate hosts like mice or even deer and carry the pathogens–bacteria, viruses and parasites–that cause disease in humans. Ticks and mosquitos are what we’re most concerned about because of Lyme disease and West Nile virus.”

According to the Canadian government’s website, Lyme disease–which is transmitted by black-legged ticks–is on the rise throughout the country. In 2009, 144 cases of Lyme were confirmed in Canada. In 2023, 2,544 cases were reported. 

West Nile virus cases, on the other hand, do not appear to be increasing. In 2022, 47 cases were reported throughout Canada–nowhere near the high of 2,401 cases reported in 2007. 

Borgia says people who contract Lyme disease–which he emphasizes is not carried by all or even most ticks–tend to experience flu-like symptoms such as headaches, body aches, low fever, chills, and fatigue.

West Nile virus symptoms can range from mild, such as body aches, to more severe, such as severe headache (that may come on rapidly), high fever, neck stiffness, nausea and vomiting, drowsiness, and confusion.

Those with more severe cases of West Nile might also experience neurological impacts.

“West Nile can cause neurological symptoms like brain fog, like a meningitis-type picture,” Borgia says.

“Those are severe cases. Most of the time, it’s a febrile, flu-like illness. It can cause inflammation of the lining of the brain that will go away after a couple of days.” 

While Lyme is treatable with antibiotics, there is no cure for West Nile. 

While Borgia says neither disease is typically fatal, residents (especially those who spend a lot of time in rural or semi-rural areas) should still take steps to avoid both–and the insects that transmit them. 

“We hear the same tips over and over and they’re very good because they’re easy to do. You can wear pants instead of shorts if there might be lots of ticks or mosquitoes in the bush. You can wear long-sleeved shirts or use netting in your camp or pergola. Try to avoid being out during peak mosquito times like dusk and dawn,” he says. 

Borgia also says people should inspect their bodies after being out in brush or tall grass. 

“Look in a mirror at your back and neck and back of your legs, or ask someone to look for you. If there are ticks still attached and engorged, take them off in their entirety. Stick to well-marked trails or the middle of the trail. Shower when you get home. Tuck your shirt in and tuck your pants into your socks and try not to leave exposed skin. Check your pets for ticks as well.” 

Borgia says that if you remove a tick from your body, you don’t have to save it for testing. 

“If there’s a high degree of suspicion for [tick-borne illness], you can get treatment. A tick doesn’t have to be tested,” he says. 

“If someone has the classic rash and signs and symptoms of Lyme, we offer short-course oral antibiotics. A family doctor or walk-in or urgent care doctor can prescribe.” 

Borgia says that other tick-borne illnesses, such as anaplasmosis, Powassan virus (which can cause brain inflammation) and Babesiosis, remain rare. He also says more serious mosquito-transmitted illnesses such as dengue fever, the Jamestown Canyon virus and malaria are not typical in Ontario. 

“There’s morbidity associated [with Lyme and West Nile]–they make you sick,” he says. 

“You’d have to get a rip-roaring case of West Nile virus to succumb to it. It’s not like dengue, which we don’t have and can kill you.”

How to prevent pests from invading your home or property

Grafe says that while not every pest can be eliminated from your home or yard–especially pests such as centipedes that live in most houses and feed on common household infrastructure such as baseboards and laminate flooring–steps can be taken to protect your home and family. 

“When it comes to gardening in the fall, do your best to clean up as much as possible around your home and eliminate spots for bugs to hide in, survive in and thrive in over the winter. When spring hits, remove as much debris as possible,” he says. 

He also says consulting a professional about a pest infestation is always best. 

“We recommend exterior sprays in spring and fall, as they reduce the chances of pests finding a way into your home and prevent them from laying eggs in cracks and crevices,” he says.

Ultimately, pests such as cockroaches and bed bugs can be managed with the help of a pest control company. Other pests, he says, are harder to prevent. 

“Wasps are dangerous, but there’s not much you can do to prevent them. Fake hives can help a little but we don’t have conclusive data. With subterranean pests like centipedes and ladybugs, they’re part of nature and will get into your home. Calling in a professional will help. We can de-web to reduce spiders, although spiders can be beneficial. If you see spiders, you probably have centipedes or silverfish,” he says. 

He says homeowners should immediately take action if they notice more insidious pests such as cockroaches or rodents. 

“Cockroaches and mice can transfer E. coli and other diseases, and they are a significant contributor to respiratory illnesses as well,” Grafe says.

He also says that since mosquitos are expected to be more plentiful this year, residents should try to make their yards as inhospitable to them as possible. 

“Reduce areas where mosquitos can breed,” he says.

“Keep tall grass trimmed and reduce areas of moisture, such as spots where water tends to puddle. Toys and play centres and kiddie pools where water can pool, mosquitoes might lay eggs there. Make sure your hose isn’t dripping and don’t oversaturate your lawn or garden.” 

As for whether bugs will continue to get worse as time goes on, Grafe says it’s hard to predict the future. 

“It’s a difficult question to answer, but the warmer it is, you will see an increase in pests,” he says, adding that Orkin has noticed new insects appearing more often in Ontario–particularly nuisance bugs such as the red-legged ham beetle and European firebugs. 

“They are more of a nuisance but contact a professional if you see too many. We can treat and it’s not always chemical treatments. We also have pheromone treatments,” he says, adding that a professional should be called immediately if genuinely destructive bugs such as termites or carpenter ants decide to call your house their home. 

“Contact a professional. Homeopathic remedies like oils are not effective. Professionals know where to apply products. You could make a situation worse for your home, family, or pets.”