Don't Bug Me!: Creepy-Crawlies in Your Condominium / Strata

We want to discuss something that most people don’t want to talk about. Bugs. Insects. They creep, they crawl and very few enjoy their company. But hey, you live in a high-end condominium / strata, so you don’t need to worry about bugs, right? We are afraid that is not the case. There are some insects that love building life and thrive in densely populated communities and big cities like Toronto, Montreal, Calgary or Ottawa.

As part of a condominium / strata’s usual preventative maintenance program, condo vendors specializing in pest control services should be hired to service the common areas of the building on a regular basis. This should include inspection, setting traps, and treating; however, this does not account for all insect activity

because it doesn’t include any potential activity that is happening within residents’ suites.

Communication = Pest prevention

Communication between residents and property management is key to prevent a generalized pest infestation. Having bugs of any kind can be a terrifying, and ultimately an embarrassing experience. Some people don’t want to report having an issue for fear of being held responsible or just because they are worried that they will look bad. The truth is that the sooner that the property management is alerted to the problem, the sooner that we can solve the issue.

There are some insects that nest and become extremely difficult to exterminate. So we encourage anyone living in a condominium / strata to report issues like this immediately so that condo management can act in time and avoid bigger problems for all residents.

Not two bugs are alike

Some bugs and insects are just annoying but they don't pose a real threat to the integrity of the unit or the building and can be generally solved by simply swatting, squashing or spraying with raid. For example, as pesky as ants can be, they can be dealt with by purchasing traps and poisons at the local hardware store. On the other hand, some insects are resilient and require a higher level of treatment including, sometimes, professional pest control services.

"It's a bug-eat-bug world out there!" - A Bug's Life 1998

Silverfish, Centipedes, Bed Bugs, Cockroaches, and Carpet Beetles are common household pests that can get to an infestation level. These guys get in by purchase of sugars, starches, linen, fabric, used furniture and of course carpets. Centipedes can live anywhere really but prefer dark and damp. Like most things that trouble us, there are many DIY remedies that can be found on the internet. As people that like to figure things out and often take on projects using do it yourself methods, we understand the appeal. However, we recommend residents to call the condo manager for assistance. If the treatment fails and the situation worsens, it will be much more of a process to solve the problem.

Cockroaches are terrible. They are often associated with filth since they tend to show up where refuse is readily available; however, the thing most people don’t know is that they are a water beetle. They absolutely love buildings because they have indoor plumbing. They like it warm and damp, with water easily accessible. They are also hardy, multiply rapidly and are difficult to contain since they don’t nest in a single location. When they lay eggs, they tend to find dark regions near a food and water source. The drain pan under the refrigerator is often an overlooked area. As well, check your pet food dishes. Yes, they can eat both wet and dry pet food. It is best to catch these guys in the early stage of discovery because infestation can happen very quickly.

The worst of the worst are Bed Bugs. They feed on blood and although they prefer humans, they can feed on pets as well. These guys are known as the travel bug because they are everywhere in the world and can be picked up from staying at hotels, from the seats of passenger vehicles or even hitch a ride on another person. They are hard to see when they are young because they are transparent until their first feed. It is the blood that changes their color.

Although they get their name from being primarily where their food sleeps, they are actually a wood beetle. Bed bugs are scary. They can go into hibernation-like state called diapause. Allowing them to be dormant for up to 500 days. An individual bed bug can lay 200 to 250 eggs in their lifetime. Needless to say, bedbugs, when discovered,

should already be considered an infestation and should be

reported immediately to condo management.

Despite the tone of urgency, we didn’t write this blog to scare you. Educating everyone in the condo industry about the real “danger” of untreated pests infestations. We have lived in a big city (Toronto) for over 20 years and we have had our share of experiences with this subject. The best course of action to take is to communicate any discovered issues with condo management so that pest control can be contacted, and treatment administered as soon as possible.

Keep an eye out! or eight!

-Stratsatic Inc.

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