In recent weeks, as autumn paints the City of Light with vibrant hues of red and gold, an unsettling wave of paranoia has taken hold over Parisians, and it’s all about one thing – rising bedbugs.
Bedbugs frenzy
Charlotte Ducomte, the visionary founder of WatsonDetect, a company dedicated to detecting and eradicating bedbugs, shares her recent experiences, stating, “I’ve been getting so many calls from worried people lately.”
These past few weeks have seen a deluge of calls from individuals desperate to have their residences inspected, “just in case.” The city is in the throes of a bedbug frenzy, she confirms.
Rising bedbugs
The root of this newfound bedbug invasion is a startling 65 percent surge in pest control visits across France in 2023 compared to the previous year, as reported by the Union Chamber of Insect Control.
Weather conditions play a significant role in this unsettling uptick. Renowned entomologist Jean-Michel Bérenger, co-founder of the National Institute for the Study and Fight Against Bedbugs, explains that the heat is a bedbug’s ally, accelerating their life cycle.
However, the infestation of bedbugs isn’t solely a product of this year’s weather patterns; it’s part of a more significant and ongoing resurgence. Bérenger highlights that the modern world, characterized by people constantly on the move, creates fertile ground for these pests to thrive.
Bedbug anxiety
Ducomte traces the surge in bedbug numbers in Paris back to 2002, attributing it to a steady stream of visitors lured by budget air travel and the convenience of platforms like Airbnb. “People move a lot more than before, and, therefore, they are more likely to be infested,” she contends.
The bedbug panic in Paris is a reminder that these tiny terrors can wreak havoc and inspire dread on a large scale. As residents grapple with this newfound paranoia, experts like Charlotte Ducomte and Jean-Michel Bérenger are working diligently to stem the tide of bedbugs, offering hope to those navigating the unsettling autumn of 2023.
Paris may be the city of love and lights, but this season, it’s also the city of rising bedbug anxiety.
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