Spending a sleepless night before my GRE Exam in 1990: In the eighties of the twentieth century, I pursued my undergraduate degree in Forestry at the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore. Planning to apply to American universities for graduate studies, I appeared for the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) required for my applications.
Since the GRE was held at the US Embassy’s US Educational Foundation in India (USEFI) in Chennai, I travelled by an afternoon train from Bangalore to Chennai a day before the exam, accompanied by three classmates also taking the GRE.
We checked into a lodge on Wall Tax Street, conveniently located near Chennai Central Railway Station for both our arrival and our return to Bangalore after the exam. After an early supper, as we retired to our respective rooms, little did we know the ordeal awaiting us that night.
Minutes into our sleep, all of us were awakened by incessant insect bites and quickly realized we had checked into rooms infested with bed bugs. No measure, including turning on the lights, removing the sheets, or even sleeping away from the beds, helped, and we endured a painful and sleepless night before our important exam.
Despite the lack of rest, my preparation for the examination over a year paid off and I achieved a good GRE score. My undergraduate course GPA and GRE score got me admission and led me to complete my MS in Horticulture at Iowa State University in 1994, before returning to India in 1995.
My professional journey starting in 1995: My professional journey began at AVT McCormick Ingredients Limited as a Food Safety Manager, followed by a move to Pest Control India Private Limited (PCI) as head of quality for five years, eventually leading the services division for two years years.
Later, I established Pestinct Pro Solutions Pvt. Ltd., India’s second-largest pest control operator, in 2007, growing it until 2019.
A brief stint at Pecopp Pest Control Services Pvt. Ltd. from 2020 to 2022 interspersed my entrepreneurial path, during which I also co-founded Giridhar Pai Associates LLP (GPA) in 2020.
GPA’s focus has been on pest prevention and monitoring, developing non-toxic alternatives to pesticides in structural pest management.
GPA – ChinChex association in 2026: However, my interest in active bed bug control was reignited after meeting Fransisco Pazos of ChinChex Ltd. at a conference in January 2026, where he presented ChinChex. When Fransisco later expressed interest in partnering with GPA, I eagerly agreed, recognizing ChinChex’s unique mode of action and safety profile as key to its potential as a global leader in effective bed bug control.
Since May 2026, GPA has rapidly progressed from becoming ChinChex’s distributor to creating brochures, a webpage, YouTube videos, LinkedIn posts, and blog posts about the product. GPA’s first ChinChex shipment arrived in July 2026, and since then, scores of Indian pest management professionals have used it to control bed bugs and cockroaches.
GPA – dot. association: In parallel, following discussions with the UK’s Digital Odour Technologies (dot.), GPA imported dot.’s BugScentsTM Senty Pro bed bug monitor, which features a bed bug aggregation pheromone. As with ChinChex, GPA quickly developed marketing materials, including a brochure, webpage, LinkedIn post, and blog post, for the BugScentsTM Senty Pro bed bug monitor.
GPA’s twin bed bug product and YouTube video launches at Indiapest 2026: At the Indian Pest Control Association (IPCA)’s 59th anniversary and the Indiapest 2026 conference in Chennai, GPA is partnering with both ChinChex and dot. teams to showcase their respective products and address questions from Indian pest management professionals.
In preparation, GPA has created launch videos for ChinChex and the BugScentsTM Senty Pro, to be uploaded on YouTube between 20 and 22 August 2026, during the days of Indiapest 2026 in Chennai.
Indian Pest Control Association’s 59th Annual Conference – Indiapest at Chennai from 20 to 22 August, 2026
My full circle journey with bed bugs at Chennai: Reflecting on my journey, I am struck by the coincidence of traveling to Chennai in 1990 for an exam disrupted by bed bugs and now returning in 2026 to introduce two products that promise to revolutionize bed bug control in India through improved monitoring and effective, safe interventions.
Chennai’s bed bug problems make it ideal for GPA’s twin bed bug product launches: Currently, bed bug infestations are an increasing concern in Chennai due to dense housing, frequent travel, and the active second hand furniture trade. Local pest control operators (PCOs) report a steady rise in service calls from residential and hospitality sectors, with Chennai’s humid climate accelerating the bed bug lifecycle.
Bed bugs often hitchhike in luggage and on individuals moving through lodges, hotels, and rental properties. Homes (including apartments), hotels (and lodges), hostels (including serviced apartments), and hospitals or the “four Hs”, are the primary locations for bed bugs in Chennai and other Indian cities. Stray cases are also reported from offices, reception areas, and waiting rooms.
As the capital of Tamil Nadu, a port city with an international airport, major bus and train junctions, and a large migrant and expatriate population, the Chennai metropolitan area, home to over thirteen million people, offers ideal conditions for bed bug proliferation and spread.
GPA is proud to launch two globally recognized bed bug products: ChinChex Amorphous Silicon Dioxide Dust and the BugScentsTM Senty Pro, with representatives from the respective manufacturers present to interact with India’s leading pest management professionals (PMPs) during Indiapest 2026.
Chennai’s selection as the launch site seems prescient, as the city urgently needs safe, non-toxic bed bug control solutions. For too long, bed bug management at Chennai and in the rest of India has relied on increasingly toxic insecticides, resulting in widespread resistance among bed bug populations.
With global warming, erratic weather patterns, and uncontrolled pest infestations, citizens of large cities like Chennai require reliable relief from persistent bed bug infestations. We are confident that our two products, one for bed bug monitoring and one for bed bug control, will see increasing adoption in Chennai and across India, delivering safe and effective bed bug management.
Contact us with your bed bug product enquiries: If you are interested in ordering ChinChex or BugScentsTM Senty Pro from GPA, please contact us. We are ready to assist with your requirements.