Orkin releases Top 50 Bed Bug Cities List

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January 19, 2023

bed bug under magnify glass PHOTO: ISTOCK.COM/SEMENTSOVALESIA

PHOTO: ISTOCK.COM/SEMENTSOVALESIA

The Windy City is named the No. 1 city for the third year in a row on Orkin’s Top 50 Bed Bug Cities List.

Chicago, Ill., New York City and Philadelphia, Pa., hold onto the top three sports, ranking first, second and third, respectively. Los Angeles, Calif., saw the largest jump this year, moving up seven spots to No. 5 with Cleveland, Ohio, and Raleigh, N.C., each moving up the list by four spots.

The Top 50 Bed Bug Cities List is based on treatment data from the metro areas where Orkin performed the most bed bug treatments from Dec. 1, 2021 to Nov. 30, 2022. The list includes both residential and commercial treatments.

  1. Chicago, Ill.
  2. New York, N.Y. (+1)
  3. Philadelphia, Pa. (-1)
  4. Cleveland-Akron, Ohio (+4)
  5. Los Angeles, Calif. (+7)
  6. Detroit, Mich. (-2)
  7. Indianapolis, Ind. (-1)
  8. Baltimore, Md. (-3)
  9. Washington, D.C. (-2)
  10. Columbus, Ohio (-1)
  11. Champaign, Ill. (+2)
  12. Grand Rapids, Mich. (-1)
  13. Cincinnati, Ohio (-3)
  14. Charlotte, N.C. (+1)
  15. Denver, Colo. (+2)
  16. Atlanta, Ga. (-2)
  17. Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas (-1)
  18. Pittsburgh, Pa. (+2)
  19. Charleston, W.V. (+2)
  20. Raleigh-Durham, N.C. (+4)
  21. Flint, Mich. (+2)
  22. San Francisco, Calif. (-3)
  23. Norfolk, Va. (+2)
  24. Greenville, S.C. (-3)
  25. Louis, Mo. (-7)
  26. Richmond, Va.
  27. Youngstown, Ohio(+10)
  28. South Bend, Ind. (+5)
  29. Buffalo, N.Y. (-1)
  30. Knoxville, Ky. (-1)
  31. Cedar Rapids, Mich. (-1)
  32. Omaha, Neb. (-5)
  33. Nashville, Tenn. (+1)
  34. Dayton, Ohio (-2)
  35. Wayne, Ind. (+1)
  36. Harrisburg, Pa. (+6)
  37. Davenport, iowa (-2)
  38. Toledo, Ohio (-7)
  39. Seattle, Wash. (+5)
  40. Milwaukee, Wis. (-2)
  41. Tampa, Fla. (-1)
  42. Lansing, Mich. (+6)
  43. Greensboro, N.C.
  44. Houston, Texas (-3)
  45. Miami, Fla. (-6)
  46. Lexington, Ky. (+1)
  47. Orlando, Fla. (-1)
  48. Peoria, Ill.(-3)
  49. Louisville, Ky. (-3)
  50. Lincoln, Neb.

“Bed bugs are extremely resilient, making them difficult to control. As people begin to ramp up their travel plans this year, it’s important they know how to protect themselves through pest identification and proper control,” Ben Hottel, Orkin entomologist, said in the news release. “Contrary to popular belief, bed bugs are visible to the naked eye, but are excellent at hiding. Involving a trained professional at the sight of a bed bug introduction is recommended.”

Here are proactive tips Orkin recommends for pest management professionals to tell homeowners and travelers to prevent bed bugs:

At Home:

  • Inspect your home for signs of bed bugs regularly. Check the places where bed bugs hide during the day, including mattress tags and seams, and behind baseboards, headboards, electrical outlets and picture frames. Inspect when you move in, after a trip, when a service worker visits or after guests stay overnight.
  • Decrease clutter around your home to make it easier to spot bed bugs on your own or during professional inspections.
  • Examine all secondhand furniture before bringing it inside your home.

During travel, remember the acronym S.L.E.E.P. to inspect for bed bugs:

  • Survey the hotel room for signs of an infestation. Be on the lookout for tiny, ink-colored stains on mattress seams, in soft furniture and behind headboards.
  • Lift and look in bed bug hiding spots: the mattress, box spring and other furniture, as well as behind baseboards, pictures and even torn wallpaper.
  • Elevate luggage away from the bed and wall. The safest places are in the bathroom or on counters.
  • Examine your luggage carefully while repacking and once you return home from a trip. Always store luggage away from the bed.
  • Place all dryer-safe clothing from your luggage in the dryer for at least 30-45 minutes at the highest setting after you return home.

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About the Author

Ellen Wagner

Ellen Wagner is the digital editor for PMP magazine. She can be reached at ewagner@northcoastmedia.net.

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