Consider these bed bug prevention tips to
avoid bringing these stealthy pests home
ATLANTA, Jan. 22,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Windy City is taking up
residence as one of the worst cities for bed bugs taking the #1
spot on Orkin's Top 50 Bed Bug Cities List for the fourth year
in a row. Chicago, New York, and Philadelphia hold onto the top three
spots, ranking first, second and third, respectively for cities
with most bed bugs. Greensboro,
N.C. saw the largest jump this year, moving up twenty-fife
spots into the Top Twenty, with Milwaukee (#25) moving up the list by fifteen
and Tampa (#31) moving up by
ten.
Amid the Paris Bed Bug craze, travelers are more concerned than
ever with avoiding these stealthy pests. As Americans look towards
travel in 2024 it is critical to know how to identify and
thoroughly check for bed bugs in hotel rooms (both
internationally and domestically) while being careful not to bring
the pests home with them.
The bed bug cities list is based on treatment data from the
metro areas where Orkin performed the most bed bug
treatments from Dec. 1, 2022 –
Nov. 30, 2023. The ranking includes
both residential and commercial treatments.
What cities have the most bed bugs?
- Chicago
- New York
- Philadelphia
- Cleveland-Akron, OH
- Los Angeles
- Detroit
- Washington, D.C. (+2)
- Indianapolis (-1)
- Charlotte (+5)
- Champaign, IL (+1)
- Columbus, OH (-1)
- Cincinnati (+1)
- Atlanta (+3)
- Grand Rapids, MI (-2)
- Denver
- Baltimore (-8)
- Richmond, VA (+9)
- Greensboro, N.C. (+25)
- St. Louis (+6)
- Youngstown (+7)
- Pittsburgh (-3)
- Dallas-Ft. Worth (-5)
- Flint, MI (-2)
- Raleigh-Durham (-4)
- Milwaukee (+15)
- Charleston, W.V. (-7)
- Greenville, SC (-3)
- Norfolk, VA (-5)
- Davenport (+8)
- Nashville (+3)
- Tampa (+10)
- Toledo (+6)
- Dayton, OH (+1)
- Knoxville (-4)
- Las Vegas (new to list)
- Omaha, NE (-4)
- South Bend, IN (-9)
- Houston (+6)
- Cedar Rapids, MI (-8)
- Ft. Wayne, IN (-5)
- San Francisco (-19)
- Buffalo, NY (-13)
- Harrisburg (-7)
- Seattle (-5)
- Miami
- Orlando (+1)
- Minneapolis (new to list)
- Oklahoma City (new to
list)
- Louisville, KY
- Lexington, KY (-4)
Bed bugs are typically 3/16 inch long, red to dark brown in
color and are mostly nocturnal insects that come out of hiding to
take blood meals from sleeping humans. These pests are
hematophagous, which means blood is their only food source.
Clinging to items such as luggage, purses and other personal
belongings, bed bugs can travel from place to place with
ease.
"Bed bugs are extremely resilient, making them difficult to
control. As travel plans ramp up, it's important that Americans
know how to protect themselves through pest identification and
proper control," said Ben Hottel,
Orkin entomologist. "While bed bugs are visible to the naked eye,
they are excellent at hiding. Involving a trained professional at
the sight of a bed bug introduction is recommended."
Known for rapid population growth, female bed bugs can deposit
one to five eggs a day and may lay 200 to 500 eggs in their
lifetime. They can survive for several months while waiting for
their next blood meal, so they're likely to emerge the moment a
food source, e.g., humans or animals, becomes available.
"While the bed bug infestations in Paris have made travelers more conscious of
the pests in hotels while traveling internationally, it is also
important to take precautions at home," said Hottel. "Second-hand
items such as clothing and furniture are also common bed bug hiding
places, allowing pests an opportunity to hitch a ride home with new
consumers. Examining any new items before they enter your home will
help to catch a bed bug infestation sooner, rather than later."
Here are proactive tips Orkin recommends for 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.
With nearly 125 years of experience with bed bugs and
state-of-the-art tools and products, Orkin is well-equipped to
assess your bed bug problem, offer trainings for short-staffed
hospitality teams and mount a strategic response to rid your home
of the pest and provide maximum protection.
For more information about bed bug prevention and bed bug
control, visit Orkin.com.
About Orkin, LLC
Founded in 1901, Atlanta-based Orkin is an industry leader in
essential pest control services and protection against termite
damage, rodents and insects. Orkin has 358 owned and operated
branch offices and 47 franchises in the U.S. The company also has
international franchises and subsidiaries in Canada, Europe, Central
America, South America, the
Caribbean, the Middle East, Asia, the Mediterranean, Africa, and Mexico. For more than 120 years, Orkin has
been committed to protecting public health by helping prevent and
control pests as well as educating consumers on the potential
health risks posed by these pests. As such, Orkin Pros always put
the customer first and approach every opportunity with the utmost
professionalism and the knowledge and skillset to solve any pest
problem. Since 2020, Orkin has partnered with the American
Red Cross® to inform the public
about the health threats of mosquitoes while boosting our country's
blood supply through monetary contributions and blood donations.
Orkin is committed to hiring the world's best to help protect the
places where we live, work and play. Learn more about careers
at Orkin here. Visit Orkin.com for additional
information. Orkin is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rollins
Inc. (NYSE: ROL). Follow us
on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
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SOURCE Orkin, LLC