(KDVR) — Are you itching yet? A nationwide pest management company just published a report listing the top American cities with the worst bed bug infestations.
Between December 1, 2022, and November 30, 2023, Orkin kept track of the metro areas in which it treated the most bed bugs.
Orkin claims that bed bugs are wingless and have “small, flat, oval-shaped bodies.” Although bed bugs are brown as adults, feeding can cause their bodies to turn scarlet. Furthermore, these creatures are hematophagous, meaning they can only consume blood.
You should still inspect your mattress for these pests even if you have avoided staying in motels.
Which Cities Are Most Overrun By Bed Bugs
Both residential and commercial treatments are included in Orkin’s ranking:
- Chicago, Illinois
- New York, New York
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Cleveland-Akron, Ohio
- Los Angeles, California
- Detroit, Michigan
- Washington, D.C.
- Indianapolis, Indiana
- Charlotte, North Carolina
- Champaign, Illinois
- Columbus, Ohio
- Cincinnati, Ohio
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Denver, Colorado
- Baltimore, Maryland
- Richmond, Virginia
- Greensboro, North Carolina
- St. Louis, Missouri
- Youngstown, Ohio
Check for bed bugs
AT HOME
Orkin advises routinely inspecting your house for indications of bed bugs.
- Examine areas such as mattress tags and seams, as well as the spaces beneath headboards, baseboards, outlets, and picture frames.
- Examine your home upon moving in, following a trip, having a service provider come in, or following an overnight visitor stay.
- Reduce the amount of clutter in your house to help you identify bed bugs.
- Before taking any used furniture into your house, make sure it is in good condition.
During Travel
S.L.E.E.P. is an abbreviation that Orkin suggests utilizing when traveling.
- Look for indications of an infestation in the hotel room, such as discolored stains on the edges of the mattress, in soft furnishings, and behind headboards.
- Examine areas such as the mattress, box spring, furniture, behind baseboards, photographs, and ripped wallpaper that may be hiding places for bed bugs.
- Raise your bags and place them on the counters or in the bathroom, away from the bed and wall.
After you get home, check your bags and while you’re packing again. Keep bags out of the bed area. - After you get home, put the clothes in your suitcase in the dryer and run it on the highest setting for at least 30 to 45 minutes.
- Orkin reports that Ohio has four cities in the top 20 this year, the most of any state.
Significant increases in the number of treatments received by three cities propelled them from last year’s position on the list. North Carolina’s Greensboro jumped up 25 places to into the top 20. Milwaukee moved up fifteen spots, and Tampa moved up ten.
In the United States, bed bugs do more than merely keep people up at night. France, the country that will host the Olympics in July, has been trying to soothe the public in the wake of viral social media videos that allegedly showed bed bug infestations on buses and trains.
Greece’s health ministry requested assistance from the police after a hoax campaign was started to frighten tourists.