Chicago is still no. 1 – but it probably doesn’t want to be in this case.
According to Orkin’s Top 50 Bed Bug Cities list, the city has retained its crown as the city with the most bed bugs for the third consecutive year.
The list released Monday shows New York and Philadelphia in second and third place respectively. This is consistent with the company’s 2022 results.
Some cities have seen massive jumps over the past year. Los Angeles (#5) is one who climbs seven places and enters the top five. Cleveland (#4) and Raleigh (#20) each moved up four places in the rankings.
Nearby Champaign, Illinois also climbed the list, rising to 11th from last year’s 13th place. Peoria, Illinois, however, did the opposite. The city moved down three spots from last year and ranks 48th on the 2023 list.
Bed bugs are red to dark brown, 3/16 inch long, and mostly come out of hiding at night when people are sleeping. They can travel very easily, clinging to personal belongings, and are known for rapid population growth. They are also hematophagous, meaning blood is their only source of sustenance, according to Orkin.
“Bed bugs are extremely resilient, which makes them difficult to control. As people begin to bulk up their travel plans this year, it’s important they know how to protect themselves through pest identification and appropriate control,” Ben Hottel, an Orkin entomologist, said in a statement. “Contrary to popular belief, bed bugs are visible to the naked eye but are excellent at hiding. It is recommended that a trained professional be consulted upon seeing a bed bug introduction.”
Orkin shared tips for homeowners and travelers to prevent bed bugs.
The full list of the 50 best bed bug cities is below:
- Chicago
- New York (+1)
- Philly (-1)
- Cleveland-Akron, OH (+4)
- Los Angeles (+7)
- Detroit (-2)
- Indianapolis (-1)
- Baltimore (-3)
- Washington, D.C. (-2)
- Columbus, Ohio (-1)
- Champaign, IL (+2)
- Grand Rapids, Michigan (-1)
- Cincinnati (-3)
- Charlotte (+1)
- Denver (+2)
- Atlanta (-2)
- Dallas-Ft. value (-1)
- Pittsburgh (+2)
- Charleston, West Virginia (+3)
- Raleigh Durham (+4)
- Flint, MI (+2)
- San Francisco (-3)
- Norfolk, VA (+2)
- Greenville, SC (-3)
- Saint Louis (-7)
- Richmond, Va
- Youngstown (+10)
- South Bend, IN (+5)
- Buffalo, New York (-1)
- Knoxville (-1)
- Cedar Rapids, MI (-1)
- Omaha, New Zealand (-5)
- Nashville (+1)
- Dayton, Ohio (-2)
- feet Wayne, IN (+1)
- Harrisburg (+6)
- Davenport (-2)
- Toledo (-7)
- Seattle (+5)
- Milwaukee (-2)
- Tampa (-1)
- Lansing, MI (+6)
- Greensboro, NC
- Houston (-3)
- Miami (-6)
- Lexington, Kentucky (+1)
- Orlando (-1)
- Peoria (-3)
- Louisville, Kentucky (-3)
- Lincoln, Ne
