WASHINGTON, DC – The Washington, DC area is known for many fine attractions that make it a premier vacation spot – fine dining, museums, the National Zoo and the Kennedy Center.
One of the things tourism officials are unlikely to tout is Washington, DC’s ranking on Atlanta-based pest control company Orkin’s list of the top 50 bed bug cities, released Monday. It’s #9 on this year’s list, down two spots from last year.
Norfolk, Virginia is at No. 23 on the list, up two places from a year ago, while Richmond is a new addition to the list at No. 26.
The release is tied to Tuesday’s “National Shop for Travel Day,” established by the Travel Technology Association in 2018, and the time of year when people start planning their vacation. According to Orkin, when booking hotel reservations, knowing how to identify and check for bed bugs is important to avoid hitchhikers being taken home.
Orkin based his list on residential and commercial bed bug treatments performed by his technicians from December 1, 2021 through November. 30th, 2022.
Below are the top 10 cities on Orkin’s list and whether they have moved up or down from last year:
- Chicago, Illinois
- New York, New York (+1)
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (-1)
- Cleveland-Akron, Ohio (+4)
- Los Angeles, California (+7)
- Detroit, Michigan (-2)
- Indianapolis, Indiana (-1)
- Baltimore (-3)
- Washington, D.C. (-2)
- Columbus, Ohio (-1)
Check out the full list of Orkin’s best bed bug towns.
Bed bugs are typically about 3/16 inch long and red to dark brown in color. Mostly nocturnal insects whose only source of food is blood, they come out of hiding to take their meals from sleeping humans. You can easily travel from place to place and hold on to items like luggage, purses, and other personal belongings.
They also multiply quickly. Females can lay up to five eggs a day, with between 200 and 500 over a lifetime. They can survive for several months waiting for their next blood meal, so they are most likely to emerge when humans are around.
Orkin entomologist Ben Hottel said that while it’s important to be aware of bed bug infestations in hotels, the pests also try to ride in taxis, buses and planes.
When traveling, it is important to regularly check clothing and luggage, said Hottel.
