INDIANAPOLIS – The Circle City ranks in a top ten list. But… it’s not exactly a good thing.
An annual report by Orkin ranks Indianapolis #7 for bed bugs.
Did you know that if you miss a pregnant bed bug, you can be reinfested with more than 300 adult bed bugs and 1,000 new eggs in about three months! This is according to Orkin’s website.
Bed bugs are red to dark brown small insects that can easily move from one place to another. You hitchhike with your personal belongings. With Indiana ranking so high, we wanted to ask the pros why?
Orkin officials say that’s because Indianapolis needs to be a travel hotspot right now. Bed bug populations have faltered during the pandemic, but are now back in full force as people seek to travel again.
“If you’re staying at a hotel that might have a small infestation and they get in your luggage or purse and you bring that home, that’s a possibility. Sometimes people also get used furniture and if someone had it in their house and then gets rid of some used furniture and someone goes and gets it off the street – that could contain bed bugs,” said Ben Hottel, the technician service manager for Orkin.
So what can you do to spot these little insects?
Orkin says they usually look for the actual, physical bed bugs that are crawling around. That’s the obvious sign.
You can also check for fecal stains on your sheets. It’s not necessarily the feeling of being bitten or itching, there could be several other factors.
“It’s good to be aware of the risks and to act quickly,” explains Hottel.
Orkin recommends checking the spots where bed bugs hide during the day, including mattress labels and seams, and behind baseboards, headboards, outlets, and picture frames. Try decluttering your home to make it easier for you to spot bed bugs.
“I just assume when traveling there’s always a chance that there could be these kinds of bugs, so I make sure I don’t leave my luggage or bags right next to the bed,” Hottel said, ” You can always put your clothes in the dryer and dry them on high heat and the same, when you’re out you can take your clothes and put them in the dryer on high heat and that will kill all the bed bugs.”
Chicago ranked first in this list. Two other Indiana cities round out the top 50. South Bend is 28th and Fort Wayne is 35th.
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