Four Michigan cities are in a 2023 top 50 list for cities in the United States with bed bugs released by a national pest control company called Orkin.
Detroit landed at number 6 on the list, down two places from last year. It’s the sixth worst town in the county for bed bugs, according to Orkin. Grand Rapids ranks 12th, down one spot.
Flint was 21st, up two places, and Lansing was 42nd, up six places from last year.
“Bed bugs are extremely resilient, which makes them difficult to control,” said Ben Hottel, an entomologist for the company, in a news release Monday. “As people begin to bulk up their travel plans this year, it’s important they know how to protect themselves through pest detection and appropriate control.”
Orkin’s Top 50 Bed Bug Cities list is based on treatment data from the metro areas where the company performed the most bed bug treatments from December 1, 2021 to November 30, 2022. The ranking includes domestic and commercial treatments.
Contrary to popular belief, bed bugs are visible to the naked eye, according to an entomologist at the pest control company.
Photo Provided/Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Chicago, New York City and Philadelphia rank in the top three spots for the third year in a row.
Los Angeles saw the biggest jump that year, climbing seven places into the top five, with Cleveland at No. 4 and Raleigh at No. 20 each moving up four places.
“While it’s important to be aware of bed bug infestations in hotels, it’s also important to take precautions in other aspects of travel,” Hottel continued. “Cabs, buses, and airplanes are also common hideouts for bed bugs, giving these pests a chance to ride along with unsuspecting travelers. Regular inspection of clothing and luggage during travel can help detect a bed bug infestation in the early stages.”
During the trip, Orkin recommended the acronym SLEEP to look for bed bugs:
- SSearch the hotel room for signs of an infestation. Look for tiny, inky stains on mattress seams, in upholstery, and behind headboards.
- LCheck inside bed bug hiding places: mattresses, box springs, and other furniture, as well as behind baseboards, pictures, and torn wallpaper.
- ELift the luggage away from the bed and the wall.
- EExamine your luggage carefully when repacking and upon returning from a trip.
- PWhen you get home, tie all of the clothes in your luggage that are suitable for tumble drying into the dryer for at least 30 to 45 minutes on the highest setting.
