ACROSS AMERICA – Most US cities can brag about at least a few things. Maybe it has good schools or a lively music scene. Perhaps the city is rich in history or has a booming economy. Maybe it’s just a great place to live.
One thing that you probably don’t associate with your city? Bed bugs.
These tiny hitchhiking pests turned out to be very popular in several U.S. cities, as shown by the latest figures from Orkin of Atlanta, a company specializing in pest control services.
The company recently ranked cities for where it performed the most bed bug treatments between December 1, 2019 and November 30, 2020. The ranking includes both private and commercial treatments.
Here’s a look at the top 10 bed bug cities of 2021, according to Orkin:
1. Chicago, Illinois
2. Baltimore, Maryland
3. Washington, DC
4. Detroit, Michigan
5. Columbus, Ohio
6. Cleveland, Ohio
7. Indianapolis, Indiana
8. Cincinnati, Ohio
9. Los Angeles, California
10. Grand Rapids, Michigan
Check out the full list of the top cities for bed bugs.
So why share this creepy-creeping revelation now?
In just a few days, the Professional Pest Management Alliance will start Bed Bug Awareness Week, which will take place from June 6 to 12. The aim of the campaign is to help people recognize bed bug infestations and know how to contain them.
The number of those keen to travel is also growing as more Americans are vaccinated against COVID-19.
On Memorial Day weekend, the Transportation Security Administration screened approximately 7.1 million people at U.S. airports. Around 1.9 million people traveled on Sunday – eight times more than on the same day in 2020.
With bed bugs commonly associated with travel, people need to stay vigilant – especially after months of coronavirus-related restrictions and bans, according to Cindy Mannes, executive director of the Professional Pest Management Alliance.
“Bed bugs can survive for several months without a blood meal and could be hungry if they survived unnoticed after fewer trips amid the pandemic,” Mannes said in a press release.
What is a bed bug? These insects are tiny – just under a quarter of an inch long, according to Orkin. They are usually dark brown or red in color and are hematophagous, which means that blood is their only source of food. Bed bugs ingest blood meals from sleeping people and can easily travel from place to place and stash in things like luggage, handbags, and other personal belongings.
If you are planning on traveling this summer, there are a few things you can do to keep bed bugs from coming home. Orkin recommends that people follow the “SLEEP” method to control possible bed bug infestation:
S: Examine the room for signs of infestation. Look for small, black, ink-colored stains on mattress seams, in upholstered furniture, and behind headboards. Bed bugs can even hide in power outlets and picture frames.
L: Lift up and look in the hiding places of bed bugs: the mattress, box spring and other furniture, as well as behind baseboards, pictures and even torn wallpaper.
E: Lift the luggage off the bed and away from the wall. The safest places are in the bathroom or on shelves.
E: Examine your luggage carefully when repacking and after returning from a trip. Always keep luggage away from the bed. Also, examine all used furniture and clothing before bringing them to your home and check them out after guests visit.
P: When you return home, put all items of clothing from your luggage that are suitable for the dryer in the dryer for at least 45 minutes on the highest setting.
If you need more guidance on getting bed bugs out of your home, the Environmental Protection Agency has a step-by-step guide on how to assess and treat the infestation.
