Philadelphia seems firmly planted in the top 3 of a dubious list of top places to find a blood-sucking household pest.
The city of brotherly love fell to No. 3 on Orkin’s 2023 list of the “Top 50 Bed Bug Cities”. Chicago remained at the top of the list, where the pest control company performed bug treatments from December 1, 2021 to November 30, 2022, with New York City moving up a spot to second.
“Bed bugs are extremely resilient, which makes them difficult to control,” Orkin entomologist Ben Hottel said in a press release earlier this week.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the bugs are “small, flat, parasitic insects that feed solely on the blood of people and animals while they sleep” that can grow on a dime as big as Lincoln’s head. Bed bugs can live “several months without a blood meal” in mattresses.
The CDC says bedbugs “are not known to spread disease.” However, the pests “can be a nuisance because their presence can cause itching and insomnia.”
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The red to dark brown bugs are great for hiding but can be spotted.
“Contrary to popular belief, bed bugs are visible to the naked eye but are excellent at hiding,” Hottel said. “It is recommended that a trained professional be consulted upon seeing a bed bug introduction.”
Orkin has also compiled a list of tips on how to spot the bed bugs in your home and when traveling to prevent bringing bed bugs home. When traveling, Orkin suggests remembering the acronym SLEEP: Survey, Lift, Elevate, Examine, and Place.
“While it’s important to be aware of bed bug infestations in hotels, taking precautions in other aspects of travel is also important,” Hotel said. “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 while traveling can help detect a bed bug infestation in the early stages.
Click here for more bed bug tips.
Orkin said it compiled data from households and businesses and based its list on treatment data from the metro areas where the pest control company performed the most bed bug treatments.
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