In 2020 a new city overtook the previous three-year defending champion. Is it yours
This is a superlative that nobody wants their city to win. Pest control company Orkin recently released its list of the Top 50 Bed Bug Cities, which includes data on the locations where Orkin performed the most treatments for bed bugs from December 2018 to November 2019. The reality is that bed bugs have appeared in cities and towns across America, from mansions to cramped apartments. In the United States, the numbers have increased since the turn of the century due to increased travel and restrictions on certain insecticides, but the numbers have been particularly high in these cities. You can’t do too much to stop them. Early detection is important as there is no foolproof way to keep them out of your home. Here are the warning signs that you are going to have a bed bug problem.
Washington, DC (Baltimore still came in second) took first place on the list – and stole the not-so-coveted top spot from Baltimore that held it for three years in a row.) Bed bugs clearly love the Chesapeake Bay area. These two cities were followed by Chicago; Los Angeles; and Columbus, Ohio, all of which kept their spots from last year to round the top (bottom?) five.
Cities six through ten were New York; Detroit; Cincinnati; Indianapolis; and Atlanta. Indianapolis, ranked ninth in 2020, jumped a whopping five places from the previous year. Indiana’s capital, new to the top ten, moved Philadelphia out of the top cities (though it only dropped to # 12). No matter where you are, beds aren’t the only places you’ll find these pests – this is how you can find (and get rid of) bed bugs in your car.
So if you live in or visit one of these cities, it is advisable to be a little more vigilant about your susceptibility to bed bugs and maybe stock up on such a bed bug killer. According to the CDC, bed bugs often come into contact with people via luggage, bags, clothing, bedding, furniture or anywhere they can easily hide and hitch a ride. Always check the hotel rooms or any place you are staying. Here is a guide on how to do this correctly. Now, make sure you know these 16 secrets to getting rid of bed bugs.
