Orkin Releases Top 50 Bed Bug Cities List, Baltimore …

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Atlanta and Philadelphia break into top 10

ATLANTA (January 14, 2019) For the third year in a row, Baltimore tops Orkins Top 50 Bed Bug Cities list, released today. New York moved up two spots, while Atlanta and Philadelphia joined the top 10, replacing San Francisco and Dallas, respectively.

Five cities moved into the top 50 this year, including Lansing, Mich., Orlando, Fla., Davenport, Iowa, Ft. Wayne, Ind. and Youngstown, Ohio. Houston dropped nine positions, while Greenville, S.C., rose seven positions, entering the top 20.

The list is based on treatment data from the metro areas where Orkin performed the most bed bug treatments from December 1, 2017 November 30, 2018. The ranking includes both residential and commercial treatments.

Bed bugs are the number one urban pest in many cities today, said Chelle Hartzer, an Orkin entomologist. They are master hitchhikers, so no one is immune. Sanitation has nothing to do with prevention: from public transit to five-star resorts, bed bugs have been and can be found everywhere humans are.

Bed bugs are normally nocturnal insects that come out of hiding to take blood meals from sleeping or quietly resting humans. They are always in motion and do not have a regular hiding place. Bed bugs will attach to luggage, purses, backpacks, jackets and other belongings, dropping off almost anywhere to find a new carrier.

According to the 2018 Bugs without Borders Survey by the National Pest Management Association, the top three places where pest professionals report finding bed bugs are single-family homes (91 percent), apartments/condominiums (89 percent) and hotels/motels (68 percent). With that, hotels spend an average of $6,383 per bed bug incident.

A bed bug introduction occurs when one or more bed bugs enter a space. During an introduction, bed bugs probably havent started reproducing yet, but they could soon.

Bed bugs are capable of rapid population growth with an adult female laying two to five eggs per day (up to 500 in her lifetime), often making treatment challenging. Adult bed bugs are about the size of an apple seed and typically reddish brown. Their small size and ability to hide make them difficult to see during the day, so its important to look for the black, ink-like stains they can leave behind.

Bed bugs are an elusive threat to your household and beyond, so its critical to detect and treat for them as early as possible. Anyone who suspects a bed bug infestation should contact a pest management professional immediately.

Here are proactive tips Orkin recommends for homeowners and travelers:

At Home:

During travel, remember the acronym S.L.E.E.P. to inspect for bed bugs:

For more information about bed bug prevention, visit Orkin.com. You can also find 100 facts about bed bugs in Orkins bed bug e-book: 100 Reasons Why Bed Bugs Are Freaky and Fascinating and additional detection tips in Orkins video on How to Check for Bed Bugs in Hotel Rooms.

About Orkin, LLC

Founded in 1901, Atlanta-based Orkin is an industry leader in essential pest control services and protection against termite damage, rodents and insects. The company operates more than 400 locations with almost 8,000 employees. Using a proprietary, three-step approach, Orkin provides customized services to approximately 1.7 million homeowners and businesses in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, South America, Central America, the Middle East, the Caribbean, Asia, the Mediterranean and Africa. Orkin is committed to studying pest biology and applying scientifically proven methods. The company collaborates with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and eight major universities to conduct research and help educate consumers and businesses on pest-related health threats. Since 2014, Orkins Start with Science initiative has donated $670,000 to fund science and math projects in public schools across the nation. Learn more about Orkin atOrkin.com. Orkin is a wholly-owned subsidiary ofRollins Inc.(NYSE: ROL). Follow us onFacebookandLinkedIn.

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Orkin Releases Top 50 Bed Bug Cities List, Baltimore ...