Indy holds tight on bed bugs list

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FILE - This undated file photo provided by Orkin LLC shows bed bugs. (AP Photo/Orkin LLC, File)(Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS)

A new report from Orkin shows that Indianapolis residents may be sharing their sheets with a little unwanted company.

For the second straight year, the city was named the 11th worst in the nation for bed bugs by the pest-control service.

The list ranks cities by the number of bed bug treatments performed by Orkin in 2014.

Nationally, Orkin has treated for bed bugs in all 50 states. Orkin's parent company, Rollins, saw an 18 percent increase in bed bug revenue in last year. According to an annual report on the pest control industry, Americans spent $446 million to get rid of bed bugs in 2013, the latest data available, compared to $70 million in 2004.

Bed bugs are a serious issue across the country, and theyre very difficult to control, Orkin Entomologist and Technical Services Director Ron Harrison said in a statement. Bed bugs are not limited to any level of cleanliness or income, which means they can be found in any home or hotel. Theyre great hitchhikers, and people often bring them inside on their clothes or in their luggage.

The Midwest had a strong presence on the 2014 list with Chicago taking the top spot for the third consecutive year. The Windy City was followed by Detroit and Columbus, Ohio. Fort Wayne, a new addition to the list, was the only other Indiana city that made the cut, coming in at 49th.

According to Orkin, bed bugs are not known to spread human disease like many other pests, but can leave itchy, bloody welts on skin and they are active year-round. Homeowners, tenants and travelers across the country should take the following precautions to help prevent bed bugs:

Inspect your home for signs of bed bugs regularly. Check locations where bed bugs hide during the day, including in furniture, mattress seams and bed sheets, as well as behind baseboards, electrical outlets and picture frames.

Decrease clutter around your home to make bed bug inspections and detection much easier.

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Indy holds tight on bed bugs list

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