Worst cities for bed bugs: Grand Rapids-Kalamazoo crawling up the list

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GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Bed bugs are apparently gaining ground in Michigan, according to pest control company Orkin, which issued its list of the top 50 worst cities when it comes to bed bug infestations.

Detroit climbed two spots to second place on the 2015 list, behind Chicago. Last year, Michigans largest city ranked third for cities with the largest increase in infestations on a list put out by Terminix, another national pest control company.

But these blood-sucking insects are on the rise on the west side of the state as well, according to Orkin.

Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo and Battle Creek tied for the 20th spot on 2015 list, moving the region up 13 places in the national ranking.

The Atlanta-bases exterminator says the list is based on data from cities where Orkin performed the most bed bug treatments in 2014.

Overall, the country is in the midst of a bed bug resurgence, with Americans spending $446 million to get rid of bed bugs in 2013, compared to $70 million 10 years ago, according to industry data.

Trying to quantify the problem locally is difficult.

The Kent County Health Department does not monitor bed bug complaints because they are not considered a public health threat, said Lisa LaPlante, the countys communications director.

I would definitely say there has been an increase, said David Popp, with Rose Pest Control Solutions. Theres has been a steady increase over the last five or six years.

The Troy-based company, located in states across the Midwest and the South, has offices across Michigan in Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Niles, Saginaw and Metro Detroit.

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Worst cities for bed bugs: Grand Rapids-Kalamazoo crawling up the list

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