Category Archives: Bed Bugs Washington DC

Heres a list you never want to be on: Worst Cities For Bed Bugs. Unfortunately, there are two cities in New York state that made the list for the worst places with bed bugs.

Nearly 1 in every 5 Americans has had a bed bug problem or has known someone who has, according to Amcan Bugstop Inc. While Ohio is considered the worst state for bed bugs, there are some cities that topped the list that were from other states.

Two of those cities were from New York state.

Bed bugs are parasitic insects that are known as micro predators. They feed on blood, usually at night, and their bites can cause some issues, including skin rashes, psychological effects, and allergic symptoms. These symptoms may take between minutes to days to become prevalent, and itchiness is usually a secondary effect.

Orkin, the pest control service, puts together a list of the Top 50 Bed Bug Destinations in the United States.

Ranking #29 was Buffalo, New York, and the other city in New York ranked as the overall second worst city for bed bugs.#2 was New York City.

There are a few signs you can look for to determine whether or not you may have bed bugs. Those signs are:

You can see the full list of worst cities for bed bugs below.

Every year the pest control gurus at Orkin put together a list of the Top 50 Bed Bug Destinations in the United States. Which areas do you travel to that you should take extra care to watch out for these blood-sucking insects? Let's countdown to the most bed-bug-riddled city in the United States.

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Show your Buffa-Love with these Buffalo Bills themed Valentine's Day cards.

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Two New York Cities Named Worst For Bed Bugs - wyrk.com

Colorado is home to the nation's largest airport and many of us will be traveling for the holidays. The last thing you want to do when you travel home is bring back bed bugs.

Bed bugs are becoming a lot more common in the United States. Bed bugs can attach to your luggage and clothes when you travel as well.

Have you ever dealt with bed bugs? It is a nightmare. I had bed bugs in an apartment I had in college. I had a pest control company solve the issue. They put a giant sign on my door that said my apartment was invaded by bed bugs.

An email was sent out to all of the residents. It was pretty embarrassing.

I hate to break it to you, but bed bugs are often found in hotels and Airbnb's across the country. Many people will travel and have no idea that there are bed bugs where they are staying.

A lot of travelers will sleep in a bed bug-infested bed and the bed bugs will attach to either their clothes or luggage. Then the traveler comes home and the bed bugs will infest their home.

We don't want you to have this problem.

It is not extremely common for Colorado to have native bed bug infestations. When Coloradans have bed bugs, it is commonly attributed to traveling.

Here are three quick tips for checking for bed bugs when you travel.

I would recommend going ahead and purchasing a bed bug detector. It's easy and quick. That way you can have ease of mind.

Every year the pest control gurus at Orkin put together a list of the Top 50 Bed Bug Destinations in the United States. Which areas do you travel to that you should take extra care to watch out for these blood-sucking insects? Let's countdown to the most bed-bug-riddled city in the United States.

Gallery Credit: Scott Clow

Gallery Credit: Kelsey Nistel

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Colorado Travel Warning: Beware of Bed Bugs in These 50 Cities - K99

Theyre coming. And theyre coming to ruin your vacation and your sleep.

Bed bugs.

The ugly little pests that can cause huge infestations.

Currently, there are reports of a huge bed bug infestation in Paris and this news is not only concerning to residents of the city, but to travelers as well.

If you have a vacation planned soon, dont fret. Heres a breakdown of how to spot bed bugs, prevention and cities where they are most common.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD), Most people get bed bugs while traveling. Bed bugs are tiny insects that feed on human blood. They can crawl into a suitcase or onto clothing unnoticed.

However, it is possible to spot them. Here are some tips from AAD:

When you walk into the room or cabin, take a deep breath. Do you notice a sweet or musty odor? If there is a heavy infestation, you may notice this smell. Bed bugs produce chemicals to help them communicate.

Next, check the bed. Look carefully at the blankets, sheets, pillows and mattress pad. Then, check the mattress and box spring: Do you see blackish specks, which could be bed bug excrement? Specks of blood anywhere, especially near seams? Shell-like remains on the bed, bedding or furniture? Bed bugs have an outer shell that they shed and leave behind as they grow.

Youll also want to check all upholstered furniture. While checking, you may see bed bugs or their eggs. A bed bug is about the size of an apple seed.

If you find signs of bed bugs, you should immediately request another room or cabin. The other room should not be near the current room.

When you enter your room or cabin for the first time, place your suitcase on the luggage rack. If the room has bed bugs, they can crawl unnoticed from the bed or floor to your suitcase.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Since bed bugs are only about the width of a credit card, they can squeeze into really small hiding spots. If a crack will hold a credit card, it could hide a bed bug.

The EPA has a few specific ways to spot the ones that are harder to see:

Check in the seams of chairs and couches, between cushions, in the folds of curtains

Check in drawer joints

Check electrical receptacles and appliances

Look under loose wall paper and wall hangings

Look at the junction where the wall and the ceiling meet

Even look in the head of a screw

According to PestWorld.org: 97% of pest professionals have treated bed bugs in the past year and a majority of them (69%) say that bed bug problems are rising.

So, how can you prevent them from invading your home or ruining your vacation? Heres what Orkin says.

At home:

Inspect your home for signs of bed bugs regularly. Check the places where bed bugs hide during the day, including mattress tags and seams, and behind baseboards, headboards, electrical outlets and picture frames. Inspect when you move in, after a trip, when a service worker visits or after guests stay overnight.

Decrease clutter around your home to make it easier to spot bed bugs on your own or during professional inspections.

Examine all secondhand furniture before bringing it inside your home.

When traveling use the SLEEP method:

Survey the hotel room for signs of an infestation. Be on the lookout for tiny, ink-colored stains on mattress seams, in soft furniture and behind headboards.

Lift and look in bed bug hiding spots: the mattress, box spring and other furniture, as well as behind baseboards, pictures and even torn wallpaper.

Elevate luggage away from the bed and wall. The safest places are in the bathroom or on counters.

Examine your luggage carefully while repacking and once you return home from a trip. Always store luggage away from the bed.

Place all dryer-safe clothing from your luggage in the dryer for at least 30-45 minutes at the highest setting after you return home.

If youre looking to travel to one of these cities, it may be best to do some research about where you are planning to stay. Or perhaps add them to a do not travel list. Youve been warned.

In fact, according to Orkins list of Top 50 Bed Bug Cities, Ohio cities dominate the list. Six Ohio cities are listed: Cleveland-Akron, Columbus, Cincinnati, Youngstown, Dayton and Toledo. Yikes.

Cleveland-Akron was ranked number four on the list, followed by Columbus, Ohio at number 10, Cincinnati at number 13, Youngstown was ranked 27th, Dayton is listed at 34 and Toledo is listed at number 38.

Atlanta, Georgia made the list at number 16.

Here are the top ten:

Chicago

New York

Philadelphia

Cleveland-Akron, Ohio

Los Angeles

Detroit

Indianapolis

Baltimore

Washington, D.C.

Columbus, Ohio

Have more questions? Let me know at cmadden@mcclatchy.com

Originally posted here:
Bed bugs on vacay? Heres how to keep them from hitching a ride back home with you - AOL

After joining the list last year, Toledo saw the biggest jump moving up 23 spots to number 27. Denver and Charleston both broke into the top 20, and six new cities joined the top 50 list for the first time this year.

The list is based on treatment data from the metro areas where Orkin performed the most bed bug treatmentsfrom December 1, 2019 November 30, 2020. The ranking includes both residential and commercial treatments.

Typically, bed bugs are 3/16 inch long and are mostly nocturnal insects that come out of hiding to take blood meals from sleeping humans and are red to dark brown in color. Bed bugs are hematophagous, which means blood is their only food source. They can travel from place to place with ease, including items such as luggage, purses and other personal belongings.

"Bed bugs are a concern for everyone because they are master hitchhikers, traveling home with people when they likely don't realize it," said Ben Hottel, an Orkin entomologist. "Their nature of hiding in difficult-to-find cracks and crevices once introduced into a room can make them hard to control, which is why involving a trained professional at the sight of an introduction is recommended."

With the anticipation and excitement around 2021 travel, it's easy to forget that bed bugs are still very much a threat and should be top of mind for anyone who is itching to take a trip. Bed bugs can survive for several months while waiting for their next blood meal, so they're likely to emerge when a food source, humans, become available.

Whether you decide to travel or want to be proactive at your home, remember the acronym S.L.E.E.P. to inspect for bed bugs:

Celebrating a milestone anniversary this year, Orkin is proud to have achieved 120 years of business, an accomplishment that can be attributed to the company's ongoing commitment to excellent service. With well over a century of knowledge and experience with bed bugs and state-of-the-art tools and products, Orkin is well-equipped to assess your bed bug problem and mount a strategic response to rid your home of the pest and provide maximum protection.

For more information about bed bug prevention, visit Orkin.com. You can also find additional detection tips in Orkin's video on "How to Check for Bed Bugs in Hotel Rooms."

About Orkin, LLCFounded in 1901, Atlanta-based Orkin is an industry leader in essential pest control services and protection against termite damage, rodents and insects. Proudly celebrating 120years of business this year, the company is committed to excellent service and operates more than 400 locations with more than 8,000 employees. Through Orkin's Points of Service process Investigate, Protect, Fortify, Keep Watch, Report and Follow Up Orkin provides customized services to approximately 1.7 million homeowners and businesses in the United States and has nearly 100 international locations in more than 65 countries. 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. Learn more about Orkin atOrkin.com. Orkin is a wholly-owned subsidiary ofRollins Inc.(NYSE: ROL). Follow us onFacebook,LinkedIn, YouTubeand Instagram.

SOURCE Orkin, LLC

https://www.orkin.com

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New Year, New Top City on Orkin's 2021 Bed Bug Cities List: Chicago - PRNewswire

The pest-control company features a whopping six Ohio cities on its 2021 list of 50 metros that bed bugs love.

Bed bug nymphPhoto: Public Domain You can feel your skin crawling after reading that headline, cant you?

There may be a reason for that. Orkin, the national pest-control company, says that Cincinnati is among the top cities for bed bugs.

Cincinnati comes in at No. 8 on Orkins list of 50 bug-friendly cities for 2020, released on Feb. 1. The company based its list on data for metro areas with the most bed-bug treatments Dec. 1, 2019-Nov. 30, 2020. Orkin says the data includes both residential and commercial treatments.

But Cincinnati isnt the only Ohio location drawing warnings from Orkin. The Buckeye State has a whopping six cities that are bed-bug havens. Columbus is at No. 5, followed by Cleveland at No. 6., Toledo at No. 27, and Dayton at No. 28. Youngstown enters the list for the first time at No. 40.

Chicago tops Orkins list this year, followed by Baltimore and Washington, D.C.

Bed bugs are about 3/16 long and often move from location to location via purses and luggage.

Orkin says that bed bugs are a big issue, despite travel being limited in 2020 due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. And with vaccines now being distributed and people beginning to plan the years activities, things still could be itchy for 2021.

With the anticipation and excitement around 2021 travel, its easy to forget that bed bugs are still very much a threat and should be top of mind for anyone who is itching to take a trip, Orkin says in a release on its website. Bed bugs can survive for several months while waiting for their next blood meal, so theyre likely to emerge when a food source, humans, become available.

Hamilton County Public Health features a guide to bed bugs on its website, including how to prevent the insects from becoming a problem in the first place.

Indirect measures can go a long way in controlling bed bugs: monitoring for signs of bedbugs in your home, vacuuming regularly, and checking your belongings. Prevent bed bugs from getting into homes by checking clothing, used furniture and belongings before entering the home and monitor where you have visited. Continue to reduce clutter and unwanted items in your home and hire a professional exterminator to inspect your home if you suspect there are bedbugs, the website says..

In 2020, Orkin ranked the Queen City as No. 8.

Read the full list of cities that bed bugs apparently love on Orkins website.

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Congrats, Cincinnati! We're Among Orkin's Top Bed Bug Cities - Cincinnati CityBeat