NYC Bed Bug Registry Infestation Maps, Residential and Hotel

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Ask most city dwellers about their deepest fears, and bedbugs probably rank pretty high on the list. Whether you live in a penthouse or a garden apartment, bedbugs dont discriminate, and can drive you insane if they manage to infiltrate your space. Thats why its important to take proper precautions when trying to prevent (or deal with) an infestation. One of those precautions is to get a mattress cover, which professionals say can be a helpful tool for protecting your bed from the creepy-crawlies. But contrary to popular belief, mattress covers do not prevent a bedbug infestation, according to Timothy Wong, the technical director of New York Citybased, eco-friendly pest management company MMPC. Instead, Wong says that mattress covers help with early detection, because they provide a smooth, clean, white surface that makes it easy to spot any visual evidence of bedbugs. Two pieces of such evidence, according to John H. Brickman, the owner of NYC Bed Bug Inspections, are any live insects or black spotting from fecal matter.

In the event of an infestation, a mattress cover will also help preserve the integrity of your mattress, making it less likely youll have to throw it away, says Richard Kane, the founder of Bed Bug Pest Prep NYC. When it comes to selecting a bedbug mattress cover, Brickman says that the best ones are pretty much all the same, so it really comes down to comfort. Below, Wong, Kane, Brickman, and Matthew Moers, a co-owner of EZ Pest Exterminating, recommend their favorite bedbug mattress covers, along with additional encasements made for box springs and pillows. And remember, the battle of bedbugs is more psychological than anything else, says Kane. Getting rid of them isnt that hard when you stay calm and follow the experts advice.

SafeRest Premium Zippered Bedbug Proof Mattress Encasement

Wong notes that while buying a bedbug mattress cover is mostly a matter of personal preference and budget, he always recommends SafeRests mattress covers to his clients, due to their breathable material, washability, and well-designed zipper guard. According to him, what separates quality encasements from inferior ones is the zipper, and the best bedbug covers, like SafeRests, should prevent bedbugs from crawling through the zippers teeth, as well as have a zipper cover that prevents bedbugs from entering into the zippers seams. SafeRests covers are also completely waterproof, hypoallergenic, and machine-washable, he adds. Bedbug mattress covers are generally made from either cotton, polyester, or vinyl, all of which will keep bedbugs out of your mattress, Wong says. But the experts we spoke to suggested sticking with polyester of cotton, noting that the latter is generally the softest and most breathable material. Vinyl covers arent breathable and rip very easily because they have no stretch, Moers explains, adding that vinyl covers often have glued seams. To get the most out of your investment, Wong also suggests buying encasements that protect against both bedbugs and dust mites, like this one promises to.

A note on how to properly encase your mattress: Brickman says that you want to make sure your mattress encasement covers everything, including mattress toppers. You also want to make sure you put the zipper at the foot of the bed, away from your head, because thats where our bodies release the most bedbug-attracting carbon dioxide, he adds.

Linenspa Zippered Encasement

For a less-expensive alternative, Brickman recommends Linenspas mattress cover, which is made from waterproof, machine-washable polyester. (Wong says that polyester can give a similar feel to cotton, but is generally cheaper in cost.) I always recommend Linenspa, its cheap, and its great quality, Brickman told us. Like SafeRests covers, Linenspas encasements also protect mattresses from dust mites and allergens.

Linenspa Waterproof Bedbug Proof Box Spring Encasement Protector

If youre going to cover your mattress, youre going to want to cover your box spring as well, says Kane. Brickman agrees: Bedbugs love box springs, he says, because they tend to have more hollow spaces in between layers of wood and padding, which provide perfect living and breeding conditions. His pick is Linenspas polyester box-spring cover, which protects against dust mites, allergens, and liquids, as well as bedbugs. But he adds that, in a perfect world, he would have his clients get rid of their box springs all together, and instead put their mattress on a metal platform bed frame like this one from AmazonBasics, because the metal material is less bedbug-friendly than a wooden frame (or box spring). If clients must use a box spring, he will advise them to cover it with an encasement and still consider using a metal bed frame beneath.

Protect-A-Bed Box Spring Encasement, Queen

When it comes to box-spring covers, Kane also suggests going for a polyester cover, because he says the material is stretchy but less likely to tear. His preferred box-spring cover is from Protect-A-Bed. While it doesnt protect against dust mites, it is still excellent at keeping out bedbugs, according to him.

Allersoft 2 Pack Allergy and Bedbug Proof Pillow Cover

If you want to be extra vigilant, the pros say that investing in covers for your pillows is also a good idea. Pillow covers are designed to do the same thing as mattress or box-spring encasements, explains Brickman. They eliminate hiding spots on the pillow and make it easier for you to visually inspect for bugs on your own. He likes Allersofts cotton pillow covers, which protect against bedbugs, dust mites, and allergens. Brickman also suggests keeping bright white sheets on your bed since darker colors make it very difficult to visually inspect for evidence on your own. Because bedbugs breed so rapidly, being proactive is key, he concludes.

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The Best Bedbug Mattress Covers, According to Experts - New York Magazine

The resources on this page can help anyone prevent bed bug infestations, and safely control them if they do occur.

Bed Bug EducationHPD offers an e-Learning class about bedbugs, which can be taken at any time on any computer with internet access. The interactive class discusses what bedbugs are, explores myths about bedbugs and provides some information about identifying and eradicating bedbugs.

Bed Bug DataBed bug data on the prevalence of bed bugs in New York City from the NYC Community Health Survey can be viewed on the Environmental Public Health and Sustainability Tracking Portal. This site also provides information on pesticides and other household pests.

New Bedding RegulationsThe Department of State Division of Licensing Services has issued new bedding regulations which include mattress sanitizing standards for used bedding. See Other Resources for more information about bed bug and housing laws.

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Bedbugs Information for the General Public - New York City

NY Bedbug Dogs has been in the pest control industry for over 40 years. We provide results to thousands of customers in the greater NYC area and long island, ny.

NY Bed Bug Dogs offers bed bug extermination to residential and commerical customers in the NY Metropolitian area as well as New Jersey.

Our certified and highly trained bedbug dogs can pinpoint bed bug infestation areas in minutes. For example, a bed bug canine can search an average hotel room in less than 2 minutes! Once they find the infestation, then remediation of the bed bugs can be done working on the areas that need to be done producing fast results with less cost.

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Bed Bug Exterminator NYC | Bed Bug Control, Treatment in ...

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This is one superlative no one wants their city to win. Pest control company Orkin recently released its Top 50 Bed Bug Cities list, compiled with data of the places where Orkin performed the most treatments for bed bugs from December 2018 through November 2019. The reality is that bed bugs have shown up in cities and towns all across America, from mansions to cramped apartments. Theyve been increasing in number in the United States since the turn of the century due to increased travel and limitations on certain insecticides, but numbers have been especially high in these cities. Theres not too much you can do to stop them; early detection is critical because there is no foolproof way to keep them out of your home. Here are the warning signs youre about to have a bed bug problem.

Taking first place on the listand stealing the not-so-coveted top spot from Baltimore which held it for three years in a rowwas Washington, D.C. (Baltimore still placed second.) Clearly, bed bugs love the Chesapeake Bay area. These two cities were followed, in order, by Chicago; Los Angeles; and Columbus, Ohio, which all retained their spots from last year to round out the top (bottom?) five.

Cities six through ten were New York; Detroit; Cincinnati; Indianapolis; and Atlanta. Indianapolis, at spot nine in 2020, jumped a whoppingfive spotsfrom last year. Indianas capital, new to the top ten, moved Philadelphia out of the leading cities (though it only dropped to number 12). No matter where you are, beds arent the only places youll find these peststhis is how to find (and get rid of) bed bugs in your car.

So if you live in or are visiting any of these cities, its wise to be a little more vigilant about your susceptibility to bed bugs and maybe stock up on a bed bug killer like this. According to the CDC, bed bugs often come into contact with people by way of luggage, bags, clothes, bedding, furniture, or anywhere they can easily hide and hitch a ride. Always inspect hotel rooms or any place you might be stayingheres a guide to how to do so properly. Now, make sure you know these16 secrets for getting rid of bed bugs.

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This City Has the Worst Bed Bug Infestation in America - Reader's Digest

Photo: Tom Kelley Archive/Getty Images

The first step to getting rid of bedbugs is making sure you actually have bedbugs. I would say at least 50 percent of the samples sent to us turn out not to be bedbugs, says Gil Bloom, president of Standard Pest Management. But that doesnt mean those tiny, flat bugs arent out there, waiting to hop onto your jacket or your roommates backpack and infest your mattress. Its unfortunately a fact of life in the city, admits Bloom, an entomologist with more than 40 years of experience, including a stint as an appointed member of Mayor Bloombergs Bed Bug Advisory Board. And the ubiquity of bedbugs is exactly why its important to stay calm. Yes, its very rough, but by dealing with it with fact and not fear, people get over it and move on.

So no, youre not going to get sick from bedbugs, and you will probably be able to get rid of bedbugs without throwing out all of your belongings. But knowing what you need to get rid of bedbugs and how bedbug treatment works will probably help you feel a little bit calmer. To find out exactly what you need to know about treating and getting rid of bedbugs, we spoke with Bloom and Timothy Wong, the technical director of New York Citybased, eco-friendly pest management company MMPC. Below, they recommend the best ways to kill bedbugs and the products you can buy to help stop them from infesting your apartment in the first place or, at the very least, to catch them early enough so they dont become a bigger problem.

Henkel-Loctite Tite Foam Insulating Foam Sealant, White

With bedbugs, and any pests, you want to isolate your apartment from the other units as much as possible to prevent infestations from spreading through the building, explains Bloom. The best way to do that is by going along the edges of your apartment and filling in any gaps and cracks in the walls like, say, around where a radiator pipe might protrude from. Filling these sorts of gaps is especially important in bedbug-prone areas like bedrooms, according to Bloom, who says the best way to close them up is with some type of sealant. When it comes to sealants, he says to avoid regular caulk because it dries up and cracks, which doesnt keep anything out. Instead, Bloom suggests this polyurethane-based foam sealant, which comes with an easy-to-use applicator to reach tight spaces.

DAP Dynaflex Crystal Clear Sealant

Unlike silicone or foam, Wongs preferred sealant from Dap is completely clear, not shiny, and paintable, but still water-resistant. He adds that sealing cracks doesnt just prevent bedbugs from entering your apartment, but also eliminates places where they can hide and seek safe harbor.

CimeXa Insecticide Dust, 4 Ounces

For extra protection, another good product to apply to gaps and cracks is silica gel. Silica gel is a desiccant, meaning its a drying dust that also works as an insecticide, explains Bloom. Like sealants, he says to apply this in areas where bedbugs are likely to emerge from, such as crevices at the base of closets and along bedroom moldings. After applying this, if any bedbugs come through those areas, Bloom says the odds are good that theyll cross the silica gel, which will dry them out and kill them. Just note that if using both silica gel and sealant, the silica gel should be applied first, then coated with the sealant.

SafeRest Premium Box Spring Encasement, Queen Size

A common misconception is that bedbugs hide and breed in your mattress. Turns out, box springs are actually the No. 1 harborage site, according to Bloom, because their raw wood and padding provide the perfect conditions for the bugs to live and breed. According to our experts, investing in an exterminator-approved box spring encasement like this one from SafeRest which zips closed and is made from durable polyester coated in a water- and bedbug-proof layer will make it harder for them to multiply.

LINENSPA Zippered Encasement, Queen Size

Once you have your box spring covered (literally), adding another level of protection by covering your mattress is always a good bet. Keeping both the mattress and the box spring covered will help keep an infestation at bay. Plus, a cover also provides a clean, white surface, so if bedbugs do show up, theyre more easily detected and found, explains Bloom.

SureFire Sidekick Ultra-Compact Triple-Output Keychain Light

Since bedbugs tend to hide in dark areas, they can be tough to see, which is why Bloom suggests adding an adjustable LED flashlight to your arsenal. He loves the SureFire Sidekick because it has three settings, fits in your pocket, is USB-charging, and gives you as little or as much power as you need.

Catchmaster Insect Traps, 36 Boards

If theyve managed to breach your defenses, passive monitor traps are an inexpensive way to detect bedbugs early. Bloom promises that the boards do not attract bedbugs at all, but will often trap any that are already in your room, alerting you to the problem before it gets completely out of control. He likes these ones from Catchmaster because they contain less glue than similar traps on the market (high-glue content traps, while good at catching other insects, are actually somewhat repellant to bedbugs). Bloom says to place them in innocuous areas like the base of closets, behind the bed or night tables, and areas around radiators so they stay out of sight. You dont want to go into your bedroom and be surrounded by traps, he adds.

VonHaus 600W 2-in01 Corded Lightweight Upright Stick & Handheld Vacuum Cleaner with HEPA Filtration Includes Crevice Tool & Brush Accessories

According to Bloom, If you do have bedbugs and youre in a rental unit, the landlord is responsible for the service, so youd want to contact yours and about the issue immediately. The next most important thing to do is follow the pest-control contractors instructions and prep for their visit. Any infested areas should be thoroughly vacuumed before an exterminator arrives, Bloom says, because bedbugs could otherwise find shelter in lingering dust and debris. He recommends getting a vacuum with two features. The first is a HEPA filter, so that when you vacuum, youre not blowing allergens around the house. The second is a crack-and-crevice nozzle, so you can get to hard-to-reach places where bedbugs may be hiding. This inexpensive vacuum cleaner fulfills both requirements.

Medi-Pak Water Soluble Laundry Bags, Pack of 25

Once you have bed bugs, youll need to wash and dry any clothing or bedding that you dont want to part with. But you want to be sure to wash and dry clothes on a high heat setting, since heat is what will actually kill the bedbugs, not the water itself. Wong adds that, for removing clothing for laundry, we recommend people use water-soluble bags. This way, all of your infested things can be sealed off in the bag (which dissolves in the washing machine), minimizing the risk of contaminating your non-infected stuff or other peoples. As Wong notes, bags like this are especially important for people using public washer and dryers, whether at a laundromat or in an apartment building.

Rowenta X-Cel Powerful Handheld Garment and Fabric Steamer

Should any bedbugs or their eggs make it onto items you cant run through the washer and dryer, a garment steamer would be a great way to kill them, Wong says. Adult bedbugs and their eggs will die when they come in contact with something that is 120 degrees Fahrenheit and higher, he explains, and steam is only produced when water temperature reaches 212 Fahrenheit (making it an effective alternative to dry cleaning). If you choose to use a steamer, Bloom says to make sure you treat items over a tub, so if any bugs fall, theyre contained. While Wong says you can find a variety of inexpensive steamers that all work about the same, this Strategist-approved steamer comes recommended by contributor Shannon Adducci. Unlike wimpy versions that puff more than steam, she writes that the handheld X-Cel sports a wide stainless steel head that blasts powerful bursts of hot mist, which will likely kill bugs on contact.

The ZappBug Oven 2

On small items that cant be washed or dried, you can even use a hairdryer to kill bedbugs, Bloom says. But for larger belongings, like luggage or certain pieces of furniture, he recommends a heat tent, like the ZappBug Oven, which he calls very effective. The ZappBug Oven can also be used for books, files, or paperwork that obviously will not survive a trip through the washer (or a hit with a steamer). The tent will heat up to somewhere between between 120 Fahrenheit and 155 Fahrenheit, and has a digital thermometer to ensure it reaches the desired temperature. And it automatically turns off once the cycle has been completed. Since it is powered by electricity, he does advise that people make sure they have strong wiring in their apartments, so the heat tent doesnt keep tripping circuit breakers or fuses.

Solimo 91% Isopropyl Alcohol, Pack of 6

For yet another way to kill bed bugs and their eggs on contact, Wong suggests 91 percent isopropyl alcohol, which he says is cheaper than most insecticides. We recommend our clients use this when treating or cleaning items that might be contaminated with bedbugs, he told us, cautioning that you would not use this on clothing or bedding, but rather floors or other surfaces that have been contaminated. To ensure you are only applying it where it needs to go, Wong also recommends getting an easy-to-use spray bottle, which he says will also make cleaning a little less backbreaking.

Ziploc Big Bags, XXL Double Zipper Bag, 3 Pack

Once laundered, the best type of bags for storing clean clothing or personal items are these XXL Double Zipper Ziplock Storage Bags, according to Wong. While regular trash bags can be used, people often fail to seal them properly, he explains. In addition to their secure zip-closures, these are made with a heavy-duty plastic so theyre less likely to break. They also have convenient built-in handles.

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Every editorial product is independently selected. If you buy something through our links, New York may earn an affiliate commission.

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Everything You Need to Prevent and Get Rid of Bedbugs, According to Experts - New York Magazine

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. A big chunk of the New York City subway system was brought to a standstill the other day, stranding thousands upon thousands of riders.

No, there wasnt a derailment. Or a person on the tracks. Or a power failure. Or some problem with the ancient signal system.

It wasnt the resignation of NYC Transit president Andy Byford sending a shock wave through the system.

It was bed bugs.

Well, it was one bed bug, which a transit worker noticed at a subway control tower in Queens.

The tower had to be evacuated, affecting service on the E, F, M and R lines for hours, until the premises could be fumigated. Without personnel in the tower, the trains just couldnt be turned around in a timely fashion.

One bed bug? My gut tells me that if youve got one bed bug, youve got more. But the point is how easily a major portion of the subway system can be disrupted.

The bed bug that roared, bringing a whole transit system to its knees. Protestors and terrorists take note!

While even the cleanest places can have bed bugs, its just disgusting that any one of us could find one of those creepy crawlers on the subway. And bring it back to our own homes. Whom do I sue if the MTA causes a bed bug infestation in my house?

When we get all those billions of dollars for the subways from congestion pricing, maybe we should build some redundancies into the system, so that if one control tower goes out of service, theres another facility ready to pick up the slack.

The Queens bed bug stoppage came a day after a dead homeless man was discovered on the D train, covered in bed bugs.

So it looks like the subway has a bed bug problem. And the city overall has a problem when people are being found dead on the subway system. That speaks to a whole host of problems, in fact.

Also last week, the Patrolmens Benevolent Association tweeted out a video of a subway car entirely covered with graffiti.

Theres nothing that screams city on the wrong track more than when subway cars again become rolling canvases for graffiti vandals. Or artists, depending on your viewpoint and your age.

Its not the first time weve seen a graffiti train recently. So it looks like the trend of tagging subway cars with graffiti is making a comeback after being pretty much eradicated in the 1990s.

I know I sound like a get off my damn lawn guy here, but believe me when I tell you that graffiti always looks more colorful and artsy when its not in your own neighborhood. Or when you dont have to sit on a subway seat or ferry bench that looks wet with spray paint.

And by the way? Not every graffiti vandal was a subway Picasso. A lot of them were pretty lousy painters.

This should be a problem easy enough to address, as most of the graffiti vandalism takes place while the subway cars are at rest in storage yards, not when theyre actually rolling on the tracks. Lets increase efforts to crack down on these crimes, and to punish those caught doing it. If our newly progressive criminal justice system will allow it, that is. I have my doubts.

So, yeah, lets ring the bad old days bell again. Because its getting too darn easy to see the signs for ourselves without even looking.

Sure, the gritty, downtown, punk-rock, no-wave 1980s produced a lot of great art, music and fashion. But it was also a dirty and dangerous time to live in New York City.

We dont want to go back there again. Believe me.

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Graffiti trains, subway bed bugs more signs of a city on the wrong track (opinion) - SILive.com

Over the course of 2019, the pest control company Orkin says they mitigated more bedbug infestations in the D.C. region than any other metro area in the country.

Our region has been jumping up and down the rankings for years now. Baltimore has been the top hotbed for bedbugs for the past three years. The home of the Orioles is now sitting in second place, followed by Chicago, Los Angeles, Columbus and New York City.

Orkins data is only one snapshot of the bedbug issue in the D.C. area; our region is particularly hospitable to the parasites, and ways to get rid of them range from chemical fumigation to essential oils. The bugs, once functionally eradicated, are increasingly prolific and stubborn housemates.

And theyre especially difficult to get rid of if you dont know whos responsible for doing it. D.C. has notoriously vague laws governing whether you or your landlord has to pay for extermination. In many cases, this stalemate leads to an increasingly severe infestation sometimes to a point thats unlivable, and even dangerous, for human residents.

Kojo sits down with experts to suss out just why were number ranked number one for bedbugs, and what hope there might be to fix it.

Produced by Maura Currie

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The District Of Co-... Habitating With Bedbugs? - The Kojo Nnamdi Show

Its enough to make your skin crawl.

A dead homeless man was found covered in bed bugs on an uptown D train Tuesday night, according to police sources.

Straphangers reported the grisly discovery and alerted police when the train pulled into Manhattans 59th Street-Columbus Circle station around 8:40 p.m., sources said.

The man was pronounced dead on the scene, sources said. It was unclear how long he had been dead.

Police are trying to identify the man, who is believed to be in his 40s, and they did not expect foul play.

The medical examiner will determine the cause of death.

The death was reported the same day the city released data on its six-month-old program aimed at getting homeless subway dwellers into shelters. The project has only experienced a 36.8 percent take-up rate, according to the city.

Reports of dead bodies on the trains typically increase during the winter when more homeless New Yorkers head underground, the union representing transit workers told the Post.

Nelson Rivera, administrative vice president for the union, Transport Workers Union Local 100, said the city has been failing to adequately address the homeless crisis, leaving workers and riders to deal with occasionally traumatizing discoveries.

Its a sad situation every winter this is prevalent because you have people seeking shelter on the trains, Rivera said. But the police come to take these people and there are no resources and nowhere to take them. They get bounced around.

A rider had first flagged the D trains conductor about the body, who then called in the corpse to the MTAs Rail Control Center, according to a union source.

At that point, it wasnt clear if the person was still alive.

The conductor said he couldnt tell and he wasnt going to touch him, the source said.

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Dead homeless man found covered in bed bugs on subway train - New York Post

Washington, D.C. beat Baltimore this year for the top spot on Orkin's 2020 bed bug cities listGot bugs? Many cities do, if it is bed bugs that are the target. Washington, D.C. is ringing in the new decade as the number one city on Orkin's Top 50 Bed Bug Cities list, topping Baltimore, which fell to the second spot after three years as the frontrunner. And this year, Indianapolis joined the top of the list.

Flint saw the biggest jump moving 16 spots to number 31 after only joining the list in 2018. Pittsburgh and Champaign both broke into the top 20, and Myrtle Beach and Toledo joined the top 50 list for the first time.

The list is based on treatment data from the metro areas where Orkin performed the most bed bug treatments from December 1, 2018 November 30, 2019. The ranking includes both residential and commercial treatments.

1. Washington, D.C. 2. Baltimore 3. Chicago4. Los Angeles5. Columbus, OH6. New York7. Detroit 8. Cincinnati 9. Indianapolis10. Atlanta 11. Cleveland, OH12. Philadelphia 13. San Francisco 14. Raleigh, NC 15. Norfolk 16. Champaign, IL17. Dallas 18. Grand Rapids 19. Pittsburgh20. Charlotte 21. Richmond, VA 22. Greenville, SC 23. Knoxville, TN 24. Buffalo, NY 25. Greensboro, NC 26. Charleston, WV27. Denver28. St. Louis 29. Nashville 30. Lansing 31. Flint 32. Miami 33. Milwaukee 34.Tampa 35. Omaha 36. Orlando 37. Davenport, IA38. Houston 39. Syracuse 40. Boston 41. Cedar Rapids, IA42. Myrtle Beach (new to list)43. Seattle 44. San Diego45. Phoenix46. Fort Wayne, IN 47. Las Vegas 48. Hartford, CT 49. Dayton, OH 50. Toledo, OH (new to list)

"While bed bugs have not been found to transmit any diseases to humans, they can be an elusive threat to households," said Chelle Hartzer, an Orkin entomologist. "They are excellent hitchhikers, and they reproduce quickly which make it nearly impossible to prevent bed bugs. Sanitation has nothing to do with where you'll find them."

Bed bugs, which are typically 4-5 mm in length and red to dark brown in color, can travel from place to place with ease, including luggage, purses and other belongings. Normally nocturnal, bed bugs will come out of hiding to take blood meals from sleeping or quietly resting humans.

According to the 2018 "Bugs without Borders Survey" by the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), 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.

Bed bugs are known for rapid population growth. Females can deposit one to five eggs a day and may lay 200 to 500 eggs in their lifetime. Under normal room temperatures and with an adequate food supply, they can live for more than 300 days, often making treatment challenging.

"The key to preventing a bed bug infestation is early detection," Hartzer said. "When one or more bed bugs enter a space, we call it an introduction. During an introduction, bed bugs probably haven't started reproducing yet, but they could soon. Vigilance is key to stopping bed bugs before infestation levels."

Tell-tale signs of a bed bug introduction could include small black spots indicating bed bug feces or nymph bed bugs in places such as mattress seams, bed frames and furniture. Their small size and ability to hide make them difficult to see during the day, so it's important to look for the black, ink-like stains they can leave behind.

Here are proactive tips Orkin recommends for travelers:

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

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 15 minutes at the highest setting after you return home.

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Where the Bed Bugs Roam - Business Traveler USA

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ST. LOUIS -The bad news for people who live in St. Louis, the city still remains in the Top 50 of the most bed-bug infested cities in the country.

So which cities have it the worst when it comes to these bloodsuckers? Pest control company Orkin released its list of top 50-cities for bed bugs and it seems Washington, DC is also the capital of bedbugs. Baltimore ranked second on the list followed by Chicago and Los Angeles.

St. Louis ranked 28th which is well below other large metro cities like Cleveland ranking in the Top 11 on the list.

Orkin says bed bugs travel easily from place to place in items like luggage and purses with hotels spending an average of $63,000 dollars per bedbug incident.

Orkinsays it bases its list on the number of residential and commercial treatments in metro areas.

The Top 15 cities, according to Orkin, are:

1. Washington, D.C.

2. Baltimore

3. Chicago

4. Los Angeles

5. Columbus

6. New York

7. Detroit

8. Cincinnati

9. Indianapolis

10. Atlanta

11. Cleveland

12. Philadelphia

13. San Francisco

14. Raleigh, NC

15. Norfolk

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Heres where St. Louis ranks in top bed-bug infested cities - KTVI Fox 2 St. Louis