NYC Bed Bug Registry Infestation Maps, Residential and Hotel

New law forces landlords to notify tenants of bed bug infestations in NY  MSN

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New law forces landlords to notify tenants of bed bug infestations in NY - MSN

Hudson Valley Teen Killed In Crash, Others In Critical Condition  Hudson Valley Post

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Hudson Valley Teen Killed In Crash, Others In Critical Condition - Hudson Valley Post

Bed bugs are a worldwide nuisance and have become a growing problem.

Bed bugs are small, parasitic insects that feed on the blood of humans or animals. They do not transmit diseases, but their bites can cause itching, discomfort, and allergic reactions.

Bed bugs are experts at hiding in small spaces; spotting them requires close inspection particularly of sleeping areas. Bed bugs are most active at night when people are sleeping. During the day, they hide in dark, concealed places such as the seams of mattresses, bed frames, furniture crevices, baseboards, and even electrical outlets.

Bed bugs are reddish-brown in color. They do not have wings. They are small (about the size of an apple seed or smaller) and flat, which allows them to squeeze into tiny spaces.

Bed bugs can survive for months without feeding, which allows them to remain hidden until the conditions are right for them to emerge. For this reason, many people may have an infestation without realizing it until it becomes active.

Even when the bugs are active, low-level infestations are hard to detect, and most people only see signs of bed bugs rather than the bugs themselves. If you have a large number of bed bugs, you may see the bugs.

The first signs of bed bugs are often small, itchy bites on your skin, face, neck, arms, hands, or other body parts that you notice after arising from sleep. Bed bug bites typically occur in clusters rather than as individual bites. However, some people may not show any marks or experience any itching at all.

Other signs that suggest you may have bed bugs in your home include:

The only way to stop bed bug bites is to eliminate the bugs. Identifying and eliminating the infestation early can prevent the bugs from spreading and causing further discomfort.

Dermatologists and pest control experts recommend carefully looking for signs of bed bugs in and around areas where people sleep. To perform a bed bug inspection, follow these steps:

If you suspect a bed bug infestation, act quickly to prevent it from getting worse. Female bed bugs lay one to three eggs per day.

If you choose to handle a bed bug infestation on your own, there are more than 300 products approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to control bed bugs. You can use the EPA's Bed Bug Product Search tool to find the best pesticide for your needs.

Consider hiring a professional pest control service experienced in bed bug eradication for severe infestations. They may use heat treatments, insecticides, or other methods to eliminate pests effectively.

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How to check for bed bugs and what to do if you find them

Species of true bug

Oncopeltus fasciatus, known as the large milkweed bug, is a medium-sized hemipteran (true bug) of the family Lygaeidae.[2] It is distributed throughout North America, from Central America through Mexico and the Caribbean to southern areas in Canada.[2] Costa Rica represents this insect's southern limit.[3] It inhabits disturbed areas, roadsides, and open pastures.[4] Due to this widespread geographic distribution, this insect exhibits varying life history trade-offs depending on the population location, including differences in wing length and other traits based on location.[5][6]

Adults can range from 11 to 12mm in length and have a red/orange and black X-shaped pattern on their wings underneath the triangle that is typical to hemipterans.[7] This feature makes the bug easily seen, acting as an aposematic warning to predators of distastefulness. O. fasciatus exhibits Mllerian mimicry and is noxious to predators. The ventral side of the fourth abdominal segment bears a black band in the male and two black spots in the female. Juveniles are born mostly red with black antennae and a few black spots, throughout growth the black spots are developed as well as wing pads. Eggs of this insect are bright orange and easily detectable.[8][9]

This large milkweed bug is a hemimetabolous insect, meaning it grows in stages called instars and goes through incomplete metamorphosis, exhibiting small changes throughout development such as coloration changes, development of wings and genitalia. O. fasciatus begins as an egg and experiences four nymphal stages over 2830 days before moulting to adulthood.[10] Females become sexually receptive within a few days of adulthood. Geographic location has a large effect on egg production rate and clutch size, although the intrinsic increase in reproduction depends on to what the individual is acclimated. For example, two close populations (60km apart) residing on a sharp incline have differing optimal reproduction temperatures, where the cooler (higher) adapted population is at 23C and the warmer (lower) population is adapted to 27C. Highest clutch size occurs in Puerto Rico, Florida, and Texas populations at 30-50 eggs per clutch. Lowest clutch size was found in California at 25-30 eggs per clutch. Iowa and Maryland (northern populations) exhibited a clutch size in between the two extremes from 25 to 35 eggs per clutch.

In favourable conditions (tropics) reproduction occurs continuously all year round, in less-favourable conditions (temperate zones) reproduction occurs during the warmer months.[11] Reproducing when migrants arrive introduces gene flow between northern and southern populations, this provides an advantage to the midrange populations (variable climates) because females then can ensure genetic variability. The milkweed bug can produce from one to three generations per year depending on climate and geographic location. O. fasciatus exhibits strong selection for survival and will halt reproduction as a trade-off if conditions are not ideal.

Diapause occurs on short days and on cold days in temperate regions and occasionally occurs during dry season in tropical regions. Most populations of the milkweed bug overwinter, usually after migration to their overwintering sites due to environmental triggers such as temperature and photoperiod.[12] However, photoperiod only predicts overwintering in areas where day length affects the maturation of milkweeds. Therefore, no overwintering occurs in tropical regions, as it does not supply an adaptive advantage.

O. fasciatus can be separated into migrators and nonmigrators. Palmer and Dingle[13] showed that northern populations such as the one in Iowa show the greatest tendency for long-distance flight and are highly migratory. Oppositely, southern populations such as those in Puerto Rico show the lowest tendency and are sedentary.[14] Southern populations grow seasonally as migrants first appear in late spring and mid-summer.[15] A migratory syndrome has been described in the northern population, meaning that traits such as wing length, fecundity, developmental time and flight duration are all genetically correlated. Groeters and Dingle[16] suggested that selection is specific to the populations environment due to the small correlations between life-history strategies across geographic ranges. A trade-off between migration and life history traits may be the causation of such a wide geological distribution. Attisano[17] suggested that genetic factors as well as environmental cues trigger migration in some individuals. Since long duration flights decrease with decreasing latitude, temperature is a strong factor influencing the migration. Also, this movement correlates with flowering of milkweeds which provides further evidence that environmental triggers relate to migration. Larger females are thought to allocate resources to migration simply because they have more to spare. Smaller individuals are thought to deploy alternative mechanisms; one being the reabsorption of oocytes for energy. The fact that these insects return to northern environments after migration could be the influence of a genetic predisposition or selected for due to crowding and increased intraspecific competition for resources in the southern areas.[18]

Tropical populations migrate shorter distances than temperate populations because spatial variation of their choice host is much greater, so it is advantageous to seek new plant congregations rather than tolerate the depletion of resources.

O. fasciatus is a specialist herbivore that frequently consumes milkweed seeds.[19] In addition to its plant-based diet, O. fasciatus has been observed feeding on aphids, monarch caterpillar eggs, and larvae, displaying opportunistic behavior.[4][20]

This bug also feeds on A. nivea, Sarcostemma clausa, Calotropis procera, and Nerium oleander. The southern populations often consume Asclepias curassavica, a tropical milkweed.[citation needed] When given sunflower seeds in a laboratory, this bug obtained 90% of their lipids, 50% of their protein and 20% of their carbohydrates, making it an efficient feeder.[19] Toxic compounds in milkweeds are also sequestered, giving this insect its toxicity.

Adults wander during the daytime in search of food since milkweeds live in patches that can vary in size and distance apart from one another. When a follicle is found, they inject saliva into it through their long rostrums, this pre-digests the seed and allows O. fasciatus to suck it up through their anterior pump and pharynx. Often, multiple individuals feed on one follicle, suggesting that a signal is released by feeding individuals that indicates a good food source. It has been shown that adults are more likely to find a food source when another adult is already feeding on it, further supporting the signaling concept. Occasionally, females are seen feeding on shedding exoskeletons from moulting individuals. Rarely, cannibalization is observed in laboratory settings.[21]

Juveniles of O. fasciatus require the seed of milkweed plants for development and growth. Adults can survive on other types of seeds, such as sunflower, watermelon, almond, and cashew, as shown in lab populations. Nymphs live in large groups of about 20 individuals on the plant.[11] Juveniles have a discontinuous, three-part gut that acts similarly to a crop, ventriculus, and ileum, but these are all three parts of the midgut, and there is no connection to the true ileum prior to the adult stage.[19] During the final instar of development, oil accumulates, perhaps to allow for more efficient absorption of nutrients, aid in osmoregulation or to preserve cleanliness of the habitat. It is expelled within 24 hours after the molt to adult, once a patent connection forms between the midgut and ileum.[19]

This insect is often used as a model organism and reared for laboratory experiments due to being easy to rear and handle, short developmental time, few instars, and high fecundity.[22] The phylogenetic placement of O. fasciatus is ideal to use as an outgroup to make comparisons to more derived holometabolous insects, acting as a valuable organism for the study of evolutionary patterns.

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Large milkweed bug - Wikipedia

It happened. You see the welt (or welts). You feel the itch. You know youve been bitten by ... something?

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But what was it that got you? And what do you do about it?

In truth, it can be hard to tell.

Its not always possible to identify bug bites and know where they came from, but there can be some telltale signs. And knowing what youve been bitten by can matter in determining how to treat it and understanding whether you need medical attention, says emergency physician Christopher Bazzoli, MD.

Bug bites are common occurrences. And often, itchy, miserable ones. And, sometimes, disease-causing ones.

Dr. Bazzoli shares some ways to identify common bug bites and his advice for what to do about them.

Our world is, for better or worse, full of insects that depend on biting us and other animals to survive. And while no one likes playing buffet to the minibeasts, bug bites can happen just about anywhere: the beach, the woods, hotel rooms, and your own home and yard as well.

Theyre everywhere.

So, when you get that telltale itch, it can be tough to know when it happened, where it happened or what kind of creepy crawly is to blame.

Here are some of the common offenders.

Mosquito bites are perhaps the most ubiquitous bug bites around. Theyre common around the world, with mosquitoes inhabiting every corner of the globe, save for Antarctica.

Fun fact: Only female mosquitoes bite. So, if you think about it, thats only half the population of those little pests who are out to get you. (Hooray for silver linings!)

Identifying mosquito bites: Mosquito bites cause itchy, raised bumps on your skin. There may be just one or you may have several depending on how many bugs were snacking on you. If you look closely, you may also see a dark spot in the center. Thats the bite mark itself. The swelling and itching around it is your bodys immune system reacting to the bite.

What to watch for: Some mosquitos can carry disease. And you wont know from looking at the bite whether youre at risk. Itll just look like a typical mosquito bite. Symptoms come later, typically, within a week or two.

If youre feeling sick, like having fevers, chills, aches, pains or a rash thats spreading and youve been bitten by a bug, its worth it to reach out to a healthcare professional, like a primary care physician, Dr. Bazzoli advises. "Because some mosquitoes can carry illnesses that can be very dangerous.

While most mosquito bites are typically nothing but a nuisance, mosquitoes can carry diseases, like:

Unlike some bugs that come and nibble and you never knew they were there, horseflies tend to make their appearance known.

Identifying horsefly bites: Horsefly bites tend to be painful. Thats because horseflies actually tear into your skin to feed. By the time you feel the prick and shoo the little bugger away, the damage has probably been done.

Horsefly bites tend to be somewhat painful, red and oh-so-itchy. You may find a small bit of blood near the bite, too.

That old thing your parents said when they were tucking you in bed (Sleep tight, dont let the bed bugs bite)? It suddenly takes on a much more ominous meaning when you learn that bed bugs are real. And theyre tiny biting machines.

Identifying bed bug bites: Bed bug bites leave red welts on the skin that are typically in a line of three or more. Thats because bed bugs will stop to feed, move a few teeny steps, then feed again, move again, feed again and so on.

Pro-tip for finding bed bugs: If you suspect you may have bed bugs, the best place to search for them is ... well, in your bed. And if you use white sheets, those little dark-colored bugs can be easier to spot.

Bed bugs tend to leave little streaks, like skid marks, on the sheets. And they can be easier to spot on a white or very light-colored background, Dr. Bazzoli points out.

If you do spot bed bugs, a healthcare provider may prescribe an insecticide wash to clean any bugs off your skin. Wash your sheets, pillowcases and upholstery well in hot water, and bleach them if possible, to kill off any remaining critters.

Often, people associate fleas with pets, and its true that your furry friend can be a fleas bestie. But you dont have to be a pet owner to fall victim to flea bites.

Fleas tend to congregate in shady areas, like under trees and in tall grasses. Being out in flea-infested areas can leave you prone to bites. And if you do have a pet, fleas can hop on for a ride and make their way into your home. There, they set up shop in your carpet, furniture and more.

Identifying flea bites: Flea bites usually look like an array of tiny, red itchy spots. Often, youll find them near your feet and ankles. Thats because fleas are usually found close to the ground.

Chiggers are microscopic mites that are nearly invisible to the eye. But when they come at you, their bites can leave a big mark.

Theyre common among kids after playing around in grassy or wooded areas, but they can affect anyone.

Identifying chigger bites: Chigger bites form in a line of small, red spots and are intensely itchy. They tend to congregate around sock lines, waistband areas, bra lines and folds in your skin. Chigger bites are at their peak itchiness about 24 to 48 hours after the bite.

Unlike the insects that take a nibble and fly off before you know it, ticks hang around. They hop on, latch on and stick around until theyre full. And that can take a while. More than a day, if theyre really hungry.

Identifying tick bites: You may not notice that you have a tick biting on you until it feeds for a while. Thats because ticks get bigger as they fill up. (Think Violet Beauregarde turning into a blueberry in Willy Wonka.)

If you notice a bug on you that cant be swatted away, its probably safe to assume that its a tick and its good and latched. Grab your tweezers and follow these steps to remove it safely.

The bite a tick leaves behind may look like a small, hard red dot.

Taking precautions with tick bites: If you successfully removed a tick quickly, youre less likely to have any lasting effects. But ticks that have been feeding on you for a while typically 24 hours or more can put you at risk for tick-borne diseases, like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

Lyme disease is usually characterized by its bullseye-like appearance. You may notice a red circle surrounded by a red ring. Lyme disease can have lasting effects on your health if not treated properly.

Lyme disease is only spread by an infected deer tick (also called black-legged ticks), Dr. Bazzoli clarifies. If you find a tick, its really helpful to your healthcare provider if you can send them a photo of it. Because if its the wrong kind of tick, then we dont even have to worry about Lyme disease.

Rocky Mountain spotted fever causes headaches, fevers and a rash and can be life-threatening if not treated quickly.

If youve been bitten by a tick, keep an eye out for the following two weeks and seek medical attention for signs of illness, like:

If youre concerned about whether you may be at risk for tick-borne illness, Dr. Bazzoli suggests checking out the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Preventions Tick Bite Bot. It will lead you through a series of questions to help you decide whether to seek treatment. It will ask about things like:

If theres one thing to know about spider bites, Dr. Bazzoli says that its this: Spiders get blamed for a lot of stuff they didnt do. Most spiders in the United States dont have big enough fangs to actually break through your skin. So, typically, its some other culprit.

There are, of course, some spiders that can bite you and leave a mark. But youll usually be well aware of what happened. So, if you wake up with a bug bite and immediately conclude it must have been a spider in your sheets, maybe try cutting the spiders some slack.

But two spiders in particular can leave bite marks that can leave you in a world of hurt.

Theres a reason theyre called recluses. Thats because brown recluse spiders tend to keep to themselves. They might hole themselves up in places you havent been in a while, like a pile of boxes in the garage or a stack of wood in the backyard.

Typically, if youre bitten by a brown recluse spider, it happens when youre reaching for something and scare them. Not because theyre coming for you, like the movies would have you believe, Dr. Bazzoli notes. So, we tend to see bites on the arms and hands.

A bite from a brown recluse spider might start out looking like your typical red, swollen welt. But over the course of a few days, it can progress to becoming more red and painful. You might see that your skin around the bite begins to sink in some. It might also start to take on a bluish coloring.

Their venom is cytotoxic, meaning its toxic to tissues. Itll actually kill that area of skin and form an ulcer, Dr. Bazzoli explains. It should be noted, too, that the toxin from a brown recluse doesnt spread around your body. It stays pretty isolated to the site of the bite.

If you get bitten by a brown recluse, wash the area thoroughly with soap and water. Apply ice for the pain and take over-the-counter pain medication if you need it. If youre concerned about a serious bite or havent had a tetanus shot for the last 10 years, its worth a call to a healthcare provider to get advice.

The black widow spider is the stuff that haunts us in our sleep. Because their bites can be particularly harmful.

Female black widow spiders are the ones that have that brilliant red hourglass on their abdomen, and their venom is a neurotoxic agent, which attacks your nerves and can be dangerous, Dr. Bazzoli shares.

An important distinction is that a bite from a male black widow spider doesnt leave a mark. Theyre too small to break the skin.

A female black widow spider bite may leave two puncture marks where their fangs sunk in. You might also notice:

You may also develop troubling symptoms if the venom has entered your body, usually within a few hours or less. That can include reactions like:

Black widow bites can make you very sick, especially in children, Dr. Bazzoli emphasizes. Be careful to wash the bite thoroughly with soap and water and seek quick medical care if you develop any concerning symptoms.

In addition to calling a healthcare provider, the National Capital Poison Center (800.222.1222) is a good resource for people bitten by spiders in the United States. They can help you determine your next steps if you believe youve been bitten by a black widow spider.

The first thing to do if youve been bitten by any bug is to wash thoroughly.

Anytime weve got a bite or a break in the skin, its a place where bacteria can now start to get in, Dr. Bazzoli points out. Were covered in bacteria all the time. And when we get a break in the skin, that can be a place where those bacteria that are normally just fine living on your skin surface can now get into the tissue and set up an infection, like an abscess.

Thats also why if your bite is itchy, its important not to scratch. Scratching can cause more tears in your skin and more opportunity for bacteria to get in.

Instead, treat itchy, scratchy bug bites with home remedies like:

Keep an eye out for signs of an infection or a bug-borne disease. Seek medical attention for symptoms of illness like:

And remember, an ounce of prevention can be worth a pound of cure. In other words, next time youre out in nature, take measures to protect yourself from biting bugs. That includes things like wearing long sleeves and long pants and using a bug spray that contains 20% DEET or the insect repellent IR3535.

Bites typically happen when were enjoying the outdoors, which we always encourage people to do, Dr. Bazzoli says. Its great for our mental health and our physical health. But basic prevention measures really go a long way.

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How To Identify 8 Common Bug Bites - Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials

Michael Spertus, MD

A Floridian at heart, Michael Spertus, MD grew up in Daytona Beach, FL. He ventured north to complete his undergraduate studies at Brown University, obtaining a Sc.B. Degree with Honors in Human Biology as well as graduating Magna Cum Laude, the universitys highest academic distinction. Dr. Spertus returned to Florida to study at the University ...

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Spotted lanternfly found in Rochester NY area. What to do if you find one

Im a flight attendant this hack will tell you if your room is crawling with bedbugs  New York Post

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Im a flight attendant this hack will tell you if your room is crawling with bedbugs - New York Post

There's a lot to consider when booking a hotelcleanliness, amenities, locationbut one of the most important bits of information to know before you hand over your credit card is whether there are bed bugs.

These harmful, blood-sucking critters are known to cause red bite marks, inflammation, blistering, allergic reactions, fatigue, anxiety and irritability. Essentially,coming into contact withbed bugs is a nightmare and the last thing you want to have happen on a trip or stay anywhere.

According to Pest Strategies, an online resource for homeowners and people dealing with pest-related problems,nearly every hotel in NYC has been affected by bed bugs at some point since the 1990s.

It's easy to see whybed bugs infest new properties by clinging to clothes or hiding inside someones belongings and they are resistant to most commercial pesticides, so the only way to remove them is through traps, vacuums, or heat treatments. And once a bed bug is fed, it canlive between 135 and 277 days without a meal and up to 2 to 16 months in general. Female beg bugs can lay five to eight eggs per week.

Grossed out yet?

Pest Strategiescompiled thousands of hotel reviews from Tripadvisor, Bed Bug Reports, and Bedbug Registry while filtering out the less-than-credible reviews and came up with a list of the top 10 worst NYC hotels with bed bug problemsand Manhattan has the most.

10.The Westin New York Grand Central (212 East 42nd Street)The four-star Westin New York Grand Central Hotel is new to receiving bed bug complaints, having received nine total bed bug reviews in total. However, seven of these reviews emerged in the last three years, the report states.

9.The Empire Hotel (44 West 63rd Street)Despite its Gossip Girl fame,thisfour-star boutique hasa reputation for bed bug sightings, the last of which was reported in March 2020, Pest Strategies says. It holds an all-time count of 15 reviews since 2004.

8.La Quinta Inn by Wyndham Queens (37-18 Queens Boulevard) This two-star hotel is of the few hotels in NYC to receive two bed bug reviews in 2020. Sure, it provides convenient access to LaGuardia Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport, "but before you hop on your next flight out of the city, you might want to check for hitchhikers," the study states.

7.Courtyard by Marriott / Midtown East (866Third Avenue)The latest bug review was in April 2021, but this location has "a cleaner track record than most hotels in the Top 10," the report says.Since 2008, the three-star hotel "only received 12 bed bug complaints (which is fairly decent), and only two of these reviews appeared in the last three years. Still, April 2021 is too recent for comfort, and as we already know, when theres one bed bug, theres probably many."

6. The Manhattan at Times Square Hotel (790Seventh Avenue)Over the last 13 years, the 3-star hotel has received 25 bed bug complaints, with its worst year appearing in 2010 with six reviews. "But unlike many NYC hotels that shut down for the majority of 2021, The Manhattan at Times Square is back up and running, receiving its latest bed bug complaint in April 2021," the study says.

5. Hotel Edison (228 W 47th Street)This /Times Square four-star art deco hotel has been around since 1931, so it's hadmore time to rack up some 22 bed bug complaints since 2007. "The upside is that Hotel Edisons annual rate of reviews has declined since its worst year in 2009 (six reviews)," says the report. "But since the last complaint arrived in December 2019 (and its literally right next door to other bed bug hotels), we suggest checking those sheets before lounging on those sheets."

4. The Millennium Hilton New York One Plaza (1 United Nations Plaza)This 55-story hotel in Lower Manhattan has been a four-star establishment since 2004, but it has received 12 bed bug reviews and only three complaints over the last three years." But since the Millenium Hilton received two online complaints in April 2021, theres reason to suspect that the hotel might pose a higher risk to visitors this year than other locations," Pest Strategies says.

3. The Bowery House (220 Bowery)This hotel/hostel has only been open since 2011, but it gained five bed bug reviews in 2012 and 2015, respectively. "Since then, The Bowery House has acquired eight bed bug complaints since 2018, which is technically more than any other New York hotel," the study notes. "As far as our ranking goes, the Bowerys main saving grace is that it only received 20 all-time reviews (fingers crossed that its not because it avoided the internet between 20042010). "

2. Wellington Hotel (871 Seventh Avenue)"With 20 all-time reviews, The Wellington is not the most likely hotel to host bed bugs," the report says. "However, the hotel received its latest complaint in November 2020 and four reviews over the last three years. At this rate, the hotel appears to be making little progress from its worst review years in 2013 and 2017, with three reviews each."

1. Queens County Inn & Suites of Long Island City (40-34 Crescent Street, LIC)Over ten years, this location received an average of three complaints per year, the report states.

"Queens County Inn and Suites saw their worst review years in 2012 and 2015 with six complaints each, which means their three reviews after 2016 are significant improvements, to say the least," it goes on to say. "And like any hotel, were sure there are plenty of redeeming qualities about this property that are not left out of online reviews. But when it comes to bed bugs, its safe to say you might be rolling the dice."

You can see the runners up here, if you're curious.

If you've seen a trend here, you're rightof 188 hotels with one or more bed bug reviews (after 2016), about 80% of them were in Manhattan and contributed 85% of all online reports for hotels in NYC since 2004 (1,249 in total). And curiously, almost 58% of these are located within a quarter-mile radius of Times Square in Manhattan, the report notes.

Perhaps it's because Times Square has more hotels in its vicinitythan any other neighborhood, but we can't forget about the bed bug infestation at the AMC Empire 25 multiplexin 2015.

And there's no sign that the number of bed bug sightings is decreasing by a large amount since the great bed bug scare of 2015. In fact, thenumber of bed bug complaints has alreadyhit14 six months into 2021, so its possible that the final count forthis year could outpace reports from previous years, the study states.

So, now with all of this dizzying information buzzing around our heads, we're left with one question: What can you do to spot bed bugs when you're at a hotel?

Pest Strategies says to check the mattress, furniture drawers, loose light sockets, curtains, sofas and closet spaces for obvious evidence like bed bugsthemselves, bed bug larvae (tiny, pellucid eggs with brown spots), bloodstains from feeding or squished bed bugs, fecal spotting and exoskeleton shedding around harborages and abuggy odor produced by bed bug pheromones. And of course, do your research before booking.

Wishing you sweet, bug-free travels!

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These NYC hotels are allegedly the worst for bed bugs - Time Out

Just bed, no bugs. (Getty Images)

Two words strike fear into the hearts of New Yorkers, from Astoria to the Upper East Side and everywhere in-between: bed bugs. These insects may be teeny-tiny, but they can create chaos in your home. If youre feeling itchy or just paranoid! dont panic. This guide to everything you need to know about bed bugs in NYC will help you sleep tight and not let the bed bugs bite.

Bed bugs are about the size of an apple seed. Theyre oval, brown, and relatively flat, especially if the insect hasnt eaten recently, and they look like this:

The most unwelcome kind of houseguest: a bed bug. A dime for scale. (Courtesy of the National Pest Management Association)

According to the EPA, bed bugs can grow up to a quarter-inch long. Their offspring, called nymphs, are much harder to detect because theyre significantly smaller about the size of a poppy seed and nearly translucent.

Its no surprise that bed bugs in NYC can sometimes be mistaken for other creepy crawlies, like young cockroaches or even carpet beetles.They are every bit as unruly as a couple of other urban pests we can think of: namely roaches and of course, resilient New York City rats.

Yorkville

308 East 80th Street

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Yorkville

310 East 89th Street

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Upper West Side

216 West 78th Street

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Lower East Side

91 Clinton Street

$2,800 No Fee

Central Harlem

2308 Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard

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Lenox Hill

265 East 78th Street

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Morningside Heights

3133 Broadway

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West Harlem

49 Saint Nicholas Terrace

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South Harlem

1775 Madison Avenue

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Yorkville

328 East 85th Street

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Central Harlem

1976 Madison Avenue

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South Harlem

2 West 120th Street

$2,000 No Fee

Although we may associate these pests with dirty environments, bed bugs can be found just about anywhere, from a five-star hotel to a nursing home, says Dr. Jim Fredericks, Chief Entomologist for the National Pest Management Association.

They are extremely elusive and adaptable creatures and have been reported in all 50 U.S. states, Dr. Fredericks says. Additionally, bed bugs can live for several months in between blood meals and can even survive temperatures of nearly freezing to 122 degrees Fahrenheit. In other words, these insect vampires are parasites that pack a punch.

Break out your flashlight. Bed bugs can be difficult to spot, as they typically emerge at night to feed, says Dr. Fredericks. Tiny dark fecal spots and shed skins on bedsheets, around the corner crevices of mattresses, and in cracks in bed frames or furniture are tell-tale signs of an infestation. Its worth looking behind any hanging artwork you might have in your bedroom and under your bed skirt, too.

Another tactic? Check your skin for their breakfast, lunch, and dinner three bites in a row. Although bed bug bites can turn into large, raised itchy welts, everyone reacts to bites differently and some people exhibit no reactions at all, says Dr. Fredericks. One other thing to keep in mind: The histamines in bed bug feces have been linked to allergic reactions in humans such as rashes and breathing problems. These chemicals can linger and remain high for months in residences, even after the property has been professionally treated.

If you do think you have bed bugs, dont beat yourself up. Theyre certainly creepy, but they dont carry disease. And youre definitely not alone there are thousands of reported cases of bed bugs in NYC a year. (Want to see the current infestations plotted on a map? Visit the Bedbug Registry, if you dare.) In fact, landlords are required to disclose a units bed bug history to you if there was an infestation within the past year.

Bedford-Stuyvesant

123A Halsey Street

$2,750 No Fee

Stuyvesant Heights

507 Herkimer Street

$2,300 No Fee

Ocean Hill

62 Somers Street

$2,650 No Fee

Stuyvesant Heights

223 Bainbridge Street

$2,200 No Fee

Bay Ridge

7227 Shore Road

$2,100 No Fee

Flatbush

2701 Foster Avenue

$2,000 No Fee

Flatbush

762 East 32nd Street

$2,499 No Fee

Stuyvesant Heights

1875 Atlantic Avenue

$2,613 No Fee

Fort Hamilton

301 100th Street

$1,800 No Fee

Bedford-Stuyvesant

422 1/2 Gates Avenue

$2,768 No Fee

Bushwick

1376 Bushwick Avenue

$2,750 No Fee

Cypress Hills

166 Linwood Street

$2,700 No Fee

Unfortunately, these pests are pervasive. Bed bugs can be found virtually anywhere humans gather, such as residences, hotels, schools, and even public transportation, Dr. Fredericks says. They are skilled hitchhikers, hiding in suitcases and latching onto personal bags in search of a food source. Once brought inside, they can hide behind baseboards and in cracks, crevices, and folded areas of beds, bed frames, bedding, and adjacent furniture, especially mattresses and box springs. Bed bugs can even be found hiding behind electrical switch plates, picture frames, and loose wallpaper. Generally, they take shelter anywhere near a food source, typically hiding out in bedrooms or other places people sleep to feed at night.

No matter how much HGTV you binge-watch, this is not the time to DIY. The internet teems with advice on eradicating bed bugs yourself, but please, do yourself a favor and call your landlord to get it taken care of properly. Tenants in New York City have a right to a bed bugfree environment. Your landlord should also alert your neighbors that there is an infestation in the building. (And you should do the same yourself, as a neighborly courtesy.)

If you own your apartment, Dr. Fredericks says hiring an expert is a must. Bed bugs are not do-it-yourself pests, he says. If you discover or suspect an infestation, contact a licensed pest control professional for assistance.

If the exterminator you call offers a flat fee, thats a red flag. A good pest control professional will inspect your apartment before giving you a price quote and will provide you with an inspection report and action plan. Treatment typically requires two or more visits and a follow-up inspection to confirm theyve been eliminated.

If you see this, call a professional immediately! (Courtesy of the National Pest Management Association)

Youll want to thoroughly treat your linens and textiles to kill off any lingering eggs and nymphs. To offload the chore, services like Bed Bug Laundry NYC will do the work for you (and have five stars on Yelp). Disinfecting surfaces and affected items is vital. Enclose your mattress and box spring for at least a full year, keeping an eye out for any tears in the cover. Or, if youve got the budget, toss them remembering to wrap your mattress in a plastic bag, per NYC law and invest in new ones.

Unfortunately, no high-tech electronic mouse repellent gadget will keep bed bugs at bay. But there is plenty of common-sense advice that can help prevent them from making themselves at home in your home again.

For one thing, all those freebies calling your name from the brownstone stoop are probably a no-no. Never bring second-hand furniture into your home without first examining it for signs of an infestation, says Dr. Fredericks.Another tip: If you have pets, regularly inspect areas where they sleep for signs of bed bugs. Although they are not a preferred host, bed bugs can bite them too. Lastly, especially if youre a renter, you have rights see our guide to the Warranty of Habitability for more intel.

Most importantly, remember that youre a New Yorker: You are tough, and you will survive this!

[This post has been updated and republished.]

Inspired to find your next place in New York? Whether youre looking to rent or to buy, search NYC apartments on StreetEasy.

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Bed Bugs in NYC: How to Recognize and Get Rid of Them - StreetEasy