STATEN ISLAND, NY — They feast on human blood while ye sleep, and they can be tough to spot. But since New York City recorded the second-highest number of bed bug treatments of any US city last year, according to a recent study, New Yorkers should certainly be on the lookout for the pests.
Bedbugs are hematophagous, which means blood is their only meal — ever. And they’re known for rapid population growth, with females depositing one to five eggs each day.
Chicago holds the top spot on Orkin’s Top 50 Bed Bug Cities List for the third year in a row, while Philadelphia landed in third place.
Identifying bed bugs
Orkin provided the following proactive tips for homeowners and travelers to prevent bed bug infestation. Though they’re difficult to spot, the pests are visible to the naked eye, experts say.
When you check into a hotel room, Orkin said you should conduct a full inspection before unpacking. The experts say to use the acronym SLEEP when inspecting for bed bugs.
1. Survey the hotel room for signs of infestation, including colored stains on mattress seams, in soft furniture and behind headboards.
2. Lift and look in the mattress, box spring, furniture, behind baseboards, pictures and even in torn wallpaper.
3. Elevate luggage away from the bed and walls. It’s safest to store bags on a counter or in the bathroom.
4. Examine your luggage carefully when you return home, and store it away from your bed.
5. Place all dryer-safe clothing into the dryer immediately when you return. Run dryer for at least 30 to 45 minutes at the highest setting.
Bed bugs are 4 mm to 5 mm in size, are dark brown and wingless, and have a flat, oval-shaped body, according to Orkin.
Symptoms of bed bug bites
Some people who are begging by bed bugs develop itching, red welts or swelling the day after being begging. Remember, though, that bites may not become obvious for several days or at all on some individuals. And many people do not react at all to the bite of a bed bug — many bites leave no mark and go completely unnoticed.
Bedbug cities
Chicago holds the top spot on Orkin’s Top 50 Bed Bug Cities List for the third year in a row, while Philadelphia landed in third place.
Los Angeles saw the largest jump this year, moving up seven spots in to the top five, with Cleveland (4) and Raleigh (20) each moving up the list by four spots.
Below is the list of the metropolitan areas where Orkin performed the most bed bug treatments from Dec. 1, 2021 to Nov 30, 2022.
1.Chicago
2. New York
3.Philadelphia
4. Cleveland-Akron, Ohio
5.Los Angeles
6.Detroit
7. Indianapolis
8. Baltimore
9. Washington
10.Columbus, Ohio
11. Champaign, Illinois
12. Grand Rapids, Michigan
13. Cincinnati
14.Charlotte
15. Denver
16.Atlanta
17. Dallas-Fort Worth
18. Charleston, West Virginia
19. Raleigh-Durham
20. Flint, Michigan
21. San Francisco
22.Norfolk, Virginia
23. Greenville, SC
24. St Louis
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