Indianapolis Barely Misses Top 10 For 'Worst Bed Bug Cities' List

INDIANAPOLIS, IN — It's not a list we'd like to be on, but hopefully knowing Indianapolis is the 11th worst city in the U.S. for bed bugs will help us be a little more cautious both in and out of our homes. This ranking is based on metro areas where Orkin performed the most bed bug treatments from Dec. 1, 2016 to Nov. 30, 2017. The tiny reddish insects, which can infest the seams of beds and other furniture, can easily spread from place to place through luggage, clothing, and other belongings, and can be expensive to exterminate.

While Indianapolis at least escaped the top ten, Baltimore is the No. 1 worst city for bed bugs for the second year in a row.

Here's a look at the top 10, based on metro areas where Orkin performed the most bed bug treatments (residential and commercial) from Dec. 1, 2016 to Nov. 30, 2017.:

1. Baltimore
2. Washington, D.C.
3. Chicago
4. Los Angeles
5. Columbus, Ohio
6. Cincinnati
7. Detroit
8. New York
9. San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose
10. Dallas-Fort Worth

"The number of bed bug infestations in the United States is still rising," says Dr. Tim Husen, an Orkin entomologist. "They continue to invade our homes and businesses on a regular basis because they are not seasonal pests, and only need blood to survive," he said, adding, "Any type of home is prone to bud begs. It has nothing to do with sanitation. We have treated for bed bugs everywhere, from newly built upscale homes to public housing."

To help detect bed bugs and stop them from spreading, Orkin offers these tips. 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.
• Decrease clutter around your home to make it easier to spot bed bugs on your own or during professional inspections.
• Inspect all secondhand furniture before bringing it inside your home. This is a common way for bed bugs to be introduced into homes.
• Dry potentially infested bed linens, curtains and stuffed animals on the hottest temperature allowed for the fabric.

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.

Full list: prnewswire.com

Image via the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention