Cleveland Gets A Dubious Honor For Its Bed Bug Infestations

CLEVELAND, OH — The bed bugs are back in town, says the national termite and pest control company Terminix. The company ranked Cleveland No. 1 among 20 cities it covers as the most bed bug infested city.

Another Ohio metropolis, Cincinnati, came in No. 2, and Detroit came in at No. 3. Rounding out the Top 5 cities are Las Vegas and and Denver. The company says bed bug infestations have significantly increased during the past two decades, though experts are not sure of the exact causes.

The company’s rankings are based on the number of service calls and data from its branches across the nation between Jan. 1, 2017, and June 30, 2017.(To stay up to date on local stories, subscribe to the Patch Cleveland newsletter. As news breaks and the story develops, you will be the first to receive updates from Patch.)

Bed bugs, which are about the size and color of an apple seed, are difficult to eradicate. They climb onto clothing and suitcases, and can easily between taken from place to place. Signs of bed bugs include reddish-brown spots on sheets and mattresses, a musty odor or sighting the bugs.

Here is the complete ranking of the Top 20 cities with bed bug infestations.

1. Cleveland, Ohio

2. Cincinnati, Ohio

3. Detroit, Mich.

4. Las Vegas, Nev.

5. Denver, Colo.

6. Houston, Texas

7. Phoenix, Ariz.

8. Indianapolis, Ind.

9. Oklahoma City, Okla.

10. Philadelphia, Pa.

11. Baltimore, Md.

12. Pittsburgh, Pa.

13. Washington, D.C.

14. Tucson, Ariz.

15. San Francisco, Calif.

16. St. Louis, Mo.

17. Atlanta, Ga.

18. Tampa, Fla.

19. Memphis, Tenn.

20. San Diego, Calif.