Detroit Gets Dubious Honor For Its Bed Bug Infestations

DETROIT, MI — The bed bug are back in town, says the national termite and pest control company Terminix. The company ranked Detroit No. 3 among 20 cities it covers as the most bed bug infested city.
But, at least the infestations are not as bad as they are in Cleveland or Cincinnati. The two Ohio metropolitan areas came in No. 1 and No. 2 for the company’s rankings. 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. (For more local news, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts and newsletters from Plymouth-Canton Patch, click here to find your local Michigan Patch. Also, follow us on Facebook, and if you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)
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.