Philly Is 2nd Worst City For Bedbugs, Terminix Says

PHILADELPHIA – We did it Philly: we earned the No. 2 spot! But on a new list from Terminix that ranks us as the second worst city in the United States for bedbugs...

The report by pest control company Terminix ranked Philadelphia the No. 2 worst city in the nation when it comes to bed bug problems.

The rankings were determined using service data from more than 300 Terminix branches across the country.

Philadelphia at least wasn't the worst city. That honor went to Cleveland.

Our western neighbors in Pittsburgh fared better, earning a No. 22

Terminix released the rankings just before Thanksgiving for reasons that might kill your appetite for a hearty turkey meal.

"One of the busiest travel days of the year is approaching, but one thing travelers might not think about is the risk of picking up bed bugs on their trips," a company release stated. "Contrary to their name, these bloodsucking insects can be found in many household objects, including curtain rods and even behind baseboards or switch plates."

Wait. There's more.

"The bugs are also expert hitchhikers and can spread by being on or in consumers' belongings as they go about their daily activities using mass transit, staying in hotels and moving around the country through airports."

How can you tell if you have bed bugs? Signs include blood spots on sheets or mattresses, a musty odor, or sightings of the bugs, which resemble apple seeds in size, shape and color.

Here are the Terminix Top 25 bedbug cities:

1. Cleveland
2. Philadelphia
3. Los Angeles
4. Indianapolis
5. Cincinnati
6. Dallas-Fort Worth
7. New York
8. Columbus, Ohio
9. Houston
10. Dayton, Ohio
11. St. Louis
12. Chicago
13. Detroit
14. Atlanta
15. San Francisco
16. Baltimore
17. Tampa, Fla.
18. Washington, D.C.
19. Louisville, Ky.
20. Phoenix
21. Nashville, Tenn.
22. Pittsburgh
23. Memphis, Tenn.
24. Boston
25. Denver

See the full report here.

Story by Eric Heyl

Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images