Bed bugs are found in all 50 states. Specifically, the pests were encountered by 17 percent of respondents in the Northeast; 20 percent in the Midwest; 20 percent in the South; and 19 percent in the West.
Idaho is the least at risk of bed bugs
On the other end of the spectrum, Idaho has the least number of searches for bed bugs, at 1,893 per 10,000 people; making it the state least likely to suffer from them.
Bed bugs are common in cities with heavy tourist traffic and temperate to warm climates. Some of the most bed bug-infested cities in the nation include New York City, Atlanta, Chicago, Baltimore, and Dallas. Bed bug infestations are more unusual in cities with fewer travelers and hot, dry temperatures.
Travelers beware: Orkin just released the 2024 list of the top 50 most bed bug-infested cities in the U.S. Chicago tops the list for the fourth year in a row.
California is the worst state when it comes to bugs, and the winner, winner, chicken dinner is bed bugs. For an average month, Cali had 47,000 searches for all things buggy, with bed bugs taking the top honors with over 17,000 searches for that insect.
One out of five Americans has had a bed bug infestation in their home or knows someone who has encountered bed bugs at home or in a hotel.
Chicago, New York, and Philadelphia hold onto the top three spots, ranking first, second and third, respectively for cities with most bed bugs.
Answer: “Hitchhiking” from an infested location or item to a previously non-infested location or item are the main causes of bed bugs.
African American residents had a proportionally higher number of bed bug infestations than white residents. Women were more likely to report bed bug bite symptoms than men. Only 68% of the residents who experienced bed bug infestations reported symptoms after being bitten ( n = 475).
Houston, we have a roach problem
H-Town leads our list of the cockroachiest cities in America with 37% of Census Bureau respondents saying their Houston homes showed signs of these pests in the past 12 months.
Antarctica. It is 12k+ miles south of the habitat of the arctic spider, and I cannot imagine that there is any food source for significant insect populations. (plus it is too cold for cold-blooded animals in general).
Bed bugs do not like to climb or stay on smooth plastic materials. Placing small items in plastic containers or in sealed heavy-duty plastic bags will prevent bed bugs from infesting the items. In an infested home, placing clutter in plastic containers will make bed bug elimination efforts easier.
The first clue suggesting that you may have a bed bug infestation is often the presence of itching bites. However, bites reactions are quite variable and may not be due to bed bugs at all. Be aware of the other signs that bed bugs leave behind: fecal spots, molted skins, and aggregations.
In a nutshell, twenty three states have passed or enacted bed bug specific legislation or rule making, including Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Texas, ...
Bed bugs are sensitive to strong smells and certain scents can help keep them away. Essential oils like lavender, tea tree and peppermint are popular choices. These oils not only smell good but also act as natural repellents.
Pyrethroids are synthetic chemical insecticides that act like pyrethrins. Both compounds are lethal to bed bugs and can flush bed bugs out of their hiding places and kill them.
They can come from other infested areas or from used furniture. They can hitch a ride in luggage, purses, backpacks, or other items placed on soft or upholstered surfaces. They can travel between rooms in multi-unit buildings, such as apartment complexes and hotels.
Pyrethrins and Pyrethroids: These are among the most common insecticides used against bed bugs. Pyrethrins, derived from chrysanthemum flowers, kill bed bugs on contact, while synthetic pyrethroids provide longer-lasting effects.
While there is no official bed bug season, a recent study published in the Journal of Medical Entomology shows a peak in bed bug activity in August and a low in February. Other studies have shown that peak season for bed bugs runs from June through October.
Do not change where you sleep: Some people believe they can avoid bed bugs by sleeping in a different area of their home. Once people identify that their bed is infested, they will often begin to sleep in a different bedroom or on the sofa. Bed bugs have evolved to quickly locate potential hosts to feed on.
But, bed bugs are not only common and widespread, but predicted to be even more of a nuisance and concern in 2024, according to a new report.
United States Bed Bug Facts
The U.S. city with the most bed bug infestations is Philadelphia, and Ohio is considered the state with the most bed bugs. After Ohio, the states with the next most bed bug infestations in the country are Michigan, Florida, Illinois, and New York.