It is more difficult to avoid bed bugs in three cities in Michigan compared to most cities in the country. However, the Windy City is considered the worst city in the nation for bed bugs.
Chicago has been ranked as the worst city for bed bugs for the fourth consecutive year on Orkin’s 50 Bed Bug Cities List. New York City and Philadelphia are still close behind, with Cleveland and Los Angeles following again.
The somewhat positive news for Michigan is that two out of the three cities on the list have slightly lower rankings this year, and one city is no longer included on the list.
Detroit is still ranked at number six, but Grand Rapids dropped a few spots from 12 to 14. Flint has moved down two spots from 21 to 23 in the rankings. Lansing, which was ranked at 42 last year, is no longer included in the top 50 list.
The Orkin annual bed bug cities list is created using treatment data from the metro areas where Orkin performed the highest number of bed bug treatments between December 1, 2022, and November 30, 2023. The ranking includes treatments for both residential and commercial properties.
Identify Bed Bugs
Bed bugs can be easily identified because they are usually only 3/16 of an inch long and have a red to dark brown color. These creatures are active at night and emerge from their hiding places to feed on humans while they are sleeping. They only eat blood. Bed bugs are attracted to things like suitcases, handbags, and other personal belongings.
“Bed bugs are very tough and hard to get rid of, which makes it challenging to control them.” “It’s important for Americans to know how to protect themselves from pests by identifying them and using proper control methods,” said Ben Hottel, an entomologist at Orkin. Bed bugs can be seen without any special equipment, but they are very good at hiding. It is recommended to have a trained professional come to the place where bed bugs have been introduced.
Also Read: These 6 U.S. Cities Are Crawling With Most Bedbugs Again
Prevention and Inspection
Make sure to regularly inspect your home for bed bugs. Check common hiding spots such as mattress tags and seams, behind baseboards, headboards, electrical outlets, and picture frames. The ideal times to inspect your place are when you first move in, after you return from a trip, when a service worker comes over, or after guests stay overnight.
To prevent them, you can make them easier to spot by reducing clutter. When you are staying at a hotel, it is important to check for small stains that have ink on them. Look for these stains on the seams of the mattress, in soft furniture, and behind the headboards. Make sure to check hiding spots like the mattress, box spring, furniture, and torn wallpaper without hesitation.
Make sure to keep your luggage raised and at a distance from the bed and wall. The safest sports are activities that can be done in the bathroom or on counters. When you are ready to go home, make sure to check your luggage while packing and again when you get back home. Do not place your luggage next to your bed.
Finally, put all clothes that can be dried in the dryer from your luggage and dry them for at least 30-45 minutes on the highest setting once you get back home.
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