As the summer travel season heats up, a new ranking has revealed Los Angeles, San Diego, Palm Springs, and three Bay Area cities are among the most bed bug-infested in the United States.
Pest management company Terminix recently released its annual list of the Top 50 Most Bed Bug-Infested U.S. Cities, based on 2024 service data from more than 300 branches nationwide.
“We have seen a consistent increase in bed bug control service performed since the ‘new normal’ post-COVID-19 pandemic,” said Eric Braun, technical service manager at Terminix. “As travel, social gatherings, and public activity resumed, so did the opportunities for bed bugs to spread.”
Los Angeles came in at No. 4 on this year’s list, according to the ranking. Also included in the ranking were San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose, which probably to the chagrin of Bay Area natives was combined as one area on the list, coming in at No. 9. San Diego was ranked No. 32. Sacramento, Stockton and Modesto were also combined and ranked No. 33. And Palm Springs was No. 49.
Philadelphia took the top spot for the second year in a row, while New York and Cleveland-Akron both climbed higher into the top five.
When looking at which states appear the most, Ohio, Texas, Florida, California and Pennsylvania dominated the list. The regional trends suggest infestations are likely tied to climate, housing trends and travel hubs, according to Terminix.
Here are the top 10 most bed bug-infested cities:
Taking a few precautions can help reduce the chances of bringing bed bugs into your living space, especially if you’re living in or visiting one of the top bed bug cities. According to Braun, “The best way to prevent bringing bed bugs home while traveling is being able to identify them and their signs in the areas where you rest or sleep.”
Before settling into a hotel or rental, Terminix recommends:
While traveling:
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