You can feel your skin crawling after reading that headline, can’t you?
There may be a reason for that. Orkin, the national pest-control company, says that Cincinnati is among the top cities for bed bugs.
Cincinnati comes in at No. 8 on Orkin’s list of 50 bug-friendly cities for 2020, released on Feb. 1. The company based its list on data for metro areas with the most bed-bug treatments Dec. 1, 2019-Nov. 30, 2020. Orkin says the data includes both residential and commercial treatments.
But Cincinnati isn’t the only Ohio location drawing warnings from Orkin. The Buckeye State has a whopping six cities that are bed-bug havens. Columbus is at No. 5, followed by Cleveland at No. 6., Toledo at No. 27, and Dayton at No. 28. Youngstown enters the list for the first time at No. 40.
Chicago tops Orkin’s list this year, followed by Baltimore and Washington, D.C.
Bed bugs are about 3/16” long and often move from location to location via purses and luggage.
Orkin says that bed bugs are a big issue, despite travel being limited in 2020 due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. And with vaccines now being distributed and people beginning to plan the year’s activities, things still could be itchy for 2021.
“With the anticipation and excitement around 2021 travel, it’s easy to forget that bed bugs are still very much a threat and should be top of mind for anyone who is itching to take a trip,” Orkin says in a release on its website. “Bed bugs can survive for several months while waiting for their next blood meal, so they’re likely to emerge when a food source, humans, become available.”
Hamilton County Public Health features a guide to bed bugs on its website, including how to prevent the insects from becoming a problem in the first place.
“Indirect measures can go a long way in controlling bed bugs: monitoring for signs of bedbugs in your home, vacuuming regularly, and checking your belongings. Prevent bed bugs from getting into homes by checking clothing, used furniture and belongings before entering the home and monitor where you have visited. Continue to reduce clutter and unwanted items in your home and hire a professional exterminator to inspect your home if you suspect there are bedbugs,” the website says..
In 2020, Orkin ranked the Queen City as No. 8.
Read the full list of cities that bed bugs apparently love on Orkin’s website.
