Living in a city often means dealing with things like heavy traffic and crowded streets, but pests? Not everyone considers that.
Orkin has put out its latest Bedbug report, highlighting which cities are facing severe infestations.
This report uses treatment data from both commercial and residential settings in various metropolitan areas covering the period from May 15, 2024, to May 14, 2025.
“It’s vital for people to understand how to identify, prevent, and handle these pests,” said Ben Hottel, an entomologist based in Atlanta, in a press release.
“Bed bugs are incredibly resilient and can be quite tough to eliminate once they find their way into homes or hotels,” he added.
The bedbug is quite tiny—about 3/16 of an inch long—and they seem to prefer humans over pets, as noted by Orkin.
“These pests can easily hitch a ride on items like luggage, wallets, and other personal belongings,” the report mentions.
For the fifth year in a row, Chicago has topped the list as the city with the highest number of bedbug incidents.
This year, Cleveland, Ohio, and Detroit, Michigan, are right up there with it.
Los Angeles, California, followed in third place, and Indianapolis, Indiana, rounded out the top spots.
Orkin highlighted Hartford, Connecticut, for making the most significant jump in the rankings.
Meanwhile, Charlotte, North Carolina, Philadelphia, PA, and New York City each saw some declines.
Among the 50 cities surveyed, Houston, Texas, ranked as the least impacted by bedbugs.
Orkin provided a few tips for keeping these pests away:
“Look for small, flat, oval insects that are brown and about the size of an apple seed—these can signal an invasion.”
“Check under sheets, curtains, and cushions to look for signs of bedbugs,” they advised.
“When traveling, place your luggage on a rack and keep it away from beds and other furniture.”
“Be thorough when inspecting your belongings, and check them again after you return home,” Orkin suggests.
“As a personal habit, when I return home, I always toss my clothes from the suitcase into the dryer for about 30 to 45 minutes on high heat.”
