This South Carolina City Is One Of The Worst In The U.S. For Bed Bugs

By Sarah Tate

Photo: Getty Images

As people around the country begin traveling more, and staying in unfamiliar places, the number of reported cases of bed bugs has also been on the rise. That's why Orkin recently released its annual list of the U.S. cities with the most reported cases of bed bugs, using data gathered from December 1, 2020 to November 30, 2021.

One city in South Carolina earned a spot on the list: Greenville, coming in at No. 21.

"Bed bugs are a concern for everyone because they are master hitchhikers, traveling home with people when they likely don't realize it," said Orkin entomologist Ben Hottel. "Their nature of hiding in difficult-to-find cracks and crevices can make them hard to control, which is why involving a trained professional at the sight of an introduction is recommended."

So what should you do to minimize the risk of infestation? Orkin suggests regularly checking your home for signs of bed bugs, inspecting mattress seams, baseboards and even electrical outlets. Experts also recommend decluttering your home to make spotting the insects even easier and thoroughly inspecting any secondhand furniture before brining it inside your home.

Here are the Top 50 cities for bed bugs, according to the report:

  1. Chicago, Illinois
  2. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  3. New York, New York
  4. Detroit, Michigan
  5. Baltimore, Maryland
  6. Indianapolis, Indiana
  7. Washington, DC
  8. Cleveland, Ohio
  9. Columbus, Ohio
  10. Cincinnati, Ohio
  11. Grand Rapids, Michigan
  12. Los Angeles, California
  13. Champaign, Illinois
  14. Atlanta, Georgia
  15. Charlotte, North Carolina
  16. Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas
  17. Denver, Colorado
  18. St. Louis, Missouri
  19. San Francisco, California
  20. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  21. Greenville, South Carolina
  22. Charleston, West Virginia
  23. Flint, Michigan
  24. Raleigh, North Carolina
  25. Norfolk, Virginia
  26. Richmond, Virginia
  27. Omaha, Nebraska
  28. Buffalo, New York
  29. Knoxville, Tennessee
  30. Cedar Rapids, Iowa
  31. Toledo, Ohio
  32. Dayton, Ohio
  33. South Bend, Indiana
  34. Nashville, Tennessee
  35. Davenport, Iowa
  36. Wayne, Indiana
  37. Youngstown, Ohio
  38. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
  39. Miami, Florida
  40. Tampa, Florida
  41. Houston, Texas
  42. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
  43. Greensboro, North Carolina
  44. Seattle, Washington
  45. Peoria, Illinois
  46. Orlando, Florida
  47. Lexington, Kentucky
  48. Lansing, Michigan
  49. Louisville, Kentucky
  50. Lincoln, Nebraska

Check out Orkin's full report here.

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