As summer travel season kicks off, pest-control company Terminix has released its annual list of the most bedbug-infested cities in the United States — and while the results may unsettle frequent travelers, there’s a silver lining for Floridians.
The report, compiled using data from over 300 Terminix branches nationwide, ranks U.S. cities based on the volume of bedbug-related service requests. States that appeared most frequently on the list include Ohio, Texas, California — and Florida. However, none of the Sunshine State’s cities cracked the top 10.
According to Terminix, demand for bedbug control has steadily risen since the end of pandemic lockdowns. “We have seen a consistent increase in bedbug control service performed since the ‘new normal’ post-COVID-19 pandemic,” said Eric Braun, technical service manager with Terminix.
The highest-ranked Florida metro area on the list was Tampa-St. Petersburg, coming in at No. 26. While this marks a moderate presence, it’s a far cry from the top-ranking cities where infestations have become more severe.
| Rank | City (Metro) | State |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia | PA |
| 2 | New York | NY |
| 3 | Cleveland-Akron | OH |
| 4 | Los Angeles | CA |
| 5 | Dallas-Ft. Worth | TX |
| 6 | Atlanta | GA |
| 7 | Houston | TX |
| 8 | Washington, DC | DC |
| 9 | San Francisco-Oak-San Jose | CA |
| 10 | Indianapolis | IN |
| 11 | Dayton | OH |
| 12 | Columbus | OH |
| 13 | Chicago | IL |
| 14 | Cincinnati | OH |
| 15 | Pittsburgh | PA |
| 16 | Denver | CO |
| 17 | Detroit | MI |
| 18 | Boston | MA |
| 19 | Oklahoma City | OK |
| 20 | Baltimore | MD |
| 21 | Memphis | TN |
| 22 | Nashville | TN |
| 23 | St. Louis | MO |
| 24 | Little Rock-Pine Bluff | AR |
| 25 | Kansas City | MO |
| 26 | Tampa-St. Petersburg | FL |
| 27 | Charleston-Huntington | WV |
| 28 | Lexington | KY |
| 29 | Tulsa | OK |
| 30 | Orlando-Daytona Beach-Melbourne | FL |
| 31 | Louisville | KY |
| 32 | San Diego | CA |
| 33 | Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto | CA |
| 34 | Fort Smith-Fayetteville-Springfield-Rogers | AR |
| 35 | Richmond-Petersburg | VA |
| 36 | Wichita-Hutchinson | KS |
| 37 | Miami-Ft. Lauderdale | FL |
| 38 | Birmingham | AL |
| 39 | Paducah-Cape Girardeau-Harrisburg | KY/MO |
| 40 | Toledo | OH |
| 41 | Shreveport | LA |
| 42 | Harrisburg-Lancaster-Lebanon-York | PA |
| 43 | Hartford and New Haven | CT |
| 44 | Omaha | NE |
| 45 | Tyler-Longview | TX |
| 46 | Champaign and Springfield-Decatur | IL |
| 47 | Salisbury | MD |
| 48 | Roanoke-Lynchburg | VA |
| 49 | Palm Springs | CA |
| 50 | Montgomery | AL |
Travel Tips to Avoid Bedbugs
With summer vacations underway, Terminix also shared essential advice to help travelers avoid bringing home unwanted guests:
Before settling into a hotel or rental:
- Inspect mattress seams, headboards, and nearby furniture for small rust-colored stains, shed skins, or live bedbugs.
- Use a flashlight (a smartphone works well) to check crevices, folds, and corners.
- Examine nightstands, chairs, sofas, and drawer joints carefully.
- Avoid placing luggage on beds or floors until the room has been inspected.
While traveling:
- Keep suitcases zipped and, if possible, store them inside a large, sealed plastic bag.
- Upon returning home, unpack luggage on a hard surface — not the carpet or bed — ideally outside the bedroom, such as in a garage or entryway.
- Dry clothes on high heat for at least 30 minutes before washing to eliminate any hitchhiking bedbugs or eggs.
Vacuum luggage inside and out before storing it in a space far from sleeping areas.
“Once you have returned home, unpack your suitcases along the exterior of your home or in an area like the basement or garage to avoid introducing bedbugs into sleeping areas,” Braun advised.
As travel rebounds and summer temperatures rise, experts warn that staying vigilant — and informed — is the best defense against these persistent pests.
