Daily Archives: March 21, 2012

FILE - In a Feb. 1, 2011 file photo, bedbugs are seen next to the tip of a finger in a container from the lab at the National Pest Management Association, during the National Bed Bug Summit in Washington. Researchers now say that the creepy bugs have a special genetic gift: withstanding incest. It turns out that unlike most creatures, bedbugs are able to inbreed with close relatives and still produce generally healthy offspring. That means that if just a few bedbugs survive in a building after treatment, they repopulate quickly. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File) (Alex Brandon)

LOS ANGELES - Los Angeles climbed 20 spots to fifth in the nation in number of bed bug incidents treated by pest control company Orkin last year.

The company recently released a list of the top 50 cities based on the number of bed bug treatments it did in 2011.

The overall number of incidents climbed 33.6 percent over the previous year.

Cincinnati had the highest number of bed bug treatments, followed by Chicago, Detroit, Denver and Los Angeles.

The perennial hotspot New York City dropped two places to ninth.

The San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose area was 12th, San Diego, 26th, and Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto, 41st.

"The changes in some cities' rankings show bed bugs continue to be a problem in most areas of the U.S.," said Orkin entomologist and Technical Services Director Ron Harrison. "Several of the top 50 cities have large, busy airports, and there could be a correlation between increased travel and bed bug activity.

The rankings could also reflect an overall rise in population or greater public awareness of bed bugs and how to identify them, Harrison said.

Orkin advised travelers to remember the acronym S.L.E.E.P. to avoid bringing bed bugs home from a trip:

Continued here:
Bed bugs singin' 'We love L.A.'

Pest control company Orkin has released their annual list of the most bed bug-ridden cities in the U.S. and it turns out San Diego lets the bed bugs bite -- but not as much as other cities.

Orkin ranked Americas Finest City number 26 on the list, which is based on the number of bed bug treatments the company performed in 2011.

The top spot for bed bugs went to Cincinnati, Ohio. Chicago took home second place, while Detroit came in third for bed bug infestation and Denver ranked fourth.

Los Angeles took the fifth spot on the list, up a whopping 20 spots from last year, when it came in at number 25. Dallas/Fort Worth took 7th place, a drastic change from 50th place last year.

Perennial bed bug hotspot New York City dropped two places to ninth, while the San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose area took the 12th spot.

Overall, the number of bed bug incidents climbed 33.6-percent over the previous year.

"The changes in some cities' rankings show bed bugs continue to be a problem in most areas of the U.S.," said Orkin entomologist and Technical Services Director Ron Harrison.

"Several of the top 50 cities have large, busy airports, and there could be a correlation between increased travel and bed bug activity."

To avoid bringing bed bugs home from a trip, Orkin advices travelers to remember the acronym S.L.E.E.P.

It stands for the following: Survey bed surfaces for small, rust-colored spots on the sheets. Lift and look for pesky bed bugs in hiding spots such as underneath the mattress or furniture, Elevate luggage or a rack or chair, away from the bed. Examine luggage carefully while repacking. Place all clothing from luggage immediately in the dryer for at least 15 minutes on the highest setting as soon as returning home from a trip.

Visit link:
San Diego Lets the Bed Bugs Bite