STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. They feast on human blood while you sleep, and they can be tough to spot. But since New York City recorded the second-highest number of bed bug treatments of any U.S. city last year, according to a recent study, New Yorkers should certainly be on the lookout for the pests. <\/p>\n
Bedbugs are hematophagous, which means blood is their only meal ever. And theyre known for rapid population growth, with females depositing one to five eggs each day. <\/p>\n
Chicago holds the top spot on Orkins Top 50 Bed Bug Cities List for the third year in a row, while Philadelphia landed in third place. <\/p>\n
Identifying bed bugs <\/p>\n
Orkin provided the following proactive tips for homeowners and travelers to prevent bed bug infestation. Though theyre difficult to spot, the pests are visible to the naked eye, experts say. <\/p>\n
When you check into a hotel room, Orkin said you should conduct a full inspection before unpacking. The experts say to use the acronym S.L.E.E.P. when inspecting for bed bugs. <\/p>\n
1. Survey the hotel room for signs of infestation, including colored stains on mattress seams, in soft furniture and behind headboards. <\/p>\n
2. Lift and look in the mattress, box spring, furniture, behind baseboards, pictures and even in torn wallpaper. <\/p>\n
3. Elevate luggage away from the bed and walls. Its safest to store bags on a counter or in the bathroom. <\/p>\n
4. Examine your luggage carefully when you return home, and store it away from your bed. <\/p>\n
5. Place all dryer-safe clothing into the dryer immediately when you return. Run dryer for at least 30 to 45 minutes at the highest setting. <\/p>\n
Bed bugs are 4 mm to 5 mm in size, are dark brown and wingless, and have a flat, oval-shaped body, according to Orkin. <\/p>\n
Symptoms of bed bug bites <\/p>\n
Some people who are bitten by bed bugs develop itching, red welts or swelling the day after being bitten. Remember, though, that bites may not become obvious for several days or at all on some individuals. And many people do not react at all to the bite of a bed bug many bites leave no mark and go completely unnoticed. <\/p>\n
Bed bug cities <\/p>\n
Chicago holds the top spot on Orkins Top 50 Bed Bug Cities List for the third year in a row, while Philadelphia landed in third place. <\/p>\n
Los Angeles saw the largest jump this year, moving up seven spots in to the top five, with Cleveland (4) and Raleigh (20) each moving up the list by four spots. <\/p>\n
Below is the list of the metropolitan areas where Orkin performed the most bed bug treatments from Dec. 1, 2021 to Nov. 30, 2022. <\/p>\n
1. Chicago <\/p>\n
2. New York <\/p>\n
3. Philadelphia <\/p>\n
4. Cleveland-Akron, Ohio <\/p>\n
5. Los Angeles <\/p>\n
6. Detroit <\/p>\n
7. Indianapolis <\/p>\n
8. Baltimore <\/p>\n
9. Washington <\/p>\n
10. Columbus, Ohio <\/p>\n
11. Champaign, Illinois <\/p>\n
12. Grand Rapids, Michigan <\/p>\n
13. Cincinatti <\/p>\n
14. Charlotte <\/p>\n
15. Denver <\/p>\n
16. Atlanta <\/p>\n
17. Dallas-Fort Worth <\/p>\n
18. Charleston, West Virginia <\/p>\n
19. Raleigh-Durham <\/p>\n
20. Flint, Michigan <\/p>\n
21. San Francisco <\/p>\n
22. Norfolk, Virginia <\/p>\n
23. Greenville, South Carolina <\/p>\n
24. St. Louis <\/p>\n
RELATED STORIES <\/p>\n
Skunks in NYC: Heres what to do if the nocturnal creature is spotted on your property <\/p>\n
Heres where Advance\/SILive.com readers say theyre spotting deer on Staten Island <\/p>\n
Heres what climate change is doing to bird, insect species on Staten Island <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Read more from the original source: STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. They feast on human blood while you sleep, and they can be tough to spot. Continue reading
\nBed bugs are all over New York City, according to a recent ... - silive<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"