NYC Bed Bug Registry Infestation Maps, Residential and Hotel

Just bed, no bugs. (Getty Images)

Two words strike fear into the hearts of New Yorkers, from Astoria to the Upper East Side and everywhere in-between: bed bugs. These insects may be teeny-tiny, but they can create chaos in your home. If youre feeling itchy or just paranoid! dont panic. This guide to everything you need to know about bed bugs in NYC will help you sleep tight and not let the bed bugs bite.

Bed bugs are about the size of an apple seed. Theyre oval, brown, and relatively flat, especially if the insect hasnt eaten recently, and they look like this:

The most unwelcome kind of houseguest: a bed bug. A dime for scale. (Courtesy of the National Pest Management Association)

According to the EPA, bed bugs can grow up to a quarter-inch long. Their offspring, called nymphs, are much harder to detect because theyre significantly smaller about the size of a poppy seed and nearly translucent.

Its no surprise that bed bugs in NYC can sometimes be mistaken for other creepy crawlies, like young cockroaches or even carpet beetles.They are every bit as unruly as a couple of other urban pests we can think of: namely roaches and of course, resilient New York City rats.

Yorkville

308 East 80th Street

$2,044 No Fee

Yorkville

310 East 89th Street

$2,400 No Fee

Upper West Side

216 West 78th Street

$2,150 No Fee

Lower East Side

91 Clinton Street

$2,800 No Fee

Central Harlem

2308 Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard

$2,364 No Fee

Lenox Hill

265 East 78th Street

$2,650 No Fee

Morningside Heights

3133 Broadway

$2,475 No Fee

West Harlem

49 Saint Nicholas Terrace

$2,600 No Fee

South Harlem

1775 Madison Avenue

$2,000 No Fee

Yorkville

328 East 85th Street

$2,500 No Fee

Central Harlem

1976 Madison Avenue

$2,200 No Fee

South Harlem

2 West 120th Street

$2,000 No Fee

Although we may associate these pests with dirty environments, bed bugs can be found just about anywhere, from a five-star hotel to a nursing home, says Dr. Jim Fredericks, Chief Entomologist for the National Pest Management Association.

They are extremely elusive and adaptable creatures and have been reported in all 50 U.S. states, Dr. Fredericks says. Additionally, bed bugs can live for several months in between blood meals and can even survive temperatures of nearly freezing to 122 degrees Fahrenheit. In other words, these insect vampires are parasites that pack a punch.

Break out your flashlight. Bed bugs can be difficult to spot, as they typically emerge at night to feed, says Dr. Fredericks. Tiny dark fecal spots and shed skins on bedsheets, around the corner crevices of mattresses, and in cracks in bed frames or furniture are tell-tale signs of an infestation. Its worth looking behind any hanging artwork you might have in your bedroom and under your bed skirt, too.

Another tactic? Check your skin for their breakfast, lunch, and dinner three bites in a row. Although bed bug bites can turn into large, raised itchy welts, everyone reacts to bites differently and some people exhibit no reactions at all, says Dr. Fredericks. One other thing to keep in mind: The histamines in bed bug feces have been linked to allergic reactions in humans such as rashes and breathing problems. These chemicals can linger and remain high for months in residences, even after the property has been professionally treated.

If you do think you have bed bugs, dont beat yourself up. Theyre certainly creepy, but they dont carry disease. And youre definitely not alone there are thousands of reported cases of bed bugs in NYC a year. (Want to see the current infestations plotted on a map? Visit the Bedbug Registry, if you dare.) In fact, landlords are required to disclose a units bed bug history to you if there was an infestation within the past year.

Bedford-Stuyvesant

123A Halsey Street

$2,750 No Fee

Stuyvesant Heights

507 Herkimer Street

$2,300 No Fee

Ocean Hill

62 Somers Street

$2,650 No Fee

Stuyvesant Heights

223 Bainbridge Street

$2,200 No Fee

Bay Ridge

7227 Shore Road

$2,100 No Fee

Flatbush

2701 Foster Avenue

$2,000 No Fee

Flatbush

762 East 32nd Street

$2,499 No Fee

Stuyvesant Heights

1875 Atlantic Avenue

$2,613 No Fee

Fort Hamilton

301 100th Street

$1,800 No Fee

Bedford-Stuyvesant

422 1/2 Gates Avenue

$2,768 No Fee

Bushwick

1376 Bushwick Avenue

$2,750 No Fee

Cypress Hills

166 Linwood Street

$2,700 No Fee

Unfortunately, these pests are pervasive. Bed bugs can be found virtually anywhere humans gather, such as residences, hotels, schools, and even public transportation, Dr. Fredericks says. They are skilled hitchhikers, hiding in suitcases and latching onto personal bags in search of a food source. Once brought inside, they can hide behind baseboards and in cracks, crevices, and folded areas of beds, bed frames, bedding, and adjacent furniture, especially mattresses and box springs. Bed bugs can even be found hiding behind electrical switch plates, picture frames, and loose wallpaper. Generally, they take shelter anywhere near a food source, typically hiding out in bedrooms or other places people sleep to feed at night.

No matter how much HGTV you binge-watch, this is not the time to DIY. The internet teems with advice on eradicating bed bugs yourself, but please, do yourself a favor and call your landlord to get it taken care of properly. Tenants in New York City have a right to a bed bugfree environment. Your landlord should also alert your neighbors that there is an infestation in the building. (And you should do the same yourself, as a neighborly courtesy.)

If you own your apartment, Dr. Fredericks says hiring an expert is a must. Bed bugs are not do-it-yourself pests, he says. If you discover or suspect an infestation, contact a licensed pest control professional for assistance.

If the exterminator you call offers a flat fee, thats a red flag. A good pest control professional will inspect your apartment before giving you a price quote and will provide you with an inspection report and action plan. Treatment typically requires two or more visits and a follow-up inspection to confirm theyve been eliminated.

If you see this, call a professional immediately! (Courtesy of the National Pest Management Association)

Youll want to thoroughly treat your linens and textiles to kill off any lingering eggs and nymphs. To offload the chore, services like Bed Bug Laundry NYC will do the work for you (and have five stars on Yelp). Disinfecting surfaces and affected items is vital. Enclose your mattress and box spring for at least a full year, keeping an eye out for any tears in the cover. Or, if youve got the budget, toss them remembering to wrap your mattress in a plastic bag, per NYC law and invest in new ones.

Unfortunately, no high-tech electronic mouse repellent gadget will keep bed bugs at bay. But there is plenty of common-sense advice that can help prevent them from making themselves at home in your home again.

For one thing, all those freebies calling your name from the brownstone stoop are probably a no-no. Never bring second-hand furniture into your home without first examining it for signs of an infestation, says Dr. Fredericks.Another tip: If you have pets, regularly inspect areas where they sleep for signs of bed bugs. Although they are not a preferred host, bed bugs can bite them too. Lastly, especially if youre a renter, you have rights see our guide to the Warranty of Habitability for more intel.

Most importantly, remember that youre a New Yorker: You are tough, and you will survive this!

[This post has been updated and republished.]

Inspired to find your next place in New York? Whether youre looking to rent or to buy, search NYC apartments on StreetEasy.

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Bed Bugs in NYC: How to Recognize and Get Rid of Them - StreetEasy

NEW YORK CITY Sleep tight, New York City and don't let the growing swarms of bedbugs bite.

Bedbug complaints in the city quietly creeped up to the highest monthly level since October 2019, according to city data.

The post-COVID record 540 complaints in August the last month with updated data came just before bedbug bug outs exploded on social media over infestation fears in Paris.

"It's not always your fault, and we all now collectively share that nightmare," she said.

The return of bedbug fears in New York City is in many ways a throwback to pre-coronavirus pandemic days.

Complaints about bedbugs handled by the city's Housing Preservation & Development department cratered in April 2020 as COVID-19 ground life to a halt, data shows.

They rebounded by September that year and fit back into a pattern of steady decline going since at least 2014, according to data.

By the time 2022 rolled around, New York City was no longer in the top 10 of Orkin's top cities for bedbugs.

"Even the bed bugs left New York City in 2021," stated a Patch story from the time.

But bedbugs didn't stay away long.

Complaints crawled up in 2022 before exploding this year, data shows. The Big Apple now ranks second on Orkin's "Top 50 Bed Bug Cities" list for 2023.

New York City's brief bedbug lull now looks more like a blip than anything else amid what one 2022 study deemed the pest's "global resurgence."

The recent Paris bedbug panic was fueled by viral videos of tiny bugs on trains. French officials said cases from public transit were unfounded, but a government study found roughly one household in 10 was infested with bedbugs between 2017 and 2022 in France, the Associated Press reported.

Some New Yorkers in recent weeks have posted TikTok videos urging people who visit Paris to check for bedbugs.

But at least TikTok user blasted those fears, comparing it to anti-Asian attacks from the early days of COVID-19.

"Just because someone was in Paris doesn't mean they have bedbugs," the user said in a video that garnered 69,000 "likes."

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NYC Bedbug Complaints Creep Up To Years-Long High, Data Shows

Indiana City Among the Most Rat-Infested in 2024  wkdq.com

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Indiana City Among the Most Rat-Infested in 2024 - wkdq.com

Here's a story that'll make your skin crawl if you live or spend time in New York City, thanks to a recent list that no city wants to be near the top of.

For the second straight year, the five boroughs were ranked the second-worst city in the U.S. for bed bugs, pest control services company Orkin found in its annual "Top 50 Bed Bug Cities" list.

The list is based on the number of infestations the company has treated in each city, which includes homes and businesses, from Dec. 2022 through Nov. 2023.

At least the Big Apple was not the worst city that unenviable position goes to Chicago for the fourth year in a row, Orkin found. In fact, the top six cities on the list (Chicago, NYC, Philadelphia, Cleveland-Akron, Los Angeles and Detroit) finished in the exact same spots as last year.

It was not a great year for North Carolina when it came to bed bugs. Charlotte made the biggest jump of all cities in the top 10, climbing five spots to be ranked ninth. Greensboro was the biggest climber of all cities, jumping 25 spots on the list, according to Orkin.

As for cities heading in the right direction, San Francisco and Buffalo dropped 19 and 13 spots, respectively, as both barely made the top 50.

Bed bugs continue to be a constant worry for travelers since Paris was flooded withbed bug infestationsin late 2023, but the issue is also present on this side of the Atlantic.

Here's the rest of the top 10:

According to Orkin, bed bugs are less than a quarter-inch long and red-to-dark in coloring. They are mostly nocturnal and come out from their hiding spots to bite sleeping humans or other animals for their meals. Orkin said the pests are hematophagous, which means blood is their only food source.

Bed bugs are extremely resilient, making them difficult to control. As people begin to ramp up their travel plans this year, its important they know how to protect themselves through pest identification and proper control, said Ben Hottel, Orkin entomologist. Contrary to popular belief, bed bugs are visible to the naked eye, but are excellent at hiding. Involving a trained professional at the sight of a bed bug introduction is recommended.

The bugs caneasily travelfrom place to place, clinging to items such as luggage, purses and other personal belongings. They also multiple quickly and can survive a long time without eating, according to Orkin.

Females can deposit one to five eggs a day and may lay 200 to 500 eggs in their lifetime. They can survive for several months while waiting for their next blood meal, so theyre likely to emerge when a food source, e.g., humans or animals, become available, Orkin stated.

"While its important to be aware of bed bug infestations within hotels, practicing precautions in other aspects of travel are also important. Taxis, buses and airplanes are also commonbed bug hiding places, allowing these pests an opportunity to hitch a ride with unsuspecting travelers. Examining clothing and luggage regularly while traveling can help to catch a bed bug infestation in the early stages, said Hottel.

In addition to being present in the sheets of a bed, bed bugs can also live in bedside table drawers and electrical outlets in walls, but fortunately, there are ways to detect them and to keep them from traveling home with you.

Exterminators encourage use of the acronym S.L.E.E.P. when inspecting for bugs while you travel and when you return home:

For more information about bed bug prevention and bed bug control, visit EPA.gov.

Kiersten Riedford of NBC Chicago contributed to this report.

Originally posted here:
NYC Bed Bugs: See where five boroughs rank on Orkins list - NBC New York

Bedbugs are small insects that are common in New York City. Adult bedbugs have flat, brown oval bodies and are about the size of an apple seed. They are usually active at night and feed on blood in order to grow and reproduce.

Bedbugs do not cause or spread diseases, but their bites can lead to infections. Some people do not have a reaction to bites and may be unaware that bedbugs are in their home until they see them.

Bedbugs like to hide inside of mattresses, under the mattress seams, and especially in the cracks and crevices on the box springs. Other than beds, these bugs often hide in cracks in furniture, floors, walls and other areas near where people sleep or lounge.

If you spot bedbugs in a residence or public place, you can submit a bedbug complaint online or by calling 311.

Bed bug infestations can be safely controlled. You can wash clothes and, in most cases, treat furniture to get rid of bedbugs. You should only throw away furniture if there are no acceptable treatments that can rid them of bedbugs, or if advised to do so by a pest management professional.

The New York City area has more than a thousand pest control companies and thousands of licensed pest management professionals. To get rid of bedbugs, you need to be clear with companies about what you want done and monitor the service you get.

The chance of picking up bedbugs when you travel is low, but it is important to take simple precautions. Bedbugs can hitch a ride on clothing and luggage, especially in places where travelers sleep. They are rarely found in planes, trains and motor vehicles. If you have bedbugs at home and will be traveling, take precautions so you do not spread them to other places.

Bed bug data from the NYC Community Health Survey can be viewed on theEnvironmental Public Health and Sustainability Tracking Portal.

Read more:
Bedbugs - NYC Health

The resources on this page can help you prevent bedbug infestations and safely control them when they occur.

Bedbugs can enter homes by latching on to used furniture, luggage, clothing and by traveling along connecting pipes and wiring.

Ask your landlord or building manager to seal any cracks and crevices to prevent bedbugs and other pests from entering the home. Never take in furniture found on the street. If you think you have been around bedbugs, immediately wash and dry your clothing for at least 30 minutes on high heat, or store them in a sealed plastic bag until you can wash them

Provide tenants with information on how to identify and prevent bedbugs. Help tenants if they cannot move furniture themselves or need help getting rid of clutter.

Encourage tenants to report bedbugs as soon as they think they have a problem. If an apartment is found to have bedbugs, notify and inspect all units that are across, above and below the infested one.

Hire a pest management professional to treat for bedbugs. Give advance notice to tenants of the planned use of pesticides. Be wary of companies that make unrealistic claims about controlling infestations with just one visit. Seek a company that provides a warranty as well as a follow up visit.

Inspect your units after vacancy. Make sure vacant units are thoroughly cleaned and free of pests before a new tenant moves in.

Tenants in New York City have the right to a bedbug-free environment. Bedbugs are specifically named in the list of insects that building owners are legally required to eradicate.

New York City lists bedbugs as a Class B violation. This means they are considered hazardous. The landlord has 30 days to correct this problem. The landlord must get rid of the infestation and keep the affected units from getting infested again.

Property owners must provide tenants with a written bedbug history notice (PDF). This should disclose any bedbug infestations that have occurred in their building in the past year.

You can file a bedbug complaint online or by calling 311.

Follow this link:
Bedbugs: Information for Tenants and Building Owners - NYC Health - NYC.gov

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.

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.

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.

Identifying bed bugs

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.

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.

1. Survey the hotel room for signs of infestation, including colored stains on mattress seams, in soft furniture and behind headboards.

2. Lift and look in the mattress, box spring, furniture, behind baseboards, pictures and even in torn wallpaper.

3. Elevate luggage away from the bed and walls. Its safest to store bags on a counter or in the bathroom.

4. Examine your luggage carefully when you return home, and store it away from your bed.

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.

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.

Symptoms of bed bug bites

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.

Bed bug cities

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.

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.

Below is the list of the metropolitan areas where Orkin performed the most bed bug treatments from Dec. 1, 2021 to Nov. 30, 2022.

1. Chicago

2. New York

3. Philadelphia

4. Cleveland-Akron, Ohio

5. Los Angeles

6. Detroit

7. Indianapolis

8. Baltimore

9. Washington

10. Columbus, Ohio

11. Champaign, Illinois

12. Grand Rapids, Michigan

13. Cincinatti

14. Charlotte

15. Denver

16. Atlanta

17. Dallas-Fort Worth

18. Charleston, West Virginia

19. Raleigh-Durham

20. Flint, Michigan

21. San Francisco

22. Norfolk, Virginia

23. Greenville, South Carolina

24. St. Louis

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