Atlanta ranks among top worst 'bedbug cities': Orkin

ATLANTA — Atlanta-based pest control company Orkin has named the top 50 worst cities for bed bugs, and its home city ranked exceptionally high on the list. 

Atlanta ranked #13 for most residential and commercial bed bug treatments from Dec. 1, 2022 to Nov. 20, 2023, moving up three spots since last year's list.  

Bed bugs are pesky little creatures, measuring only 3/16 of an inch long, and normally come out of hiding at night to feed on the blood of humans or animals. Adult bed bugs are reddish-brown, wingless, and oval-shaped with flat bodies, while the young insects, or nymphs, can appear translucent or yellowish in color. They like to cling to items like luggage, purses and furniture, making it easy for them to bounce from place to place and then onto you. 

RELATED: Study names Atlanta one of America's 'roachiest' cities

“Bed bugs are extremely resilient, making them difficult to control. As travel plans ramp up, it’s important that Americans know how to protect themselves through pest identification and proper control,” said Ben Hottel, Orkin entomologist. “While bed bugs are visible to the naked eye, they are excellent at hiding. 

Chicago topped the list, leading as the worst city for bed bugs for the fourth year in a row. Greensboro, N.C. saw the largest jump this year, moving up 25 spots into the top 20.

Here's the full list of the worst US cities for bed bugs:

1. Chicago

2. New York

3. Philadelphia

4. Cleveland-Akron, OH

5. Los Angeles

6. Detroit

7. Washington, D.C. (+2)

8. Indianapolis (-1)

9. Charlotte (+5)

10. Champaign, IL (+1)

11. Columbus, OH (-1)

12. Cincinnati (+1)

13. Atlanta (+3)

14. Grand Rapids, MI (-2)

15. Denver

16. Baltimore (-8)

17. Richmond, VA (+9)

18. Greensboro, N.C. (+25)

19. St. Louis (+6)

20. Youngstown (+7)

21. Pittsburgh (-3)

22. Dallas-Ft. Worth (-5)

23. Flint, MI (-2)

24. Raleigh-Durham (-4)

25. Milwaukee (+15)

26. Charleston, W.V. (-7)

27. Greenville, SC (-3)

28. Norfolk, VA (-5)

29. Davenport (+8)

30. Nashville (+3)

31. Tampa (+10)

32. Toledo (+6)

33. Dayton, OH (+1)

34. Knoxville (-4)

35. Las Vegas (new to list)

36. Omaha, NE (-4)

37. South Bend, IN (-9)

38. Houston (+6)

39. Cedar Rapids, MI (-8)

40. Ft. Wayne, IN (-5)

41. San Francisco (-19)

42. Buffalo, NY (-13)

43. Harrisburg (-7)

44. Seattle (-5)

45. Miami

46. Orlando (+1)

47. Minneapolis (new to list)

48. Oklahoma City (new to list)

49. Louisville, KY

50. Lexington, KY (-4)

For more information on how to prevent bed bugs in your home or while traveling, click here.