Bed Bugs Sink Their Teeth Into The Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Northern California is known for attractions that make it a prime vacation spot — the Golden Gate Bridge, national parks, and Alcatraz.

One thing tourism officials probably won’t tout is San Francisco’s ranking on the Atlanta-based pest-control company Orkin’s recently released list of Top 50 Bed Bug Cities. It’s No. 22 on this year’s list, down 3 spots from last year.

Orkin based its list on residential and commercial bed bug treatments performed by its technicians from Dec. 1, 2021-Nov. 30, 2022.

San Francisco was not the most infested California city, however. Los Angeles ranked No. 5 on the list, having risen 7 spots since just last year. Los Angeles took the biggest jump of any United States city. Chicago took the top spot for the third year in a row, followed by New York and Philadelphia.

The release is tied to Tuesday’s “National Shop for Travel Day,” founded in 2018 by the Travel Technology Association, and the time of year people start planning their vacations. When booking hotel reservations, it’s critical to know how to identify and check for bed bugs to avoid bringing the hitchhikers home, according to Orkin.

Below are the top 10 cities ranked on Orkin’s list and whether they moved up or down compared to the previous year:

1. Chicago, Illinois
2. New York, New York (+1)
3. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (-1)
4. Cleveland-Akron, Ohio (+4)
5. Los Angeles, California (+7)
6. Detroit, Michigan (-2)
7. Indianapolis, Indiana (-1)
8. Baltimore (-3)
9. Washington, D.C. (-2)
10. Columbus, Ohio (-1)

See the full list of Orkin’s top bed bug cities.

Bed bugs are usually about 3/16 inch long and red to dark brown. Mostly nocturnal insects whose only food source is blood, they come out of hiding to take their meals from sleeping humans. They can travel from place to place with ease, clinging to items such as luggage, purses and other personal belongings.

They also reproduce quickly. Females can deposit up to five eggs a day, and from 200 to 500 over their lifetime. They can survive for several months waiting for their next blood meal, so they’re most likely to emerge when people are near.

Orkin entomologist Ben Hottel said that while it’s important to be aware of bed bug infestations within hotels, the pests also try to hitch rides in taxis, buses and airplanes.

While traveling, it’s important to examine clothing and luggage regularly, Hottel said.