Two Tennessee Cities Among The Worst In The U.S. For Bed Bugs

As people around the country begin traveling more, and staying in unfamiliar places, the number of reported cases of bed bugs has also been on the rise. That's why Orkin recently released its annual list of the U.S. cities with the most reported cases of bed bugs, using data gathered from December 1, 2020 to November 30, 2021.

Two cities in Tennessee earned spots on the list: Knoxville, coming in at No. 29, and Nashville, following closely at No. 34.

"Bed bugs are a concern for everyone because they are master hitchhikers, traveling home with people when they likely don't realize it," said Orkin entomologist Ben Hottel. "Their nature of hiding in difficult-to-find cracks and crevices can make them hard to control, which is why involving a trained professional at the sight of an introduction is recommended."

So what should you do to minimize the risk of infestation? Orkin suggests regularly checking your home for signs of bed bugs, inspecting mattress seams, baseboards and even electrical outlets. Experts also recommend decluttering your home to make spotting the insects even easier and thoroughly inspecting any secondhand furniture before brining it inside your home.

Here are the Top 50 cities for bed bugs, according to the report:

1. Chicago, Illinois
2. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
3. New York, New York
4. Detroit, Michigan
5. Baltimore, Maryland
6. Indianapolis, Indiana
7. Washington, DC
8. Cleveland, Ohio
9. Columbus, Ohio
10. Cincinnati, Ohio
11. Grand Rapids, Michigan
12. Los Angeles, California
13. Champaign, Illinois
14. Atlanta, Georgia
15. Charlotte, North Carolina
16. Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas
17. Denver, Colorado
18. St. Louis, Missouri
19. San Francisco, California
20. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
21. Greenville, South Carolina
22. Charleston, West Virginia
23. Flint, Michigan
24. Raleigh, North Carolina
25. Norfolk, Virginia
26. Richmond, Virginia
27. Omaha, Nebraska
28. Buffalo, New York
29. Knoxville, Tennessee
30. Cedar Rapids, Iowa
31. Toledo, Ohio
32. Dayton, Ohio
33. South Bend, Indiana
34. Nashville, Tennessee
35. Davenport, Iowa
36. Wayne, Indiana
37. Youngstown, Ohio
38. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
39. Miami, Florida
40. Tampa, Florida
41. Houston, Texas
42. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
43. Greensboro, North Carolina
44. Seattle, Washington
45. Peoria, Illinois
46. Orlando, Florida
47. Lexington, Kentucky
48. Lansing, Michigan
49. Louisville, Kentucky
50. Lincoln, Nebraska

Check out Orkin's full report here.