2024’s Worst Cities for Bed Bug Infestations

1. What are your 3 best tips for travelers to check for and evade bed bugs?

My best tips for checking for and evading bed bugs are:

1. Know what the signs of bed bugs are as well as what the different life stages look like.

2. Conduct a visual inspection of the place you are staying, focusing on the bed, box spring, and bed frame. While a visual inspection is not foolproof, you will likely encounter them in nearby sleeping areas.

3. When conducting an inspection of the premises, be sure to keep your luggage in an area like the bathtub or shower, where bed bugs will likely not be able to climb. Then if you find bed bugs, the evasion strategy would be to report it to management and request a new room to stay in.

2. What should people do if they notice a bed bug has hitched a ride on their luggage?

Typically, I suggest the individual captures the bed bug and kills it in some way.

Then, they should inspect their luggage case to see if there are more bed bugs that may have ridden along and look for eggs as well. They can remove the bed bugs using an extra sticky lint roller or tweezers. Bugs or eggs can be put into plastic bags, then frozen, or placed into a cup with soapy water.

Next, I would suggest they launder the clothing that was brought with them on a high-heat setting.

Finally, they should inspect other items they have brought for bed bugs and control them using one of the above-mentioned methods. If someone has introduced a large amount of bed bugs, it may be best to seek professional assistance.

3. What are 3 misconceptions about bed bugs?

1. That they are only found on beds due to their name. Despite common belief, bed bugs will reside in many areas near host resting places, including carpet, floorboards, electrical outlets, curtains, couches, etc. So, they are not limited to beds alone.

2. That bed bugs need unsanitary conditions to be successful. While clutter and human possessions can complicate bed bug management, they are highly dependent on their hosts to supply them with resources, which is a blood meal.

3. That bed bugs cannot be seen with the unaided eye. Although small, all bed bug life stages can be seen without a microscope.

4. Outside of the motel or hotel room, where should vacationers be on the lookout for bed bugs?

Bed bugs will usually be in areas where people spend a fair amount of time sitting or sleeping.

Some other areas where people could encounter bed bugs are public transportation systems, movie theaters, or office buildings.

Another spot where bed bugs could be found are poultry houses as they are also a pest of chickens which are used for both meat or egg production.

1. What are your 3 best tips for travelers to check for and evade bed bugs?

1. Know how to recognize bed bugs and their signs.

2. Perform a quick (5-minute) inspection of every new lodging or rental environment before settling in and unpacking.

3. When back at home, store luggage, travel backpacks, and other travel-related personal belongings far away from sleeping and resting locations.

2. What should people do if they notice a bed bug has hitched a ride on their luggage?

Kill it (crush it with your fingers) or physically remove it (vacuum, lint roller, adhesive tape).

Then thoroughly inspect the luggage for additional bugs or eggs.

3. What are 3 misconceptions about bed bugs?

1. Bed bugs are microscopic or invisible to the unaided eye (FALSE).

2. Bed bugs are only found on beds (FALSE).

3. Bed bugs are signs of poor sanitation and poverty (FALSE).

4. Outside of the motel or hotel room, where should vacationers be on the lookout for bed bugs?

Any place where people sleep or rest. Areas frequented by more people or with high turnover rates have higher risks of bed bug introduction than areas with few people or low turnover.

In addition to traditional lodging environments, consider short-term rental properties (Airbnb, VRBO, etc.).

Bed bugs may also be introduced to public transit facilities, public waiting rooms and lounge areas, and libraries, though they typically do not establish breeding populations in these locations.

1. What are your 3 best tips for travelers to check for and evade bed bugs?

1. Thoroughly inspect the bed and furniture wherever you stay during travels.

2. When returning home from trips, do not take luggage to bedrooms. Remove clothing from luggage in the laundry room. Launder and put clothing in the dryer. The soap and heat will kill hidden bed bugs.

3. When checking into a hotel room, cruise ship, or Airbnb, inspect the bed and bedding for bed bugs. Also look in other locations, particularly the furniture where luggage would be placed and opened.

2. What should people do if they notice a bed bug has hitched a ride on their luggage?

1. If a bed bug is found on luggage, seal the luggage in a plastic garbage bag until potentially infested clothing can be removed, laundered, and dried in a hot dryer.

2. Empty luggage can remain sealed in a plastic garbage bag or plastic tub. A Nuvan (dichlorvos) strip can be placed in the container with the luggage for 24 hours to 7 days to kill all eggs, nymphs, and adult bed bugs.

3. What are 3 misconceptions about bed bugs?

1. Myth: Bed bugs are always associated with beds. Actually, bed bugs are not only found in beds. They can be found anywhere in an infested room.

2. Myth: Bed bugs are easily seen because of their size and color. Actually, bed bugs are not always easily seen. Adult bed bugs are almost ¼ inch long and reddish brown in color. The first stages are tan, tiny, and easily overlooked.

3. Myth: Bed bugs only feed on people. Actually, bed bugs do not only feed on people. They can feed on birds, pets, and other animals.

4. Outside of the motel or hotel room, where should vacationers be on the lookout for bed bugs?

Bed bugs can be found just about anywhere. They can survive in planes, taxis, and Uber or Lyft vehicles. Seats of movie theaters and restaurants can have bed bugs. They can also be found on cruise ships.

Check the clothing you are wearing for bed bugs when leaving vehicles or places where you sit for periods of time, like restaurants and movie theaters.