Source: Fox News
Summary
Orkin’s 2026 Bed Bug Cities List reveals the top U.S. cities where bedbugs are most likely to be encountered. Chicago tops the list for the fifth consecutive year, followed by Los Angeles, Detroit, Cleveland, and Indianapolis. Popular tourist destinations Tampa and Myrtle Beach also experience increased bedbug activity. The rankings are based on treatment data from May 2025 to May 12, 2026. Experts recommend inspecting for bedbugs while traveling and using sticky lint rollers to detect them.
Our Reading
This guidance has been heard before.
Bedbugs are a persistent problem in many U.S. cities, with Chicago retaining its top spot on Orkin’s list. The rankings are based on treatment data, but experts caution that bedbugs can be found anywhere, not just in urban areas. The advice to inspect for bedbugs while traveling and use sticky lint rollers is familiar. The situation feels like a recurring theme in the ongoing battle against bedbugs.
The recommendation enters another phase, with experts suggesting that places tend to get attention for bedbugs when people are visiting and looking for them.
Author: Evan Null
Bedbugs: A Persistent Problem
Bedbugs are small insects that feed on blood and live near humans or animals, favoring places we sleep or rest. They can cause itchy bites, skin irritation, and in some cases, allergic reactions.
Rankings and Ratings
Orkin’s 2026 Bed Bug Cities List ranks Chicago as the top city for bedbug infestations, followed by Los Angeles, Detroit, Cleveland, and Indianapolis. Michigan is ranked as the state with the highest estimated risk of encountering bedbugs, followed by Ohio, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
Expert Insights
Experts caution that bedbugs can be found anywhere, not just in urban areas, and that rural areas may have less access to good pest control services. Places tend to get attention for bedbugs when people are visiting and looking for them.
Prevention and Detection
Experts recommend inspecting mattress seams, upholstered furniture, and behind headboards for bedbugs while traveling. Using a sticky lint roller on clothing, upholstery, and the bottoms of shoes can also help detect hitchhiking bed bugs.
