-

The Bed Bug Boom: Terminix Reveals Top 50 Infested U.S. Cities

MEMPHIS, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Just in time for peak travel season, Terminix®, a Rentokil Terminix company, announced today its annual list of the Top 50 Most Bed Bug-Infested U.S. Cities, based on 2024 service data from more than 300 branches nationwide. The results reveal a notable surge in bed bug activity, with cities across Ohio, Texas, Florida, California and Pennsylvania dominating the list – a trend fueled by increased travel, urban density and housing conditions.

Philadelphia claimed the top spot for the second year in a row, while New York City (#2) and Cleveland-Akron (#3) both rose into the top five, reflecting continued struggles with these persistent pests.

“We have seen a consistent increase in bed bug control service performed since the ‘new normal’ post-COVID-19 pandemic,” said Eric Braun, Technical Service Manager at Terminix. “As travel, social gatherings, and public activity resumed, so did the opportunities for bed bugs to spread, prompting a rise in both awareness and demand for professional pest control services.”

Top 10 Most Bed Bug-Infested Cities:

  1. Philadelphia
  2. New York City (+1)
  3. Cleveland-Akron (Canton) (+1)
  4. Los Angeles (+17)
  5. Dallas-Ft. Worth (+1)
  6. Atlanta (-1)
  7. Houston (+4)
  8. Washington, D.C. (Hagerstown) (New to list)
  9. San Francisco-Oak-San Jose (New to list)
  10. Indianapolis (+2)

Tips for Bed Bug Prevention

To protect against bed bugs and avoid bringing them home when traveling, Terminix recommends the following steps:

  • Before settling into a hotel or rental: Inspect mattress seams, headboards and nearby furniture for small, rust-colored stains, shed skins or live bed bugs. Avoid placing luggage on the bed or floor while inspecting the room.
  • Upon returning home: Unpack on a hard surface away from bedrooms and place clothing in the dryer for thirty minutes on high heat to spot and eliminate any live bed bugs.
  • If bed bugs make it home: Contain the infestation quickly and avoid DIY sprays. Reduce the severity of the infestation by entering limited rooms while awaiting professional treatment.

To learn more about bed bug prevention and Terminix’s latest bed bug treatment plans, visit www.terminix.com/bed-bug-control.

About Rentokil Terminix

Rentokil Terminix is the leading provider of residential and commercial services in North America. The company provides health, hygiene, and environment services, and pest management services, including protection against termites, mosquitoes, rodents and other pests. The company is part of Rentokil Initial plc (NYSE: RTO), one of the largest business services companies in the world. To learn more, visit EnhancedPestControl.com, or linkedin.com/company/rentokilterminix.

Contacts

MEDIA CONTACT:
Hannah Bernhard
Hannah.Bernhard@rentokil.com

Industry:

Rentokil Terminix

NYSE:RTO
Release Versions
English

Contacts

MEDIA CONTACT:
Hannah Bernhard
Hannah.Bernhard@rentokil.com

Social Media Profiles
Terminix Facebook
Terminix Instagram
Terminix LinkedIn
Terminix YouTube
More News From Rentokil Terminix

Detroit Climbs into Terminix’s Top 10 as Fall Rodent Pressure Shifts Nationwide

MEMPHIS, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rodent activity is shifting across the country, with Detroit entering Terminix’s Top 10 for the first time, according to new data from Terminix®, a Rentokil Terminix company. Based on 2025 service data from more than 300 Rentokil-owned Terminix branches nationwide, where residents most frequently used rodent control services in 2025, the company’s annual list of the Top 50 Most Rodent-Infested Cities, reveals notable movement across the country. Five new cities...

The Round of 32 Pest Scouting Report: Which Host Cities Face a "Double Threat"?

MEMPHIS, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--With one of the world’s biggest sporting events already underway and millions of international visitors on the ground across U.S. cities, new data from Terminix®, a Rentokil Terminix company, reveals a striking convergence: seven of the 11 host cities for this summer's next wave of soccer matches also rank among the country's worst for mosquito activity, bed bug infestations, or both. The data is drawn from two Terminix annual reports released this spring, both...

New York City Replaces Los Angeles as America’s Most Mosquito‑Infested City, New Terminix Data Reveals

MEMPHIS, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mosquito activity is expanding beyond its traditional stronghold in the Southern United States, according to new data from Terminix®, a Rentokil Terminix company. Based on 2025 service data from more than 300 Rentokil-owned Terminix branches nationwide,* the company’s annual list of the Top 50 Most Mosquito-Infested Cities reveals shifting patterns driven by prolonged heat, higher humidity, and increased rainfall in regions outside historically high-risk markets...
Back to Newsroom