Iowa City Named One of the Worst for Bed Bug Infestations

What's the creepy crawly that can ruin travel faster than anything else?

Bed Bugs.

Nothing like checking into a hotel after a long day of enjoyment, just to find out you'll be bringing home an infestation of nasty, itchy, blood-sucking, bed stealers. Bedbugs are about the size of an apple seed. They hide in the cracks and crevices of beds, box springs, headboards, bed frames and other objects around a bed and come out at night to feed on their preferred host. Yup, we're their food source. Gross. Gross. GROSS.

The risk of running into bedbugs is higher if you spend time in places where nighttime guests come and go often; places like hotels, hospitals, or homeless shelters. They can travel from place to place with ease, clinging to items such as luggage, purses and other personal belongings.  If you have bedbugs in your home, professional extermination is recommended. Speaking of which, the pest killers at Orkin released a study on the 50 most bed bug infested cities and both Iowa (1 city) and Illinois (3 cities) made the list.

Vacations & Family Trips coming up? Maybe avoid the top 10 Bed Bug Cities...

1. Chicago

2. New York

3. Philadelphia

4. Cleveland-Akron, OH

5. Los Angeles

6. Detroit

7. Indianapolis

8. Baltimore

9. Washington, D.C.

10. Columbus, OH

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Iowa didn't make it out bed bug free either with Cedar Rapids showing up at #31. The list was based on treatment data from the metro areas where Orkin performed the most bed bug treatments from December 1st, 2021 to November 30th, 2022. The ranking includes both residential and commercial treatments. Check out the full 50 completed below.

Once you get these nasties, they are hard to get rid of too. Bed bugs are known for rapid population growth. Female bed bugs can deposit one to five eggs a day and may lay 200 to 500 eggs in their lifetime. They can survive for several months while waiting for their next blood meal, so they’re likely to emerge when a food source becomes available.

So how do I prevent bringing home bed bugs?

• Cover up. Bedbugs don't tend to burrow under clothing. You may be able to avoid bites by wearing pajamas that cover as much skin as possible.
• Inspect secondhand items. Look overused bedding, mattresses, and upholstered furniture before bringing them into your home
• Place all dryer-safe clothing/bedding in the dryer for at least 30-45 minutes at the highest setting after you return home.

But, how do I avoid bed bugs on vacation?

Orkin suggests the acronym S.L.E.E.P. when inspecting for bed bugs:

• Survey the hotel room for signs of an infestation. Be on the lookout for tiny, ink-colored stains on mattress seams, in soft furniture and behind headboards.

• Lift and look in bed bug hiding spots: the mattress, box spring and other furniture, as well as behind baseboards, pictures and even torn wallpaper.

• Elevate luggage away from the bed and wall. The safest places are in the bathroom or on counters.

• Examine your luggage carefully while repacking and once you return home from a trip. Always store luggage away from the bed.

• Place all dryer-safe clothing from your luggage in the dryer for at least 30-45 minutes at the highest setting after you return home.

In addition, Mark Robber with Crunch Labs has a great detailed look at what bed bugs are, how to keep them away, and how to deal with them should your bed be overrun.