America’s bed bug hotspots revealed in new map showing the 50 worst cities for blood-sucking pests… is your hometown infested?

As summer has arrived in the US, so have bed bug infestations.

And the 50 metro areas where the blood-sucking insects are causing the biggest headaches for homeowners and travelers have been revealed, according to a pest control company.

The bugs pierce the skin and leave behind itchy red welts that can trigger allergic reactions, secondary skin infections from excessive scratching, sleepless nights and significant psychological distress.

Los Angeles, Detroit, Cleveland and Indianapolis rounded out the top five.

The rankings are based on metro areas where the pest control company performed the most bed bug treatments in the year since May 12, 2025.

Several cities saw notable shifts, with Nashville and Oklahoma City each climbing ten spots, while Youngstown, Omaha and Knoxville posted some of the biggest declines.

The changes underscore how quickly bed bug infestations can spread and shift, even as the pests continue to plague communities across the country.

Bed bugs are notoriously difficult to detect because they are tiny. 

Adults measure just 3/16 inch long, about the size of a sesame seed, while immature nymphs are even smaller, and their flattened bodies allow them to hide in hard-to-spot locations. 

Primarily nocturnal, these blood-feeding pests often target sleeping humans and can easily spread by hitchhiking on luggage, purses and other personal belongings. 

They thrive in the summer because warmer temperatures speed up their life cycle, causing them to breed faster. 

More importantly, summer is also peak travel season. When you stay in hotels or ride on planes, these tiny bugs easily hitch a ride on your luggage and travel back home with you 

Dr Shannon Sked, Orkin entomologist and national technical director, said: ‘Bed bugs are resilient pests that can be difficult to control once introduced into a home or hotel room, and they are skilled at hiding in cracks, crevices and personal belongings. 

‘A quick inspection of hotels or short-term rentals while traveling, or belongings before unpacking at home, can help travelers reduce the chance of bringing bed bugs home.’

Several cities made dramatic moves in this year’s rankings, with Nashville and Oklahoma City each climbing ten places, while Hartford and Seattle jumped nine spots. Knoxville recorded the biggest drop, falling 11 places.

Tampa, Kansas City and Myrtle Beach all entered the top 50 of the Bed Bug Cities List for the first time. 

‘Changes in the rankings can be influenced by a variety of factors such as travel trends, treatment-resistant strains and educational campaigns to the public,’ said Sked. 

‘Still, one thing remains constant: bed bugs continue to be a concern in communities across the US, regardless of socioeconomic demographics, sanitation facilities or maintenance levels.’

Not only can they hide, but an infestation can get out of hand quite quickly: female bed bugs can lay one to five eggs per day and are capable of producing 200 to 500 eggs over their lifetime.

Worse, the insect can lie dormant, unfed, for several months in wait for their next meal of blood.