Philadelphia Retains Top Spot in Fifth Annual Ranking of Most Bedbug-Infested Cities

MEMPHIS, TN--(Marketwired - July 30, 2014) - Terminix®, the leading provider of termite and pest control services in the United States, today released its fifth annual ranking of the most bedbug infested cities in the United States, with Philadelphia, Penn. retaining the top spot for the third consecutive year. New York City topped the list for the first two years of the rankings in 2010 and 2011.

The 2014 list of Most-Infested Bedbug Cities include:

The list was created by compiling inbound call data from the more than 300 Terminix branches across the country. The rankings represent the Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) with the highest volume of calls between January 1 and June 30, 2014.

"Since pioneering this annual list five years ago, Terminix has helped bring to light an epidemic that can lead to a variety of negative physical health, mental health and economic consequences," said Stan Cope, PhD and entomologist with Terminix. "Recent evidence suggests that severe bedbug infestations may be associated with anemia and that bedbug bites can result in secondary infections due to excessive scratching. Infestations can cause emotional stress and irritability, so if you think you have an issue with bedbugs, we recommend contacting a professional immediately."

While this list includes large population centers, Terminix also reports cases of bedbugs by each of its branches nationwide in towns both large and small. The majority of bedbug calls are for residential treatment, but the brand has seen a significant uptick in its commercial bedbug business in servicing public areas such as buses, movie theaters and retail stores as well.

Bedbugs' small, flat bodies make them experts at hiding. They are often found in seams of mattresses, box springs, bed frames, headboards, luggage and folded clothing, and can remain hidden for long periods of time without a blood meal. The most obvious way to detect the presence of bedbugs is bite marks to the body. However, marks may take up to 14 days to appear and can be highly variable in appearance, so look for other signs such as exoskeletons of bedbugs, live bedbugs in mattress seams, a sweet musty odor, and rusty-colored blood spots on mattresses and sheets.

Bedbugs generally bite while people are sleeping, so they often do not realize they've been bitten until marks appear. These marks are similar to that of a mosquito, with a slightly swollen, red area that may itch or be irritated.

If you suspect bedbugs in your home or business, it's recommended that you contact a professional pest control company such as Terminix. For more information, visit Terminix.com.

About Terminix®
Terminix is the leading provider of termite and pest control services in the United States. Headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., Terminix services more than 2.8 million residential and commercial customers in 47 states and 11 countries. Terminix provides pest control services and protection against termites, rodents and other pests threatening human health and/or safety. Terminix is a business unit of ServiceMaster Global Holdings, Inc., a leading provider of essential residential and commercial services, which brands include Terminix, American Home Shield®, ServiceMaster Restore®, ServiceMaster Clean®, Merry Maids®, Furniture Medic® and AmeriSpec®. To learn more about Terminix, visit www.Terminix.com.

About ServiceMaster ®
ServiceMaster Global Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SERV) is a leading provider of essential residential and commercial services, operating through an extensive service network of more than 7,000 company-owned, franchised and licensed locations. The company's portfolio of well-recognized brands includes Terminix (termite and pest control), American Home Shield (home warranties), ServiceMaster Restore (disaster restoration), ServiceMaster Clean (janitorial), Merry Maids (residential cleaning), Furniture Medic (furniture repair) and AmeriSpec (home inspections). The company serves approximately 5 million residential and commercial customers through an employee base of approximately 13,000 company associates and a franchise network that independently employs an estimated 33,000 additional people. The company is headquartered in Memphis, Tenn. Go to www.servicemaster.com for more information about ServiceMaster or follow the company at twitter.com/ServiceMaster or facebook.com/TheServiceMasterCo.

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