Top 15 Cities Where Bed Bugs Bite

MEMPHIS, TN--(Marketwired - January 04, 2016) - Terminix ^®, the leading provider of pest control services in the United States, released its sixth annual ranking of bed bug-infested cities today. For the first time in four years, Philadelphia was outranked by Detroit, which stole the top spot.

Rounding out the top 15 bed bug cities in the United States are:

1. Detroit, Mich. (4)
2. Philadelphia, Pa. (1)
3. Cleveland-Akron, Ohio (15)
4. Los Angeles, Calif. (14)
5. Dayton, Ohio (-)
6. Chicago, Ill. (5)
7. Columbus, Ohio (8)
8. Cincinnati, Ohio (2)
9. Dallas-Forth Worth, Texas (7)
10. San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, Calif. (-)
11. Denver, Colo. (12)
12. Toledo, Ohio (-)
13. Oklahoma City, OK (-)
14. Baltimore, Md. (9)
15. New York, N.Y. (3)

"We've seen a steady increase in bed bugs since the 1990s, which has been influenced by increased international travel and infestations left untreated," said Paul Curtis, manager, technical services at Terminix. "Most of the cities in our top 15 are big tourist and business destinations, making travelers even more at risk for encounters with bed bugs -- whether it's on the plane, at their hotel, in a movie theater or riding in a taxi. The name 'bed bug' is deceptive, as these pests can thrive just about anywhere."

The list of top cities for bed bugs was created by compiling inbound lead data from the more than 300 Terminix branches across the country. The rankings represent Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) with the highest volume of calls from Jan. 1, 2015 to Dec. 17, 2015.

Myths and Truths About Bed Bugs
But it's not just the name that's misleading. There are plenty of myths about bloodsucking bed bugs that have people in the dark, including:

1. MYTH: Bed bugs only live in beds.
TRUTH: Although they flourish in mattresses, box springs and bed frames, bed bugs can be found in a variety of environments, including airplanes, daycare centers, restaurants, subways, dressers and purses. Bed bugs' small, flat bodies make them experts at hiding. The most obvious way to detect the presence of bed bugs is bite marks to the body, but those may take up to 14 days to appear, so look for other signs such as shells of bed bugs, live bed bugs in mattress seams, a sweet musty odor or small blood spots on mattresses and sheets.

2. MYTH: Bed bugs only feast in the dark.
TRUTH: Bed bugs do prefer darkness, but keeping the lights on won't deter the pests from biting. Bed bugs readily feed anytime a host is available, including during the day. Often, bed bug victims don't even 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.

3. MYTH: There's a one-step solution to eliminating bed bugs.
TRUTH: Bed bug control can only be maintained using a variety of techniques. Bed bug populations in different areas of the country have developed resistance to common pesticides, so, to truly tackle the problem, pest control pros have to take multiple approaches.

4. MYTH: A doctor can tell you if you have bed bugs.
TRUTH: It can be difficult for a doctor to differentiate between bed bug, mosquito or other flying pest bites because everyone reacts differently. If you suspect you have bed bugs, Terminix recommends checking for other signs in your bed and throughout your home to confirm their presence.

5. MYTH: Bed bugs don't warrant public health concerns.
TRUTH: Though they've not been shown to transmit diseases to people, bed bugs are listed as a public health pest because their bites can cause an allergic reaction.

When bed bugs are discovered during an inspection, Terminix will develop a powerful, customized treatment for the home. Terminix bed bug solutions include its proprietary RapidFreeze^® solution, which is fast, effective and non-toxic. RapidFreeze uses carbon dioxide (CO2) to freeze bed bugs in their tracks and prevent eggs and nymphs from hatching. RapidFreeze is perfect for homes, hotels, apartments, food processing plants and organic industries.

If you suspect you have bed bugs, call Terminix at 1-877-TERMINIX to schedule a free inspection.

About Terminix
Terminix is the leading provider of termite and pest control services in the United States. Headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., Terminix services approximately 2.8 million residential and commercial customers in 47 states and 22 countries. Terminix provides pest control services and protection against termites, rodents and other pests threatening human health and/or safety. 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 8,000 company-owned, franchised and licensed locations. The company's portfolio of well-recognized brands includes American Home Shield (home warranties), AmeriSpec (home inspections), Furniture Medic (furniture repair), Merry Maids (residential cleaning), ServiceMaster Clean (janitorial), ServiceMaster Restore (disaster restoration) and Terminix (termite and pest control). 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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