Orkin has released its 2026 “Bed Bug Cities List”: Chicago retains the top spot nationwide, followed by Los Angeles and Detroit. This year’s headline is that two vacation hot spots debuted on the list — Tampa and Myrtle Beach — showing that as travel rebounds, bed bugs are hitchhiking in travelers’ luggage across the country.
How the ranking works: a year of treatment data
- The ranking is based on the number of bed bug treatments Orkin performed across US metro areas from May 12, 2025, to May 12, 2026, covering both residential and commercial jobs.
- The top 10: Chicago, Los Angeles, Detroit, Cleveland (Ohio), Indianapolis, Springfield (Illinois), Washington, D.C., Columbus (Ohio), Pittsburgh, and Grand Rapids (Michigan).
- Ohio stands out: six of its cities made the top 50, making Midwestern cities this year’s bed bug hotspot cluster.
- Orkin notes that densely populated cities with high resident and visitor turnover offer more opportunities for bed bugs to spread — apartments, dormitories, and hotels are the hardest hit.
Travel-season warning: bed bugs love a free ride
- Many listed cities are also top US travel destinations; summer concerts, festivals, and sporting events bring huge visitor flows, and bed bugs hitchhike home in luggage and personal belongings.
- Orkin entomologist and National Technical Director Dr. Shannon Sked advises travelers to quickly inspect hotel rooms on arrival and check belongings before unpacking at home — a small habit that greatly reduces the chance of bringing bed bugs home.
- Bed bugs are notoriously hard to spot: adults measure just 3/16 inch (about 4.8 mm), nymphs are even smaller, and their flattened bodies let them hide in the tiniest cracks. Primarily nocturnal, they can remain hidden for weeks before being discovered — long after a trip has ended.
Why Hong Kong readers should care
Many Hongkongers travel to the US for tourism, family visits, and study. If you’re heading to top-ranked cities like Chicago or Los Angeles, do a quick hotel-room inspection before unpacking. See our 《Travel Bed-Bug Checklist》 before you fly, and check luggage and heat-treat clothes as soon as you’re home. If bed bugs did hitch a ride back, our 《DIY Bed-Bug Removal Guide》 walks through the full process; to understand why bed bugs are getting harder to kill, read 《Super Bed-Bug Insecticide Resistance》.
Source
- Green Lodging News (2026) — https://www.greenlodgingnews.com/chicago-tops-orkins-2026-bed-bug-cities-list-again-as-vacation-hot-spots-climb-the-ranks/
(Written 2026-10-13; compiled from Green Lodging News’ reproduction of the Orkin press release.)