by Shane Henson — June 25, 2012—Terminix, a worldwide pest control provider and subsidiary of The ServiceMaster Company, reports that its 2012 Most Bedbug-Infested Cities ranking indicates an increase in the prevalence of bedbugs in most states since its first ranking in 2010. Philadelphia now holds the dubious title of most bedbug-infested U.S. city, taking the top spot from New York City, which held the title for two years.
Businesses continue to represent 70% of Terminix’s bedbug customers versus 30% for residential customers in the United States. The company also reports that in areas with high levels of active bed bugs, it is not uncommon to see a 300% increase in reported incidences over levels reported just a few years ago. In areas where an infestation is newly discovered, increases can be as high as 1,500% over the previous year.
The 2012 most bedbug-infested cities are:
- Philadelphia
- Cincinnati
- New York City
- Chicago
- Detroit
- Washington, D.C.
- Columbus, Ohio
- San Francisco
- Denver
- New Haven, Connecticut
- Dallas
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Miami
- Cleveland
To prevent a bedbug outbreak, businesses should educate all staff members on how to look for signs of infestation and what to do if bedbug activity is found. While some industries are more susceptible to infestation than others, the more customer and employee traffic a business has, the more the business is at risk, the company notes. “Bedbugs are able to hitchhike on any item and be carried into any home or building,” notes Stoy Hedges, an entomologist with Terminix.
Discovery of suspected infestations or bedbug activity often comes via complaints from customers or staff. “It’s important to train employees to address customer concerns related to bedbugs sympathetically, professionally and according to company policy,” notes Paul Curtis, director of service quality for Terminix. “Legally, employees’ actions and words could be imputed to their employer.”
Regular inspections of key customer and employee contact areas and possible harborage sites is essential, says the company. Terminix offers Suggestions for Developing the Right Action Plan and a host of information about bedbugs for companies serious about bedbug control or wondering if they might have an infestation. Still, says Hedges, if bedbugs are suspected, facilities managers should contact a pest control company immediately to schedule an inspection, and not attempt to handle the infestation on their own. According to Terminix, the Journal of Economic Entomology recently reported that over-the-counter foggers have been proven ineffective and are not recommended for use.
Despite their resiliency, there are many ways experts can kill bedbugs, says the company. Terminix, for example, says it uses a process called RapidFreeze in which a patented nozzle transforms liquid carbon dioxide into a dry ice “snow” that effectively freezes and kills bedbugs in fewer than 60 seconds.
