It’s a new year; and in the bug business comes some new facts. Orkin has compiled a list of the top 50 U.S. cities with the most reported bed bug home infestations. And Baltimore, Maryland has the unfortunate honor of topping the list in 2018, for the second year in a row.

The second highest ranking city projected is Washington, D.C., followed by Chicago, Los Angeles jumps up 2 places from last year to #4, Columbus, Cincinnati, and Detroit are ranked #5 through #7, and New York went down 4 places to #8 from last year’s ranking, and San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, and Dallas-Fort Worth round out the top 10.

What does all this mean? Even if your city doesn’t make the list it is important to know the habits of bed bugs and how to avoid when traveling. We are a very transient society and bed bugs aren’t nicknamed hitch-hikers for nothing.
The 2018 projections add a few new-comers to the top 50 list including New Orleans, Louisiana and Flint, Michigan. Flint.

Flint, a city ravaged by economic decline debuted at #38. It has suffered recently from lead in its municipal-water supply; a parasitic invasion like bed bugs will only ignite an already troublesome situation for much of Flint’s lower-come residents.

If I can be candid, lower-wage earners tend to have less than ideal living conditions. In poor or congested neighborhoods people live in tight quarters with not a lot of living space to spare. This can cause clutter which attracts bugs and vermin.

Bed bugs feed on human blood and other warm-blooded animals to survive. They aren’t necessarily attracted to filth per-say, but when a living area is messy it is easy for them hide and harder for you to find their nest, which eliminates a very important target when treating the infestation.

New Orleans debuts on the Orkin list at #47. The Mardi Gras parade every year attracts close to a million visitors from around the globe to enjoy the lavish masquerade. Year-round locals and tourists can enjoy things like soufflés of decadence desserts, or spicy concoctions of Cajun and crawfish entrées, any domestic or international traveler can enjoy 24-hours of soulful sounds of sultry Jazz or the Bayou blues all within walking distance to the charming, French-quarter hotels.

However, the high hotel traffic, packing and unpacking luggage, and all the moving parts are opportunities for bed bugs to hitch rides with unsuspecting guests. Cities such as New Orleans, will continue to suffer from growing pest infestations.

The tourist industry is responsible for the recent influx of bed bugs but, just like in Flint; it is the lower-income neighborhoods that bear the brunt of the problem. People living on fixed incomes, mostly in neighborhoods outside the main tourist spots, just can’t afford $1,000 price tag for a one-time pest control visit.

EcoRaider offers a practical solution to all the folks that can identify with the people living in these cities mentioned on Orkin’s list. We all know well bed bugs infestations are not confined to only New Orleans, Flint, Los Angeles, Chicago, or all the major cities mentioned above. Bed bugs are ubiquitous. EcoRaider understands the growing epidemic and will ship our products anywhere.

EcoRaider is a healthy, do-it-yourself option that comes with an extended residual period. It is also a more affordable option for those on a budget.

Phew! So, you don’t have to cancel your trip to The Big Easy!

A few tips for hotel stays: inspect your room for small black or brown spots. These signs can be dead bed bug casings, live insects, or droppings. A flashlight or even your mobile phone’s screen is helpful to spotting bed bug activity on furniture, linens, and most importantly, your mattress.

EcoRaider Travel Bed Bug Killer Spray 2-oz Travel comes in a 6-pack to make it super convenient to just grab a bottle and stick in your carry-on bag and spray before you pack and after you unpack.

The EcoRaider team recommends that after a thorough inspection of the hotel room, hang up all your clothes. Make sure to place your empty luggage high up, if no shelf is available, place on a table. Bed bugs are not the best climbers and although they do get everywhere, they tend to stay low.

There are 2 important facts to ensure a Bed Bug free-2018; Bed Bugs don’t just hide in your bed, and don’t leave home without EcoRaider!