Another year has passed and here in the Capital Region. Albany/Schenectady/Troy, N.Y made the list for the top bed bug cities for 2014 released by Orkin.  Albany/Schenectady/Troy, N.Y remained steady at position 43, compared to number 42 in 2012 and number 44 on the list back in 2011. 

According to the list, seven cities made double-digit jumps on Orkin's Bed Bug Cities List compared to 2013, including Omaha, Neb. (+16), Lexington, Ky. (+16), Sacramento, Calif. (+14), Grand Rapids, Mich. (+13), Buffalo, N.Y. (+12), Charleston, W.Va. (+11) and Louisville, Ky. (+10). Several cities also dropped significantly in the past year, including Syracuse, N.Y., San Diego, Miami, Greenville, S.C. and Atlanta. Four cities made the Bed Bug Cities List for the first time including Myrtle Beach, S.C., St. Louis, Bowling Green, Ky. and Ft. Wayne, Ind.

The list makes its evident that bed bugs are across the country and not concentrated to one area. According to an annual report on the pest control industry, Americans spent $446 million to get rid of bed bugs in 2013, the latest data available, compared to $70 million in 2004.

How do you get bed bugs?

Bed bugs must be introduced into the structure from an infested environment. Bed bugs do not just enter homes or come from the outdoor environment. Bed bugs are introduced from traveling, rented/used furniture, guests/visitors, college students or even garage/yard sale purchases. Determining the exact source of the infestation can be challenging and sometimes go unsettled.

How do I know if I have bed bugs?

Bed bugs are reddish/brown, oval in shape (similar to apple seed) and flat. Immature stages of bed bugs (nymphs) are very tiny, translucent or red (after a feeding). Bed bug eggs are very difficult to detect with the human eye since they are rice shape and size and white in color. Black fecal staining are fecal droppings similar in shape and size to pepper. Blood smears to marks can be found as well on your sheets and bedding materials. These are all signs of an infestation. Bed bugs prefer small, protected areas like beds, couches, night stands, electrical outlets, picture frames and small cracks and crevices.

What do bed bug bites look like?

Bed bug bites are not always detected right away and everyone reacts differently to bed bugs. Bed bug bites are grouped or clustered together in a straight line. The bumps/rash from the bites can be irritating and itchy.

How do you get rid of bed bugs?

Contact your local Albany pest control provider at the first indication of bed bugs. Bed bug infestations should only be treated by trained, licensed professional pest management companies. Thomas Pest Services provides effective bed bug heat treatments to get rid of bed bug infestations, no matter how severe. Heat treatments are an environmentally friendly method for killing all life stages of bed bugs. Contact your partner, Thomas Pest to begin eliminating bed bugs from your home, multi-unit housing complex or other commercial facility.