New York City is no longer the bed bug capital of the United States

As reported by Fox News Health this month, New York City is no longer the bed bug capital of the country! Due in part to the work the fine exterminators at Annihilator eX-Termination and other pest control providers have done over the past 10 years, there are now several cities ahead of New York City in the top 50 list for bed bug treatments per year.

For the first time ever, Baltimore is leading the list.

We all know bed bugs and have heard the horror stories. These little blood-sucking pests can come into your home in many different ways, attaching themselves to luggage or people to travel from one place to another is most common.

And believe it or not, they don't only infest unsanitary homes. The cleanest, most well-kept home is at risk just as much.

Though there is a new city now topping the list, it doesn't mean that the bed bug problem in America has become any less severe. Even though these bugs were virtually unheard of as little as 10 years ago, there are more people in the United States effected today than ever before. There are many cities on the list that have never appeared there before. Cities like Las Vagas, Portland, and Salt Lake City.

List of cities in the US ranked by bed bug treatments per year:

1. Baltimore (+9)

2. Washington, D.C. (+1)

3. Chicago (-2)

4. New York

5. Columbus, Ohio

6. Los Angeles (-4)

7. Detroit

8. Cincinnati

9. Philadelphia (-3)

10. San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose (+4)

11. Richmond-Petersburg, Va. (-2)

12. Raleigh-Durham, N.C. (-1)

13. Cleveland-Akron-Canton, Ohio (-1)

14. Indianapolis (+1)

15. Dallas-Ft. Worth (-2)

16. Atlanta (+3)

17. Houston

18. Buffalo, N.Y. (+2)

19. Charlotte, N.C. (-3)

20. Norfolk-Portsmouth-Newport News, Va. (+10)

21. Knoxville, Tenn. (+3)

22. Denver (-4)

23. Nashville, Tenn. (-1)

24. Pittsburgh (+5)

25. Greenville-Spartanburg, S.C.-Asheville, N.C. (-4)

26. Phoenix (-3)

27. Grand Rapids-Kalamazoo-Battle Creek, Mich. (+5)

28. Boston (-3)

29. Milwaukee (-3)

30. Champaign-Springfield-Decatur, Ill. (+12)

31. Hartford-New Haven, Conn. (+3)

32. Dayton, Ohio (-4)

33. Omaha, Neb. (+3)

34. Seattle-Tacoma (-6)

35. Tampa-St. Petersburg, Fla. (-4)

36. Charleston-Huntington, W.Va. (-1)

37. St. Louis (+3)

38. Cedar Rapids-Waterloo-Dubuque, Iowa (+3)

39. Myrtle Beach-Florence, S.C. (+11)

40. Syracuse, N.Y. (+6)

41. Louisville, Ky. (-2)

42. Greensboro-High Point-Winston Salem, N.C.

43. Lexington, Ky. (-10)

44. Orlando-Daytona Beach-Melbourne, Fla. (-6)

45. Kansas City, Mo. (-1)

46. Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. (-3)

47. Salt Lake City, Utah

48. Honolulu, Hawaii

49. Las Vegas

50. Portland, Ore

Challenges of performing pest control in New York City

There are thousands of things that make life in New York City different from the lives of other people throughout the country, even in metro areas, right? Why shouldn't the same be true of life for our bugs? Turns out, it is. Pest control in New York City is a whole different "animal."

The New York metro area is a unique environment for humans, bugs, and mice/rats. There are a lot of people, places, and things in a relatively small space compared to other metro areas. Buildings in the city often have restaurants at the bottom with offices or apartments directly over them and above.

The problem with apartments

Apartments are a great, low-cost alternative to owning a home that allows people to live in the city of their dreams. Unfortunately, your chic Manhattan apartment is also a safe haven for insects and rodents. Now mention the fact that you have a diner on the bottom floor of your building. What could be better?

Not only are many buildings heaven for pests, but the close proximity between you and your neighbors promotes the fast spread of problems.

Frequent fliers

Manhattan is an urban metropolis full of important people who go to important places for important meetings. The traveling is nonstop. Have you ever been to Laguardia? Then you know.

Unfortunately, the people we brush shoulders with and the places we stay when traveling are not always of the highest quality. Pests like bed bugs can be rampant even in a posh, 5-star hotel.

People who often travel are at risk of exposing themselves to pest issues and then bringing the home to fester and infect other apartments. Bed bugs, especially, are often not noticed until it is far too late, costing you thousands of dollars in bedding, clothing, and furniture.

Ample food supply

Manhattan is the only city in the world where you can walk out of your building and go grab a burger at 5 am. Every New Yorker has had a late night dinner escapade, right?

Commercial pest control is a much-needed service in Manhattan.

This ample food supply is also a benefit for the rodents and pests that try to barge in. They are drawn to the food, and New York City is the food capital of the world where you can eat around the clock.

Get pest control help right away

Just like New York City, we are the pest control company that never sleeps. If you have an emergency, get in touch. We are available and can have someone at your home to check out the problem by the next day. 

If you need help or think there might be a pest control issue, get in touch right away. A few days of time could make all the difference depending on the pest you are dealing with.

You can get in touch with us for emergency service here or you can call us at 718.227.5001.