Chicago again ranked highest in Orkin’s 2026 Bed Bug Cities List, the pest-control company said, identifying the Windy City as the metro where it performed the most bedbug treatments between May 2025 and May 12, 2026 (Orkin; reported by Fox News Digital).
The placement is based on Orkin’s treatment volume and covers both residential and commercial work; it does not directly measure population prevalence (Orkin; Fox News Digital).
What Orkin found
Orkin’s 2026 list names these five metros as the top locations for treatments: Chicago; Los Angeles; Detroit; Cleveland; and Indianapolis (Orkin press release). The ranking reflects where Orkin teams conducted the most bedbug treatments over the 12-month period ending May 12, 2026 (Orkin).
The company also reported notable movement elsewhere on the list: Nashville and Oklahoma City rose by about 10 spots this year, while Youngstown, Omaha and Knoxville showed sizable declines in Orkin’s treatment counts (Orkin; Fox News Digital). Those shifts reflect changes in where the company received service calls, not a nationwide scientific prevalence survey.
State risk snapshot
An independent analysis by Casino.ca combined Orkin and Terminix treatment records with TripAdvisor hotel reviews and social-media reports to produce a traveler-focused state risk ranking. That model placed Michigan highest for estimated traveler risk, followed by Ohio, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin (Casino.ca).
Casino.ca’s approach mixes commercial treatment data with traveler reporting signals; the site notes its findings are an estimate of traveler risk rather than a peer-reviewed epidemiological study (Casino.ca). In the same model, Hawaii and Oregon ranked among states with the lowest estimated risk.
How travelers can avoid bedbugs
Short, focused inspections are the fastest way for travelers to lower risk on arrival. Try these practical steps:
- Inspect mattress seams, piping and the area where the mattress meets the box spring for tiny dark spots, shed skins or live bedbugs—pull back the sheets and check carefully (Orkin guidance).
- Examine upholstered furniture, cushions, the area behind headboards and nightstands, and any tight crevices where bedbugs can hide (Orkin; pest-management experts).
- Use a sticky lint roller on clothing, luggage fabric and shoes to pick up hitchhiking insects or shed skins before packing (expert recommendations reported by Fox News Digital).
- Keep luggage on a hard surface or a rack, not on the bed or carpet, and store clothing in sealed bags while traveling if you’re concerned.
- If you find signs of bedbugs, request a different room well away from the original one; if the hotel response is inadequate, consider changing hotels that night (Orkin advice).
These steps are low-cost and fast; inspectors and pest professionals say brief checks often prevent the most common transfer routes for bedbugs after a trip (Fox News Digital; Orkin).
Why rankings can be misleading
Experts warn that treatment counts reflect where a particular company worked most, not a direct measure of population-wide infestation rates. High treatment numbers can indicate high service volume, dense urban housing or heavy travel that increases detection and service calls (Orkin; Fox News Digital).
Zachary DeVries, an associate professor of urban entomology, told reporters that lists based on treatment counts can give the impression bedbugs are solely an urban issue. “The main problem I have with these [rankings] is they make it seem like urban areas have all the bedbug problems,” he said, noting bedbugs occur in urban, suburban and rural settings (Fox News Digital).
Dini Miller, a professor of urban pest management, emphasized that tourist destinations or high-traffic areas may attract more reports simply because more visitors look for and notice signs of bedbugs (Fox News Digital).
Expert reaction and context
Orkin framed year-over-year changes as evidence of the persistent and evolving nature of bedbug activity across U.S. metros, and company data can help pest managers spot shifting patterns (Orkin). Experts echoed that treatment-based rankings are useful for trend-spotting but should be paired with local inspections and good pest-management practices to guide action.
Public-health and pest professionals say travelers should focus on prevention and early detection rather than alarm. Short inspections and a few precautions can substantially lower the chance of an unwanted souvenir.
Takeaway
Orkin’s 2026 Bed Bug Cities List names Chicago the top metro for the most Orkin bedbug treatments, with Los Angeles, Detroit, Cleveland and Indianapolis completing the top five (Orkin; Fox News Digital). Combined analyses such as Casino.ca’s add traveler-focused context but use different methods and data sources (Casino.ca).
For travelers: inspect mattresses and furniture, use a lint roller on clothing and shoes, and keep luggage off beds. Those simple actions are the best immediate defense against transporting bedbugs after a trip.
FAQ
How did Orkin make its 2026 bed bug cities list?
Orkin compiled the list from its treatment records in U.S. metro areas, counting residential and commercial bedbug treatments conducted from May 2025 through May 12, 2026 (Orkin).
Which cities are in Orkin’s top five for bedbug treatments?
Orkin’s top five metros are Chicago; Los Angeles; Detroit; Cleveland; and Indianapolis (Orkin press release).
What should I check in a hotel room to avoid bringing bedbugs home?
Inspect mattress seams and the box spring, check upholstered furniture and behind headboards, and run a sticky lint roller over clothing and shoes to detect hitchhiking bedbugs. Keep luggage on a rack or hard floor surface (Orkin; Fox News Digital).
Sources: Fox News Digital; Orkin Bed Bug Cities List (2026); Casino.ca analysis.
