Davenport, IA Named One Of 2023’s Top Cities That Has… Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are disgusting and really hard to get rid of without throwing your mattress away. Many people get bed bugs from hotels and places that stay at that aren't typically their homes, but sometimes those pesky little night chompers get into our homes and wreak havoc. Davenport, IA is one of the most infested cities when it comes to bed bugs and it is as disgusting as it sounds.

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How Does A U.S. City Get On This List?

The biggest city of the Quad Cities has a serious bed bug problem. So much so, it landed on Orkin's newly released list of the Top 50 Bed Bug Cities List. How do they determine that? It's simple. Orkin is basing this list on treatment data from the metro areas where they performed the most bed bug treatments from December 1, 2021, to November 30, 2022. The ranking includes both residential and commercial treatments.

What Excatly Is A Bed Bug?

After you get bit by one, here is what you're looking for.

Orkin says bed bugs are 3/16 inch long, red to dark brown in color, and are mostly nocturnal insects that come out at night. Bed bugs are hematophagous, which means blood is their only food source, according to Orkan.

Bed bugs can't fly but travel from place to place with ease and quickly by clinging to items such as luggage, purses, and other personal belongings.

Davenport, IA Is One Of The Worst Cities For Bed Bugs

Orkin determined that Davenport is one of the worst cities in the country for bed bugs. Or a great place to call home for bed bugs depending on how you look at things.

Even though Davenport wasn't at the top for the third year in a row like Chicago, it still made the list which is a major issue.

Davenport is the 37th worst city for bed bugs. It did improve from 2022 when it was the 35th worst city for bed bugs. Still grossed out? Me too.

How To Get Rid/Prevent Bed Bugs

Orkin has provided recommendations for homeowners and travelers to prevent bed bugs:

At Home:

• Inspect your home for signs of bed bugs regularly. Check the places where bed bugs hide during the day, including mattress tags and seams, and behind baseboards, headboards, electrical outlets, and picture frames. Inspect when you move in, after a trip, when a service worker visits, or after guests stay overnight.

• Decrease clutter around your home to make it easier to spot bed bugs on your own or during professional inspections.

• Examine all secondhand furniture before bringing it inside your home.

During travel, S.L.E.E.P. to inspect for bed bugs:

• Survey the hotel room for signs of an infestation. Be on the lookout for tiny, ink-colored stains on mattress seams, in soft furniture, and behind headboards.

• Lift and look in bed bug hiding spots: the mattress, box spring, and other furniture, as well as behind baseboards, pictures, and even torn wallpaper.

• Elevate luggage away from the bed and wall. The safest places are in the bathroom or on the counters.

• Examine your luggage carefully while repacking and once you return home from a trip. Always store luggage away from the bed.

• Place all dryer-safe clothing from your luggage in the dryer for at least 30-45 minutes at the highest setting after you return home.