Bed Bugs have been on the rise for quite some time now.  There are two cities in Kentucky that were named in 2022's top 50 cities in the U.S. for bed bugs.

A CREEPY CRAWLY ISSUE

When I worked for the school system as a Youth Service Coordinator bed bugs were a huge problem right here in Owensboro.  For several years it seemed we heard a lot about bed bugs and then for some reason talk died out.  Don't let that fool you though.  Professionals say that there is an increasing issue with bed bugs.  Most people think they have one issue and it turns out to be these guys.

ARE BED BUGS ONLY FOUND IN FILTH AND NASTINESS?

Bed bugs are often reported more in the summer.  People are traveling from place to place and kids are staying the night at friends' houses and there is a whole lot more movement.  Do you have a kid that travels back and forth from college?  Make sure to check their stuff before they bring it to the house.

AVOID BRINGING BED BUGS HOME WITH YOU

If you are like our family and travel a lot there are things you can do to avoid bringing bed bugs back to your home and community.  I know one of the first things I do before we ever go into a hotel room or an Airbnb is check the beds and under and behind all the furniture.

Terminix offers the following tips to mitigate the risk of being bitten or transporting bed bugs:

*Check hotel headboards, mattresses, and box springs for live bed bugs, their exoskeletons, and/or dark blood spots.
*While full-grown bed bugs are about the size, shape, and color of an apple seed, travelers should also look for newly hatched nymphs, which are cream-colored and the size of letters on a penny, as well as small translucent eggs, which may be found in the tucks and folds of sheets.
*Hang all clothing. Leave nothing lying on the bed or furniture.
*Avoid storing clothing in a hotel’s furniture drawers.
*Store suitcases on a luggage rack as far away from the bed as possible.
*Vacuum suitcases when returning home, and immediately wash clothing in hot water.
*Between trips, store luggage in a sealed plastic bag in a garage or basement, away from bedrooms.

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HERE'S HOW TO CHECK THE BED BUG REGISTRY

Yes, there's actually a National and World Bed Bug Registry which still blows my mind.  These registries actually allow you to look at a map or type in an address to find out if a specific hotel, motel, or even apartment has bed bugs.  There is also a Kentucky Bed Bug registry.

ORKIN'S TRAVEL LIST

Lots of different extermination companies put out lists for different insects or infestations.  Last year, Orkin published a list of the 50 most bed bug-infested cities and Kentucky had two of them.  Louisville ranked at 49 and Lexington at 47.

Here is what the list was based on;

The list is based on treatment data from the metro areas where Orkin performed the most bed bug treatments from December 1, 2020 – November 30, 2021. The ranking includes both residential and commercial treatments.

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