Bed bugs have become a nightmare reality for people throughout the Midwest. Regardless of whether your house is clean or dirty, these little blood-sucking pests can inject stress into your home and bring embarrassment to many families. Bed bugs can make your cosy home become a nightmare, where sleepless nights go hand in hand with expensive extermination bills.
Bed bugs are especially problematic in the Midwest, with high population densities in urban areas and apartment complexes. Cities such as Chicago, Detroit, and Milwaukee. So, if you have an infestation, getting bed bug control near me help right away can definitely stop the issue from spreading into other parts of your home.
Midwest States With Highest Bed Bug Issues
Chicago: The Unwanted Champion
For the fifth year in a row, Chicago has been the most bed bug-beset city in America, giving it the unenviable title of Bed Bug Capital of the nation. With its high population density, many high-rise apartments, and booming tourism, it creates an ideal breeding ground for bed bugs. Locals realize they have an infestation after visiting hotels or while buying used furniture from one of the city’s many thrift shops.
Detroit and Michigan’s Growing Problem
Michigan placed several cities in the top 50 worst bed bug infestations, and Detroit came in third nationally. Apartments and sofa surfing are among the contributing factors, given the economic pressure this state is under. National bed bug rankings, too, reveal that bed bugs remain a statewide problem beyond Detroit’s metropolitan area. Grand Rapids and Flint also make a national hit list.
Other Midwest Hot Spots
Indianapolis is the fifth-most buggy city in the nation. Milwaukee’s numbers have not been good in recent years, as the city has risen sharply in national rankings. Cleveland, Ohio, is anatomically within the bounds of the Great Lakes basin and is second nationally. Still, it is adjacent to the great Midwestern hinterland and affects nearby communities on both sides of the state boundary.
Reasons For the Rise Of Bed Bugs
- Increased Travel and Tourism
Big cities in the Midwest are the transportation hubs, with millions of travelers passing through airports and hotels every year. Business travelers are among the common travelers who pick up bed bugs in accommodations and bring them home in their baggage.
- Urban Housing Challenges
City dwellers in urban ecosystems like Chicago and Detroit are squeezed into dense apartments, providing optimal conditions for bed bugs to circulate. These annoying pests can migrate through electrical sockets, plumbing, and adjoining unit walls.
- Economic Factors
Unfortunately, when people in the Midwest set out to find used furniture, mattresses, and clothing for a lower price then they have been bitten by bed bugs when not being able to get rid of the furniture, mattresses, or clothing. Unknowingly, thrift stores, garage sales, and other online marketplaces have turned into warehouses for these pests.
- Climate Considerations
Bed bugs can also survive in the Midwest because of the climate patterns there. People retreat indoors during cold winters, and heating systems create nice and cozy places that bedbugs like. The ideal temperature for these pests is between 70-80°F, which is just what most Midwestern homes are at during the winter months.
How to Protect Yourself?
The best way to defend yourself against bed bugs is still prevention. When traveling, inspect hotel rooms, checking mattress seams and upholstered furniture for blood spots or dark areas. Both of these solutions should be carefully implemented before bringing things into the house, and all crevices, including heat treatment, should be checked when buying secondhand furniture.
Midwest residents have unique concerns, and companies like Reliable Pest Solutions are there to provide complete inspection and treatment services. They employ integrated pest management strategies that utilize chemical treatments along with heat therapy for the ideal results. With their trained technicians, they can detect early signs of infestation that a homeowner might not readily recognize, which can save thousands in damage and replacement costs.