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4 MI Cities Among Nation's Leaders For Bed Bug Infestations: Ranking

Four Michigan cities are among the nation's leaders when it comes to bed bug complaints, accoridng to a pest control company.

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MICHIGAN — Four Michigan cities are among the nation's leaders when it comes to bed bug complaints over the past year, according to a report from pest control service company Orkin.

While Chicago topped the list (for the fifth year in a row), Detroit moved up three spots from last year to claim the No. 3 overall spot. Close behind is Grand Rapids, which moved up seven spots to earn the No. 7 overall spot.

Flint moved up seven spots to No. 16 and Lansing moved up four spots to No. 48 overall.
To determine the ranking, Orkin looked at where the highest calls for bed bugs came from, whether from residential or commercial sites. The time frame in review was mid-May 2024 to mid-May 2025.

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"Bedbugs are some of the most resilient pests in the world, making them extremely difficult to control if brought into a home or hotel," Ben Hottel, Orkin entomologist, said in the report.

Bed bugs are usually about 3/16 inch long and red to dark brown. They are mostly nocturnal insects whose only food source is blood. They typically come out of hiding to take their meals from sleeping humans.

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They can travel from place to place with ease, clinging to items such as luggage, purses and other personal belongings.

They can survive for several months waiting for their next blood meal, so they’re most likely to emerge when people are near.

To avoid bed bugs, Orkin recommends:

  • Search the room for signs of infestation, looking for bed bugs, which are small, flat, oval-shaped insects that are brown and about the size of an apple seed. Other signs of bed bugs include ink-like stains on fabrics, shed exoskeletons around furniture and a sweet, musty smell.
  • Lift sheets, curtains and cushions to check for bed bugs or signs of bed bugs.
  • Elevate your luggage onto racks and keep it away from the bed or other furniture.
  • Examine your luggage carefully while repacking and again when you return home.
  • Place all dryer-safe clothing from your luggage in the dryer for 30 to 45 minutes at the highest heat setting upon returning home.

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