NYC Is Second-Most Bed Bug-Infested City, Ranking Says

NEW YORK CITY — Bed bugs got even more sweet on the Big Apple last year, a new ranking found.

New York City is now the second-most bed buggiest city in the nation, according to Orkin's annual Top 50 Bed Bug Cities list.

The city crawled up from its number three spot on last year's list, switching spots with Philadelphia.

And Chicago yet again failed to live up to its "Second City" nickname.

"The Windy City is settling in as the #1 city on Orkin's Top 50 Bed Bug Cities List for the third year in a row," the Orkin ranking stated.

Below are the top 10 cities ranked on Orkin’s list and whether they moved up or down compared to the previous year:

1. Chicago, Illinois
2. New York, New York (+1)
3. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (-1)
4. Cleveland-Akron, Ohio (+4)
5. Los Angeles, California (+7)
6. Detroit, Michigan (-2)
7. Indianapolis, Indiana (-1)
8. Baltimore (-3)
9. Washington, D.C. (-2)
10. Columbus, Ohio (-1)

New York City's ranking is something of a comeback.

After 2020, the city was in 12th place on the list — a sign that even bed bugs fled the five boroughs during the five boroughs. (Or, more likely, there were fewer people to complain about the creepy-crawlies that year.)

But the Orkin ranking doesn't necessarily mean there are more unwanted insect roommates in New York City.

The list is based on the metro areas where the pest control company performed the most bed bug treatments.

Bed bug data from the city — which is compiled from infestation histories by tenants or property owners — shows that complaints actually fell in 2022.

Roughly 6,900 dwelling units had reported bed bug infestations last year, compared to 17,000 in 2021, the data shows. The data is self-reported annually, however, which means some — or many — property owners could still add to the numbers.

See the full list of Orkin’s top bed bug cities.

And for those itching to know more about bed bugs, here are some factoids.

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

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

They also reproduce quickly. Females can deposit up to five eggs a day, and from 200 to 500 over their lifetime.

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