Tampa goes back into the top 50 on Orkin's list of cities with most bedbugs
By Joana Riva
July 10, 2026 at 5:00 AM EDT
Tampa’s popularity as a travel destination contributed to the its return to the pest control company's rankings as places with a high volume of residents and visitors make it easy for bedbugs to spread.
It's not a list you want to be on, but Tampa made it back into the top 50 cities with the most bedbug activity, at No. 46.
The list was compiled by pest-control company Orkin and based on data collected from areas where it performed the most bedbug treatments from May 2025 to May 2026.
Last year, Tampa wasn’t in the top 50. It was 31st in 2024 and 41st in 2023. Miami was the only other Florida city at 47th, down six spots from last year.
Orkin entomologist Ian Williams said Tampa’s popularity as a travel destination contributed to the city’s return to the rankings, as places with a high volume of residents and visitors make it easy for bedbugs to spread.
“They can't fly, they don't walk around outside,” he said. “If they're showing up someplace, they're brought either on people or their belongings as they're brought into different areas. Luggage is a great place for bedbugs to live and hide.”
“If you have new housing that's showing up, especially apartment complexes that are coming in, and people moving around a lot," he said. “Anytime you've got movement of people, you're gonna also move bedbugs. They're attached to us at the hip, sometimes literally.”
Chicago, Los Angeles and Detroit came in as the top three this year.
“We've got this comparative data over time,” Williams said. “And so what we're looking at is services that have been provided in those areas and being able to quantify those to be able to come up with the list.”
Williams said an important part of treating bedbugs is making sure there is attention to their presence.
“It's a conversation piece to be able to have understanding and awareness as, hey, maybe this is something I should be aware of so that I can protect myself or my business from the potential negative impacts of bedbugs.”
Bedbugs are small, flat, oval-shaped insects that are reddish-brown and about the size of an apple seed as adults but almost translucently cream colored as nymphs.
Williams said it’s important to be prepared to identify bedbugs and call for professional assistance.
Orkin suggests using the acronym SLEEP when you’re traveling:
When bedbugs bite, they inject fluids (anesthetic and anticoagulant) that prevent a person from feeling the bite when it happens, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Bites look similar to mosquito or flea bites: a slightly swollen and red area that may itch and be irritating. Most people do not notice bite marks for several days.
Other symptoms of bedbug bites include insomnia, anxiety, and skin problems that arise from intense scratching.
According to the CDC, allergic symptoms can include enlarged bite marks, painful swellings at the bite site and, rarely, anaphylaxis. If you think you are having an allergic reaction to bedbug bites, see a healthcare provider.
You can see the full top 50 list of cities and learn more about bedbugs and how to identify them by clicking here.
The list was compiled by pest-control company Orkin and based on data collected from areas where it performed the most bedbug treatments from May 2025 to May 2026.
Last year, Tampa wasn’t in the top 50. It was 31st in 2024 and 41st in 2023. Miami was the only other Florida city at 47th, down six spots from last year.
Orkin entomologist Ian Williams said Tampa’s popularity as a travel destination contributed to the city’s return to the rankings, as places with a high volume of residents and visitors make it easy for bedbugs to spread.
“They can't fly, they don't walk around outside,” he said. “If they're showing up someplace, they're brought either on people or their belongings as they're brought into different areas. Luggage is a great place for bedbugs to live and hide.”
“If you have new housing that's showing up, especially apartment complexes that are coming in, and people moving around a lot," he said. “Anytime you've got movement of people, you're gonna also move bedbugs. They're attached to us at the hip, sometimes literally.”
Chicago, Los Angeles and Detroit came in as the top three this year.
“We've got this comparative data over time,” Williams said. “And so what we're looking at is services that have been provided in those areas and being able to quantify those to be able to come up with the list.”
Williams said an important part of treating bedbugs is making sure there is attention to their presence.
“It's a conversation piece to be able to have understanding and awareness as, hey, maybe this is something I should be aware of so that I can protect myself or my business from the potential negative impacts of bedbugs.”
Bedbugs are small, flat, oval-shaped insects that are reddish-brown and about the size of an apple seed as adults but almost translucently cream colored as nymphs.
Williams said it’s important to be prepared to identify bedbugs and call for professional assistance.
Orkin suggests using the acronym SLEEP when you’re traveling:
- Search the room for signs of infestation. Other signs include ink-like speckled stains on fabrics, shed exoskeletons around crevices of beds and furniture, and a sweet, musty smell.
- Lift sheets, curtains and cushions to check for bedbugs or signs of bedbugs before settling in.
- Elevate luggage onto racks and keep it away from the bed or other furniture.
- Examine 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.
When bedbugs bite, they inject fluids (anesthetic and anticoagulant) that prevent a person from feeling the bite when it happens, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Bites look similar to mosquito or flea bites: a slightly swollen and red area that may itch and be irritating. Most people do not notice bite marks for several days.
Other symptoms of bedbug bites include insomnia, anxiety, and skin problems that arise from intense scratching.
According to the CDC, allergic symptoms can include enlarged bite marks, painful swellings at the bite site and, rarely, anaphylaxis. If you think you are having an allergic reaction to bedbug bites, see a healthcare provider.
You can see the full top 50 list of cities and learn more about bedbugs and how to identify them by clicking here.