Before You Book That Trip, See If Your Destination Made This Bed Bug List

How to spot bed bugs at hotels and avoid bringing them home

There's a chance you could encounter bed bugs at any hotel and even worse, bring them home with you. Experts weigh in on how to avoid these pests.

Planning on traveling to an unfamiliar city this summer?

A new study recently published a list that certainly no city wants to land on — the top 50 bed bug-infested cities in America.

The study, conducted by Terminix, is based on the number of bed bug control services across the country. Experts say residents and travelers alike should take extra precautions to avoid these tiny, unwanted souvenirs.

According to the study, Philadelphia takes the No. 1 spot, making it the most bed bug-prone city in the country. See the other top hot spots below.

1. Philadelphia
2. New York
3. Cleveland-Akron (Canton)
4. Los Angeles
5. Dallas - Ft. Worth
6. Atlanta
7. Houston
8. Washington, D.C (Hagerstown)
9. San Francisco - Oak - San Jose
10. Indianapolis

Check out the whole study to see which areas round out the rest of the 50 locations.

Bedbugs are tiny pests capable of causing significant disruption with just one infestation. These small, brown, oval-shaped bugs spread rapidly. Adult females produce 200-500 eggs over their 6-12 month lifespan.

Bedbugs were eradicated in the middle of the 20th century but made a triumphant return as the human population began to travel more, according to the UC Riverside Center for Invasive Species Research. Today, they can be found in dark, tight, hidden spaces. 

Here are some ways you can protect yourself and your belongings against infestation: 

• Reduce clutter
• Vacuum frequently 
• Keep your belongings away from others’
• Seal cracks
• Check and clean secondhand furniture and clothes

Other than checking for the live bugs themselves, look for signs of:

• Reddish stains from bedbugs being crushed
• Dark spots from bedbug excrement
• Eggs, eggshells and shedding skins

1. Wash bedsheets, clothing, linens and curtains in hot water. Then, put them in the dryer on the hot setting for at least 30 minutes.
2. Use a stiff brush on mattress seams to remove bedbugs and their eggs.
3. Vacuum your bed and the surrounding area. Place the vacuum cleaner bag in a plastic bag and put it in a trash can outside.
4. Encase your mattress in a bed bug mattress cover and keep this on for at least a year since bed bugs can survive up to that long without feeding.
5. Repair cracks in walls or plaster and glue down peeling wallpaper to limit hiding places.
6. Get rid of clutter around the bed.

While these tips can help, using chemicals is the most effective way to exterminate bed bugs. WebMD suggests hiring an experienced exterminator for the best results.

Vanessa Countryman is the Trending Topics Reporter for the the Deep South Connect Team Georgia. Email her at Vcountryman@gannett.com.