These cities have the most bed bugs, according to annual study

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FILE - Bed bugs being used to train dogs to find them. (Photo By Karl Gehring/The Denver Post via Getty Images)

Nobody wants unexpected guests to show up in their bed, especially if they have six legs and can come in hordes.

We’re talking bed bugs and Terminix just released its annual study showing which U.S. cities have the most and the least of these little critters. 

Cities with the most and least bed bugs

Dig deeper:

Terminix collected data from more than 300 of their branches across the United States and found that there has been an increase in bed bugs post-COVID-19.

Philadelphia took the top spot for the second year in a row with the most bed bugs, followed by New York and Cleveland-Akron, Ohio.

The states that appeared the most on the list were Ohio, Texas, Florida, California, and Pennsylvania.

The factors that lead to these states being so bed-bug friendly is likely due to the climate, housing trends and the fact that they are travel hubs, Terminix suggested. 

What are bed bugs?

Bed bugs are a small, flat insect that are known to bite people and animals at night while they sleep, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

They are a reddish-brown color and are roughly the size of an apple seed.

These bugs survive by feeding on blood and can survive for several months without eating.

They are not known to spread disease and can be found all over the world. 

What you can do:

To prevent potentially bringing bed bugs back home after traveling, always check the mattress seams of the beds in your hotel or rental, Terminix advised.

Inspect the headboards and any nearby smaller furniture for any rust-colored stains or even live bed bugs. 

For extra care, avoid putting your luggage on the bed or floor before inspecting it for bed bugs. 

If you come home and suspect you might have been prey to bed bugs, throw your clothes in the dryer for about 30 minutes at the highest heat setting before washing them. This will kill any live bugs or remaining eggs. For larger items that can't fit in a dryer, a steamer can also kill bed bugs.