Orkin releases list of cities with most bedbugs

A new report released Wednesday morning names Baltimore as the city with the most bedbugs in the country.

The Maryland city moved up nine spots from its ranking last year.

Washington, D.C., Chicago, New York City and Columbus, Ohio, rounded out the top five.

"We have more people affected by bedbugs in the United States now than ever before," Orkin entomologist and director of technical services Ron Harrison said. "They were virtually unheard of in the U.S. 10 years ago."

Orkin calls bedbugs "hitchhikers" that travel from place to place.

Orkin officials think bedbugs have become prevalent because they've built up a resistance to chemicals.

They also said you might not know you have bedbugs because many people don't have a physical reaction to the insect's bites.

See the full list and read more at Orkin.

WSOCTV.com contributed to this report.

Cox Media Group