MEMPHIS, TN…New York maintained its spot atop the Terminix Most Bedbug Infested Cities ranking, released by the company today. The rest of the list saw both the reshuffling of some cities that appeared on the company’s initial 2010 list as well as a couple of locations making an appearance for the first time.

Terminix, the country’s largest provider of pest control services, has seen an increase in the prevalence of bedbugs in most states during the past year. The company expects bedbugs to continue to plague the nation this summer as travelers and homeowners encounter the tiny pests.

The 2011 most bedbug-infested cities include:

New York
Cincinnati
Detroit
Chicago
Philadelphia
Denver
Washington, D.C.
Los Angeles
Boston
San Francisco
Columbus, Ohio
Dayton, Ohio
Baltimore
Louisville, Ky.
Dallas

The list was created by compiling data from the 350 Terminix branches across the country. The company evaluated complaint calls from customers as well as confirmed cases by service professionals when creating the ranking.

Baltimore, Dallas and San Francisco appear on the list for the first time this year, replacing Indianapolis, Cleveland and Minneapolis. Cities not appearing on the list may still encounter bedbug infestations as most cities and states have reported bedbug activity during the last year.

“The Memorial Day holiday, marking the unofficial start to the summer vacation travel season, is quickly approaching so it’s very important for the general public to be educated on the warning signs that indicate bedbugs may be present on the road and at home,” said Paul Curtis, entomologist for Terminix. “This year’s ranking gives credence to the fact that major American cities are certainly at risk, but bedbugs aren’t found only in big, metropolitan areas,” Curtis said. “You can find them almost anywhere, in any city or state.”

A national epidemic that has plagued homeowners, hotels, apartments and even retail centers over the past year, the bedbug problem is growing in scope and severity according to Terminix, and the movement of pests isn’t expected to slow anytime soon.

“Bedbugs pose a growing health concern,” Curtis added. “Their bites may cause itchy welts and rashes, but they may also go undetected for weeks or months in a home as they quickly reproduce. It’s important for consumers to know the signs and have their home inspected by a professional.”

As travelers prepare to hit the road for Memorial Day, they should use the following tips from Terminix to protect themselves from bedbugs:

Check hotel headboards, mattresses and box springs for bedbugs and dark blood spots.
Hang all clothing. Leave nothing lying on the bed or furniture.
Avoid unpacking clothing and storing your clothing in the hotel’s furniture drawers.
Store baggage on a luggage rack as far from the bed as possible.
Vacuum suitcases when returning home, and immediately wash clothing in hot water.
If you suspect your hotel has bedbugs, ask for a change of rooms. Bedbugs should only be treated by a trained pest control professional.

About Terminix

Terminix, a division of the ServiceMaster Company, is the nation’s largest pest control provider. Headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., Terminix services more than 3 million customers in 46 states and 14 countries. Terminix provides pest control services and protection against termites, rodents and other pests threatening human health and/or safety. To learn more about Terminix, visit their Web site at www.Terminix.com.

About ServiceMaster

With a network of more than 5,000 company-owned and franchise locations, Memphis-based ServiceMaster is one of the world’s largest residential and commercial service networks. The company’s high profile brands are TruGreen, Terminix, American Home Shield, ServiceMaster Clean, Merry Maids, Furniture Medic and AmeriSpec. Through approximately 22,000 corporate employees and a franchise network that independently employs over 31,000 additional people, the ServiceMaster family of brands serve more than 8.5 million customers every year and hold market-leading positions in residential and commercial lawn care and landscape maintenance, termite and pest control, home service contracts, furniture repair, home inspections, residential and commercial cleaning and disaster restoration. Go to www.servicemaster.com or http://twitter.com/ServiceMaster for more information about ServiceMaster.