DENVER (KDVR) — Denver's battle with bedbugs is coming to light again, this time thanks to national pest control company Terminix.

The company pulled service data from over 300 branches across the U.S. to identify the top 50 cities in America with the highest number of bed bug control services. The tiny, hard-to-remove pests often hitch rides across the world on luggage, clothing and other items that were exposed to infested locations.

In January 2024, pest control service Orkin ranked Denver 15th among U.S. cities for bed bugs, which is also how high the city ranked in Orkin's 2023 ranking.

Terminix Technical Service Manager Eric Braun said that the pandemic impacted bed bug rates in the U.S.

"We have seen a consistent increase in bed bug control service performed since the ‘new normal’ post-COVID-19 pandemic," Braun said in Terminix's listing.

Philadelphia has been Terminix's top city for bed bugs now for two years running, while New York, Cleveland-Akron both climbed into the top five. The most common states among Terminix's listing were Ohio, Texas, Florida, California and Pennsylvania.

Here are the top 30 bed bug cities, ranked by the number of treatments performed:

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
11. Dayton
12. Columbus
13. Chicago
14. Cincinnati
15. Pittsburgh
16. Denver
17. Detroit
18. Boston (Manchester)
19. Oklahoma City
20. Baltimore
21. Memphis
22. Nashville
23. St. Louis
24. Little Rock - Pine Bluff
25. Kansas City
26. Tampa - St. Petersburg (Sarasota)
27. Charleston - Huntington
28. Lexington
29. Tulsa
30. Orlando - Daytona Beach - Melbourne

Terminix says that bed bugs like to cluster in bed frames and mattresses so they don't have to travel far to feed but said that the pests can also be found hiding in electrical sockets, between couch cushions or behind wallpaper.

The pest control service said that the bugs can double their population in 16 days and can live for an extended period of time without food.

To keep yourself from having hitchhikers while traveling, Terminix recommends that travelers:

• Keep suitcases zipped and consider storing them in large, sealed plastic bags when not in use
• Unpack on a hard surface when you return home and away from your bedroom so the bugs can be seen and not introduced to sleeping areas
• Place clothing in the dryer before washing it: 30 minutes on high heat can help eliminate live bed bugs or eggs before washing your clothes
• Vacuum the interior and exterior of all suitcases before storing

If you are concerned you may have bed bugs, look for small, red, itchy welts on your skin, often in a line or cluster; small blood spots on sheets, pillowcases or mattresses; and rusty or dark fecal spots from the bed bugs' excrement on bedding or other potential bug homes.