Los Angeles named the second-worst city for bed bugs in the US

Los Angeles has a bed bug problem — and only Chicago appears to have it worse.

LA ranked No. 2 on Orkin’s 2026 Bed Bug Cities List, trailing only the Windy City in the pest-control company’s annual rankings.

The City of Angels jumped two spots from last year, beating out Detroit, Cleveland and Indianapolis, which rounded out the top five.

The rankings are based on metro areas where Orkin preformed the most bed bug treatments between May 12, 2025, and May 12, 2026. The list includes both residential and commercial treatments.

LA was not the only California city to make the creepy-crawly cut.

San Francisco ranked No. 37 after climbing five spots, while San Diego landed at No. 41 after jumping eight spots.

Orkin warned the rankings come as summer travel ramps up, giving the tiny bloodsuckers more chances to hitch rides in luggage, clothing and personal belongings.

Hotels, short-term rentals, apartments and dorms can be especially vulnerable because of the high-turnover, the company said.

“Travel season brings excitement, but it also makes awareness especially important,” Dr. Shannon Sked, an Orkin entomologist and national technical director, said in the report.

Sked said bed bugs can be hard to control once they eneter a home or hotel room because they hide in cracks, crevices and personal items.

Adults are roughly the size of an apple seed, while younger bed bugs can be even smaller and pale in color.

Orkin urged travelers to inspect hotel beds, sheets, curtains and cushions before unpacking, and to keep luggage elevated and away from beds or upholstered furniture.

After returning home, travelers should check their luggage again and put dryer-safe clothing through a high-heat cycle for 30 to 45 minutes.

The company said changes in the rankings can be driven by travel patterns, treatment resistance and public awareness efforts.

But for LA, the latest list marks and especially gross jump, with only Chicago ranking worse.

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