Chicago among the worst cities for 4 major pests...

Pest Control Everything has released its list of America's Buggiest Cities of 2018 and for those in the Windy City, the news isn't good. In an aggregation of 2018 reports from Orkin, Terminix, and TruGreen, Chicago ranked among the 6 worst cities for reported occurrences of bed bugs, rats, mosquitoes, AND ticks. As a silver lining, Chicago didn't break into the Top 25 on Terminix's list of Top 25 Termite Cities.

According to Orkin, Chicago ranked 3rd for bed bugs, 5th for mosquitoes, and 1st for rats, while over at Terminix Chicago was ranked 9th for mosquitoes and 12th for bed bugs. TruGreen had Chicago ranked as the worst tick city in the U.S. 

According to the Center for Disease Control, Illinois remains a leading state among verified cases of mosquito and tick-borne diseases such as West Nile Virus and Lyme Disease. To reduce the risk of exposure to bites from mosquitoes and ticks, Pest Control Everything's Professor Pest recommends using an insect repellent that has been proven to deliver protective results containing 20-30% DEET, 20% Picardin, or 30% Oil of Lemon-Eucalyptus.

If exposure to bed bugs is suspected, time is of the essence. Once introduced into an environment, bed bugs can quickly advance their populations, making treatment efforts increasingly challenging. Pest Control Everything provides access to some of the most effective, widely-used Bed Bug Control Products on the market today. If you are unsure how to proceed, start by consulting a professional Chicago Bed Bug Exterminator. 

The takeaway? Chicagoans should probably worry less about their homes getting eaten and more about themselves getting eaten! When outdoors during the warmer months, it is advisable to protect yourself from disease-transmitting insects such as fleas and ticks with long sleeve shirts, long pants, and quality insect repellents. To minimize the risk of exposure to bed bugs, consider a professional bed bug inspection before moving into a previously occupied rental property, and inspect hotel rooms upon check-in for evidence of bed bug presence. Whenever possible, aggressive rodent reduction programs should be a standard part of every Chicago business strategy.

Need immediate support for pest control problems in Chicago? Professor Pest's Live Online Chat provides free, real-time assistance to help you make well-informed decisions about your pest control efforts.