2013 Bugs Without Borders Survey: Executive Summary

In February 2013, the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) and the University of Kentucky surveyed a nationwide sample of pest management professionals. This summary features the latest findings about the growing bed bug resurgence and references data from the 2010 and 2011 Bugs Without Borders surveys for year-over-year comparisons.

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The 2013 Bugs Without Borders Survey - Executive Summary

Bed Bug Infestations Increasing Across America

The 2010 survey gave the American public insight into the global bed bug resurgence in a way no other survey had before. In 2011, the U.S. pest management industry offered additional perspective on the extensive nature of the bed bug problem and whether circumstances had improved or gotten worse in that year. The new 2013 report highlights the latest findings on today’s continuing pervasiveness of the bed bug epidemic in the United States. The survey was conducted from January 19 to February 18, 2013, and is based on responses from 251 pest management companies across the United States.

The Epidemic is Not Waning. The survey reveals that nearly every pest management professional (99.6 percent) — from coast to coast — has encountered a bed bug infestation over the past twelve months, compared to the 99 percent who reported bed bug encounters in 2011 and 95 percent from 2010.

The one potential bit of encouraging news is that seven out of ten survey respondents report that bed bug infestations are increasing, down from nine out of ten that reported the same two years ago —yet only 3 percent in the latest survey felt the incidence of bed bugs in their area was decreasing.

Nearly half (49 percent) of respondents say that bed bug infestations are a seasonal problem occurring most often in the summer and least often in the winter. Although pest professionals are divided on whether there is a “peak season” for bed bugs, more than half of those who notice a seasonal difference receive more calls during summer.   As more people tend to travel and relocate during the summer months, it is possible that a greater number of people unknowingly transport the bugs back home from their travels, or discover them soon after moving.

Bed Bugs Are Nearly Everywhere. Bed bugs continue to most commonly be found in residences including apartments/ condominiums and single-family homes, with 98 percent and 96 percent of respondents treating these dwellings respectively. The incidence of infestation in these environments is slightly higher than the 2011 survey findings of about nine out of ten respondents reporting treatment.

Bed bugs do not tend to be confined to just residential environments. High numbers of respondents continue to report infestations in other places outside of the home, including:

• Hotels/motels – 75 percent (80 percent in 2011; 67 percent in 2010)
• College dorms – 47 percent (54 percent in 2011; 35 percent in 2010)
• Nursing homes – 46 percent (46 percent in 2011; 25 percent in 2010)
• Office buildings – 36 percent (38 percent in 2011; 18 percent in 2010)
• Schools and day care centers – 41 percent (36 percent in 2011; 10 percent in 2010)
• Hospitals – 33 percent (31 percent in 2011; 12 percent in 2010)
• Transportation (train/bus/taxi) – 21 percent (18 percent in 2011; 9 percent in 2010)
• Movie theaters – 10 percent  (17 percent in 2011; 4 percent in 2010)

In the latest survey, pest management professionals reported finding fewer instances of bed bugs in retail stores (15 percent compared to 21 percent in 2011) and airplanes (2 percent compared to 6 percent in 2011), but more occurrences of bed bugs in libraries (12 percent compared to 8 percent in 2011). Laundromats (9 percent) and restaurants (7 percent compared to 6 percent in 2011) presented little to no change.

Detection and Control Methods Are Changing. Visual inspection by trained service technicians continues to be the most popular method of finding bed bugs, used by 99 percent of respondents, however, other methods have gained in popularity compared to previous years. Pitfall and active monitoring traps (used to detect subtle bed bug presence) are used by 50 percent and 35 percent of respondents, compared to 46 percent and 27 percent in 2011.

Interestingly though, canine detection, which had seen a steady increase in use throughout the past few years, dropped slightly in popularity with 40 percent of respondents reporting to use this method compared to 43 percent in 2011.