FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Fayetteville has seen the most bed bug infestations compared with other cities in Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley in 2023, according to the Natural State Pest Control (NSPC).
Bed bugs are small parasites that feed on human hosts. Although they are not known to spread or carry any diseases, they can be a nuisance and leave bites on humans.
NSPC says bed bug infestations can bring "sleep disruptions, blood-stained sheets, and destroyed mattresses."
With data pulled from the cities NSPC served in Benton, Washington, Madison, Crawford, and Sebastian counties in 2023, here is how each city ranked.
- Fayetteville
- Springdale
- Fort Smith
- Bentonville
- Rogers
- Siloam Springs
- Greenwood
- Prairie Grove
- Van Buren
- Gentry
The pest control company said bed bug issues are most likely rising due to the increased visitors to this growing area of Arkansas.
"Bed bugs are hitchhikers, meaning they travel and spread by crawling onto people and their belongings" NSPC said. "They hide in the seams of luggage, bedding, mattress folds, cracks in headboards, bed frames and the creases of soft furniture. Avid travelers have an increased risk of exposure and are particularly vulnerable to bed bug infestation when frequenting cruise ships, hotels, Airbnbs, and other short-term rental properties."
Here are some tips from our VERIFY team on how to get rid of the pests.
- Using heat on bed bugs, such as washing and drying fabrics they have clung to, can kill them.
- If bed bugs have infested a larger item like mattresses or sofas, steam cleaning is also an effective treatment.
- Rubbing alcohol can kill them, but it's not the recommended approach.
- VERIFY recommends hiring a professional pest control company to control an infestation.
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