Bedbugs in US Cities 2026
Bedbugs in US Cities 2026
2026年美國城市臭蟲情況
Introduction
The company Orkin has a new list. It shows 50 US cities with the most bedbugs.
Orkin 公司發布了一份新名單，列出了 50 個臭蟲最嚴重的美國城市。
Main Body
Chicago has the most bedbugs. It is number one for six years. Los Angeles and Detroit also have many bedbugs. Many cities in the Midwest have this problem.
芝加哥的臭蟲最多，已連續六年排名第一。洛杉磯和底特律也有許多臭蟲。中西部的許多城市都有這個問題。
Bedbugs like big cities. They like hotels and schools because many people visit these places. People move and the bugs move with them. Michigan is a high risk state for travelers.
臭蟲喜歡大城市。它們喜歡酒店和學校，因為許多人會造訪這些地方。人們移動，蟲子也隨之移動。對旅客來說，密西根州是一個高風險州。
Bedbugs are small, brown, and oval. They hide in small holes. Orkin says you must check your bed and bags. You should use a hot dryer for your clothes when you go home.
臭蟲體型小、呈褐色且為橢圓形。它們躲在小孔中。Orkin 表示您必須檢查床鋪和行李袋。回家時，您應該使用高溫烘乾機處理衣物。
Conclusion
Big cities have many bedbugs, but these bugs can be anywhere.
大城市雖然有很多臭蟲，但這些蟲其實隨處可見。
Vocabulary Learning
🔍 Word Patterns: Describing Things
In the text, we see a pattern used to describe what something looks like. This is a key step for A2 learners.
The Pattern:
Thing + is/are + Adjective
From the article:
- Bedbugs are small
- Bedbugs are brown
- Bedbugs are oval
Why this helps you: Instead of using complex words, just use am/is/are to give information about a person, place, or object.
Simple Examples for you:
- Chicago is big.
- The hotel is clean.
- The bags are heavy.
Vocabulary Learning
Analysis of 2026 Bedbug Trends and Distribution in the US
2026年美國床蝨趨勢與分佈分析
Introduction
The pest control company Orkin has published its 2026 rankings of the fifty US cities with the highest number of bedbug treatments.
害蟲防治公司 Orkin 公佈了 2026 年美國床蝨處理數量最高的五十個城市排名。
Main Body
The 2026 data, based on treatment records from May 2025 to May 2026, shows that bedbugs remain common in urban areas. Chicago has held the top spot for six years in a row, followed by Los Angeles, Detroit, Cleveland, and Indianapolis. There is a clear concentration in the Midwest; for example, Ohio has the most cities on the list. In Missouri, St. Louis and Kansas City are highlighted as high-activity zones, with Kansas City appearing on the list for the first time.
根據 2025 年 5 月至 2026 年 5 月的處理紀錄，2026 年的數據顯示床蝨在都市地區依然十分普遍。芝加哥已連續六年蟬聯榜首，隨後是洛杉磯、底特律、克里夫蘭和印第安納波利斯。中西部地區有明顯的集中趨勢；例如，俄亥俄州在名單上的城市最多。在密蘇里州，聖路易斯和堪薩斯市被標記為高活躍區域，而堪薩斯市則是首次進入名單。
Experts suggest that high population density and a large number of visitors cause these infestations to spread. Orkin emphasized that places with frequent human movement, such as hotels and dormitories, make it easier for pests to travel. Furthermore, an analysis by Casino.ca used data from Orkin, Terminix, and social media to identify Michigan as the highest-risk state for travelers. However, researchers from the University of Kentucky and Virginia Tech argued that these rankings focus too much on cities. They believe that people in rural areas might actually struggle more to get rid of bedbugs because they have less access to professional services.
專家建議，高人口密度和大量遊客導致了這些蟲害的傳播。Orkin 強調，如飯店和宿舍等人員流動頻繁的地方，更容易讓害蟲傳播。此外，Casino.ca 利用 Orkin、Terminix 及社交媒體的數據分析，指出密西根州是旅客風險最高的州。然而，肯塔基大學和維吉尼亞理工大學的研究人員認為，這些排名過於集中在城市。他們認為鄉村地區的人們在根除床蝨方面可能面臨更大困難，因為他們較難獲得專業服務。
To reduce the risk of bringing pests home, Orkin has introduced the 'S.L.E.E.P.' protocol. This method encourages people to carefully check linens and furniture, keep luggage off the floor, and use high heat in clothes dryers. These steps are necessary because the EPA and Orkin describe these insects as small, reddish-brown, and oval-shaped, which allows them to hide easily in small cracks.
為了降低將害蟲帶回家的風險，Orkin 推出了 "S.L.E.E.P." 方案。此方法鼓勵人們仔細檢查床單和家具，將行李移離地面，並使用高溫烘乾機烘烤衣物。這些步驟至關重要，因為美國環保署 (EPA) 和 Orkin 將這些昆蟲描述為微小、紅褐色且呈橢圓形，這使它們能輕易躲在微小裂縫中。
Conclusion
Current data shows that while big cities are the main areas for reported infestations, the risk still exists in many different environments.
目前的數據顯示，雖然大城市是通報蟲害的主要區域，但在許多不同的環境中依然存在風險。
Vocabulary Learning
🚀 THE UPGRADE: From 'Simple Lists' to 'Connecting Ideas'
An A2 student usually says: "Chicago has bedbugs. Los Angeles has bedbugs. Detroit has bedbugs."
To reach B2, you need to group information using Complex Connectors. Look at how the article moves from a list of cities to a broader geographical trend:
"There is a clear concentration in the Midwest; for example, Ohio has the most cities on the list."
🛠️ The B2 Tool: The "Example-Evidence" Bridge
Instead of just naming things, use these markers to prove your point:
- For example / For instance: Use these to zoom in from a big group (The Midwest) to a specific detail (Ohio).
- Furthermore: Use this when you want to add a new, stronger piece of evidence to your argument. (e.g., "Cities have pests. Furthermore, travelers are at risk.")
🧠 SHIFTING PERSPECTIVES: The "However" Pivot
B2 fluency is about showing two sides of a story. A2 students often use "but" for everything. To sound more academic and professional, use the Contrast Pivot found in the text:
"However, researchers... argued that these rankings focus too much on cities."
The B2 Logic:
- Point A: Most people think bedbugs are only in cities.
- The Pivot:
HoweverThis tells the reader: "Wait, there is another perspective!" - Point B: Rural areas actually struggle more.
💡 Quick Application
Stop using "and" to connect every sentence. Try this structure instead:
[General Fact]** $\rightarrow$ **[Furthermore + Extra Detail]** $\rightarrow$ **[However + Opposing View]**
Vocabulary Learning
Analysis of 2026 Domestic Bedbug Distribution and Proliferation Trends
2026年國內床蝨分佈及擴散趨勢分析
Introduction
The pest control entity Orkin has released its 2026 rankings of the fifty United States cities with the highest frequency of bedbug treatments.
害蟲防治機構 Orkin 公佈了 2026 年美國床蝨處理頻率最高的 50 個城市排名。
Main Body
The 2026 dataset, derived from residential and commercial treatment records between May 12, 2025, and May 12, 2026, indicates a sustained prevalence of Cimex lectularius in urban centers. Chicago has maintained the primary position for six consecutive years, followed by Los Angeles, Detroit, Cleveland, and Indianapolis. A regional concentration is evident in the Midwest, with Ohio exhibiting the highest state-level representation via six distinct municipalities. Within Missouri, St. Louis (ranked 17) and Kansas City (ranked 49) are identified as high-activity zones, the latter marking its inaugural appearance on the list.
2026 年的數據源自 2025 年 5 月 12 日至 2026 年 5 月 12 日期間的住宅與商業處理記錄，顯示城市中心的褐床蝨（Cimex lectularius）依然持續盛行。芝加哥已連續六年維持首位，隨後是洛杉磯、底特律、克利夫蘭和印第安納波利斯。中西部的區域集中現象明顯，俄亥俄州以六個不同的市鎮擁有最高州級代表性。在密蘇里州，聖路易斯（排名 17）和堪薩斯市（排名 49）被識別為高活動區域，後者為首次登上名單。
Institutional analysis suggests a correlation between high population density, significant visitor turnover, and the rate of infestation. Orkin posits that environments characterized by frequent human movement, such as hotels and dormitories, facilitate the dissemination of these pests. This is corroborated by a Casino.ca analysis, which integrated Orkin and Terminix data with social media and TripAdvisor metrics to identify Michigan as the state with the highest estimated risk for travelers. However, academic perspectives from the University of Kentucky and Virginia Tech suggest that such rankings may overemphasize urban centers; it is hypothesized that rural populations may face greater challenges in eradication due to limited access to professional pest management services.
機構分析表明，高人口密度、高訪客流動率與感染率之間存在相關性。Orkin 認為，如酒店和宿舍等特徵為人類頻繁移動的環境，有利於這些害蟲的傳播。Casino.ca 的分析證實了這一點，該分析將 Orkin 和 Terminix 的數據與社交媒體及 TripAdvisor 的指標相結合，認定密西根州為旅行者估計風險最高的州。然而，肯塔基大學和維吉尼亞理工大學的學術觀點認為，此類排名可能過分強調城市中心；假設由於專業害蟲管理服務的獲取受限，鄉村人口在根除害蟲方面可能面臨更大挑戰。
To mitigate the risk of transporting pests, Orkin has promulgated the 'S.L.E.E.P.' protocol, which emphasizes systematic inspection of linens and furniture, the elevation of luggage, and the application of high-heat desiccation via clothes dryers upon return. These measures are intended to counter the resilience of the insects, which are described by the EPA and Orkin as small, reddish-brown, oval-shaped organisms capable of remaining undetected in crevices.
為了降低攜帶害蟲的風險，Orkin 頒佈了「S.L.E.E.P.」協議，強調系統性檢查床單與傢俱、將行李墊高，以及在返回後使用乾衣機進行高溫乾燥處理。這些措施旨在對抗這些昆蟲的韌性，美國環境保護局（EPA）和 Orkin 將其描述為細小、紅褐色、橢圓形的生物，能夠隱匿在縫隙中而不被發現。
Conclusion
Current data indicates that while urban hubs remain the primary sites of reported infestations, the risk persists across diverse geographic environments.
目前數據顯示，雖然城市中心仍是報告感染的主要地點，但風險依然存在於各種不同的地理環境中。
Vocabulary Learning
The Architecture of Nominalization and Lexical Precision
To transition from B2 to C2, a student must move beyond describing actions and start conceptualizing them. The provided text is a masterclass in Nominalization—the process of turning verbs or adjectives into nouns to create an objective, academic distance.
◈ The 'Density' of Meaning
Compare these two conceptualizations of the same fact:
- B2 (Action-oriented): Orkin released data that shows bedbugs are still common in cities.
- C2 (Concept-oriented): "...indicates a sustained prevalence of Cimex lectularius in urban centers."
In the C2 version, the action (sustaining) and the quality (prevalent) are collapsed into a single noun phrase (sustained prevalence). This allows the writer to treat a complex trend as a single 'object' that can be analyzed, rather than a sequence of events.
◈ Precision via Latent Academic Verbs
C2 mastery requires the replacement of generic verbs (give, show, say) with high-precision alternatives that signal the nature of the claim. Notice the progression of epistemic certainty in the text:
- Promulgated used for the official proclamation of a protocol (stronger than 'introduced').
- Corroborated used when one piece of evidence supports another (more precise than 'confirmed').
- Hypothesized used to signal a theoretical proposition that requires testing (more scholarly than 'guessed' or 'thought').
◈ Syntactic Sophistication: The Appositive and the Participle
Observe how the text handles additional information without breaking the flow. Instead of starting new sentences, it uses dense modifiers:
*"...St. Louis (ranked 17) and Kansas City (ranked 49) are identified as high-activity zones, the latter marking its inaugural appearance on the list."
The phrase "the latter marking..." is a reduced relative clause. It functions as an appraisal of the previous statement. A B2 student would likely write: "...and Kansas City is ranked 49. This is the first time it has appeared on the list." The C2 structure integrates the fact and the analysis into one seamless unit of thought.