California is once again in the spotlight, but this time, not for its beaches or movie stars. A surge in bed bug infestations has landed several major cities on national lists of the most bed bug–infested areas in the country, drawing renewed attention to the need for proactive pest management strategies and public awareness.

According to recent rankings released by Orkin and Terminix, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, San Diego, and Long Beach have all earned places in the top tier of U.S. cities struggling with bed bug outbreaks. These cities join others like Chicago and New York in what experts are calling a growing nationwide problem that shows no signs of slowing down.

Pest control professionals say the resurgence is driven by a combination of factors: high-density housing, increased travel, and the bugs’ growing resistance to traditional treatment methods.

Bed bugs are master hitchhikers, easily latching onto luggage, clothing, or furniture and spreading undetected into homes, hotels, apartments, and public spaces.

And once they’re inside, they can be tough to eliminate.

While bed bugs are not known to transmit diseases, they are far from harmless. Their bites can cause painful welts, allergic reactions, and secondary skin infections from excessive scratching. Infestations often lead to sleep loss, anxiety, and emotional stress, especially for families who may not immediately understand what’s happening.

For homeowners, renters, and travelers, the warning signs often don’t appear until it’s too late. By the time bed bugs are seen crawling on sheets or leaving blood spots and dark fecal stains on mattresses, the infestation is usually well established. At that point, do-it-yourself solutions rarely work, and professional intervention becomes the only effective option.

This is the importance of providing pest control operators with the tools and training they need to identify and treat infestations quickly and safely. Heat treatments and targeted chemical applications are among the advanced techniques professionals rely on, but access to these solutions varies depending on regulations, public support, and awareness.

The public also has a critical role to play. Simple actions like inspecting hotel rooms, keeping luggage off floors, washing clothes in hot water after travel, and sealing cracks in walls and furniture can help stop the spread before it starts. But these habits require education and outreach.

As bed bugs continue to spread through California and across the U.S., pest management must be seen not as a reactionary service, but as a public health necessity. Supporting pest control operators with modern tools, raising awareness about early warning signs, and encouraging preventative measures will be key to keeping homes, businesses, and communities safe from this persistent and costly threat.