The holiday travel season has come to a screeching halt as the kiddies have returned to their classrooms after a fun winter break.  New York and New Jersey residents are now returning to their normal routines of commuting back and forth to the city and before you know it, the holiday decorations will be locked away until they are called upon once more.

According to reports, due to the high cost of airline travel this year, more people than ever before made the choice to drive to their holiday destination rather than take to the air and fly to their chosen destination.  Although this certainly is a boom to restaurants, hotels, service stations, and the like, New York and New Jersey pest control experts are warning holiday travelers that the high cost of flying could help spread bed bug infestations this holiday season.

Many people are aware of the trouble of New York City bed bug infestations, but unaware that other cities, both big and small, are also facing the same challenges when it comes to the little blood suckers.  Because bed bugs are masters at hitchhiking in luggage, purses, clothing, laptops, or even Christmas gifts, everyone is at risk of picking them up or leaving them behind in their traveling endeavors, no matter what area of the US they travel to.  International travelers are not safe either!

In August of 2010, a nationwide pest control company released a list of the top 15 most bed bug infested cities in the nation.  Their list was based upon the amount of calls that were received by their service centers.  The top three cities on their list were New York City, Philadelphia and Detroit.  Ohio had 4 cities listed within the top 15 cities, and other cities like Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, Washington, DC, Boston, Indianapolis, and Minneapolis also made the list which goes to show that coast to coast, all American’s are at risk of encountering bed bugs.

Please check back on Wednesday for the conclusion.