Chicago is one of the most bed bug-infested cities in the country, according to a recent survey.
New York City tops the list followed by Philadelphia, Detroit and Cincinnati.
Bedbugs are mostly nocturnal. They are small, but visible to the eye and when they bite it's painful. These creepy crawlers are elusive and they are forcing homeowners to spend thousands of dollars to get rid of them.
The problem has gotten so bad that in April 2010 representatives from government agencies, including the Department of Defense, met in Ohio to talk about these parasites that like to hide in mattresses and box springs and other places where people sleep. They also prefer cracks and crevices like electrical outlets.
Experts say the bugs tend to hitch a ride from one location to the next so they are particularly fond of hotels, motels, airplanes and cruise ships.
Travelers should use the following tips to protect themselves: check headboards and mattresses for dark blood spots these insects leave behind; avoid storing clothes in hotel furniture drawers; store baggage on luggage racks and vacuum luggage after trip.
The bed bugs were eradicated from the U.S. around the end of World War II but in the last decade they've been making a comeback. They are not limited to beds. Theaters have been shut down as well as several retail stores after the bugs were discovered.
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