7 U.S. States with the Worst Bug Problems

a professional pest control contractor kneeling and reclining in the kitchen and sprays chemicals against pests, bugs ands mold in his typical work dress for protect against the chemicals
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Written by Angie Menjivar

Published: May 31, 2024

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There are two kinds of people in the world. Those who don’t hesitate to squash a bug and those who would rather camp out in their car than sleep inside a home where bugs have been discovered. But wait—there’s one other type of person. It’s the one who gently captures the creepy crawler and delivers it outdoors. Although this is a noble action, there are some bugs in the U.S. that quickly become pests. In these cases, a pest control service becomes a godsend. There are several types of bugs found in the country and Americans reveal which bugs they fear the most based on their internet searches. There are bed bugs, termites, mosquitoes, ticks, spiders, cockroaches, ants, and wasps to consider. When they’re in droves, it’s time to call in a pro. Discover the seven U.S. states with the worst bug problems!

#7 Georgia

A Close up of a Bed Bug (Cimex lectularius)

©Jay Ondreicka/Shutterstock.com

In the state of Georgia, there are 6,270 searches for bed bugs each month. This points to the bug that bothers Georgians the most. There are 2,570 termite searches, 1,100 mosquito searches, and 320 tick searches. There are also 770 spider searches, 1,020 cockroach searches, 2,100 ant searches, and 430 wasp searches. Those who conduct these searches may be looking for assistance with a bug infestation at home. Or they may have spotted an interesting bug and wanted to identify it out of curiosity.

#6 Illinois

Subterranean termites

©Cheng_Wei/iStock via Getty Images

In Illinois, there are 6,790 searches for bed bugs, which appear to be the most troublesome bugs in the state. There are 1,680 termite searches, 430 mosquito searches, and 500 tick searches. There are also 850 spider searches, 1,020 cockroach searches, 3,670 ant searches, and 590 wasp searches. Bugs don’t adhere to specific borders when you consider the different regions of the state. You can find them anywhere, depending on the climate and available food. When they find a location that suits their needs, they can get territorial.

#5 Pennsylvania

mosquito in water

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In Pennsylvania, the searches generated for bed bugs top out at 5,660 each month. There are 2,570 searches for termites, 430 searches for mosquitoes, and 420 searches for ticks. There are 780 searches for spiders, 1,090 searches for cockroaches, 4,340 searches for ants, and 560 searches for wasps. Penn State Extension confirms there are several common social wasps in the state. They include European hornets, bald-faced hornets, yellowjackets, and paper wasps.

#4 New York

tick insect warning sign in forest

©Gabor Tinz/Shutterstock.com

In New York, the searches generated for bed bugs are 8,390 per month. Termite searches are 3,180, mosquito searches are 910, and tick searches are 970. Spider searches are 1,100, cockroach searches are 2,210, ant searches are 4,710, and wasp searches are 720 per month. NYC Health confirms bed bugs are common in NYC. They remind residents that these creatures are small and hard to spot. They tend to be more active at night when the people they feed on are sleeping. You typically encounter ticks outdoors. The most common in the state include the deer (or black-legged) tick, the lone star tick, and the American dog tick.

#3 Florida

An orb spider web between two dried stems in a morning meadow. The web is anchored in a triangle frame and in sharp focus against a warm bokeh background. Interesting textures and highlights.

©Donna Bollenbach/Shutterstock.com

In Florida, there are 8,390 searches generated each month for bed bugs. There are 12,490 searches generated for termites, 2,670 searches for mosquitoes, and 490 searches for ticks. There are also 1,480 searches for spiders, 2,260 searches for cockroaches, 3,830 searches for ants, and 600 searches for wasps. Termites are clearly a point of concern for residents. There are several different types of termites in the state. They include the Asian termite, the dampwood termite, the Eastern subterranean termite, the Formosan termite, and the drywood termite. There are a range of spiders in the state as well, including the wolf spider, widow spider, and brown recluse.

#2 Texas

foot stepping on cockroach, Dead cockroach

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In Texas, there are 15,740 searches generated for bed bugs. There are 9,290 searches for termites, 2,010 searches for mosquitoes, and 1,250 searches for ticks. There are 1,840 searches for spiders, 2,920 searches for cockroaches, 6,230 searches for ants, 1,580 searches for wasps. People in the state are far more concerned about bed bugs than any other bug. But there are also plenty of searches for cockroaches. There are several types in the state, including the Oriental cockroach, German cockroach, American cockroach, and the always-dreaded flying cockroach.

#1 California

Solenopsis Invicta ants, also known as Red Imported Fire Ant (RIFA) near the nest hole

©Setiani Antari/Shutterstock.com

In California, the searches generated for bed bugs top out at 16,260. The searches for termites are at 10,000 monthly. Then there are searches for mosquitoes at 1,770, searches for ticks at 1,240, and searches for spiders at 2,720. The searches for cockroaches are 4,910, the searches for ants are 8,710, and the searches for wasps are 1,180. Bed bugs and termites are the most common problems for California residents. Their searches for ants are also high. In the state, there are several types of ants. They include carpenter ants, Argentine ants, and red imported fire ants, among others.


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About the Author

Angie Menjivar is a writer at A-Z-Animals primarily covering pets, wildlife, and the human spirit. She has 14 years of experience, holds a Bachelor's degree in psychology, and continues her studies into human behavior, working as a copywriter in the mental health space. She resides in North Carolina, where she's fallen in love with thunderstorms and uses them as an excuse to get extra cuddles from her three cats.

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