Several Spring Break Destinations on Orkin's Top 50 Bed Bug Cities List

ATLANTA, March 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Orkin, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rollins Inc. (NYSE: ROL), today announced its top 50 bed bug cities for 2011, and several of them are popular spring break destinations. Last year, Orkin's parent company, Rollins, which operates seven pest control brands, saw a 33.6 percent increase in bed bug business compared to 2010. The following cities are ranked in order of the number of bed bug treatments Orkin performed from January to December 2011 along with their shift, if any, in ranking compared to January to December 2010.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120315/CL71466)

Los Angeles moved from 25th to 5th, San Francisco moved from 47th to 12th and Honolulu was not in the top 50 list at 72nd in 2010, but now ranks 17th. Miami/Fort Lauderdale, Fla. also jumped in the rankings from 51st to 24th along with West Palm Beach, Fla., which was not in the top 50 in 2010. New Orleans, La. ranked 31st in 2010 and is no longer in the top 50. Also no longer in the top 50 are Sioux City, Iowa; Fort Wayne, Ind.; Davenport, Iowa/Moline, Ill.; Austin, Texas; Norfolk, Va.; Champaign, Ill.; Springfield, Ill.; and Tulsa, Okla.

"The changes in some cities' rankings show bed bugs continue to be a problem in most areas of the U.S.," said Orkin entomologist and Technical Services Director Ron Harrison, Ph.D. "Several of the top 50 cities have large, busy airports, and there could be a correlation between increased travel and bed bug activity. The changes could also be because the bed bug population is increasing overall, or even because the public is becoming more aware of bed bugs and has become better adept at identifying them."  

Bed bugs can multiply quickly, so early detection is critical to preventing a larger infestation. And since infestations can be difficult to control, Orkin advises vacationers to take the proper precautions before enjoying spring break activities to avoid contact with and spreading the blood-suckers.

"Bed bugs can be found in other places than the bedroom," warns Dr. Harrison. "They're great hitchhikers and tend to settle where people sleep, particularly in hotel rooms, but they can also crawl into personal belongings and make their way into planes, gyms, offices, stores and worse, your home."

According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, bed bugs can carry more than 30 different human pathogens, but there is no evidence that bed bugs can transmit diseases. Their bites can; however, leave itchy welts on their victims. Red marks or swelling may also develop.

"One thing that's not a factor is sanitation," said Dr. Harrison. "Be sure to do some investigating when you arrive at your hotel, whether it's a one-star or a five-star property. Bed bugs are nocturnal and resemble apple seeds in size and color, so check mattress seams, sheets and furniture, behind baseboards, electrical outlet plates and picture frames for small reddish-brown spots and lightly-colored molted bed bug skins."

When traveling, think of the acronym S.L.E.E.P. to remember the following action steps to help avoid bringing bed bugs home with you:

• Survey surfaces for signs of an infestation, such as tiny rust-colored spots on bed sheets, mattress tags and seams and bed skirts.
• Lift and look for all bed bug hiding spots, including underneath the mattress, bed frame, headboard and furniture. Typically, they come out at night to feed, but during the day, they are most likely found within a five-foot radius of the bed.
• Elevate your luggage on a luggage rack away from the bed and wall, since bed bugs can often hide behind head boards, artwork, picture frames and electrical outlet panels.
• Examine your luggage carefully while repacking and when you return home. Always keep luggage off the bed and store it in a closet or other area, far away from your bedroom.
• Place all your clothing from your luggage immediately in the dryer for at least 15 minutes at the highest setting upon returning home from travel.

About Orkin, LLC
Founded in 1901, Atlanta-based Orkin is an industry leader in essential pest control services and protection against termite damage, rodents and insects in the United States, Canada, Europe, Central America, the Middle East, the Caribbean, Asia, the Mediterranean and Africa. With more than 400 locations, Orkin's almost 8,000 employees serve approximately 1.7 million customers. The company serves homeowners and numerous industries, including food and beverage processing, foodservice, hospitality, healthcare, retail, warehousing, property/facilities management, schools and institutions. Orkin is proud to be recognized by the National Pest Management Association as a QualityPro and GreenPro-certified company, addressing not only our customer's pest control needs, but also their concern for protecting the environment. Learn more about Orkin at http://orkin.com. Orkin is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rollins Inc. (NYSE: ROL).

About Rollins
Rollins Inc. is a premier North American consumer and commercial services company. Through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Orkin LLC., Orkin Canada, HomeTeam Pest Defense, Western Pest Services, The Industrial Fumigant Company, Waltham Services LLC., Crane Pest Control and Trutech LLC., the company provides essential pest control services and protection against termite damage, rodents and insects to more than 2 million customers in the United States, Canada, Central America, the Caribbean, the Middle East, Asia, the Mediterranean, Europe and Africa from more than 500 locations. You can learn more about our subsidiaries by visiting our web sites at http://orkin.com, http://orkincanada.ca,  http://pestdefense.com,  http://westernpest.com,  http://indfumco.com,  http://walthamservices.com,  http://cranepestcontrol.com,  http://trutechinc.com and http://rollins.com. You can also find this and other news releases at http://rollins.com by accessing the news releases button.

SOURCE Orkin, LLC

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