DC ranks 13th on pest control firm’s list of top bedbug-infested cities

It will be bad news for Ron Burgundy, but San Diego, California, came in at No. 20 on Terminix's list. (Thinkstock) — San Diego, California, came in at No. 20 on Terminix’s list of cities that received the most calls for bedbugs in the first half of 2017. (Thinkstock)

Bed bugs can see the ghost of Elvis on Union Avenue in Memphis, Tennessee. The city comes in at No. 19. (Thinkstock) — Memphis, Tennessee, ranked No. 19 on Terminix’s list of cities that received the most calls for bedbugs in the first half of 2017. (Thinkstock)

Tampa, Florida, comes in at No. 18. (Thinkstock)

Atlanta, Georgia comes in at No. 17 on the list. (Thinkstock)

St. Louis, Missouri, is the gateway to the west. It's also No. 16 on Terminix's list. (Thinkstock) — St. Louis, Missouri, is No. 16 on Terminix’s list. (Thinkstock)

San Francisco, California, ties D.C. for fourth most-expensive in North America. (Thinkstock) — San Francisco, California, comes in at No. 15 on the list. (Thinkstock)

Tucson, Arizona, comes in at No. 14 on the list. (Thinkstock) — Tucson, Arizona, comes in at No. 14 on the list of Terminix’s list of cities that received the most calls for bedbugs in the first half of 2017. (Thinkstock)

The number of public relations jobs in Washington has increased by an astounding 325 percent over the last 17 years. (Thinkstock) — The bad news for D.C. residents is that bedbugs still love the city. It comes in at No. 13 on Terminix’s list. The good news for District residents is that ranking is a lot lower than one that came out earlier in the year. (Thinkstock)

Bed bugs like Pittsburgh too. The Pennsylvania city came in at No. 12 on Terminix's list. (Thinkstock) — Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, city came in at No. 12 on Terminix’s list. (Thinkstock)

Bed bugs see the charm of Charm City. Baltimore, Maryland, came in at No. 11 on the list, but that is a big step down from where the city ranked in another survey at the beginning of 2017. (Thinkstock) — Baltimore, Maryland, came in at No. 11 on the list, but that is a big step down from where the city ranked in another survey at the beginning of 2017. (Thinkstock)

Bed bugs love brotherly love. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is No. 10 on the list. (Thinkstock) — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is No. 10 on the list. (Thinkstock)

Oklahoma City comes in at No. 9. (Thinkstock)

Indianapolis, Indiana is known for Hoosier hospitality, which suits bed bugs well. The city ranks eighth on Terminix's list. (Thinkstock) — Indianapolis, Indiana, ranks No. 8 on Terminix’s list. (Thinkstock)

Bed bugs don't mind the desert either. Phoenix, Arizona came in at seventh place in Terminix's list. (Thinkstock) — Phoenix, Arizona, came in at No. 7 on Terminix’s list. (Thinkstock)

Houston, Texas came at No. 6 on the list. (Thinkstock) — Houston, Texas, came at No. 6 on the list. (Thinkstock)

Evidently, bed bugs don't mind the altitude of the Mile High City. Denver, Colorado, ranked fifth in Terminix's list. (Thinkstock) — Denver, Colorado, came in No. 5 on Terminix’s list. (Thinkstock)

Las Vegas, Nevada ranks fourth on the list. (Thinkstock) — Las Vegas, Nevada, ranks No. 4 on the list. (Thinkstock)

Coming in at number three is Detroit, Michigan. FILE. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, file) — Coming in at No. 3 is Detroit, Michigan. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, file)

Cincinnati, Ohio comes in second on Terminix's list. (AP Photo/Al Behrman) — Cincinnati, Ohio, comes in at No. 2 on Terminix’s list. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)

Cleveland is home of Lebron James, the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame and according to the pest control company Terminix, the most calls for bed bugs in the first half of 2017. FILE. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan, File) — There must be something about Ohio. Cleveland, Ohio, received the most calls for bedbugs in the first half of 2017. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan, File)

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WASHINGTON — It’s not exactly the kind of thing that will fill D.C. residents with pride, but the District ranked 13th in the top-20 bedbug-infested cities in America.

The list was released by the pest control company, Terminix, and based on service requests from the first half of 2017.

Experts at Terminix said bedbug infestations have increased since the late 1990s, and while researchers aren’t sure of an exact cause, they do think things like more international travel and insecticide resistance could bear some responsibility.

“Bedbugs are notoriously difficult to eradicate,” Paul Curtis, director, technical services at Terminix, said in a news release. “They can travel to new locations very easily — hitching a ride on clothing, handbags, suitcases and taxis, which can create substantial infestations in no time.”

Without the help of a professional, bedbugs can hide undetected for months, Terminix said.

Some signs you might have a bedbug problem include reddish-brown blood spots on sheets or mattresses, a strong musty odor, or signs of the bugs themselves (they’re the size, shape and color of an apple seed).

If you think you have a bedbug problem, you should contact a pest control company as soon as possible for an inspection.

D.C. wasn’t alone in having a bedbug problem. Baltimore came in at number 11.

The good news for D.C. residents is 13th place is a big drop from a study that came out earlier in the year by the pest control company Orkin.

In that survey, D.C. came in at No. 2, trailing only Baltimore.

The Terminix survey found Cleveland and Cincinnati, Ohio, are the two itchiest cities in the country while San Diego came in at number 20 on the list.

The complete list is: