In 2025, several cities in Iowa are grappling with a notable surge in bed bug infestations, reflecting a broader nationwide trend of these resilient pests making a comeback. Five Iowa cities, in particular, have been identified as confronting significant bed bug challenges, with Cedar Rapids, Davenport, and others prominently affected. Cedar Rapids, often referred to as the City of Five Seasons, has climbed 19 spots on Orkin’s Top 50 Bed Bug Cities list to rank 20th nationally, marking a substantial increase in bed bug activity. Davenport closely follows at 21st place, also showing a notable rise in infestations. These increases are attributed in part to environments such as apartment complexes where bed bugs can easily spread, compounded by factors like homelessness which can intensify the problem due to inadequate living conditions and the pests spreading among people in temporary shelters.
Local pest control experts, such as Lindsay Trebon of Bed Bug and Beyond, attribute the persistent and escalating bed bug infestations to several social and environmental factors. Language barriers among residents can delay reporting and treatment, allowing bed bugs to multiply and spread undetected within multi-unit residences over extended periods. Additionally, bed bugs tend to flourish during warmer months and show increased activity following holiday seasons when travel increases the likelihood of spreading these pests from one location to another.
Efforts to combat the infestation include programs like the Safe Home Program, aimed at helping vulnerable populations, particularly elderly homeowners without resources, to eradicate bed bugs from their residences. This initiative, though effective in several cases, has faced funding shortages, limiting its ability to address infestations comprehensively. Local code enforcement divisions also receive complaints from tenants and landlords, mostly focused on rental properties where infestations are more common due to higher resident turnover and less control over living conditions.
Other Iowa cities beyond Cedar Rapids and Davenport, such as Des Moines and Sioux City, have also been impacted to varying degrees, though detailed rankings for these cities are less frequently highlighted. The broader state response emphasizes public awareness about how to detect bed bugs, routine inspections, especially in high-risk residential areas, and prompt professional treatment. Education efforts stress the importance of washing bedding regularly, inspecting secondhand furniture before bringing it into homes, and awareness during travel to prevent bringing bed bugs back from infested locations.
This bed bug outbreak reflects both a biological resilience of the pests and challenges in urban pest management, particularly in communities with socio-economic vulnerabilities. As efforts continue across Iowa cities, collaboration among public health officials, landlords, pest control professionals, and community organizations remains critical to controlling and eventually reducing these infestations.
Iowa’s experience with bed bugs in 2025 spotlights cities like Cedar Rapids and Davenport at the forefront of battling these pervasive pests. The ongoing surge emphasizes the need for coordinated responses, education, and sustained funding to protect residents and manage what is proving to be a stubborn and widespread urban pest problem.
Sources
[1] https://www.thegazette.com/news/are-bedbugs-a-growing-problem-in-cedar-rapids/
[2] https://www.pctonline.com/news/chicago-tops-orkins-2025-bed-bug-cities-list/
[3] https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ejguenther_chicago-tops-orkins-2025-bed-bug-cities-activity-7353879871703457792-wFMc
[4] https://www.orkin.com/press-room/worst-cities-for-bed-bugs-annual-rankings
[5] https://whoradio.iheart.com/content/2025-07-03-two-iowa-cities-make-list-of-top-50-us-bed-bug-cities/
