Does Dayton have a bed bug problem?

Mismatched furniture and cramped living space is part of the college experience but it also makes a good home for these pesky little critters.

"College campuses are very interconnected, making a single infested futon a significant threat," said Tom Jeffords, regional technical specialist at Terminix®.

Terminix® recently created a list of the top 15 cities reporting bed bugs this year and Ohio had five cities make it:

3. Cleveland-Akron

5. Dayton

7. Columbus

8. Cincinnati

12. Toledo

This list does not guarantee that you’ll have a bed bug problem, it just means to be as cautious as possible.

Dayton Daily News has reported local problems including a recent case when Bed bugs spread to various parts of a building in downtown Dayton.

Contact the residence hall director, landlord, or a specialist if you suspect a bed bug infestation.

Terminix® also compiled a list of do’s and don’ts to keep in mind

Dead bed bugs lay on a paper towel April 30, 2009 in San Francisco, California. Cases of bed bug infestations are on the rise across the U.S. Bed bugs feed off of human blood. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Do:

The protective casing will help keep bed bugs from moving into your sleeping area.

Look under the mattress, move furniture, etc. for signs of bed bugs like discarded shells or live bugs.

Bedbugs can move from one house to another through used textbooks from the library.

Clothing from thrift or consignment stores should be washed in warm, soapy water. Items that cannot go through the wash, like shoes or backpacks, can be sent through the dryer to kill any possible bed bugs.

Don’t:

You could take the furniture on the side of the road but there is a chance that it is already infested.

Always try and hang up as many items as possible in your dorm room or apartment to help keep bed bugs off of your stuff.

Keep your backpacks and purses out of contact with people you may sit close to on the bus or in class.