Florida’s biggest bug problems are in this city, data reveals

Pest-control company Terminix has revealed its latest list of the “buggiest” cities and businesses in the country.

To put together this data, the company looked at which places struggled the most with pests like cockroaches, flies and rodents between October 2023 and September 2024.

Some of the types of businesses highlighted in the report included restaurants, food retailers, hotels, warehouses and healthcare centers — all locations that are particularly vulnerable to pests.

“Knowing if you operate in one of the buggiest cities in the U.S. is crucial for proactive management and protection of your business,” the report reads.

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Nationwide, the top-ranked “pest city” turned out to be the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area in Texas. Below that were Houston (No. 2) and Los Angeles (No. 3).

Unfortunately for the Sunshine State, though, two Florida cities were included among the high-ranking cities: Tampa at No. 8, and the Miami area rounding out the top picks at No. 10.

This may not have been surprising news for those who caught wind of Terminix’s previous study last month on the most bedbug-infested cities in the country, where the Cigar City also ranked highest in Florida.

Tampa also ranked No. 3 nationwide for termite infestations, according to another study by Orkin earlier this year.

According to researchers at the University of Florida, part of the reason that the Sunshine State sees so many bugs is because of its warm, humid climate.

In addition, Florida’s status as a tourist hotspot means that travelers may inadvertently introduce many foreign species of pests.

Meanwhile, the full Terminix “pest cities” ranking is as follows: