FAIRFAX, Va. (May 20, 2026) – Summer travel season is quickly approaching, and so is one of its most unwelcome companions: bed bugs. That presents a timely opening to step in as the trusted, go-to resource consumers need to avoid run-ins with these notorious hitchhiking pests. To arm consumers with the knowledge they need, the Professional Pest Management Alliance is calling on the industry to join its annual observance of Bed Bug Awareness Week from June 7–13, 2026.

“Pest control professionals know better than anyone just how formidable bed bugs are,” said Dr. Jim Fredericks, executive director of the Alliance. “In fact, nearly a quarter say they’re the single hardest pest to control. By coming together as an industry to educate consumers on identification, prevention and the risks of going it alone, we can build trust in our work and reinforce the value of professional pest control.”

In a survey conducted online by The Harris Poll on behalf of NPMA, only 32% of Americans can identify bed bugs, just 30% know how to inspect for bed bugs and 34% are aware that bed bugs can be found outside of the bedroom (including on public transit, movie theaters, schools, hospitals and office buildings). These findings underscore the urgent need for full industry participation in this year’s week-long observance.

The Alliance encourages pest control companies across the country to get involved by:

• Sharing bed bug-focused content throughout the week and adding #BedBugAwarenessWeek to join the industry-wide conversation and connect consumers with information on identification, prevention and when to call a professional.
• Resharing content from @PestWorld on Facebook, TikTok, Pinterest and YouTube and @PestWorldOfficial on Instagram to extend the reach of the campaign and reinforce the importance of professional pest control.
• Downloading the exclusive Bed Bug Awareness Week toolkit available to Alliance Investors and Mainframe subscribers on AllianceMainframe.org. The toolkit includes customizable media materials, social media graphics, visual assets and more. 

To learn more about the Alliance's mission to grow, promote, protect and defend the pest management industry, and to explore the full range of marketing resources Mainframe offers, visit NPMAPestWorld.org/Alliance. 

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About the Professional Pest Management Alliance
The Professional Pest Management Alliance is the voice of the industry, driving demand for professional pest control through innovative marketing programs that educate consumers and earn their trust. Since 1997, the Alliance has grown awareness of the essential role pest management professionals play in protecting health, food and property, creating market conditions that help businesses of all sizes grow stronger, faster. It actively manages the consumer website, PestWorld.org, and social media channels as @PestWorld on Facebook,  TikTok, Pinterest and YouTube and @PestWorld Official on Instagram. For more information, please visit AllianceMainframe.org or NPMAPestWorld.org/Alliance.

Survey Methodology 
This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of NPMA between April 23 – April 27, 2026 among 2,051 U.S. adults ages 18+. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the sample data is accurate to within +/- 2.5 percentage points using a 95% confidence level. For complete survey methodology, please contact NPMATeam@vaultcommunications.com.