Markets 
What a buzzkill.
Pests are bugging cities nationwide as spring swarm season begins, and Yelp has revealed which US cities are buzzing with the most pest activity.
As temperatures rise and flowers start to bloom, bees, wasps and mosquitos are becoming more active. Pest control demand is rising nationwide, with Yelp searches up 34% yaer-over-year.
“Spring is when pest activity really ramps up, and the best defense is getting ahead of it before a small issue becomes a big expense,” Tara Lewis, Yelp’s trend expert and vice president of community expansion, said in a statement.
“Whether you’re spotting a swarm in the yard or trying to keep mosquitoes from taking over your outdoor space, Yelp can help connect you with trusted local pros to pest-proof your home for the season.”
To help residents get ahead of a louse-y situation, Yelp released their 2026 Infestation Index, highlighting the top 20 cities looking for pest control services this season and the outdoor bugs that are creating the demand.
California leads the nation in pest control searches, with Los Angeles and San Francisco coming in first and second, respectively.
Mild winters and dense urban environments in the Golden State produce the conditions for pests to thrive year-round, and the warmth of spring can speed up breeding cycles and increase the demand for professional services, Yelp noted.
New York followed the California cities, coming in third, proving that pests don’t necessarily care about climate.
When snow starts to melt and temperatures rise, overwintering wasps reawaken, and residents in the New York metropolitan area are already looking to deal with the problem.
Rounding out the top five are Dallas, Texas, and Phoenix, Arizona, at fourth and fifth, respectively.
Washington, D.C., previously ranked number one in Yelp’s inaugural Infestation Index, and now sits at number seven.
And while there’s plenty of unwanted bugs swarming around in spring, some are bigger pests than others.
Yelp noted that concerns around stinging insects are top of mind as it starts to warm up, with project requests for bee control spiking 197% on their platform, comparing February 2025 to March 2025, while wasps and hornet extermination rose 212% and requests for mosquito exterminations rose 157%.
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