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What to know about bed bugs and other pests in Georgia this season

Stories by Columbus Ledger-Enquirer journalists, with AI summarization

Worried about pests in Georgia? Here's what you need to know about bed bugs, cotton jassid, and brown recluse spiders. These pests affect homes, agricultural crops, and personal safety.

1. Georgia is considered a vulnerable state to bed bugs, which has increased activity during the summer months. The Georgia Department of Public Health reports that bed bug cases are on the rise statewide, driven by increased travel, warm weather and growing pesticide resistance.

2. Cotton jassid is another pest to keep an eye out for as it damages cotton and okra by causing leaf desiccation, thereby affecting Georgia's agriculture.

3. Brown recluse spiders are fairly rare in the Peach State but have been found in 31 out of Georgia’s 159 counties.

Read more in the stories below:

You don’t want to bring this creepy, itchy souvenir to your Georgia home.

NO. 1: GEORGIA IS A HOT SPOT FOR THIS SNEAKY BUG. IS YOUR HOME AT RISK?

One of the summer’s worst pests might already be in your house and it’s not a mosquito. Follow these tips to keep these sneaky bugs out of your home. | Published July 3, 2025 | Read Full Story by Sundi Rose

Because so many spiders are brown, the brown recluse spider has become an eight-legged terror. But they’re not common in North Carolina. By File photo

NO. 2: ARE YOU SEEING BROWN RECLUSE SPIDERS IN GA? HERE’S HOW TO RECOGNIZE THEM AND STAY SAFE

Have you been seeing more venomous spiders in and around your Georgia home lately? Here’s how to identify them and keep them away. | Published July 23, 2025 | Read Full Story by Sundi Rose

Justin Odom/University of Georgia Extension Service/TNS

NO. 3: GA OKRA AND COTTON UNDER THREAT FROM NEW INVASIVE PEST THAT’S SMALLER THAN A PAPERCLIP

Georgia’s okra and cotton productions are two of the state’s top-tier agricultural commodities. | Published September 6, 2025 | Read Full Story by Sundi Rose

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.