Around the world, humans do battle with pest invaders to keep them from inside their living spaces. This is because pests bring with them various diseases and cause damage to the home itself.
“Rodents will often get behind walls and in attics and will urinate and defecate in these spaces. This creates an unsafe environment and causes damage which costs many thousands of dollars to repair”, said Paul, who works in pest control in Palm Bay, Florida.
Rodents like rats and mice will chew away and actually eat some of the materials walls are made from. They also gnaw into electrical wires which can easily cause a fire. Oftentimes they will go undetected for many months before the owner of the home realizes that there is a serious problem.
Termites will eat the home’s wooden structure from the outside in. If ignored for years, they can do so much damage that the home eventually needs to be condemned. It is estimated that over $5B worth of damage to around 600,000 homes occurs every year in the United States. Pest prevention measures could cut that number way down.
Ranking the Worst of the Worst
Here’s a ranking of some of the worst pests in America based on factors like health risks, property damage, and annoyance:
Termites
Damage: They cause billions in property damage annually by eating wood, paper, and anything containing cellulose.
Health: Indirect health risks due to structural damage leading to mold or accidents.
Mosquitoes
Health: Major vectors for diseases like West Nile virus, Zika, dengue, and malaria.
Annoyance: Their bites are itchy and they can make outdoor activities unpleasant.
Cockroaches
Health: Known to spread pathogens and trigger allergies and asthma, especially in children.
Annoyance: Resilient, hard to eradicate, and generally considered repulsive.
Rodents (Rats and Mice)
Health: Carry diseases like Hantavirus, Salmonella, and Leptospirosis. They also contaminate food.
Damage: Gnaw on wires, insulation, and structures; can cause fires by chewing through electrical wiring.
Bed Bugs
Health: Not vectors for disease but can cause significant psychological distress, allergic reactions, and secondary infections from scratching.
Annoyance: Very hard to eliminate once established, causing sleep disruption and social stigma.
Ants
Damage: Certain species like carpenter ants can damage wood, while others like fire ants can damage electrical equipment.
Health: Fire ants deliver painful stings leading to allergic reactions in some people.
Fleas
Health: Transmit diseases like plague, murine typhus, and can cause allergic reactions in pets and humans.
Annoyance: Their bites are very itchy, and they infest homes through pets.
Ticks
Health: Major vectors for Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and other tick-borne diseases.
Annoyance: They are hard to spot and remove, often requiring careful checking after outdoor activities.
Wasps and Hornets
Health: Their stings can be very painful, cause allergic reactions, and in severe cases, can lead to anaphylactic shock.
Annoyance: Nesting near human habitations can restrict outdoor living spaces.
Moths
Damage: Particularly clothes moths which can ruin clothing, upholstery, and carpets by eating the keratin in animal fibers.
Annoyance: Less of a health issue but can be very damaging to personal belongings.
This ranking can vary based on regional prevalence, personal experience, or specific circumstances like health conditions or the type of property one owns. If you’re dealing with any of these pests, professional pest control might be necessary for effective management.