Facts You Never Knew About Household Pests

The American pest management industry is a multi-billion dollar industry. If you’re surprised by that, you might be surprised to learn just how prevalent pests are in the United States (and why some are worse than others).

Today we’re going to cover some questions you may never have thought to ask, but will shake your understanding of what these pests are capable of.

1. Why Do I Have Fleas at Home Again?

Fleas can remain in their pupal stage for months. This is a big ‘uh-oh’ for pet owners. Fleas have impressive survivability skills, hence why they’re a pain to get rid of.

What this means is that fleas, as pupa (think a chrysalis for a butterfly, only grosser), can essentially survive for extended periods of time without nourishment. 

How do you expect them to survive in winters and inclement weather? Yep. That means if you’ve got fleas in the fall, you may find yourself with another case come spring.

2. Where Did These Bedbugs Come From?

Newborn bedbugs can go for months without food, making these little buggers particularly stubborn. As blood is their primary source of nourishment, they can travel far and wide till they find a meal.

Why is this? Well, bedbugs are cold-blooded, meaning that when the temperature decreases, so do their metabolisms. Like fleas, this is how they survive long winters and come back strong and hungry in the spring.

For more weird facts about these stubborn critters and others, read on.

3. Why Are Pesticides Used on Food?

Did you know that rodents consume ~20% of the world’s food supply?

And you thought it was bad when a mouse got into a box of crackers! Yes, rodents are a huge problem for the agricultural industry. 

It’s why pesticides are so commonly used (and why organic foods cost so much more to bring to your table).

In fact, without pest management practices it’s suspected that pests could consume up to 50% of the world’s food supply. That’d have a major impact on our everyday lives.

4. Why Are There Mouse Droppings Everywhere?

Mice and rats have no “elimination functions”… That’s the pleasant way of saying they can’t control their bladder or sphincter. Meaning that when they have to go, they go! 

Hence why they leave so many ‘presents; around the home and in some of the most disturbing of places. The good news is that while rodents are far from sanitary, their waste has a very low chance of causing illness in humans.

5. How Much Damage Do Termites Do Annually?

Termites cause over five billion dollars in damage annually.

Remember how the pest control industry is a multi-billion dollar industry? That’s because of how much damage these critters can do when not managed.

Termites are a particularly nasty breed. They can cause massive damage to siding, roofs, walls, and the internals of a home. Also known as the most important parts of a house’s structure!

And if that didn’t make things worse, termites are known for eating each other’s feces. That’s because when they’re born they lack essential bacteria in their stomachs.

That means before they can devour trees (or homes) they must get that essential bacteria from their peers… Through eating their feces.

Pest Management Is Important

Hopefully, you get an idea of why pest management is such an important industry for our everyday lives! Pests are wild and wacky, and while these are some ‘fun facts’ enduring these buggers can prove quite stressful.

Like this content? Want more weird facts and figures? Check out our other posts on all things creepy and crawly.

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