How ‘Bug Smart’ Are You?

You think you have a handle on pest control. You know all the ins and outs of it. You have everything from an insect ‘bug off’ outfit to an industrial sized can of Deet in your garage. You know which spiders are worrisome and which are not. You know not to flail your arms when a hornet or wasp is in your personal area. You know that mice actually prefer sweets and that cheese is not their favorite food. Yep, you are pretty knowledgeable. But just how knowledgeable are you? Read on and see if you know these facts about some of our Tennessee pests.

1. Which pest causes more damage than fires, hurricanes, and tornadoes combined?

Combined? That has to be a lot. Well, believe it or not it is termites. Termites are silent destroyers of wood and wood structures. These teeny insects have a veracious appetite that is never suppressed. They love moist wood and will stop at nothing until they have what they want. Their damages cost homeowners and business owners billions of dollars each year in the United States.

2. Which pest is responsible for more human deaths than any other living creature?

You will be surprised! It is common to just about every inhabited part of the earth, with Greenland and the Arctic’s being the exception. It’s that buzzing and bloodsucking mosquito! This killer has the number one spot. These insects are perfect carriers of some of our most deadly diseases like Malaria, West Nile Virus, Encephalitis and many others.

3. How long can a typical flea live between meals?

This one’s easy, right? Watch any animal that has fleas and you would think by the constant itching and scratching it must be seconds, minutes or even hours. Seems like these poor animals are constantly in agony. Well, it’s far from that. In the right conditions, an adult flea can wait for 2 to 3 years before needing to eat after a full blood meal. Sheesh, I guess simple flea collars don't have anything against the mighty flea.

4. True or False: Stink bugs are a non-native bug that came to Pennsylvania in 1998.

You have a 50/50 shot. What do you think? It is true. Stink bugs are hitchhikers. They originated in China and Japan and are believed to have stowed away in packing crates and traveled to the United States. The first documented case was in Allentown, Pennsylvania in September of 1998. Now they have spread to over 30 states in the United States. They have been busy hitching across our nation.

Having knowledge about your adversary is crucial in battle. Here at All-American Pest Control we know our adversaries very well. We are a locally owned and operated business and we know our neighbors and their pest control issues because we live here too. Controlling pests is our thing. Let our family serve yours with our pest control knowledge. Contact us today.