Impact & Health Risks
Impact Of Pests On The Home
Bed Bugs
Although bedbugs do not spread disease they are a horrific nuisance and can spread like wildfire. Just knowing these critters are crawling over you while you sleep is a nightmare. Bedbug bites are painless at first but later turn into itchy welts.
Stinging-Insects
These various species of aggressive insects post no immediate threat to the home itself however they do make certain areas inaccessible depending on where nests are made. If a particular species nests inside the walls or void spaces within a home, they may easily get inside making normal life inside your home very difficult and in some cases dangerous.
Carpenter Ants
Carpenter ants will burrow through wood in order to establish their colony throughout a home. Depending on the severity of the tunneling and size of the colony the ants could severely weaken the structural integrity of the home. Because there is no way to determine how quickly a colony will grow, if you suspect an infestation you should contact pest control immediately to destroy the colony before it spreads to the living space of your home.
Carpenter Bees
As the carpenter bee works its nest into a home, there is always the potential for more than one bee to make a nest. If bees continue to return to your home year after year, then the extent of the damage done to the wood in and around your home will likely be considerable and irreparable. Unlike termites that often travel in narrow tunnels that eventually grow in size, the carpenter bee makes wide tunnels throughout that will continue to grow in size.
Common Mouse
Mice can be destructive as they forage within the home, chewing through wallboard, storage boxes, clothing, and food supplies (boxed foods, bagged goods, etc). Mice that are carrying mites or other organisms, if eaten by a house pet, could pass those organisms or diseases to a family pet causing direct illness.
Rats
The most common damage from rats is where they chew on a home in order to gain access such as on a gable end, a ridge cap or a gable vent. Rats will also chew through pipe insulation as well as wiring and other vents as they infest the home. Any organic material is game, and they can create a number of openings for other pests to enter and gain access to the interior of your home. Unfortunately without a complete inspection it’s difficult to find the access points on your own.
Fleas
Fleas are a huge nuisance; if they are not treated before they’ve have a chance to multiply (and this happens quickly) then you will have to take a more aggressive approach to treating your home. Fleas will move on any surface, which will result in their excrement, which looks like grains of dirt, turning up on all manner of surfaces including your table and other food prep areas, dishes, clothing, etc.
Termites
Both the drywood and dampwood termites can cause significant structural damage to a home and surrounding structures if the infestation is permitted to continue. Some infestations go on for years, and can lead to a structural breakdown within the home leading to costly treatment and the need for remodeling before a home can be safely occupied again. These wood destroying insects attack homes from the soil level where they find their way into your home.there are 2 ways of treating this problem.
Health Risks Of Pests
Bed Bugs
Bed bugs feed on your blood as a source of nutrition. The blood is necessary for them to advance through each stage of their life as well as to produce eggs. Those who are bitten tend to have reactions within 24 hours, including unsightly red bite marks, rash, swelling and welts around the bite area. These bites can occur all over the body, particularly on the torso, the groin and around the face (around the mouth, eyes and ears) and scalp – often in vascular areas where blood supply is heavier or close to the skin. In some cases, a severe reaction can occur leaving skin swollen, extremely agitated, itchy with large raised unsightly welts.
Stinging-Insects
Most stinging insects such as those mentioned pack potent venom within their stinger that can cause an acute allergic reaction in humans potentially leading to anaphylactic shock (and in some cases death.) While one sting poses little risk to those who don’t have an allergy to the venom, a nest that has been disturbed could cause bees or wasps to swarm resulting in dozens or even hundreds of stings. In the past this has led to death even in individuals without an allergy to bee stings.
Carpenter Ants
It is possible for them to invade a food supply, causing spoilage. Likewise, if a colony of carpenter ants is stirred up by pets or people they may become agitated and begin to bite. This can be painful, especially if the ants begin to swarm out of agitation.
Carpenter Bees
Male carpenter bees are aggressive and may hover close to you if you are near the nest which can draw the attention of the colony and the females, which have the ability to deliver a very sharp and painful sting. Like all bees that deliver venom through a stinger, there is a great risk of allergic reaction and anaphylactic shock from a carpenter bee sting.
Common Mouse
The feces and urine of a common mouse can pose a significant health risk. The excrement of a mouse could contain Hantaviruses, LCM (lymphocytic choriomeningitis) virus, or other airborne disease organisms. This can occur in areas that aren’t normally cleaned but can include ventilation systems where disease and organisms can spread easily.
Rats
Rats can carry and spread a significant amount of disease and pose a great health risk to homeowners. Here are the primary health concerns with rats:
- Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS)
- Murine Typhus
- Salmonella entericaserovarTyphimurium
- Leptospirosis
- Eosinophilic Meningitis
- Streptobacillus Moniliformis: Acquired through the bite or scratch of a rodent or through ingestion of food or water contaminated with rat feces
Rats tend to gather in a primary area that is safe such as attics, storage areas and basements or crawl spaces. Feces and debris can accumulate and cause contamination in the home posing an airborne health risk, especially if the contamination can be spread through ventilation.
Fleas
A handful of fleas won’t do much more than cause discomfort but they can quickly become a mass colony if not corrected. If the infestation grows, pets are at risk of severe biting that can cause them to lose a significant amount of blood, leading to anemia. Animals with severe infestations often succumb and die from the onset of anemia.
Cat fleas also transmit various diseases and can transmit parasites such as the tapeworm. Other hazards include the spread of Bartonella (bacteria) which is responsible for diseases such as Carrion’s disease and trench fever.
Termites
There is a specialized soldier caste that has a primary duty to protect the colony – usually from other insects like ants and rival termite colonies. Termites won’t seek out humans to bite them however if disturbed these solider termites may deliver a strong bite. The workers can also bite as well should they become agitated.