Pest Control Facts

What is Pest Control?

Pest control is the practice of managing creatures considered ‘pests’ and preventing future infestations from them – including rodents, insects, and arachnids. These practices include methods of using chemicals, traps, barriers, and more.

Pests can cause home and building damage, bites, disease spread, crop destruction, and more. Controlling pests is a manner of health, cleanliness, economy, agriculture, and infrastructure. Without pest management control practices, food sanitation, food regulation, and health regulations would not be achievable. For example, rodents cause many fires and deaths throughout the U.S.

Let’s take a look at more facts about pest control so you can understand why and how it’s crucial for everyday life.

Facts about Pest Control

Pest control experts keep the following facts in mind when working in homes like yours. But you should also keep these facts in mind to identify what pests you have before contacting pest control:

• Rodents are prime carriers for pests such as fleas, ticks, and mites. This creature carries diseases that are transmittable to humans and animals. So you don’t want to wait when you see sights of a rodent infestation – such as droppings and bite marks on objects.
• Pests such as fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes can transmit deadly diseases to humans including: malaria, plague, Lyme Disease, and West Nile Virus. Plenty of pests pose a serious health risk, and identifying pests in your home could save you from a deadly disease. 
• The German cockroach is the most common cockroach found in the U.S. If you find a roach in your home, it’s most likely a German cockroach. The American Cockroach is attracted to alcoholic beverages, especially beer. So don’t leave any alcohol sitting around your home, along with any food.
• To survive the cold of winter months, many insects replace their body water with a chemical called glycerol. This acts as a sort of antifreeze against the temperatures. Pest control is an all-year round business, even if infestations are seasonal.

These facts can be alarming. But SOS Exterminating can give you peace of mind by professionally and efficiently controlling any pests your home or business may have. 

10 Pest Control Statistics

Here are some statistics to consider when dealing with pest control. Although some instances with pests are on the rarer or more extreme side, pest infestations affect everyone:

1. Termites alone cost Americans an average of $5 Billion in damage repair. 
2. Nearly 20% of the world’s food supply is consumed by rodents. 
3. In a study conducted from 2001 to 2004, an estimated 900,000 people were treated in US hospital EDs annually for noncanine bite and sting injuries. 
4. There are about 20,000 to 40,000 rat bites each year in the United States. 
5. Between 26-40% of the world’s potential crop production is lost annually because of weeds, pests, and diseases. Without crop protection, these losses could easily double. 
6. At least half of inner-city homes have clinically relevant levels of cockroach allergens. As many as 30% of suburban, middle-class homes also have detectable levels of cockroach allergens. 
7. During 2011–2021, a total of 788 deaths from hornet, wasp, and bee stings occurred (an average of 72 deaths per year). 
8. Rodents spread more than 30 different diseases. 
9. Over 98% of cockroaches may carry harmful pathogens. 
10. In 2021, about 14 million Americans reported seeing a cockroach in their homes. 

Your home may be another statistic in pest infestations, regardless of how clean you keep it. Pest control experts learn about pests and apply their knowledge to reduce pests. Your pest elimination is just one call or click away – we know our stuff.