It often depends on mans perspective, but most of the time insects are considered serious pests capable of inflicting damage to food supplies and structures. There are some insects that can be considered helpful such as lady bugs. These insects help rid gardens of aphids. Honeybees help pollinate flowers and are incredibly helpful. Most insects, however, are unwelcome. They are the most diverse type of animal that lives on the planet. They make themselves at home in cities, jungles, deserts and swamps. They are only considered pests when they threaten the comfort or safety of humans or they threaten food crops. For some insightful tips on ridding your home and property of unwanted pests visit killingcarpenterants.com
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, herbivorous insects destroy about a fifth of the entire worlds crops each year. These insects include grasshoppers and ants. While man has worked to develop crops that can be treated with pesticides, often pests become immune to these and will adapt in such a way that they resume destroying crops. This problem occurs around the world but is a major concern in tropical climates because of the tendency for insects to flourish in such areas. Africa is one continent where pests and food crops are a special challenge. Now that the worlds population is increasing, herbivorous insects are becoming more of a problem because of their ability to destroy huge areas of crops. This problem is also made worse when droughts occur. When certain pests attack maize crops in Asia and Africa serious famines can result.
As for the damage that pests do to structures, most anyone in the United States is well aware of the problems that termites cause to wood. The most common type of termite that does severe damage is the subterranean termite. These pests thrive in all areas of the United States with the exception of Alaska. Termites like warm environments especially when they are also moist. While builders are getting savvy about treating wood used in modern buildings, termites sometimes tunnel over any treated wood and will cause infestations in other areas that have been left untreated.
Ants are another insect that can cause structural problems. The most common type of ant to cause problems is the carpenter ant. Ironically, there are instances where the carpenter ants ability to chew wood into sawdust are helpful. The sawdust can be used as compost to help new plants grow and thrive. In most other instances, however, these ants can do serious damage to homes. They love moisture and are often found building their nests around dishwashers, sinks, and bathtubs. Anywhere there is a leak in the plumbing is an attractive spot for these pests. They love to burrow into door frames and find foam insulation especially good for chewing on. Both termites and carpenter ants can do significant damage over time. The carpenter ants often take a few years before the damage that they do is noticeable. Once the damage is visible, the damage is usually quite extensive.
With all the pests that can do damage to food supplies, buildings, and homes it is extremely important to have professional exterminators available to help. If you suspect or notice any tunnels or shavings in your home or around it, contact a reputable exterminator right away. The sooner you get a pest problem detected, the better off you and your family will be. Professional exterminators remove pests and treat affected areas sometimes using environmentally sound treatments that do not involve the use of harmful insecticides. Contact your local pest control experts the moment you suspect the presence of any pests in and around your home.
