Amazing Pest Facts

We all deal with pests at some point, invading our homes and gardens looking for food sources or shelter. But there’s a lot more to many insects than meets the eye.

Read on for some amazing bug facts about 10 of the most common pests found around Australia. You might just gain a new appreciation for these often uninvited guests!

10 Interesting Pest Facts

1. Cockroaches have been around for 350 million years!

They can live a month without food and 45 minutes without water. They can also live for 7 days without a head. A one-day-old baby roach can run almost as fast as its parents. For severe infestations, consider professional pest control services.

2. There are over 10,000 species of spiders in Australia, more than anywhere else in the world.

Jumping spiders have excellent eyesight and can see colors. Trapdoor spiders construct burrows with hinged doors to catch prey. Some tarantulas keep frogs as pets – to eat different species of insects!

3. A housefly hums in the key of F.

Flies taste with their feet. They flap their wings 200 times per second. Within 24 hours, a pair of flies can produce 500 flies. Implementing effective pest control tips can help reduce fly populations.

4. An ant can lift 20 times its own body weight.

If all the species of ants in the world weighed as much as all human beings, ants would weigh more. Some queen ants can live for 30 years.

5. Fleas can jump 150 times their own height.

It’s the equivalent of a human jumping over a 60 story building! They can accelerate 50 times faster than a space shuttle. There are more than 2000 species of fleas. Controlling rodents such as rats and mice is essential, as they are common hosts for fleas.

6. A Luna moth doesn’t have a mouth.

Its only goal is to reproduce before it dies of starvation in about a week. Some moths never eat anything as adults because they don’t have functioning mouths. Introducing ladybugs can naturally reduce moth and other beetles populations.

7. Only female mosquitoes bite and feed on blood.

They need the protein in blood to produce eggs. There are over 3000 species of mosquitoes. Most of them are estimated to transmit disease to more than 700 million people annually world-wide. Protect yourself from these stinging insects and others such as bees and wasps using repellents and nets.

8. The oldest termite colony discovered is over 3 million years old!

Termite mounds can be massive – some are over 30 feet tall. Termites eat wood equivalent in weight to 2500 humans each day in Australia. Regular termite inspections are crucial to prevent structural damage.

9. Silverfish can run up to 1 centimeter per second, squeezing through tiny cracks.

Silverfish get their name from their silvery appearance and fish-like movement. They have lived on Earth unchanged for over 400 million years. Keeping your home dry deters pests like millipedes and silverfish.

10. Bed bugs can survive a year without feeding.

They inject an anesthetic so human hosts don’t feel their bites. Each female bed bug can lay up to 500 eggs in her lifetime. Bed bugs have been living with humans since ancient times. If you find stink bugs, they might also require attention from pest control.

There are some cool facts about common household pests that most people have no idea about! Next time one shows up, maybe take a closer look before grabbing the bug spray. These creatures are simply trying to survive just as we humans do day to day. A little understanding can go a long way!

This blog post was written by Brent McPherson from Trust Pest Control Sydney.