There are an estimated 22,000 species of ant worldwide. They can form massive colonies consisting of millions of individuals, and because of their ubiquity, they are among the most difficult to control pests in the world.
There are approximately 20,000 known species of bees throughout every continent with the exception of Antarctica and found in every habitat that contains insect-pollinated flowering plants. Bees are highly evolved, social insects that engage in a variety of complex behaviors including communication, complex nest construction, environmental control and defense, and division of labor.
There are over 2,000 species of fleas worldwide. Fleas are wingless, external parasites that have tube-like mouth parts for feeding on the blood of their hosts.
Bites from mosquitoes can cause a number of worrisome blood-borne illnesses that are occurring with increasing frequency. These problems give homeowners more reasons to clear pests off their property. The good news is that there are many ecologically responsible ways to reduce mosquito and tick populations.
Often referred to as the “Apocalypse survival bug,” roaches can survive in virtually any given situation – including nuclear explosions. There are literally thousands of roach species throughout the world, but less than one percent of all species are associated with human habitats.
There are an estimated 4,000 species of termites worldwide, but only about 10% are considered “economically significant” pests, meaning they can cause serious structural damage to buildings. Eastern Subterranean Termites are the most common termite species in North America.
There are over 800 known species of ticks worldwide. These parasitic arachnids are known to transmit diseases, including Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, Colorado tick fever, Powassan encephalitis, and rickettsiosis, to humans.
