Here Are A Bunch Of Facts You Did Not Want To Know About Bugs
Without bugs, our global ecosystem would break down yadda yadda yadda. But WOW, can they be terrifying. If we're going to be forever earth roomies, we humans need to know what creepy crawlies are out there and what they're up to. It's for our own good.
We worked with Terminix to put together a list of facts you probably didn't want to know about bugs. The Terminix insect extraordinaires know all about pests, how to avoid them, and what to do when they arrive on your doorstep. Besides shriek and hop on the nearest chair.
These Spiders Eats Birds
Giant Orb Weaving spiders aren't here to play. They are massive, venomous, and eat birds. Found in Australia, your best bet is to avoid the entire continent. And probably New Zealand. With giant bird-eating spiders out there, you can't be too safe.
(Here's the full video if you want the pants scared off you.)
Some Cicadas Hibernate For 17 Years
Cicadas can be flaky and are known for disappearing Irish Exit style. In the 17 Year Cicada's case, they like to dip for (yep) 17 years. But when they do roll up to party, they roll deep. Cicadas emerge in swarms of thousands and make a deafening amount of noise.
Just imagine you're over there by the drinks, grabbing a beer, and then BOOM! Cicada and 6,789 of his boys show up and want to talk about the new podcast they're working on. No thanks, Cicada. No thanks.
Ants Outweigh Humans
There are so many ants scurrying around this rock we call earth that if you were to total up their weight, it would rival all of humanity's weight and far surpass it in biomass.
Thankfully, that weight isn't made up entirely of army ants, which are considered among the world's deadliest bugs. Restless and ravenous, army ant colonies will devour anything in their way. Remember that 'Indiana Jones' scene? Yeah, it's kinda like that.
Lice Camouflage Themselves
As if lice weren't bad enough, now we know these buggers lay eggs that camouflage to match your hair color. If the very thought of that makes you want to take a shower, just know, lice can survive underwater for several hours. Life finds a way ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
These Bees Will Hunt You Down
Perhaps exacting revenge for their disappearing brethren, the Africanised Honey Bee will chase you down up to half a mile if you so much as stroll past their hive. The only way to escape the bee swarm is to outrun it. If you swat at one, the other bees will follow the crushed bee's scent. If you jump into water, they'll wait for you to come up for air.
Seriously, this is some 'Hunger Games' level nonsense of our own making. Scientists crossed a honey bee with an African bee to see if they could create a species that would survive in the jungle. Instead, they created this monster. Right now they cover all of South America and are making their way up to the U.S. Gulp.
Hold Up, Wait A Minute
This is all fascinating and terrifying, but what about the pests you're most likely to encounter? Bees are dying off, so good luck spotting those. Ants are literally everywhere. But unless you're falling asleep in a horde of army ants, it won't be deadly. Bed bugs are hysteria-inducing, but they haven't been proven to transmit any harmful diseases. Just itchy bite marks and a severe case of the heebie jeebies.
The pest most likely to wreak havoc are termites. Termites cause an average of $5 billion in annual property damage. That's more damage than fires, floods, and tornadoes. They're sneaky little buggers, too. You could have an infestation for years before your home starts showing any signs.
They have an insatiable appetite for wood and can lay thousands of eggs…in a day. And then there are the flying termites. (Yeah, those are a thing.) Once your home does start showing signs of termite damage, it means thousands and thousands of dollars in repairs.
How Do You Know If You Have Termites?
If you see any one of these tell-tale signs, chances are you got the 'mites:
1. Mud tubes, which are made from dirt and usually about the size of a straw.
2. Hollow or damaged wood, or blisters in your wood floors.
3. Termite wings left behind on your windowsill or near outside light fixtures. (Before you roll your eyes and say duh: these are not always a sign of infestation, but it does mean you should check for additional evidence.)
4. Remember those flying termites? That's one of the most effective way they spread. If your neighbor's had an infestation, there's a good chance your home will be affected too.
How Can You Avoid Getting Termites?
If you don't want termite damage, then keep them the heck away from your home by doing these three things:
1. Inspect areas around your home where wood and soil come in contact. That means lumber, firewood, plants, mulch, paper and/or cardboard don't need to be near your foundation.
2. Fix leaky faucets. They like moisture, so reduce areas both inside and outside of your home where water and moisture could build up.
3. Properly seal cracks around your foundation and other potential entry points.
Considering that four million homes in the U.S. are at risk of infestation this year, best to play it safe and get your home inspected regularly. A termite inspection requires *Liam Neeson voice* a special set of skills, like: a working knowledge of building construction to identify entry points and mastery of masonry drill, large-capacity tank and soil treatment rod equipment.
Basically, inspections 100% needs to be handled by a professional. You know, like the ones at Terminix 🙂
Terminix is America's leading provider of pest and termite control services. We'll stop existing termites dead in their tracks and defend your home against future termite infestations. Guaranteed.