Real Estate Marketing & Beyond
Pests aren't just a nuisance; they can be quite destructive to your property and dangerous to your health. Before you call out the exterminator, consider what the ten most destructive and dangerous pests are.
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Black Widow Spiders
Black widows won't kill you if they bite you, but they can make humans very sick, especially children and the elderly. Their bite will spike your body temperature and send your blood pressure sky high. Black widows are found indoors and outdoors, and they spin their webs near the ground in dark areas.
Brown Recluse Spiders
These spiders are dangerous because they like to hide in shoes and clothes, and their bites are quite painful. If you get bitten by a brown recluse, you'll experience fevers, insomnia, and very deep, slow-healing wounds. If the bite is left untreated, it can become dangerously infected.
Kissing Bugs
Found in the US from Maryland to Florida and west to California, these bugs can transmit a serious bacterial disease. While the disease is found in the US, it's quite rare. Kissing bugs lay their eggs in the cracks of homes and other buildings. They're nocturnal and come out to feed on you as you sleep.
Deer Mice
Mice are disgusting little pests, leaving feces and urine everywhere they go. Deer mice are carriers of the Hantavirus, a deadly respiratory virus transmitted through their feces. Always seal up entry points for the mice, set out traps, and clean up their waste with diluted bleach. Not only do they carry diseases, they also eat holes in walls and insulation and chew through electrical wires, increasing the risk of fire.
Paper Wasps
Not only do these aggressive creatures create some nasty stings that are easily infected, but they will also build massive nests on the eaves, awnings, and porches that can be difficult to remove.
Squirrels
Squirrels are prone to getting into homes and wreaking havoc on wood, shingles, drywall, and ducting systems. They love to chew through everything they can get their sharp little teeth on and tend to have their babies in attics and chimneys. Many house fires have been started by squirrels chewing through electrical wires.
Carpenter Ants
Carpenter ants will come indoors if they find water damaged or rotting wood. They chew wood to grow their colonies, so if they aren't eradicated quickly, they can be as destructive as termites.
Termites
These pests are responsible for millions of dollars of property damage every year. They aren't picky about the age of the home they infest either, so if you live in a termite-prone area, always get a pest inspection prior to purchasing a home.
Cockroaches
Cockroaches are incredibly difficult to get rid of, and once they're in your home, they multiply quickly. Not only are they bacteria-ridden, they also get inside every crevice of your home.
Hobo Spiders
The bite of a hobo spider is incredibly dangerous, rotting the flesh and creating headaches that last as long as seven days.
Pests can be dangerous to both your home and your family, so it's a wise idea to have a good relationship with your local pest control specialist to prevent problems.
About the Author: Lizzie Weakley is a freelance writer from Columbus, Ohio. She went to college at The Ohio State University where she studied communications. In her free time, she enjoys the outdoors and long walks in the park with her 3-year-old husky Snowball. The information in this article is credited to Green Pest Services, a pest control company in Fairfax.
