How many creepy crawlies are sharing your home? A recent study by of 50 houses in the Raleigh area by researchers from North Carolina State University, the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, and the California Academy of Sciences is amazing Monmouth County pest control experts.
What did they find?
More than 500 different kinds of arthropods, small invertebrates like flies, ants, gnats, lice, beetles, termites, and spiders. The sneaky stowaways are thought to have made their way in from outside – or accidentally introduced (cut flower, local produce) – getting overly comfy in your hospitable home.
Uncovering the undesirables…
Surprisingly, only five rooms of the 554 examined did not contain any arthropods. The remainder held a broad biodiversity, with each home hosting an average of about 100 species – though this is believed to be an under count as researchers did not check behind walls, in drawers or under heavy furniture. Entomology exposed:
- Deptera (true flies) – 23%
- Araneae (spiders) – 19%
- Coleoptera (beetles) – 16%
- Hymenoptera (bees, wasps, ants) – 15%
Future fun
The exploratory inventory, the first of its kind, is sure to spur additional studies in efforts to answer some exciting scientific questions, such as what microbes insects host that affect health, and what role pests play in the home ecosystem.
Tired of sharing your space? Give ‘em an eviction notice. Contact Allison Pest Control, your Monmouth County pest control experts, today.