What Are the Most Destructive Pests?

Pests can be destructive in many ways. They can destroy crops, damage buildings and spread diseases. When it comes to buildings, the most destructive pests are carpenter ants, cockroaches, rodents (mice and rats) and termites.

1. Carpenter Ants.

Carpenter ants are large, black ants that make their nests in dead or decaying trees, stumps, logs, branches and fence posts. They can also inhabit buildings if they have exposed wood.

When carpenter ants enter a living tree to find food, they tunnel into the phloem layer or nutrient layer of the bark. Destroying the leaves on the inside layer of a tree can lead to its overall weakening and dying.

When carpenter ants are in buildings, they can destroy structural timbers and electrical wiring. They are considered a nuisance pest because of the damage they cause to trees and buildings.

Got a carpenter ant catastrophe on your hands? Call Orange Environmental Services now.

2. Cockroaches.

Cockroaches are medium-sized insects with flattened oval-shaped bodies. Many people believe cockroaches are attracted to filth, but this is not a concern if you do not leave food out for rodents and insects to gorge.

Cockroaches do not cause dirt. They are, however, carriers of diseases and pathogens that can be harmful to humans and animals. They feed on decaying organic matter and eject it as fecal pellets, which cause damage similar to that of carpenter ants.

3. Rodents.

Rats and mice invade homes for shelter from the cold or search for food over the winter season. However, they are not the only pests that invade homes during winter. Many other pests, including ants, spiders, termites and beetles also look for warm places to stay over the cold months.

If rodents are present in your home or warehouse, you can expect food damage as well as damage to cables and plastics. These pests leave behind a strong, unpleasant odor and contaminate stored products with urine and droppings.

You have rodents rummaging through your house. Orange Environmental Services’ Rodent Extermination is here to rid you of them.

4. Termites.

Termites pose a serious threat to homes, commercial buildings and other wooden structures that support human activities. Most experts consider termites one of the most destructive pests worldwide for wood-framed houses and apartment complexes. 

Termites live in colonies inside wood–eating away at it until nothing but dust is left. Their existence is hidden, literally–their colonies are deep within the wood, making them difficult to spot until extensive damage is done.

Termites also feed on grass, leaves and other plants, causing plant loss and structural weakening in buildings.

If you are noticing a pest problem, contact Orange Environmental Services today.