Types of Pest
Some of the Common House Pest
Rats and Mice
Rodents are also called gnawing animals. These animals hve been considered as the most abundant and successful mammalian group on earth, enjoying a worldwide distribution. They generally terestial, partly fossorial, arboreal and semi-aquatic. They are best characterized by their chisel like incisors, a single pair of jaw, and the absence of canines. Rodents have the greatest number of genera and species, and also in the actual number of individuals far surpassing all other mammalian orders.
Rodents borne diseases:
- Salmonellosis(food poisoning, gastroenteritis)
- Leptospirosis
- Lymphocytic choriomeneitis(LCM)
- Ricketsial disease also known as Maurine typhus
- Foot and Mouth disease
- Plaque
- Trichonosis
Houseflies
Importance: although a non-biter, the housefly which is a constant companion of man, serves as a mechanical barrier barrier of many kinds of diseases. The housefly being a product of filth and poor sanitation, is also a potential intermediate host of certain internal parasites of livestock. Disease-causing organisms, like those that cause diarrhea stick o the hairy body and legs of flies as they crawl on contaminated materials. Therefore, flies can readily contaminate our food as they walk over it. Even the excreta of these filth-loving insects contains different kinds of germs and other parasitic organisms.
Mosquitoes
Importance: Among the blood-sucking insects that annoy man and other animals, the mosquitoes are probably the group that have gained international prominence. The mosquitoes do not only transmit various kinds of diseases but they also retard the progress of agriculture and industry an make potential recreational areas unsuitable. There are more than 200 different kinds of mosquitoes in the Philippines. Many of these are frequent visitors of our homes.
Bedbugs
Importance: The oriental bedbugs (Cimex Hemipterus) are nocturnal blood suckers but will bite freely in subdued light by day. Some people are quite allergic to bites of these insects which develop into an inflamed spot accompanied by severe itching.The presence of bedbugs becomes more evident by its distinctive bedbug odor and untidy excretory spots they leave in their hiding place.
Cone Nose Bug
Importance: The cone nose bug, Triatoma rubrofasciata, is a vicious blood sucker and potential vector of chagas disease. The bug comes out from its hiding places behind furniture, under the table, bed and cracks and crevices at night to suck blood but may occasionally feed during daylight hours.
Cockroaches
Importance: Cockroaches are nocturnal insects that hide during the day in dark corners, crevices, loose woodwork, cabinets, cupboards, under the sink, latrines and other secure places. It seems that the presence of roaches is agood indicator of a breakdown in proper home management.
Fleas
Importance: Fleas are small, brownish wingless insects and noted for their jumping ability. They suck our blood and each bite is followed by a tiny swelling that itches intensely. The fatal bubonic plague is transmitted to man by the bites of fleas.
Ants
Importance: Ants cause annoyance and are attracted to our food. These social insects are extremely successful terrestrial because they rapidly adapt to a variety of climatic and soil conditions. They communicate with each other by means of their antennae which contains sensory cells for touch and smell. The antennae make ants aware of what is going on in their environment. There are certain kinds of ants that carry parasites to our domestic animals. Some ants may inflict severe bite or itching.
Silverfish
Importance: Silverfish are wingless primitive insects with three long, bristle tails. These insects, clothed with silvery white scales, love to hide among piles of paper, book shelves or in clothes in cabinets. Both adult and young feed on stardy food. These pests destroy our clothes and books. They have a definite preference to stay in dark areas.
Common Dog Tick
Importance: Unlike the insect, the nymphs and adults of ticks have 4 pairs of jointed legs. The larva stage has 3 pairs of legs. Ticks are blood suckers and usually transmit pathogens to man and animals. Tick-borne diseases in man include tularemia, relapsing fever, tick paralysis, etc. In domestic animals the most common diseases are babesiosis, anaplasmosis, tularemia and avian spirochetosis. Not all ticks are known to transmit diseases to man and animals but the injury of their bites may cause secondary infection. The common tick species on dogs rarely bites man. When in large numbers the ticks may cause annoyance. The common dog tick(Rhipicephalus sanguineus) transmit canine piroplasmosis to dogs.
Spider
Importance: Many kinds of spiders live inside human dwellings. Most of the species are harmless, 8 legs creatures preying only on insects and other related organisms. In the Philippines the only known dangerously venomous species is the black widow spider which rarely, if ever, invade human habitations. Generally, spiders are considered a nuisance, leaving their unsightly webs in our homes.
Termites
The termite is derived from the Roman word “terms” meaning woodworms. Fossils remains of termites have been estimated to be 55 million years old. |
