When we see a trail of ants or a nest of termites, we identify those insects as pests.  We know that we don’t like them, don’t want to deal with them, and don’t want them in our homes.  We might even refer to our younger siblings or a troublesome friend as a pest.  Let’s take a minute to actually visit what the definition and qualifications of a pest are.

A quick search in the dictionary shows a pest is one of three things.  They are as follows:

• an annoying or troublesome person, animal, or thing,
• an insect or other small animal that harms or destroys garden plants, trees, etc.,
• or a deadly epidemic disease.

If we refine our search in the context of what we normally consider a pest, we are presented with an important qualifying factor.  A pest is any organism that is detrimental to humans or human concerns.  A common similarity among pests is the harm they bring to the human way of life.  They are human competitors.  Pests create all kinds of problems for humans.  They can carry diseases, destroy crops, damage buildings, and even bite us.  Essentially, a pest is something that interferes with our activities in any way that we deem unwanted.

We often make the mistake of considering every insect a pest.  In fact, some insects act as pest control, removing the insects that actually cause damage.  An example of a good ‘pest’ is a lady beetle, or lady bug, which feeds on insects that damage lawns.  However, these helpful insects are not viewed as such in certain areas, like vineyards, where the lady beetles defensive compounds can ruin the wine.

A “pest” seems like it would be easily defined, but the term can be entirely subjective.  What one person views as a pest may not be the same for another.  In general, an insect that is uninvited and in your home can be considered a pest because it is an unwanted intruder.  No matter the situation, if you think you have pests, the professionals at Pro-Staff Pest Control can help you get rid of them.  Call us today at 407-292-7378 or fill out our free evaluation form online.

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Pro-Staff Termite & Pest Control, Inc.
6211 Edgewater Dr. • Orlando, FL 32810 • 407-292-7378

Seminole County Office
2100 Ronald Reagan Blvd • Ste. 1024 • Longwood, FL 32750 • 407-331-7378