Data: Where Do Insects Bug Americans the Most?

By Julio Gerardo Cardona Guillen from porch.com

As if the COVID pandemic wasn’t enough, America might be in the middle of another epidemic – bed bugs – a pest that long has plagued many cities in the United States. But are bedbugs America’s biggest pest problem? What about ants and mosquitoes? How do termites and spiders compare? And good ol’ cockroaches, where does that leave them?

What We Analyzed

We scoured the web to find the most common insect-pests in the United States and used Google Trends to determine the most common pest in each state. Then, we mapped out how prevalent different bugs are across the nation to work out what places in the US are the buggiest. Finally, we talked to an entomologist (that’s someone who studies insects!) to see how our data stacked up to knowledge of bugs in the field. (Pun not intended.)

Key Findings

Bedbugs are America’s #1 insect pest and the top pest in 32 states
Termites are second worst, topping pest control searches in 8 mostly Southern states
Cleveland, OH and Tulsa, OK are the most bug-ridden cities
Ohio is the buggiest state, with highest # of searches for insect pest control
Bedbugs most prolific in Ohio and the Midwest
Termites troubles worst for Southern states
Mosquitoes are at their most annoying on the East Coast

The Bedbugs Bite: America’s Top Insect Pests

Which insects bug Americans most?

According to Google search numbers, it’s bedbugs and it’s not even close. Bed Bug pest control queries were most popular in 32 out of 50 states with an estimated 62,000 monthly searches across the nation.

Termites were second-most bothersome insect pests. They are top-of-mind in many states down South and Southwest, namely Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Arizona, California, and others.

States in the North, on the other hand, were more commonly bothered by mosquitoes (e.g., the Dakotas) or ticks (e.g., Vermont and New Hampshire), which were most searched bugs for pest control in five and six states respectively.

Finally, Alaskans were most curious about how to control and/or exterminate wasps—the only state where this pesky insect topped pest control searches.

Oh no, Ohio! The Buggiest States in the US

Turns out, Ohio is where people are most bothered by bugs and insects, at least bothered enough to search for bug-related pest control a ton. This state had the highest search interest for pest control terms across top 10 insect pests with an estimated 8,480 searches per month!

And it’s no wonder that a state in the Midwest ranks so highly, says Lisa Anderson, a Research Entomologist and Entomology expert from Varsity Tutors.

”The midwest has a wide variety of crops that bugs can invade, as well as many water sources for bugs to proliferate.”

Not only does the Midwest have a great climate for bugs to thrive, there’s also a wide variety of crops growing in the region which bugs can invade, as well as many water sources for bugs to proliferate.

“For example, Minnesota, land of 10,000 lakes, is a great breeding ground for mosquitoes, which are an irritant to many people.” She adds, “Not only are crops and water a great attractant to pests, but so is livestock… whether it’s from the manure, the animal itself, or the facility in which the animals are housed.”

Following Ohio in bugginess are DC, Arizona, Oklahoma, and Texas, all areas generally in the southern half of the country. There are around 6,000-7,000 searches for bedbugs, ants, termites, and other insect pests on a monthly basis in each of those areas.

Finally, South Carolina, along with the nation’s three most populous states – New York, California, and Florida – rounded off the top 10, with anywhere between 5,000 and 6,000 searches for bug pest control every month.

As for why bugs are loving it in the south? “The Southeastern US is warm all year round, which allows for bugs to produce generation after generation,” notes Anderson. “Rarely there is a cold enough winter to kill the eggs, larvae, pupae, or adults”.

Buggiest Cities in America, According to Google Search Data

Across US cities, Cleveland, OH was ahead of the pack with estimated 6,590 bug-related searches monthly, followed by Tulsa, OK with 5,820.

Top 10 cities with the highest number of monthly searches for bug pest control are largely in the Midwest and Southwest, with the exceptions of Greenville in South Carolina and Springfield in Maryland.

Curiously enough, of the biggest cities in America, only Chicago made the top 10 list with just over 4,000 monthly searches on the subject of controlling or exterminating various insects.

By The Bug: Which Insect Pests Irritate Americans the Most

Bedbugs, termites, and mosquitoes—these are the three most prominent insect pests in the United States. While bedbugs dominate the concerns of Americans across states, here are how other pests rank in the monthly searches.

Bug Index (Listed Alphabetically)

Ants

Because of their hard-working, dedicated nature, ants are incredibly difficult to get rid of once they find your way into your home. There are almost 10,000 searches on how to get rid of ants every month, with the greatest interest coming from California and Texas.

Bedbugs

Echoing the sentiment of these articles from the New York Times and Forbes about the growing number of bedbug infestations across the country, bedbug problems generate the highest number of searches among all other insect pests, about 62,500 per month. Based on the search data, the heart of the problem is in the Midwest with states like Ohio, Illinois, and Kansas.

Bees

Quite the opposite of a pest in many people’s opinion, bees contribute to us being able to grow food and crops through pollination. And yet, there is a certain amount of interest in exterminating them, to the tune of 15,300 monthly searches. A lot of them come out of Arizona.

According to entomologist Lisa Anderson, a high number of bee extermination queries points to the lack of awareness of bees and their benefits to agriculture, environment, and society at large.

In her words, high volume of searches for exterminating bees “…is the unfortunate consequence of not being educated about bees and wasps. Bees are so beneficial to our environment because they pollinate many of our crops, flowers, and trees.”

Already in decline as a species, Anderson warns bees are often confused for wasps or hornets, which often feature in news media stories as dangerous insects.

Cockroaches

Known for their extraordinary ability to survive almost anything, cockroaches or roaches can be tough to remove from your home. On the upside, the number of searches around exterminating cockroaches seems to be comparatively low at 3,800 a month—hopefully a sign of a subsiding problem.

Flies

The source of constant annoyance with their incessant buzzing on summer days, flies are one of the most common pests. Likely because they’re relatively harmless, there were only 1,890 searches per month aimed at exterminating them, peaking in the state of Louisiana.

Mosquitoes

Nothing to undermine a warm summer evening like being bitten by mosquitoes, right? A problem driving over 24,000 searches a month, it’s most acute in states with access to water and high humidity, which are most states on the Eastern Seaboard.

Spiders

According to experts, spiders are “more-useful-than-harmful” creatures, yet spiders manage to scare and/or bother quite a few Americans. Over 3,500 searches on how to get rid of them take place every month, with hotspots in Texas, Utah, and Kansas.

Termites

A pest famous for its appetite for anything made of wood, termites have caused a lot of damage to American homes over the years. Termite problems—and people’s desire to get rid of them—generate at least 39,000 monthly searches across the US.

The states most affected by termites? According to our data, they’re Arizona, Kansas, and Florida.

Ticks

They might not be your conventional household pests, but for those who live in areas close to forests or dense greenery, ticks are a real problem. Enough a problem to have over 23,000 monthly searches around how to deal with them.

States that are most affected by ticks are Vermont and New Hampshire, both with over 1,000 tick-related searches per month.

Wasps

Known as the bees’ more aggressive cousins, wasps also take part in the all-important pollination, yet are better known for their painful stings. With a total of 4,800 monthly searches across the country, it’s in Texas and Alaska where the interest in exterminating them is the highest.

Protect Your Home: What You Can Do Before Calling Pest Control

Anderson offered the following advice to homeowners keen to protect their homes and their families from bugs.

To combat mosquitoes, make sure to get rid of stagnant water. This can lead to a great breeding ground for mosquitoes.

“Stagnant water can be found in water cans, bird feeders, or old buckets and should be emptied out. Adult mosquitoes lay eggs in water which is where they hatch and turn into pupae, then larvae, then finally adults and the cycle continues as long as there’s a stagnant water source.”

To avoid attracting cockroaches, vacuum your home regularly, ideally every other day. This gets rid of crumbs and other sources of food for these creepy critters, and is worth the hard work!

For bed bugs, look out for signs of bed bugs when travelling. In hotels, make sure to put your luggage up high off the ground and do a search for any evidence of bed bugs, such as reddish or rusty spots of blood, or small dark dots on hotel beds. This way, you can reduce the risk of coming into contact with bed bugs and bringing them back into your own home.

For all pests, another good idea is to inspect your home and close or fill in any small holes or gaps in walls, floors, or ceiling, where bugs can enter. This will help to prevent bugs from getting into your house

The growing spread of bed bugs is grabbing headlines and it’s equally reflected in the search trends. While problems with mosquitoes and termites continue to persist, the relatively high interest in exterminating bees is a concern.

On the contrary, a low number of searches for dealing with flies or cockroaches offers some reassurance that some pests may be loosening their grip on American households. Finally, are you curious what options you have for getting rid of bugs? Always make sure you talk to a real expert.

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Methodology

The list of top ten insect pests was collated from various media articles on the subject of pest control, which mentioned them as the most wide-spread.

From the list of top ten insect pests, we derived keywords using terms related to pest control, such as “removal”, “extermination”, “control”, “treatment”, etc.

Search volumes were gathered with SEMRush and estimated at the state and city level using Google Trends for the same selection of keywords.

Data was then compared to qualitative data from an entomologist.

Data by VK

Originally posted on Porch.com*

If interested in using the interactive tools, please go to the article, Data: Where Do Insects Bug Americans the Most?*

How To Get Rid Of Ticks: 3 Easy Steps

Bugs don’t get much scarier than ticks. The truth is almost no bug bite can change the course of your life the way a tick’s can. In other words, if you venture outdoors often, have a family, or pets, you need to be extra careful to avoid tick bites and ensure these blood-sucking arachnids are nowhere near home. Here’s how to prevent, repel, and get rid of Ticks naturally in just 3 easy steps.

Step 1: Prevent Dangerous Tick Bites

Did you know many tick bites originate, not in wooded areas, but in our own lawns, or during common activities like dog walks?

It’s for this reason that you, your family and pets need to wear an effective yet safe tick repellent when venturing outdoors, whether camping and hiking, or simply working or playing in your own yard with your family.

Wearing a tick repellent is crucial for two main reasons. First, it helps prevent painful and in some cases life-threatening tick bites. Second, it helps prevent you from accidentally introducing ticks into your lawn or home, exposing your loved ones to dangerous ticks.

Before outside fun like walks, hikes, dog walks, BBQs, camping, and outdoor entertaining, simply apply DG’s non-toxic Bug Off Cedar Oil Personal and Pet Spray to you, your family, and pets to kill and repel, not only ticks, but also mosquitoes, fleas, ants, mites, bed bugs, and other biting or damaging pests. For best results, reapply to people every 5-7 hours or after getting wet, and reapply to pets every other day or more often as needed. No more bug bites. No poisonous chemicals. It’s that easy!

DG Bug Out Personal and Pet Spray — Shop DG Cedar Oil Spray

Pro Tip: In addition to preventing tick bites, DG’s Personal and Pet Cedar Oil Spray can also be used indoors to kill and repel bugs around the house without resorting to dangerous pesticides.

Step 2: Tick-Proof Your Lawn

By taking a few simple preventative steps and keeping up with lawn care, you can dramatically reduce the chances of experiencing ticks in your yard. Without moisture to drink, sources of food like wild animals, and hiding spots to breed, ticks will have little interest in staying in your lawn. Here are some essential tips for tick-proofing your lawn:

Lawns with excess moisture are very attractive to ticks, so make sure to remove or repair all sources of unnecessary moisture, including leaky plumbing, sprinklers & hoses, clogged drainage areas, and items that collect rainwater, such as unused furniture and equipment.
Practice regular lawn maintenance, including keeping your grass and shrubbery short and trimmed. Mow, weed eat, and trim as needed. Ticks love hiding out in lawn clippings, so make sure to bag those, too.
Remove organic clutter like wood piles, brush, leaves, and any mulch not made from cedarwood, these are a favorite hideout for ticks.

Wildlife like raccoons and deer commonly drop ticks into our yards. Here are some natural ways to help keep tick-carrying pests off your property

Especially if you live in a wooded area, we strongly suggest installing fencing, at least around the most used areas of your lawn.
If you already have fencing, make sure to check it periodically for holes and other damage animals could use to gain entrance.
Garbage is a big attractant for wild animals. Firmly secure any trash cans, recycling bins, or compost piles you have outside to help avoid unwelcome guests.
Avoid installing plants known to attract wild animals, like roses, beans, tulips, peas, corn, apples, etc. If you’ve already planted some of these, consider installing some barrier to keep wildlife out, like chicken wire.

Step 3:Kill & Repel

Apart from ensuring you, your family, and pets are protected from dangerous bites, removing ticks from your yard and keeping them away is your top priority.

Don’t worry, killing & repelling ticks in all life stages—egg, larva, nymph, and adult—is quick, safe, and easy with DG’s plant-based Lawn and Kennel Concentrate.

Start by treating your entire yard with non-toxic, pet-safe
Lawn and Kennel Concentrate twice about two weeks apart. Make sure to spray your front, back, and side yards, including shrubbery, small trees, and bases of larger trees. After those first two treatments, you can proceed to monthly applications. Can use more often if needed for heavier bug populations.

Because ticks can survive winter conditions, they tend to be a problem all year long. For this reason, we strongly urge you to continue monthly applications throughout the entire year.

Doing this will also save you a bunch of time, money, and headache when things start to warm back up and ticks, along with mosquitoes, fleas, ants, chiggers and more, become an even larger problem again.

Not So Fun Fact: Ticks can survive all winter long, even in freezing temperatures

For added repellency, broadcast Cedar Granules throughout your lawn or at least in those areas where you and your family spend the most time. Reapply Cedar Granules every 6 weeks.

DG Cedar Oil Lawn and Kennel Concentrate. — Shop DG Cedar Oil for Outdoors

Cedarwood Granules - 20 lb. bag — Shop Pure Cedarwood Granules

Yard Guard outdoor cedar oil spray — Shop Yard Guard Ready to use

Need help or have questions?

Phone: 714-402-9419

Email: Wayne@dgcedaroil.com

Why Do Mosquitoes Bite Some People More Than Others?

Have you ever noticed that some people are very prone to mosquito bites – while others will only attract a few nibbles?

It’s not just your imagination. Mosquitoes really do bite some people more than others. They use their acute sense of smell to locate new victims over long distances, and some human scents stand out to them more than others.

Bigger Person, Bigger Snack

The larger you are, the more likely you are to attract mosquitoes. Children and women get bitten less frequently than men. Mosquitoes are attracted to the carbon dioxide we give off when we exhale, and larger people emit the most of the gas.

Sweating Advertises A Free Meal

Mosquitoes locate hosts by detecting chemicals we release through our sweat, including uric acid, ammonia and lactic acid. When you work out, lactic acid builds up in your muscles. A higher body temperature also attracts mosquitoes.

So, if you’re out for a jog, there’s a good chance that you’re advertising yourself to nearby mosquitoes.

Your genetic makeup also influences how attractive you are to mosquitoes. Some people naturally give off more of these chemicals when they sweat than others.

When It Comes To Blood, Mosquitoes Have A Type

People who have an O blood type (negative or positive) are twice as likely to get bitten as those with the A blood type, while people with a B blood type fall somewhere in the middle. While having a O blood type is desirable in blood donations, it also means you’re a mosquito’s preferred snack.

The same study found that 85% of people are “secretors” – they release a chemical signal through their skin that indicates their blood type. Secretors of any blood type are more likely to get bitten than the remaining 15% of the population.

Pregnant Women Should Take Precautions

Pregnant women are more likely to get bitten by mosquitoes because of their increased body temperature and increased exhalation of carbon dioxide.

Being pregnant also means that if you are affected by the Zika virus, your baby could be born with a neurological disorder like microcephaly. Pregnant women should never take chances with mosquitoes.

Getting Drunk? Get Protected

A 2002 study showed that people are significantly more likely to be targeted by mosquitoes after enjoying an alcoholic beverage.

This means it makes sense to move the party indoors. Even so, there’s really nothing like a cold beer combined with the crisp night air.

While people are less likely to make responsible decisions while inebriated, it doesn’t take much planning or coordination to apply bug spray to exposed skin.

The Only Way To Become Truly Unattractive To Mosquitoes

Worrying about mosquitoes isn’t just for pregnant women, people who exercise, or people with an O blood type. If you’re the nearest host, a mosquito will happily accept you as their next meal, so long as you have blood to give them.

Mosquito-borne illnesses like yellow fever and the Zika virus can affect anyone. If you’re going outside, take just a few seconds to prepare by spraying exposed areas of your skin with your preferred bug spray.

Zika Virus: 5 Things You Should Know

One of the biggest health scares of 2016 is the Zika virus. Previously found in other countries, cases are beginning to pop up across the United States.

To keep you and your family safe, here’s five simple things you need to know about the virus:

1. Zika Virus Is Transmitted By Mosquitoes.

The most common way people are infected by the virus is by being bitten by a mosquito that has previously bitten an infected person.

Mosquito bites are annoying, and usually harmless. However, you should never go outdoors without protection with the confidence that you can stand a few nibbles. There are many mosquito-borne illnesses, including malaria, West Nile Virus, and Yellow fever. Why risk it?

Wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants, even in hot weather, can shield your skin from mosquito bites. You’ll also want to use a repellent. Cedar oil spray can be applied directly to the skin, clothing and pets. Make sure to get all exposed areas of your skin, including your face, neck, and behind your ears. If you’ll be using sunblock, apply it before using the insect spray.

2. Most People With Zika Virus… Don’t Know It.

With the hype surrounding the virus, you might be surprised to learn that many people who contract it do not actually show symptoms. Those that do may experience a fever, rash, red eyes and joint pain for just a few days. There’s currently no vaccination or treatment for Zika – doctors typically tell their patients to manage symptoms with over-the-counter aspirin.

Since so few people affected actually see a doctor, it’s not uncommon for the virus to go unnoticed. That’s not necessarily a good thing. If people do not realize they have it, they will not take steps to prevent others from being affected.

A small percentage aren’t so lucky. Zika virus can result in serious complications, such as acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) – which causes inflammation of the brain and spinal cord, and Guillain-Barré syndrome, an autoimmune condition that attacks nerve cells. These patients suffer short and long term symptoms including numbness, loss of vision and cognitive difficulties.

3. Travelling Puts You At Risk.

While hundreds of Zika cases have been reported in the continental United States, most of them involve travel to affected countries. In Florida, however, some patients were infected despite not having traveled – instead having been infected by a local mosquito.

Zika united states — *Zika virus cases are found in most of the United States, but a majority of states’ cases are travel-related, with the exception of cases in Florida. Courtesy ofCDC.gov.*

Be very careful when travelling to affected countries. The virus is widespread in many countries in North, Central and South America, as well as some parts of Africa and South East Asia.

*Map of countries affected by the Zika virus, courtesy of ecdc.europa.eu.*

4. Pregnant Women Should Be Extra Careful.

A Brazilian baby with microcephaly, a condition that causes the child to have a small head due to irregular brain development.

Women who are pregnant or may become pregnant need to be extremely careful. The Zika virus is known to cause miscarriages, stillbirths, microcephaly and other fatal birth defects if transmitted from mother to baby.

5. Not All Mosquitoes Carry It.

Fortunately, only certain types of mosquitoes can carry the virus, Aedes aegypti. This type of mosquito exists in most of the United States, though the Southern states are considered a “high risk zone,” with higher concentrations of the species.

Even so, other types of mosquitoes can carry other diseases. Your best bet is to avoid getting bitten, regardless of where you live.

Avoid standing pools of water, cover up exposed skin, and use bug spray to treat your family, your pets and your home and garden. Stay safe!

How To Stop A Flea Infestation… Naturally!

What started as a few black dots skipping through your pet’s fur has become a full-blown pest population taking over your home.

You know you have options: harsh sprays, bug bombs, an exterminator – but you’re worried that the same chemicals that will annihilate your flea population will also cause harm to your family and your pets.

Not only can you stop a flea infestation naturally, but also, you can keep bugs out of your home for good using products that are completely safe for humans and domestic animals.

Here’s how you can stop a flea infestation naturally:

Step #1: Know Your Enemy

By now, you’ve probably spotted the tiny black adult fleas crawling through your pet’s fur. As you reach for them, they can hop up to 4 feet in the air. These adult fleas make up fewer than 5 percent of the flea population.

Adult, female fleas lay up to 40 eggs per day, usually on your pet. Everywhere your pet goes, flea eggs fall. They’re just barely visible, tiny white specks, making up 50 percent of the population. You might not notice them resting in your carpet, on your pet’s bed, and around your home.

Larvae hatch from the eggs two days to two weeks after they are laid. Adult fleas suck blood from your pet and pass it in the form of dark, dusty “flea dirt,” which looks like black pepper sprinkled throughout your pet’s fur. It’s really your pet’s blood, predigested by adult fleas and consumed by flea larvae as their first meal.

Flea larvae form cocoons within 5-20 days of hatching. Cocoons make up 10 percent of the population. They are sticky, and may rest below the surface of your carpet – they’re not easily vacuumed out. They emerge when they sense the presence of a host, where they feast and lay eggs of their own.

What does this all mean? It means that fleas are the least of your worries. Their offspring are everywhere in your environment, so even if you get rid of fleas, within a few weeks their larvae hatch and start the life cycle again. That’s why you need to take this 5-step approach to getting rid of fleas for good.

Step #2: Treat Your Family

Before treating your home, treat yourself and your family members to stop the biting in the meantime.

You can use our all-natural cedar oil personal and pet spray to topically treat both humans and animals. This formula also soothes itchiness and irritation due to existing flea bites. It’s safe to spray on your skin, bedding and clothes, and on dogs and cats.

Step #3: Evict The Fleas

Now, it’s time to kick the fleas out of your home. Our indoor cedar oil formula destroys your indoor infestation in multiple ways.

The silica content corrodes the flea’s exoskeleton. This makes them vulnerable to cedar oil’s dehydrating properties. The cedar oil also makes it difficult for fleas of all life stages to breathe.

Have you ever seen a trail of ants marching across your floor? That’s the power pheromones in action. Ants, fleas and many other pests follow the scents of each other’s pheromones to feed, mate and conduct other life-sustaining activities. Cedar oil covers the pheromone scent, leaving these pests too disoriented to do anything.

Those that don’t come in direct contact are repelled by the scent, and quickly flee your home. Best of all, unlike many chemical treatments, fleas do not develop resistance to natural cedar oil solutions.

Spray every area of your home. It’s safe for virtually all surfaces, won’t stain or discolor wood or fabrics. Repeat as needed.

Vacuuming will remove many of the eggs and cocoons in your carpets. Just be sure to avoid emptying or discarding the bag contents indoors.

Step #4: Spray Outdoors

Unable to sustain life in your treated home, some fleas may remain outdoors. Spray the perimeter of your home, plus any dog runs, kennels, gardens or sheds.

For fast application, use Nature’s Defender. The bottle is equipped with a convenient hose end sprayer so you can easily treat your entire yard. This formula also keeps your yard free of mosquitoes, mites, grubs, ants, flies, and many other pests – without harming your lawn or garden.

Do not use the indoor formula on your lawn. It can be harmful to plants, and shouldn’t be diluted with water.

Step #5: Follow Up

Spray your pets monthly or after baths, and before walks in fields and wooded areas. Treating your pet regularly is often sufficient to keep a flea infestation from recurring. Treat the indoor areas as needed, and outdoor areas after rainstorms.

Flea infestations are the most common from Spring to Fall, because they thrive when it’s warm out. However, they can also move into your warm, toasty home during the winter. Keep up with flea prevention year-round, you can keep your home pest-free for good.

Cedar Oil Home Insect and Pest Management

Cedar Oil Home Insect and Pest Management

DG Cedar Oil offers an overall approach to pest control management in your home. The goal is to insure pests are kept in check before they become a major problem for your family.

To achieve a pest-free environment, the first order of business is to outline the areas in and around your home that need protection. These areas typically include indoor perimeters (baseboards, window frames, etc.). Carpets, furniture, cabinets and closets are also some other indoor considerations. You also need to consider your outdoor areas (front and back yards, patios, garage areas, etc.).

This particularly applies to pet owners. Pets especially need to be considered in any such insect control planning. We know that when it comes to fleas, ticks, mites and other pet related infestations, things can get quickly out of hand!

To make it easier for you and your family, our Indoor/Outdoor Cedar Oil Starter Kit provides everything you need to protect your entire home with 100% natural, non-chemical Cedar Oil Pest Control Solutions

For more information on this product and other All Natural Pest Control Solutions, Please visit our website: dgcedaroil.com

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