Pests have been squatting in our spaces for thousands of years, but how many of us really know these uninvited guests? We often do not give them a second thought except as pests that come into our homes and gardens, but their world is strange and more remarkable than you can imagine. These animals have incredible superpowers, bizarre behaviors, and strategic defenses that can easily impress even the most passionate nature lover.
If you are dealing with pest issues, you are not alone. Many people have serious pest problems that stem from a lack of knowledge about insects and mice. What looks like haphazard infestation can be the result of fiendishly complex patterns and behaviors that have evolved over millions of years.
From cockroaches in nuclear disaster-wracked Chernobyl to ants who practice agriculture, the world of pests (and the non-pest) is full of surprises that defy our before-and-after thinking about these tiny critters. Discover more with our guide and stay cautious with the right tips.
5 Weird Facts You Did Not Know About Pests
1. Cockroaches Are Actually Related to Termites
Many people consider cockroaches and termites to be completely different animals, but the evidence is clear: They are cheek-by-jowl. In fact, termites evolved from cockroaches, and both insects are in the same order, called Blattodea. This evolutionary history is why both are hardy and capable of thriving in a variety of environments.
Both insects have analogous digestive systems that enable them to metabolize cellulose, but termites are better adapted for feeding on wood than their cockroach ancestors, which continued to be generalist feeders.
2. Termites Practice Advanced Social Organization
While many people think of termites as no-good wood eaters, they actually have one of the most complex social systems in the animal kingdom. Termite colonies are analogues of cities that are occupied by various castes that fulfill unique social roles, from workers to soldiers to queens and kings.
The queen termite has a lifespan of decades and lays thousands of eggs daily, while soldier termites have large heads and powerful jaws that evolved to protect the colony. Worker termites keep house, raise the young, and gather food.
3. Some Ants Farm Their Own Food
Some species of ants have evolved farming methods that are just as good as those used by humans. Leafcutter ants do not actually eat the leaves they gather. Instead, they eat these leaves by using them to grow fungus gardens in subterranean chambers, which will provide sustenance for the entire colony.
The ants, in turn, care meticulously for their fungus gardens, weeding out unwanted fungus growth and growths of other microorganisms, and supplying them with leaves to which the fungus is known to be especially partial in its diet of polysaccharides.
4. Bed Bugs Can Survive Over a Year Without Feeding
Bed bugs are capable of surviving more than most other pests, an almost unfathomably long time without food. An adult bed bug can go 12 to 18 months without a blood meal, entering a hibernation-like state during which its metabolism slows considerably.
This amazing survival skill allows bed bug infestations to continue in empty houses or apartments. They just wait, lurking in the dark, and hiding out in buildings and night shelters, until they can sense the carbon dioxide and body heat that indicate a next meal.
5. Cockroaches Can Live for a Week Without Their Heads
One of the most surprising things about cockroaches is that they can actually live for several weeks without their heads. A decapitated cockroach can live for a week, moving and even responding to touch. This is because cockroaches do not need their heads to breathe the way humans do.
Cockroaches, instead, respire through tiny holes scattered all over their body segments, called spiracles. They do not rely on their head for blood circulation and have nerve clusters throughout their body that can manage very basic functions.