The challenges posed by pests can be as simple as a mild disturbance or as weird as an infestation, which could leave the home or business owner puzzled and distraught. From the strange noises in the night, to the mystery of who finishes all the food in the pantry, weird and unexpected pests can be a pain to deal with, and they can also put your home at risk of damage too!
So many secret sufferers of these strange invaders, going DIY and losing out to these weird pests. Begging the question – in practical terms – of being just another in a long string of irritants that can become operational nightmares without proper attention and a tough attitude. In extreme cases involving strange pest issues, having a professional exterminator, such as saelapest.com who is familiar with unusual and hard-to-handle infestations can save time, money, and prevent more damage to your home.
6 Weird and Strangest Pest Problems
1. Fire Ant Rafts
When the ground becomes waterlogged, fire ants morph into swimmers or, if necessary, navigators: They link body to body, creating living rafts that, even in hard rain or the kind of 500-year flood that recently hit Baton Rouge, not only stay afloat temporarily, but can do so for weeks. These floating colonies, which can number up to 100,000 ants, are water repellent and extremely mobile.
Researchers say those rafts can travel as far as a quarter mile in a single day at sea. Following significant amounts of rain or flooding, these large colonies may move into structures they have formerly avoided and suddenly infest a building to the surprise of the occupants.
2. Spider Cricket Infestations
Cave crickets (spider crickets) will jump at threats. These prehistoric-looking insects readily invade damp basements and crawl spaces in great numbers. They do not chirp like typical crickets, which means they are very difficult to detect until their populations are large. A study reported 40 percent more unexplained damage to stored fabrics and paper goods in homes with spider cricket infestations than in those without.
3. Asian Giant Hornet Nests
The Asian giant hornet, commonly known as the “murder hornet” for its ability to decimate honeybee populations, creates nests in the ground large enough for hundreds of the predators — a colony could grow to as many as 800 hornets. Vicious invertebrates, they can spray venom from their tails and bite through normal beekeeper suits.
When nesting near buildings, they have also been known to chew through wooden siding and thin aluminum. A single colony can decimate tens of thousands of honey bees in a month and destroy local pollinator populations and agriculture.
4. Carnivorous Caterpillars
The Eupithecia moths of Hawaii have caterpillars that are out to hunt and kill other insects, instead of simply munching on a plant. These voracious caterpillars lie in wait and leap out in lightning-fast attacks.
In some Hawaiian homes, as much as 18% of unidentified insect disappearances were attributed to these carnivorous caterpillars. Homeowners frequently confuse their damage with spiders and other common pests.
5. Zombie Ant Fungi
Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, or zombie ant fungus, manipulates ants’ behavior by infecting their brains. Infected ants crawl to the top of plants, lock their jaws on the vegetation, and then die as the fungus grows through their heads. One infected ant can transport spores to an entire colony. Treatments for infected forest areas around the homes have reportedly recorded up to 60% reduction in the average number of sudden colony relocations into structures.
6. Exploding Termite Soldiers
In Malaysia and elsewhere in Southeast Asia, the species known as Globitermes sulphureus has evolved an unusual defense against it. When their colony is under attack, soldier termites can explode their own bodies, emitting a sticky yellow goop that stops the advance of predators. These “kamikaze termites” can eat as much as 30% more structural wood than regular termites because predators don’t approach their colonies. Homeowners may see yellow spots along baseboards or walls as the first indication that this uncommon infestation is taking place.