Pest Threat Quiz
Take this pest threat quiz to see how much you know about the secret lives of the critters that may be living with you. Simply read the question, think of the answer, and click the link to test your knowledge.
Question 1 of 9:
What pest destroys enough food each year to feed 200 million people?
ANSWER: Rats! These pests rely on their senses of taste, touch, smell and sound to find food sources. Rats will eat almost
anything including meat, cereal, fruits and vegetables. The United States has two main types of rats: the Norway rat and the roof rat.
Question 2 of 9:
What pest causes the most damage every year to property?
ANSWER: The underground termite causes $1.5 billion of damages every year. This termite can be found in over 600,000 homes in the
United States every year. Dining on wood, books, wallpaper, fabric and paper, these pests are dinner guests that just don't know when to leave.
Question 3 of 9:
Do ants damage property?
ANSWER: Yes, besides ruining human food, some species of ants can damage wood in and around homes. These carpenter ants like to
make their nests in porches, roofs, windowsills and telephone poles.
Question 4 of 9:
Can bees eat wood?
ANSWER: A special type of bee can dig tunnels in wood to make its home. The carpenter bee prefers wood that is at least two inches
thick and relatively soft. Carpenter bee tunnels are perfectly round and usually have piles of wood dust underneath them.
Question 5 of 9:
Where do mosquitoes get West Nile Virus?
ANSWER: Mosquitoes get West Nile Virus from birds that have the infection. The reason that mosquitoes get most of the attention
is that they are responsible for spreading the virus to people. There is no history of sick birds spreading the virus to humans.
Question 6 of 9:
Can flies bite people?
ANSWER: As flies do not have teeth or a stinger, they cannot bite people. They do have needle-like hooks that they can push into
victims. This sometimes feels like a sting or a bite but no teeth or stingers are involved. These hooks help them to make food easier to eat but can also spread
diseases. Flies have been known to spread tuberculosis, typhoid fever and diarrhea.
Question 7 of 9:
Which disease creates a bull's eye around the original bite?
ANSWER: Ticks spread Lyme Disease and often the first sign is a bull's eye rash around the bite. Other clues include fever,
chills, headache and extreme tiredness.
Question 8 of 9:
Do pests have to bite, sting, or crawl on people to make them sick?
ANSWER: No, surprisingly enough, you can get a pest-related sickness without ever coming into direct contact with a pest!
Cockroach allergens, which consist of droppings, shed skins and secretions, have been shown to trigger asthma attacks in children.
Question 9 of 9:
What pest has killed more people than all world wars combined?
ANSWER: Fleas were responsible for spreading the "Black Death" in the 14th century. This dangerous disease killed
one-quarter of Europe's population. Although, fleas shouldn't take all the blame -— they caught it from rats!
