GUEST POST from Don: Fear This, Not That

FEAR THIS, not that

Having been in pest control for over 30 years I know that many adults have not figured out what they should and should not fear.  More on that in a minute.

People fear pesticides, for example, and they should not.  The pesticides they “know” cause cancer and kill people are those which were used more than 50 years ago.  Almost all of those are now gone.  They are fearing a ghost.  The risk of a pesticide is labeled as LD50 on the pesticide safety sheets.  LD50 represents that half of the rats used in an experiment with the pesticide would die if you exposed them to a certain amount of pesticide per gram of body weight.  It was still a mostly valid test when I started in the industry.  In other words, they could reliably kill half the rats with certain UNDILUTED professional pesticides.  That changed in the first 10 years.  Soon they were producing products which could NOT kill ANY rats at all using UNDILUTED pesticides yet those products were just as powerful against insects.  But we weren’t using undiluted pesticides in homes (or in the fields).  The dilution rate has been consistently about 1 oz or less of product per gallon of water (or other carrier).  So, the risk to humans and pets is 1/128th that of the undiluted product per gram of body weight.  I mixed gallons and gallons of pesticides 6 days a week for 30 years and experienced no adverse health effects.  (Let’s be clear, I am a nut at washing my hands multiple times per day.)  No cancers, no lung issues, no loss of limbs, etc.  My former business partner, who has been doing it for 40 years, also has not experienced any ill effects.  Should you drink the stuff?  Absolutely not.  Will it kill you if used according to label?  No.  Actually, in real terms, sugar and salt are more dangerous.  Those kill thousands every year when used per label.

What should you fear?  When it comes to the pests people often fear the wrong critters.  The question you should think about is this:  “Which things can kill me or cause permanent harm?”  There are some.  Bedbugs are not on this list.  Crickets, in normal numbers, are not on this list.  Which are the WORST three critters to have in your home; and which you SHOULD fear?

The worst 3:
1. Flies.  They make millions of people sick and cause death on every continent.  That is true here, too. Don’t hesitate to kill one.  (I would 100% prefer pesticide residue to flies every day of the week.)  They carry diseases and bacteria on their legs, body, spit (yes, they do), and poop.  There is no such thing as a safe fly.  Fear them.
2. Mice*.  Same.  Everything about them is unsafe.  They carry disease in their saliva, poop, and pee.  They carry sanitation issues on their feet and in their hair.  You see evidence of a mouse you should immediately start an eradication program (like yesterday).  It is unsafe to clean up after them as well.  You should use latex gloves and a mask.  Lots of winter “colds” are not colds, but infections caused by uncontrolled mice.  Fear them.
3. Cockroaches.  Same.  Everything about roaches is nasty.  Every home where there were children and they had a heavy infestation…the kids were sick.  Some had permanent lung damage from sharp pieces of roach outer shell that were air born in those homes.  Absolutely fear cockroaches.

What do I mean by “Fear?”  Why fear these three?  Because they can kill you.  They are not only ugly and icky, they can cause permanent disabilities.  These I fear.  You should, too.  I don’t run screaming when I see one, instead I get busy and eradicate them.  Fear should motivate you to act quickly.

*(If you want more suggestions for eliminating mice, see a previous post called “Bigger Problems.”)

Beyond those the next set of problem-makers is those which sting or transmit disease through their bites.  Which are in the second tier?

1. Bees and Wasps.  Yup!  I had to get up close and personal (usually while wearing protective gear) and received an occasional sting.  Thankfully, that meant that most of the time it was a mere flesh wound.  It still hurt.  Some people develop a severe reaction which can kill them if they do not get help quickly.  They need to carry an Epi-pen.  The sting is like a spot of fire, then sharp pain, then a long period of generalized pain and finally dull pain and itchiness.  It takes weeks to heal.  I never got to the point where I enjoyed those.  Be smart and walk your yard before you mow in late summer.  Observe bee flight.  If they are entering a hole in the yard, hire someone to kill them.
2. In the south and southwest are kissing bugs (assassin or conenose) which feed like bedbugs at night. Unfortunately, unlike bedbugs, they can easily transmit debilitating viruses and bacteria.  Use pesticide at windows and doors to prevent entry.
3. Ticks.  Most (not all) ticks are active in the spring.  Don’t let your dog leave the trail.  Don’t go marching through the weeds.  They can transmit a host of problems.  Fortunately, if your walk is short and you can inspect your dog and your own body soon after, they haven’t had time to burrow their heads into your flesh or begin feeding and you can just pick them off.  
4. Venomous Spiders.  Where we now live there are black widows and brown recluse.  Wear gloves when pulling boxes out of storage and unloading them.  Wear gloves while digging through things like firewood and piles of leaves.  I have met no one here who has been bitten by the widow, but I look before I touch.  Brown recluse, on the other hand, is much more common.  Even in the north one should be careful when going to the cabin for the weekend.

Notice, I have not mentioned ants or bed bugs or normal spiders.  That’s because they are not pests to be feared.  Should you eliminate them if found?  Absolutely.  But don’t freak out.  These can be solved without the urgency of fear.  Take your time and do it right.  Forget about tossing your furniture if you have bed bugs, that won’t solve anything and it will make you poorer.  Hire a professional.  Ants.  Ah!  Well, some types you can control yourself, some you shouldn’t.  Tiny ants on the counter or table?  Hire a pro.  Ants on the floor?  Do it yourself.  Spiders?  Well, they are there for the food you have in the house (insects and other critters).  You can make your home less enjoyable for spiders by reducing their food supply.  Use pesticides on the outside foundation and use a dehumidifier in your basement or crawl space.  You can cut in half the number of spiders with those two tricks.

The point:  Learn what you should and should not fear.  

Copyright 2024 Donald Whelpley

[PLEASE NOTE that Don is always open to discussing the thoughts and opinions he shares here and welcomes comments as shared in the comment section. He doesn’t use other social media platforms and won’t see whatever you’d like to share with him if you post it elsewhere. ~ Sherry]

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