 |
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XI. Household and Structural Insects M. P. Nolan, Jr. and B. T. Forschler In 1995 cockroaches, primarily German cockroaches and Smoky Brown
cockroaches, were the most important household pests followed by ants, fleas, clothes moths, carpet beetles and pantry pests. Occasional invaders (ants, millipedes, roaches and spiders) invaded homes during the year. The most
important ants encountered were Argentine ants. The subterranean termite was the most important structural pest followed by "power post beetles" (anobiid beetles, old house borers, lyctid beetles), carpenter ants and
carpenter bees. Most of the structural insect control performed by licensed pest control operators involved subterranean termite control. Fumigation treatments were most often directed toward old house borers. Major fabric pests
encountered were clothes moths and carpet beetles. The most important pantry pests were cigarette beetles, drugstore beetles, sawtoothed grain beetles and Indian meal moths. |
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Rank |
|
|
|
1 (40%) |
|
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2 (30%) |
|
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3 (15%) |
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4 (10%) |
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5 ( 5%) |
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Insect |
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Cockroaches |
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Termites |
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Ants |
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Fleas |
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Miscellaneous1 |
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Total |
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|
|
|
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|
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Cost of Control |
|
|
$41,510,000 |
|
|
|
31,133,000 |
|
|
|
15,566,000 |
|
|
|
10,377,000 |
|
|
|
5,189,000 |
|
|
|
$103,775,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Damage |
|
|
|
$20,400,000 |
|
|
15,300,000 |
|
|
|
7,650,000 |
|
|
|
5,100,000 |
|
|
|
2,550,000 |
|
|
|
$51,000,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Total |
|
|
|
$61,910,000 |
|
|
|
46,433,000 |
|
|
|
23,216,000 |
|
|
|
15,477,000 |
|
|
|
7,739,000 |
|
|
|
$154,775,000 |
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1The percentage represents the proportion of each insect pest assigned to the total losses caused by the household and structural pest complex.
2
Anobiid beetles, old house borers, lyctid beetles, carpenter bees, fabric pests, spiders, silverfish, pantry pests, ticks, millipedes, drywood termites, scorpions, flies, etc. |
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In 1995, the Georgia pest control industry consisted of 950 company offices, 5,925 employed by pest control companies (4,500 registered employees, 1,425 office workers). $158,380,209 paid in salaries and
benefits, $293,550,000 annual revenue production ($309,000 average income per company), 150,000 wood-destroying organism inspections/treatments (figures compiled with cooperation from the Georgia Department of Agriculture, the
Cooperative Extension Service, University of Georgia and the Georgia Pest Control Association). |
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Figures were based on the following estimates:
- 150,000 termite (wood-destroying organism) inspections/treatments reported at $350 each = $52,500,000
- 75 fumigation jobs at $3,000 each = $225,000
- 950 pest control companies in Georgia with an estimated 500 accounts for each company at $60/account = $28,500,000
- Each pest control company handles an estimated five miscellaneous treatment jobs each week at $50/job; 950 companies x 52 weeks x $50 x 5 = $12,350,000
- An estimated average of one can of aerosol insecticide was applied in each residence to control household and structural pests. 2,400,000 residences x $4.25/can = $10,200,000
- Damage caused by household and structural pests such as food contamination, structural damage, damage to carpets, clothing, books, furniture, etc., was estimated to be $8.50 per resident = $8.50 x 6,000,000 residents =
$51,000,000
- Control costs (a+b+c+d+e) = $103,775,000
Damage costs (f) = $ 51,000,000
Total costs = $154,775,000
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