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XI. Household and Structural Insects
M.P. Nolan, Jr. and B.T. Forschler
In 1996, 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
ant encountered was the Argentine ant. The subterranean termite was the most
important structural pest followed by "powder 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.
Estimates of Losses and Control Costs |
Rank |
Insect |
Cost of Control |
Damage |
Total |
1 (53%)1 |
Termites |
$58,600,000 |
$17,000,000 |
$75,600,000 |
2 (19%) |
Cockroaches |
22,437,500 |
5,000,000 |
27,437,000 |
3 (11%) |
Ants |
12,762,500 |
3,000,000 |
15,762,500 |
4 (10%) |
Fleas |
7,925,000 |
5,000,000 |
12,925,000 |
5 (8%) |
Miscellaneous2 |
8,187,500 |
3,000,000 |
11,187,500 |
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Total |
$109,912,500 |
$33,000,000 |
$142,912,500 |
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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.
2Anobiid beetles, old house borers, lyctid beetles, carpenter bees, fabric
pests, spiders, silverfish, pantry pests, ticks, millipedes, drywood termites, scorpions,
flies, etc.In 1996, the Georgia pest control industry
consisted of 950 company offices, 6,696 employed by pest control companies, (4,000
registered employees, 1,294 office workers, and 1,600 certified operators), $158,380,209
paid in salaries and benefits, $225,000,000 annual revenue production and 200,000
wood-destroying organism inspection reports (figures compiled with cooperation of
the Georgia Department of Agriculture, the Cooperative Extension Service University of
Georgia and the Georgia Pest Control Association).
Figures were based on the following estimates:
a. 200,000 wood-destroying organism reports at $50 each =
$10,000,000
b. 950 pest control companies in Georgia with an estimated 500
accounts for each company at $60 per account = $28,500,000 (½ of the accounts are for
cockroaches, 1/4 for ants, 1/4 for fleas)
c. Each pest control company handles an estimated 5 miscellaneous
treatment jobs each week at $50 per job = $12,350,000 (1/4 each for cockroaches, ants,
fleas, and miscellaneous pests)
d. An estimated average of one can of aerosol insecticide was
applied in each residence to control household and structural pests, 2,400,000 residences
times $4.25 per can = 10,200,000 (½ of the accounts are for cockroaches, 1/4 for ants,
1/4 for fleas)
e. 75 fumigation jobs at $3,500 each = $262,500
f. 17,000 post-construction termite treatments at $800 each =
$13,600,000
g. 20,000 pre-construction termite treatments at $500 each =
$10,000,000
h. 500,000 households with termite contract renewals at $50 each
= 25,000,000
i. Damage caused by termites was estimated at 17,000 households
at $1,000 each = $17,000,000 for other household pests damage due to food contamination,
structural damage, damaged to carpets, clothing, books, furniture, etc. was estimated to
be $6.66 per residence for 2,400,000 residences = $16,000,000
j. Control costs
(a+b+c+d+e+f+g+h)
$109,912,500
Damage costs
(i)
$ 33,000,000
Total
costs
$142,912,500 |
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