Every day we are proud to help local Floridians with their pest control needs, but we never forget that all creatures are important, and some of them are even vital for the survival of our planet! To celebrate Earth Day we wanted to take a look at some of the most important pests around, and how much they do for the environment.
BEES
Bees are well known for helping pollinate plants, but just how much are they responsible for? More than you would likely expect! Around one-third of our crops and up to eighty percent of flowering plants are pollinated by bees.
Ecosystems around the world depend on bees to pollinate crops and other plants. Roughly ninety percent of the world’s nutrition is dependent on pollinators like bees. Without bees many ecosystems would collapse, many people and animals would be without food, and many plant species would struggle to thrive.
OPOSSUMS
When you think about opossums the first thing that comes to mind is probably not a tiny hero, however, this blog may change your mind. There has been a rising number of ticks and the spread of Lyme Disease in recent years, however one single opossum can eliminate up to five thousand ticks in a single season, helping keep tick population under control.
Opossums also eat cockroaches, rats, and mice! Next time you see an opossum, remember that they may be responsible for getting rid of thousands of pests in your area.
SPIDERS
Spiders are very important to ecosystems, they eat many pesky insects like cockroaches, moths, mosquitoes, and aphids. One single spider can eat around two thousand of these insects per year.
LADYBUGS
Ladybugs, also known as lady beetles or ladybirds, are easy to spot with their bright red or orange color. Ladybugs are highly welcomed in many gardens and fields because of their feeding habit of eating aphids and mealybugs, which are destructive pests. If you see a few ladybugs in your garden, know that they are doing more good than bad!
SQUIRRELS
Squirrels are one of the most loved rodents due to their fluffy tails, climbing and jumping antics, and just being overall entertaining to watch. They are more than just a creature to admire through the window though, many people refer to squirrels as nature’s gardeners. Every autumn squirrels take seeds and nuts and bury them in small groups two to four inches under the ground for later snacking, however, a fraction of these piles are forgotten or left, allowing the seeds to grow into plants. Squirrels moving the seeds farther away from the parent tree allows forests to grow and trees to repopulate.
Something to Remember
Just because we love what these pests do for the environment does not mean you should let them take shelter in your home or business! Seeing pests such as spiders can mean you have a bigger insect issue at your home, which can be dangerous to your health. If you have a pest concern, contact JD Smith today and schedule a free consultation to see how we can help you.
