Top 3 Pests That Plague Nevada

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Nevada – the state that offers thousands of possibilities. It’s where you go if you want to go crazy every once in a while, just avoid going too crazy or you’ll end up like the guys in “Hangover”. Some people certainly can’t take their fill of Nevada; and it’s almost the same with insects. Many creatures prefer the weather here because days are sunny and nights are cold, but not too chilly. All sorts of insects survive in this state because the winters aren’t very harsh, which means that the weather doesn’t get too cold for it to affect the life cycle of a variety of creatures.

There certainly are a lot of insects flourishing in Nevada, but how many of these are to be considered as pests? If what you’re thinking of are dangerous pests or animals that could affect your home life and health, here are 3 kinds that you have to watch out for.

1. Argentine Ant

You might find yourself asking, “Why should I be worried about Argentine ants?” Well, they might not sting like the fire or harvester ant, but Argentine ants are certainly a huge nuisance. They are a problem not only because of their foraging activities. Biologists, environmentalists, pest control experts, and other individuals or groups who are involved in Earth-related activities are concerned about the Argentine ant because its presence in an area actually endangers the normal eco-system. How? These ants are united, not because they want to but because they are genetically engineered to come together and form one supercolony. So, when an ant wanders into another camp, it doesn’t get killed or eaten but it is welcomed. And so, when one Argentine ant colony bumps into another, the ants won’t fight for supremacy. Instead, they will form a bigger colony that will eat, forage, or even attack as one. Just imagine what might happen if one supercolony occupies the ground beneath the entire state of Nevada or even America, and their leader tells the soldier ants to “take over the world.” Do you think that other insects or even humans will stand a chance? Because we’re human and we have different ideas, we might still be arguing about how to get rid of them while they’re already slowly but surely taking over the world.

2. Black Widow Spider

There are different species of black widow spiders, but generally these are quite aggressive arachnids. You certainly do not want to get bitten because one bite can wreak havoc to your bodily systems, though you might stand a better chance at recovering more quickly if you’re healthy and strong in the first place. Children, adolescents and the elderly are the groups that are severely affected by the black widow’s bite. Aside from nausea, vomiting, headaches, and tremors, one small sting can cause very painful muscle cramps and abdominal pain. Difficulty of breathing, as well as having an elevated heart rate and blood pressure are also common symptoms.

3. Bark Scorpion

Many species of Centruroides scorpions exist, and one type is the bark scorpion. All scorpions have venom, but fatalities from stings are rare. Generally, life-threatening reactions to stings are demonstrated by either the very young or the very old. Still, there are some species that are extremely poisonous, and one of them is the Arizona bark scorpion. In case you’re stung, call Poison Control or 9-1-1 and have medical professionals assess the injury. They’ll tell you if you need to go the doctor or not. However, if the person bitten exhibits serious symptoms, like muscle twitching, respiratory difficulties, heart palpitations and other serious reactions, bring him to the nearest hospital.

Citations:

• nichcollins. “scorpion”. December 24, 2007. Online image. Flickr. February 7, 2013.

Attached Images:

•  License: Creative Commons image source

Claire Brent is a freelancer and a homeowner who has had her share of pest problems and writes about them. She also regularly blogs about preventive pest control issues.