What Areas of the Country Have the Fewest Pests?

For many homeowners, bugs are the bane of their existence and for good reason. Insect eradication and management is a necessity that needs to be part of the annual home maintenance budget. In fact, pest control is one of the top hidden costs of homeownership.

After crunching the numbers,  a survey from Infogroup ORC discovered 90% of homeowners in the U.S. have experienced some type of insect infestation. The U.S. Census 2013 American Housing Survey found that 10% of homes had experienced an insect infestation within the previous 12 months, and cockroaches were the biggest problem.

With numbers like that, it’s not surprising the structural pest control industry generated nearly $7.5 billion in revenue in 2014 alone.

But insect infestations aren’t just an annoyance for homeowners. Invasive insects cost the American government and economy $120 billion every year, primarily due to agricultural and forest damage. The problem is pronounced in states like Florida, Hawaii and New Jersey. In New Jersey alone, the state’s farmers lose $290 million annually from pest damage and direct crop loss.

In some areas of the country these problems are much worse than others. Before we answer the burning question of which states in the US have the fewest pests, why not start with the worst?

States with the Most Bugs

Warm, humid states like Florida have gotten a bad rep for being overrun with creepy, crawly critters. According to a national survey, Florida homeowners ranked the state as the worst area for bug infestation problems from cockroaches to ants to termites. Louisiana and Texas were ranked as the runner-ups.

Homeowners in the survey rated pest conditions based on a wide variety of household pests, including termites, cockroaches, bedbugs, ants, spiders, bees and wasps. These factors were used to calculate the “buggiest states” in the U.S., with Florida ranking at the top of the list. For anyone who’s ever lived in the Sunshine State the result wasn’t too surprising.

However, the insect issues span much further. Even though it’s far from the South, New York is well-known for having the worst insect problems in regards to bedbug infestations. The runner-up states for bedbug invasions include California and Florida, respectively.

Other states with serious bug problems that made the list were Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, Missouri and South Carolina.

When you take a closer look at the city level many are in the south. The highest number of roaches were spotted in:

• New Orleans

• Houston

• Miami

• Atlanta

• Phoenix

If you add small rodents to the list of household pests, then the northeast is at the top of the pack. The 2015 American Housing Survey puts Philadelphia, Boston and New York as the top three cities with rodent infestations. Nearly 1 in 5 households in Philadelphia reported sighting rodents.

When Realtor.com factored in numerous pests – roaches, rodents, mosquitoes, termites, bedbugs, fleas, ticks and scorpions – they determined the 10 buggiest cities were:

1. Houston

2. New York City

3. Washington, DC

4. Atlanta

5. Philadelphia

6. Miami

7. Tampa

8. Nashville

9. Phoenix

10. Boston

One common trend among those 10 cities is they all have large populations. It’s proof positive that human beings have a way of attracting pests.

States with the Fewest Bugs

Since it’s virtually impossible to get an exact insect count, it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly which areas of the country have the fewest bugs. However, based on homeowner perception from the Infogroup ORC, the 10 states believed to have the least pest issues are:

1. Washington DC

2. South Dakota

3. Connecticut

4. Idaho

5. New Hampshire

6. Delaware

7. North Dakota

8. Illinois

9. Utah

10. New Mexico

It’s worth noting that the Infogroup ORC survey didn’t factor in rodents, which are a particularly bad problem in Washington, DC.

Of course, there are cities in other states that have certain pest populations under control. For instance, if you really hate roaches you might want to move to Seattle. Another finding in the 2015 American Housing Survey was that only 1% of Seattle homes had a roach infestation in the previous year.

For homeowners who have experienced a pest issue in the past, 63% said they tried their hand at DIY pest control. Another 23% of homeowners called an expert right away for professional extermination. In a revealing turn of events, 40% of the DIY pest control homeowners ended up calling a professional service anyway to get rid of the bug problem.

When it comes down to it, those that live in a buggy state or city are typically better off taking proactive steps by contacting a pest management company before a serious insect infestation occurs. A pest control company can assess your property to determine if you already have nests or colonies that need to be exterminated in your home.

Contacting a professional exterminator is especially critical in a state known for pest problems, particularly in high-ranking states on the survey list like Florida, New York, Texas, California and Louisiana.

If you live in Alabama and have spotted pests moving into your home give Vulcan Termite & Pest Control Inc. a call. Our Alabama pest control company has been providing expert services across the state since 1965!

Original Source: https://www.vulcantermite.com/pest-profiles/what-areas-of-the-country-have-the-fewest-pests/