The Top Five Creepiest Pests

Be on the Lookout This Halloween

One might think that vampires, ghosts and witches are the scariest creatures around this Halloween, but while these are just make believe there are some real terrors that might be lurking in your own backyard.  With Halloween just around the corner, Nader's Pest Raiders has created a list of the top five creepiest pests that will send chills down one's spine.

"Halloween is the perfect time of year to really consider the scariest pests out there - some of which can be one's worst nightmare," said Shay Runion, Nader's pest expert. "While many may have heard horror stories about these pests, most don't fully understand what they are capable of doing. Hopefully our list will shed some light on these truly creepy creatures." 

1. Flesh Flies: Flesh flies are typically found breeding in feces or decaying material but some species lay their eggs in the open wounds of mammals - hence the name flesh flies. They typically feed on decaying flesh, dead insects, excrement, crabs, snails and spiders.

2. Bats: Bats are thought to be scary because of their relation to vampires or Dracula, but while these creepy fliers don't suck blood in real life, they can spread several diseases including rabies. 

3. Earwigs: The name earwig literally means "ear creature". Its name is derived from the superstition that these pests would crawl into ears and bore holes into the brain. While this story is false, earwigs do possess scary, claw-like forceps on their abdomen. The forceps are used as weapons for protection, as well as for capturing prey.

4. Brown Recluse Spiders: Brown recluse spiders are recognized by the dark brown "violin-like" marking on their back. The spiders are nocturnal and tend to feed on cockroaches and crickets. However, they will also bite humans if they feel threatened, potentially leaving a "volcano lesion" - a large, damaged hole in the flesh. In extreme cases, severe itching, nausea, vomiting, fever, and muscle pain can also occur.

5. Bed Bugs: Everyone knows the phrase, "Sleep tight. Don't let the bed bugs bite!"  Unfortunately, this saying holds a great amount of truth. Bed bugs are the size of an apple seed and typically come out at night to feed on their unsuspecting victims. Bed bugs do not spread disease but they may leave behind itchy, painful welts on their victims. If left untreated, bed bugs can be a reoccurring nightmare since they can live for more than a year without eating and survive a wide range of temperatures - from freezing to more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit.