Ants, Flies, Flying and Stinging Pests and Mosquitoes Are All the "Buzz" This Summer

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Aug 19, 2011, 07:48 ET

ATLANTA, Aug. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- As Americans gear up for the final days of summer with last-minute vacations and Labor Day barbeques, one tradition remains as constant as back-to-school sales – pest activity. In a recent Omnibus survey conducted by Atlanta-based pest control leader Orkin, flies (45 percent), flying and stinging insects (40 percent) and mosquitoes (39 percent) were most frequently seen in and around homes within the past month. In addition, 30 of 31 Orkin region offices across the U.S. confirmed that ants are among the top summer pests affecting homeowners.

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"It's no surprise that flies, flying and stinging pests, mosquitoes and ants are most active this summer, given current weather conditions," said Greg Baumann, technical director for Rollins Inc., parent company of Orkin. "The sweltering temperatures coupled with seasonal rain showers in much of the country create ideal conditions for these insects in search of food, water and shelter, making them more prevalent."

Almost half (43 percent) of the respondents dislike pests because they could "bite, sting or attack [them]," while 41 percent dislike pests because they are a nuisance.

Baumann notes these responses can be attributed to flying and stinging insects like bees and wasps, which can be difficult for consumers to control on their own and can pose serious health risks to people who are allergic to their stings. According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, more than 500,000 people are sent to the emergency room every year from insect stings.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, mosquitoes are most likely to bite between dusk and dawn – primetime for backyard activities. Mosquito bites can cause itchy, red welts, but the pest is infamous for transmitting West Nile virus, among other diseases.

Although most ants can't bite or sting, the exception being fire ants, these filthy pests can contaminate food and surfaces with germs that could cause pneumonia, food poisoning and meningitis. Additionally, flies can carry more than 100 pathogens and transmit bacteria like E. coli and salmonella every time they land.

Orkin suggests the following tips to keep these summer pests away:

Store food and drinks in tightly sealed containers.
Monitor regularly for nests around the home.
Remove standing water from gutters, plant pots and other sources where pests can breed.
Hire a licensed pest control professional.

Russell Research conducted Orkin's survey from July 22-24, 2011 among 1,048 adults (ages 18 and over) living in private households across the continental U.S. The margin of error was plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.

About Orkin, LLC

Founded in 1901, Atlanta-based Orkin is an industry leader in essential pest control services and protection against termite damage, rodents and insects in the United States, Canada, Europe, Central America, the Middle East, the Caribbean, Asia and the Mediterranean. With more than 400 locations, Orkin's almost 8,000 employees serve approximately 1.7 million customers. The company serves homeowners and numerous industries, including food and beverage processing, foodservice, hospitality, healthcare, retail, warehousing, property/facilities management, schools and institutions. Orkin is proud to be recognized by the National Pest Management Association as a QualityPro and GreenPro-certified company, addressing not only our customer's pest control needs, but also their concern for protecting the environment. Learn more about Orkin at http://orkin.com. Orkin is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rollins Inc. (NYSE: ROL).

SOURCE Orkin, LLC