Pest and Vector Control

What is a pest?

A pest is an animal which is detrimental to humans or human concerns.  It is a loosely defined term, often overlapping with the related terms vermin, weeds, parasites and pathogens. 

Examples of pests:

1. Insects
   • Ants, cockroaches, flies and wasps are household pests, typically as they consume human food
   • Caterpillars cause crop damage
   • Aphids and caterpillars cause damage to crop plants
   • Lice, fleas and bed bugs can all cause skin irritation
   • Mosquitoes, tsetse flies and kissing bugs cause irritation and carry disease
   • Termites, silverfish, woodworm and wood ants cause structural damage
   • Bookworms, carpet beetles and clothes moths cause non-structural damage
   • Gypsy moths attack hardwood trees 
2. Mites
   • Chiggers cause skin irritation
   • Ticks and mites cause irritation and can spread disease
3. Gastropods
   • Slugs are pests in both agriculture and gardens
4. Mammals
   • Mice, rats and other small rodents cause infestations
   • Foxes, opossums, raccoons and bears eat waste
   • Gophers and moles destroy lawns
   • Feral cats and feral dogs eat human food and carry disease
   • White-tailed deer are now seen as pests in many suburban and exurban areas of the US, though not in more rural areas.
5. Birds
   • Pigeons and seagulls eat human food and carry disease
   • Many birds, such as crows, eat crop seed
   • Canada Goose; non-migratory birds of this species are now widely regarded as pests in the United States

What is a vector?

In epidemiology, a vector is an insect or any living carrier that transmits an infectious agent.  Vectors are vehicles by which infections are transmitted from one host to another. Most commonly known vectors consist of arthropods, domestic animals, or mammals that assist in transmitting parasitic organisms to humans or other mammals. A vector is not only required for part of the parasite's developmental cycle, but it also transmits the parasite directly to subsequent hosts.

Examples of vectors:

1. Fleas - can transmit the bubonic plague
2. Mosquitoes - can transmit chikungunya, zika virus, malaria, West Nile Virus, different types of encephalitis, dengue fever and yellow fever
3. Ticks - Lyme disease, Ehrlichiosis and Rocky Mounted Spotted Fever 
    

Complaint about pests or vectors?

Environmental Health will investigate complaints about pests and vectors at all regulated facilities.  Environmental Health does not set baits or traps and does not treat for pest infestations, so a pest control company may need to be contacted for some complaints.  If you would like to submit a complaint, you can fill out the on line form or contact our office at (336)342-8130.