Can Pests Make You Sick?

There's a common misconception that states like Indiana, with cold winters, won't have as many bugs. Unfortunately, despite average winter highs barely grazing over freezing, bugs have developed strategies that help them withstand the cold. During the winter, bugs have evolved to either get rid of the food and water in their body, so they don't freeze, and then go into a sort of hibernation, or they emit a waxy freeze-avoidant coating to their bodies to keep ice from forming. When we warm up in the Summer, the bugs start to swarm in Indiana. Of course, those bugs are a nuisance and pose some health risks.

Indiana's Department of Natural Resources warns against bugs like certain beetles, moths, bees, and weevils. These pests can spread disease, wipe out crops, and infest a house or business right under your nose, causing structural damage and health impacts before you even notice they're there. But Indiana has plenty of other pests to handle as well.

The number of dangerous bugs in Indiana is growing in variety and quantity. In the past few years, the CDC warned that a deadly bloodsucking insect nicknamed the "kissing bug" had been spotted in Indiana. Just like many other nuisance insects, the "Triatominae" can hide in cracks so small you may not even notice them, sneaking around your house easily or making themselves comfortable underneath your porch, deck, doghouse, or shrubbery without you ever getting wise to their presence. That is until the bug starts spreading Chagas disease, which can lead to heart abnormalities and problems with your esophagus and colon. The bug is such an issue that the CDC doesn't even want you to squash it and instead recommends trapping and then freezing it or drowning it in rubbing alcohol. The better option, of course, is to let a pest control professional handle the situation.  

The brown marmorated stink bug was also reported in Indiana for the first time in the past decade. The East Asian native insect is named for its dark, marbled appearance and for the horrifying stench it emits when threatened. The creature is a nightmare for crops and gardens, chewing up whatever it lays its eyes on. It's also been known to invade homes and businesses in the Autumn, stinking the place up and potentially aggravating allergies.

Bed bugs are another growing problem in Indiana. Just an hour away from Muncie, Indianapolis has been climbing toward the top of the list for worst bed bug infestations. In 2019, it ranked #14 on the list for worst cities for bed bugs; by 2020, it leaped to #9.

Bed bugs are small brown or red insects that sneak into your home or business by attaching themselves to clothing, furniture, purses, and briefcases and travel great distances. They might go from a bush outside to a person's jacket, onto a bus with them, onto someone else, into an office, and then into your home. They live on the blood of humans and animals and are incredibly difficult to spot, often hiding in infrequently-checked spaces like inside box springs, within folds of curtains, inside electrical outlets, within cracks in the ground, and even between the carpet and baseboard.

Their bites wound can become infected, leading to illnesses like ecthyma and lymphangitis. They are notoriously difficult to remove without the help of a pest control professional. As a result, people often report feeling anxiety, experiencing insomnia, and even occasionally depression due to an infestation.

There are plenty of other pests that are common but still create an nuisance can be difficult to deal with if they make their way onto your property. Ticks and fleas are both abundant in Indiana, and both can pose health risks. These two creatures, like bed bugs, feed on blood and their bites can cause allergic reactions and are also spreaders of disease. 

Areas adjacent to Muncie, like Grant, Blackford, and Jay Counties have all had cases of tick-borne Lyme Disease between 2017 and 2021. Ticks are also known to spread Rocky mountain Spotted Fever, Tularemia, Powassan Virus, Prophylaxis, and more. Fleas can spread Plague, Typhus, and tapeworms, as well as heartworms to pets.

If you are experiencing a bug infestation of any kind, or even if you simply suspect you may be subject to one, you should call a pest control professional immediately. It's crucial that the company is experienced and trusted, like Bug Off Pest Pros. Our local business has been serving the Muncie, Indiana, area for over a decade, using the newest technology, products, and procedures to take care of your pest issue as quickly and effectively as possible.