719-661-5310Bugs, as destructive and intrusive as they may be, play an important role in ecological balance.
Some like houseflies and termites aid in decomposition, a very important aspect of life.
Bugs are always beneficial until they intrude on our habitats where they wreak all manner of havoc.
The lifespan of bugs is key to understanding their behavior, which goes a long way in helping you determine the most appropriate method of controlling them.
This article delves into the lifespan of the most notorious bugs in Colorado.
Bugs living in Colorado
Termites
Termites operate in colonies where the workers have a lifespan of between 1 and 2 years. This can be explained by the tedious work they do when scavenging for food. Their queen does less to almost no work at all, apart from mating and laying eggs. She, as a result, lives for several decades, while some species can even live up to 50 years. Termites play a crucial role in decomposition by feeding on dead green matter such as tree logs, leaves and dead plants. Although not common, they can sometimes feed on living plants and trees, thereby balancing the ecosystem. Forests are not the only place you can find termites; they can also be found in farms and residential spaces where they cause massive loss in structural and crop damage.
Cicadas
Cicadas are a special type of bug that mainly feeds on tree roots in their nymph stage, and leaves, and fruits in the adult stage. Typically, annual cicadas live between 2 and 5 years, with a portion of their lifespan being spent as nymphs underground. The periodical cicadas live between 13 and 17 years, spending most of their lifespan underground as nymphs. They have no serious harm to humans but they are a real nuisance since during mating, males can produce a very high-pitched sound that can go as high as 90 decibels.
Beetles
Typically, depending on the species, beetles can last between 10 days and 6 months. Beetles, such as the Mountain Pine Beetle, infest and kill pine trees. In large infestations, they can cause massive deforestation, and risk wildfires while disrupting forest ecosystems. The Colorado Potato Beetle, just like the name suggests, feeds on potato plants causing significant loss in agricultural produce. In an attempt to control these, you should explore other methods like genetic control since these pests can develop resistance to pesticides.
Cockroaches
Depending on the species, cockroaches typically have a lifespan of between 20 and 30 weeks for the German species. The American cockroach species lasts somewhere between 1 year and 1.5 years. A peculiar thing with cockroaches is that they can survive headless for a whole week. From houseflies and bed bugs, cockroaches are the most disgusting bug that inhabits homes in Colorado. Dirty dishes and surfaces mainly cause them because of the availability of leftovers. Although they do not pose any direct harm on the health of occupants, their eggs and droppings reduce the aesthetics of your house.
Flies
Flies’ lifespan lies somewhere between 20 and 25 days. Of all bugs, flies are the most disgusting and unsightly. That is not all; they can also cause diseases and infections when they contaminate foods and surfaces. Warm, dirty and moist surfaces offer the best conditions for the breeding and spread of houseflies. You can easily deal with flies by maintain high standards of hygiene and draining stagnant water bodies.
Bed Bugs
Among all bugs in Colorado, bed bugs are the hardest to deal with since they can last a whole year without food. Bed bugs’ lifespan lies somewhere between 4 months and 1 year, under the right supportive conditions like dirt. Although they pose no physical harm to occupants, they produce a very unpleasant smell and can stain surfaces, thereby reducing the aesthetics of your home. Just like other pests, these are notorious in developing resistance to commercial insecticides. Together with an appropriate pest control method, maintaining high levels of hygiene can eradicate bed bugs.
Spiders
Though most thrive in bushy areas such as forests, gardens and shrubs, spiders can sometimes inhabit the dark corners and crevices of residential structures. These too, do not pose any serious health and safety risk to occupants. However, the venomous bites of spiders can have adverse effects on people with allergies. Their webs also reduce the aesthetics of the house and can attract other animals that prey on spiders.
Most bugs in Colorado are insecticide-resistant, which means professional extermination services are recommended. The pros fully understand their behavior and are adept with all control methods. Therefore, if you are dealing with pest issues, consider reaching out to the experts for assistance.
