14 Facts About Household Pests We Can't Unlearn

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14 Facts About Household Pests We Can't Unlearn

Pests: can’t live with them. Can’t find affordable housing in a big city without them. 

 If you’re not a millionaire, we bet you’ll have to live with at least one of these in your life. And, not to brag, but with our headquarters based in Brooklyn, we at Cracked have become something of pest and rodents experts. We have (separately) lived with an array of pests. It’s all terrible, but we feel especially empathetic to those of you dealing with bedbug or rat infestations. May the bites be light and all the pesticides be with you in your time of need. 

Until you’ve committed mass species genocide to protect your home from any infestations, you might as well get to know the furry or leggy enemy you’re living with. So here are 14 facts about common pests to disgust and unnerve you…or maybe even make you feel bad for their untimely demise.

The largest cockroach in the world is called the Megaloblatta longipennis (yes, really)

The largest cockroach in the world is called the Megaloblatta longipennis (Natural size) Megaloblatta longipennis It can grow up to almost four inches, with an eight-inch wingspan. Not the kind of longipennis we want in our life. CRACKED NOW YOU KNOW

Source: Guinness World Record

Termite queens can live for up to 20 years

Termite queens can live for up to 20 years The longest-living queen is that of the Macrotermes bellicosus species. In comparison, workers only live up to a few months. CRACKED NOW YOU KNOW

Source: Smithsonian

Some people can smell ants

Some people can smell ants Jury's out on whether it's genetic or just that some people are just paying more attention to the many chemical signals ants release. CRACKED NOW YOU KNOW

Source: PopSci

Rats may have empathy

Rats may have empathy In a choice between rescuing another trapped rat or eating tasty food, researchers have shown a rat will help another. CRACKED NOW YOU KNOW

Source: PBS

Even ants need work-life balance

Even ants need work-life balance The bigger the colony of ants, the less active ants become. Lazy ants use fewer resources and make the colony collectively more productive. CRACKED NOW YOU KNOW

Source: ScienceDaily

The next best thing: bedbugs love our dirty laundry

Bedbugs love our dirty laundry If they can't get to us, bedbugs prefer soiled, human-smelling clothes over clean clothes. So stop airing your dirty laundry while traveling, and seal your В.О. clothes up tight. CRACKED NOW YOU KNOW

Source: Scientific Reports

Alberta, Canada, is the largest inhabited area that is rat-free

Alberta, Canada, is the largest inhabited area that is rat-free The city's rat control measures are actually working. And don't think about bringing any in...owning a pet rat can cost you $5000. CRACKED NOW YOU KNOW

Source: Mental Floss

Sexually rejected fruit flies drink more alcohol

Sexually rejected fruit flies drink more alcohol When female fruit flies reject their sexual advances, male flies drink far more than their sexually satisfied peers. Let's just hope they don't discover the incel subreddit anytime soon. CRACKED NOW YOU KNOW

Source: UCSF

Uptown vs. downtown rats in NYC are genetically different

Uptown vs. downtown rats in NYC are genetically different Rats that live north of 59th Street are genetically different than those that live south of 14th Street. Like true New Yorkers, they tend to stay close to where they were born. CRACKED NOW YOU KNOW

Source: NPR

Termites are highly evolved cockroaches

Termites are highly evolved cockroaches Cockroaches and termites share a common ancestor and, after a molecular analysis, geneticists proved they are basically just social cockroaches...in case you wanted a reason to be even more grossed out by them. CRACKED NOW YOU KNOW

Source: Gizmodo

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