SOME OF THE MOST DESTRUCTIVE SMALL CREATURES IN THE WORLD

LICE

Let’s start our list with the least destructive (but ever so

annoying) creature: The louse. Lice are wingless parasitic

insects that reside on people’s heads and feed on human

blood. Though they are not know to carry diseases, they

are known to impart unto the unfortunate host a most

uncomfortable case of scalp itch. They usually spread

via head-to-head contact with an already infected person

and can also spread via the sharing of clothing and

other personal belongings.

COCKROACHES

Cockroaches. Their mere sight is enough to fill any sane person

with disgust and for good reason: Cockroaches carry

bacteria. They also reproduce exceedingly fast with females

producing about 300 offspring at one time. Cockroaches

have been linked to asthma and allergies and if found in

a home and left unchecked; can easily infest it.

SILVERFISH

Silverfish are small, wingless insects which can be found

in people’s homes. Though harmless to humans, they are

considered pests due to their diet of starches and dextrin.

This translates into a diet of book bindings, clothing,

coffee, glue, hair, paper, photos, plaster, and sugar.

BEDBUGS

Bedbugs are small, oval, brownish insects that live on the blood

of other animals and humans. Though they are not known to

transmit any diseases, bed bugs are known to be the cause

of allergic reactions, skin rashes and even psychological

effects with the latter being the most destructive. Victims

of bedbug infestations have been known to suffer from

anxiety disorders, depression, stress and sleep deprivation.

Some victims have even resorted to substance abuse,

vandalism and in one particular case, the physical harm

of their pet cat as manifestations of their frustration over

bedbug infestations. “The issue with bed bugs is that you’re

going to bed and you know that at any time some insect

will bite you and you’re at your most vulnerable, you’re sleeping,”

said Dr. Stephane Perron of the Montreal public-health

department, University of Montreal and McGill University.

“You cannot protect yourself.”

ARMY ANTS

Restless and ravenous, army ant colonies are nature’s Mongol

hordes. They kill and eat anything in their way, digesting it

even as they tear it apart. Scientists describe army ants as

having two characteristics: a migrant or nomadic lifestyle and

group predation. There are actually several different ant

species that behave this way but only army ants will kill

everything and anything that crosses their path.

COTTON BOLLWORM

The cotton bollworm is a moth, the larvae of which feed

on a wide variety of plants. However, it is specifically

problematic for cotton crops. This pest is widespread in

central and southern Europe, temperate Asia, Africa, Australia,

Oceania, and has been confirmed to have invaded Brazil as well.

GYPSY MOTH

This sneaky creature is one of North America’s most devastating

forest pests. The gypsy moth is known to feed on the

foliage of hundreds of species of plants but its most

common hosts are oaks and aspen. Heavy defoliation

in the larval stage causes stress on infested plants which

may ultimately result in the death of the infected host.

SPIDER MITE

Spider mites are small (less than 1 millimetre) arachnids that

generally live on the undersides of plant leaves. This is

problematic since they feed on several hundred species of

plants and will usually kill it’s host. Researchers estimate that

spider mites are responsible for as much as 5% of total

agricultural productivity loss worldwide.

THE COMMON MYNAH

An otherwise beautiful bird, the common myna is considered

a pest in many areas due to their destructive impact on fruits

such as berries, bananas, papayas, guavas, apples and

pineapples. The bird is known for probing fruits with their

beaks and then eating only a small quantity of the tissue.

This greatly reduces the fruit’s potential value in the

marketplace.