What Kind Of Pests Were Bothering Our Ancestors?
Submitted by Andy_B on Saturday, 23 January 2021 Page Views: 216
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Fleas
Fleas (and the diseases they spread) were once a major problem for our ancestors. The best example of this is the black death. This was one of the deadliest pandemics in human history. Things were so dire that an estimated 200 million people died. According to modern research, this plague was primarily spread by fleas, and by extension the rats they travelled on. From there, infected humans transmitted the disease amongst themselves, resulting in a catastrophic death toll.Rats
As previously mentioned, rats were the primary driver of the black death plague in London. But rats have been a problem for a lot longer than that. The black rat evolved over 500,000 years ago, and the earliest first human settlements sprang up 50-60 thousand years ago. What this means is that since the very beginning of civilization, rats have been scavenging from humans. It appears these vermin have been our constant companions for thousands of years and have evolved along with us.What’s more, according to some pest control researchers and companies alike, rats are evolving in troubling ways. For example, Best Pest Contol, a London rat specialist, report that urban rats are starting to become immune to the most common rodenticides. Even more disturbing is the fact that rats which survive these poisons are becoming stronger and stronger. The bottom line being that one day we may be dealing with a breed race of, “super-rats.”
Mice
As Europeans sailed around the world they transported various pests. One of these pests includes the house mouse which first came to Australia in the 18th century. There were few predators to harm this pest and numbers soon exploded. To this day mice remain a problem down under, especially in regions where crops are grown. Since their introduction mouse plagues have only gotten worst. The most serious plague being in 1993.
Locusts
Anyone who has read the Bible will have learnt about deadly plagues of locusts. These insects are renowned for stripping farmlands and causing famines and human migration. Plagues of locusts were recorded dozens of times in human history. The most well- known example being in Egypt during Biblical times. Plagues of locusts were also recorded in the Iliad, the Quran, and were even noted by Aristotle.Bed bugs
Bed bugs have been a problem for humans for as long as we’ve slept in beds. According to historians these pests have caused discomfort for more than 4000 years. Bed bugs were first mentioned as a historical pest in places like Egypt.In addition to this, bed bugs were also mentioned all the way back in 400BC by historians in ancient Greece. Funnily enough, these bugs were also a problem for the Romans. Except in their case, it was believed that bed bugs had certain medicinal values. For example, it was believed they could treat conditions such as snake bites and even ear infections. With many thanks to Tim P and Martin L for their kind help and support of this article, including their lovely photos.
