Household pests are an inconvenient fact of life around the world, but the pests that enter homes vary widely based on location. While most Americans know cockroaches, ants, and mice, those traveling to or living in other countries may come across some unfamiliar and sometimes terrifying household intruders. Giant airborne insects, destructive termites with unusual habits, these creatures have evolved in unique, rich habitats and climates across the world.
These regional differences are not just fun facts to point out when traveling internationally but also useful information for those relocating abroad. Exterminator in Corinth often talk about how climate change is expanding the range of many pest species, bringing creatures that remained isolated in one territory into a different one. This guide overviews some of the more unusual household pests you may encounter outside American borders.
7 Strangest Pests All Around The World
Here are some of the strangest pests from all around the world you will find.
Giant Huntsman Spider (Oz and Asia)
One of the largest spiders in the world is the Giant Huntsman spider, which can grow up to 12 inches in leg span. Common in Australia, Southeast Asia, and parts of the Pacific, these spiders tend to come indoors during the rainy seasons. Web-building spiders are stationary and catch prey by waiting and capturing it in a web, but Huntsman spiders actively chase their meals down walls and ceilings at remarkable speed. Though they look scary, they rarely bite people unless threatened and actually help keep other insect populations under control.
Wood-Eating Termites (Southeast Asia)
Wood-eating termites, which range from mainland Southeast Asia to Taiwan, eat wood at breakneck speeds. These termites can destroy structural timber up to three times more quickly than American types and could thereby threaten the integrity of a building within months rather than years. The colonies can number in the millions, with complex tunnel networks that stretch up to 300 feet from the central nest.
Palm-Sized Flying Cockroaches (Caribbean and South America)
Cockroach species that can be the size of your first live in the Caribbean and parts of South America, dwarfing those of North America. Some species can reach as long as 4 inches and have large wings which enable them to fly towards lights. These insects flourish in tropical conditions and are often found in households through open windows, drains and small structural crevices.
House Centipedes (Japan)
Japan’s house centipedes are much larger than the comparatively puny ones you’ll find trundling about in North America, growing up to 8 inches long. These multi-legged creatures scuttle with surprising rapidity over walls and ceilings, preying on smaller insects. They are effective as natural pest controllers, but their appearance and speed make them unwelcome houseguests in many Japanese homes.
Australia and Pacific Islands — Electric Ants
Also called little fire ants, these pint-size interlopers bring a sting that is not in proportion to their size. Their populations have dispersed across Australia and Pacific islands, and individual colonies have several queens, making eradication nearly impossible. Studies show they can wreak damage on electrical wiring by nesting in junction boxes and switches, sometimes leading to short circuits.
Giant African Land Snails (Africa and Southeast Asia)
These large mollusks grow up to 8 inches in length and multiply quickly in tropical habitats. Accidentally introduced to many countries, they destroy gardens and structural materials that contain calcium (such as stucco and concrete). In addition to being a property nuisance, they are a health risk because they carry parasites that can pass meningitis to humans.
Pharaoah Ants (Middle Eastern, Now Worldwide)
These little ants are native to Africa but have spread across Europe and Asia. What makes them strange is that they have adapted to modern buildings — they move through electrical wiring, plumbing, and even telephone lines. When using traditional methods, the colonies split into several new colonies instead of dying, making it a difficult species to eradicate.
