May 31, 2017, 10:43 AM by Fred Speer

According to the National Academy of Sciences, there are 1.5 million species of organisms. Insects make up about two-thirds of that number. Why are insects such a populous fixture in our environment?

Reasons for insects' success include their tiny size, which makes hiding easier and reduces overall energy requirements, a wide diet of both natural and artificial foods, tough, protective exoskeletons, mobility via the frequent possession of wings, which help them reach safety and food sources, and the prodigious ability to reproduce.

The fact is that insects are part of our everyday life. Insects can be annoying – flies at a picnic, or ants swarming on your patio – and they can also pose a threat to human health: allergic reactions to stinging insects, or cockroaches spreading harmful bacteria to food.

For pest management professionals like the Clark Man, protecting health, food, property, and the environment from pests is a job we take seriously. That is why the Clark Man is celebrating World Pest Day on June 6: to raise awareness about the important role that the pest management industry plays – not only in the United States, but around the world.

The National Pest Management Association and its members join the Chinese Pest Control Association (CPCA), the Federation of Asian & Oceania Pest Managers Association (FAOPMA) and the Confederation of European Pest Management Associations (CEPA) to support this worldwide recognition.

The Clark Man also acknowledges that not all insects are a threat to property or public health. Many insects are valuable members of California’s diverse ecosystem.

For example, honey bees and other pollinators – which include butterflies, birds, bats, and beetles – are essential to agriculture and food production. Approximately 1,000 plants grown for food, beverages, fibers, spices, and medicines need to be pollinated in order to produce the necessary resources. Many crops grown in abundance in California’s rich agriculture regions – apples, strawberries, blueberries, chocolate, melons, peaches, figs, tomatoes, pumpkins, and almonds, to name a few – are produced with the help of pollinators.

However, if you find your home under siege from unwanted pests, call or text the Clark Man at (800) WE-NEED-YOU (936-3339), or send an email to clarkcares@clarkpest.com, and let him and his knowledgeable team of pest experts’ help find the correct solution to your specific pest situation.