With operations spanning over 90 countries and a broad customer base in each, we have access to an extensive dataset on pest activity in both residential and commercial spaces. One of the most significant breakthroughs in pest control over the past century has been the shift toward digitisation . This is a development that enables our pest control experts to collect, access, and analyse data more efficiently than ever before. In this blog, we explore just a fraction of those global digital pest insights by highlighting some of the most frequently encountered urban pests in ten major cities across the globe.
Why digital data is a game changer for pest control
Studying pest activity at both local and global levels can reveal valuable insights into how pests behave, where infestations are likely to occur, and which treatments are proving most effective. These insights are crucial for improving pest prevention and control strategies, particularly in reducing the reliance on chemical pesticides, which can pose risks to both human health and the environment. Pests frequently develop resistance to pesticides, making it necessary to explore alternative and more sustainable methods of control.
Technicians collect a wide range of data during site inspections and treatments, now captured digitally and transmitted directly to a central system. In addition to technician input, smart devices, including connected sensors and automated pest monitoring tools, can independently collect and send pest-related data in real time. The variety and sophistication of these devices are continually expanding to monitor a broader spectrum of pest species.
Centralising this digital data allows advanced analytics, often powered by AI, to uncover trends and insights that apply at both site-specific and global levels.
For customers, this translates into several practical benefits:
- Early detection: Sensors and smart traps can detect pests before infestations become
- visible, sending relevant data to the central system for secure storage. This allows for
- quicker intervention and minimizes damage.
- Targeted treatments: Data analysis helps identify the type of pest, their locations on the
customer site, and the extent of the infestation. This allows technicians to use the most
effective and environmentally friendly treatments, reducing unnecessary pesticide use. - Personalised plans: Data on past infestations helps create customised pest control plans for
each customer. - Real-time monitoring: Customers can access a dashboard to see pest activity on their
properties, providing transparency and peace of mind that infestations are being detected
and dealt with. - Preventative measures for future risks: By analysing pest trends and relating them to
environmental factors, the system could predict potential infestations and recommend
preventative actions. - Predicting outbreaks: As the digitised pest data builds up over time it can be correlated with
external factors such as weather and climate change and can help predict pest infestations
that threaten businesses and public health.
Top Insect Pests Around the World
To illustrate the insights our data provides, we analysed pest infestation records from our central database for the 30 largest global cities. From this set, we selected 10 representative cities across various regions and continents, as shown in the graphic below. The variations in pest infestations worldwide are influenced by diverse elements such as regional climate, ecological conditions, indigenous wildlife, vegetation, industry types, and urbanisation levels. Pest prevalence can also depend on the dominant customer demographics in each area, or even local regulations, as detailed further below. Here are the primary pest issues identified in these 10 selected cities from around the world.
Mosquitoes are the top pests in four cities: Singapore, Barcelona, Vienna, Guadalajara. The high numbers recorded are likely due to local government action taken to reduce the threat of mosquito-borne diseases. In Singapore for example, to reduce the risk of dengue from Aedes mosquitoes, the National Environment Agency can fine property owners for having breeding mosquitoes. So there is an incentive for owners to control mosquitoes. The high numbers in Barcelona and Vienna show that they are not only a pest in tropical and subtropical areas.
- House flies, which are a major food pest, are the second most common pest in six cities,
Dubai, Barcelona, Vienna, Bergamo, Istanbul and Cape Town and in the top five pests in
Singapore, Bergamo and Guadalajara. - Cockroaches are the top pest in Manila and Dubai, and in the top five in Singapore,
Barcelona and Middletown (US). In Manila and Middletown, there are six species identified
by technicians, Singapore five and in Dubai four. Middletown also recorded one incident of
an unusual species for pest control, the Pennsylvania Wood Cockroach, a species local to the
US and Canada which is associated with timber rather than human food. - Bed bugs are present in all cities except Guadalajara, but in relatively low numbers
compared to other pests. Only in Bergamo are they in the top five pests, but with only 3% of
pest infestations. In absolute numbers, Bergamo and Singapore are top, with over 2000
infestations in a year. - Stored product insects (SPIs) were present in small numbers in every city. They made the
top 5 pests in Barcelona, Vienna, Bergamo, Istanbul and Guadalajara. But the more
remarkable statistic is the large number of species recorded. There were 20 species in Dubai,
12 in Vienna, 14 in Cape Town, 12 in Middletown, and 9 in Singapore, Barcelona, Bergamo
and Guadalajara.
Contact us to discuss your pest problem with our experts
Implications of building a global pest control database
Examining pest data collected digitally, both in specific regions and around the world, provides significant insight into pest habits. This analysis aids in forecasting future infestations and refining how we manage pests. By utilising these findings, we can implement more precise treatments, enable faster identification, and use ongoing tracking. This strategy reduces our dependence on potentially harmful chemicals and allows us to develop pest control measures that fit specific circumstances, contributing to improved environmental well-being. As technology evolves, our capacity to use pest data will also increase, helping us move toward pest management that is more efficient and ecologically sound.
Find out more about how pest control has evolved in the last 100 years
