—
If you moved to Alabama from anywhere north, you were probably alternately impressed and appalled by the size and quantity of the bugs when you arrived.
The Yellowhammer state — also known as the fire-ant-and-Volkswagen-size-roach state — has impressive insects.
It has fire ants — or “far ants”— that will attack your sandaled foot at a wedding and obliterate your desire to ever again try to catch the bouquet.
It has roaches that will walk right onto your patio, kick open the screen door, plop down on your sofa and demand you “fix them a plate.”
While Alabama is undoubtedly buggy, a nationwide survey of homeowners ranked Florida as the state with the worst bug infestation — with ants, termites and cockroaches topping the list.
Louisiana and Texas were runners-up.
Alabama ranked a respectable eighth, though.
Ninety percent of 675 homeowners in the telephone survey — conducted by Infogroup-ORC and sponsored by BASF Pest Control Solutions between June 10 and 13 — said they have experienced an insect infestation.
When ranking “overall buggiest” states, respondents were asked to consider spiders, ants, bees and wasps, termites, cockroaches and bed bugs.
New York was able to capture the title for the worst bed bug problem, with California and Florida as first and second runners-up.
Ants
Ants were ranked as the most common annoyance overall.
Sixty percent of respondents said they were very likely or somewhat likely to have an infestation.
Alabama is blessed with both the garden-variety ants you see elsewhere in the nation as well as the dreaded fire ant. It typically hits its victim with an impressive bite/sting combination — usually to the foot or leg — followed by an injection of venom that burns, forms itchy blisters and triggers days of whining.
Termites
Termites were the least worrisome among nationwide respondents, with 27 percent of respondent saying they were likely to see an infestation.
In Alabama, termites are more common, and can be seen congregating around woodpiles and foundations, smoking and yucking it up with their friends during their break.
The Southern states, including Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee are the most heavily-termite infested area in the United States, according to Cook’s Pest Control.
The study
In commenting on the study, Dr. Bob Davis, chief entomologist at BASF, said: “The findings mirror what we see in real life. Ants are pervasive throughout the United States, while termites tend to be most prevalent in the West, South and Southeast.”
The survey results also mirrored insecticide sales.
“What’s really impressive is that homeowners’ perceptions of the states with the worst bug problems as shown by the survey results are very accurate, especially with regard to the top 10,” Davis said.
Here’s the list of the 10 overall buggiest states, as ranked by homeowners and confirmed by product sales data:
1.) Florida
2.) Louisiana
3.) Texas
4.) California
5.) Georgia
6.) New York
7.) Mississippi
8.) Alabama
9.) Missouri
10.) South Carolina
The following states ranked at the bottom 10 of the survey, in terms of respondents’ perceptions:
50.) Washington, D.C.
49.) South Dakota
48.) Connecticut
47.) Idaho
46.) New Hampshire
45.) Delaware
44.) North Dakota
43.) Illinois
42.) Utah
41.) New Mexico
UN Blames Syrian Forces for Shelling Houla
Raw Video: Gay Protest Blocked in Moscow
Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks
Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class
Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
