What If Pests Received Holiday Gifts?

What If Pests Received Holiday Gifts?

One of the main reasons why this is called “the most wonderful time of the year” has to be because of the art of gift giving. When we give a meaningful gift to a loved one, both the giver and the recipient get true joy out of the experience. On the other side, it means so much when someone we love gives us a gift that is practical, fun, or heartfelt, depending on the actual present. Gift giving is an enjoyable way to show family, friends, co-workers, and even our pets that their interests matter to us. But what if pests could also partake in this time-honored holiday tradition? Let’s take a look at eight common pests and which items would be at the top of their wishlists this year.

Carry-On Suitcase – Fleas

One of the most popular “big gifts” every holiday season is some kind of luggage, whether it’s a set or just one sizable suitcase. Even if you don’t travel to exotic vacation spots, it is still quite helpful to have luggage that is durable enough to withstand multiple trips home to your parents or a weekend getaway. One pest that understands the importance of travel is the tiny flea. These bloodsucking insects jump up onto a mammal that is near their hiding spot as larvae, then continuously feed on blood for the rest of the flea’s life. Female fleas can start laying eggs after the first meal, so a flea infestation can grow immensely after just a couple weeks on a host. Fleas are not just a problem for dogs and cats without the proper flea treatments, as humans can also be bitten by these pests. Since fleas can travel from hotels and temporary residences by staying on their hosts, they would love to receive a nice suitcase for the holiday season. They would prefer one that is small enough to be a carry-on during a flight, as they would be the most minimalist packers ever. Fleas would have the type of job that allows them to travel often, and they are now much more prepared to do so, thanks to their fancy new suitcase that even comes with its own luggage tag!

Huge Camping Tent – Mosquitos

Mosquitos may not be a major pest problem in winter, but they can be even more of a nuisance in the spring and summer if the winter is mild enough. That’s right: the amount of freezing temperatures and ice in the winter affects the mosquito population in the following warm seasons. Mosquitos lay their eggs in any kind of stagnant water, and will even use damp soil if they are desperate. Many people who spend extensive time outdoors, participating in activities like camping and fishing, know the importance of a good mosquito-repellant spray on every excursion. The annoyance of itchy bites accompanied with the risk of contracting a disease from an infected mosquito is enough reason to be as protected as possible against these pests. But if mosquitos could receive holiday gifts, their top item would be a family-sized camping tent. You know the ones: those massive tents that can comfortably fit about 12 people and have a couple “rooms” to make it feel it even more spacious. The social mosquitos would love having this roomy tent for their huge family, especially since camping would be a major hobby of theirs. The happy mosquito would eagerly wait for the first warm weekend of the new year to go camping and enjoy this new tent, provided they find a camping spot large enough to fit the enormous enclosure.

Record Player – Fireflies

It is interesting to see that in a time of streaming and 24/7 digital access to all kinds of music, record players have come back into popularity over the past decade. It does accomplish two tasks at once, as a record player is both a fun way to enjoy music with an added vintage sound and an eye-catching piece of room decor. The pest that may understand nostalgic value the most is the firefly. Their faintly blinking lights are reminiscent of past summer nights, where these tiny lights were the only light sources besides the moon and stars. Fireflies use their bioluminescence to attract mates, ward off predators, and communicate with their own species. The blinks all look the same to us, but they convey different messages to their fellow fireflies. Their lights may seem brighter to us than they actually are, as fireflies like to stay in dark fields and meadows in general. A firefly would be over the moon to receive a record player for the holidays, and would immediately start searching for their favorite albums to purchase on vinyl for this special gift. However, the giver of the record player would know that including the firefly’s two favorite albums completes the best gift ever. What are those albums? “Fireflies” by Faith Hill and “Ocean Eyes” (featuring the hit song “Fireflies”) by Owl City, both of which the firefly will play on repeat to enjoy the more aesthetically-pleasing music experience during the cold weather. 

Video Game Console – Spiders

Spiders are a surprisingly common pest issue in the winter. Although they prefer to be warm and dry, spiders can easily find shelter in homes, businesses, sheds, and doghouses. They will only live where they can easily find food, which is why a live spider is an indication that further pest problems are at play. Speaking of play, video game consoles are another popular expensive gift for anyone who enjoys any facet of gaming. Whether it’s an Xbox, Playstation, or a Nintendo Switch, this gift provides entertainment for years to come. Today, there are all kinds of games for people of all ages and skill levels to enjoy. Part of the fun with giving a video game system is also picking out games that the recipient will love, whether it’s racing, strategy, action, open world, or any other genre. The spider would love to receive a video game console regardless of which type it is, as it is the perfect excuse to stay indoors on a chilly day and play their favorite games. They would even build up a collection of gaming gear to make the sessions more enjoyable, like customized controllers and nice headphones, over the next year. Spiders would definitely enjoy the games that require a bit of strategy and thinking, as they do plenty of that in order to capture their prey in real life.

Cast Iron Skillet – Ants

For anyone who loves to cook or bake, the gifts of various kitchen gadgets and essentials are always winners. A garlic press and wooden spatulas are nice tools to have, and various pots and pans are valuable to someone building their collection. But one of the most essential items in any serious home cook is the illustrious cast iron skillet. This heavy-duty cookware is often passed down through the generations, becoming more valuable as it continues on due to the accumulation of seasonings and flavor in the skillet. When it comes to food, the hardworking ant is often the first pest that comes to mind. The workers are the specific ants we see clamoring for bits and crumbs of food they can take back to their colony. Their keen olfactory receptors and fragrant pheromones left behind for the rest of the workers are the main reasons why ants are often the first pests on the scene when food is left out for too long. Because of their love for food, ants would be ecstatic to receive a cast iron skillet over the holidays! Since they cook just about every meal at home, this would be the best gift they could ever ask for (and they did). They would start looking up recipes that require this skillet immediately, and even try out a few while their relatives are in town. The shrimp scampi would be a big hit, but the star of the weekend would have to be the delectable blueberry peach crisp, primarily because ants have a notorious sweet tooth.

Weighted Blanket – Honeybees

Blankets are already a popular gift for any holiday or birthday, since there are countless patterns and materials available today. But weighted blankets have become a new favorite of many people because the added weight and coziness helps to alleviate stress and anxiety symptoms, especially for people who have trouble sleeping. Eusocial insects in general understand the importance of feeling safe enough to rest, but honeybees in particular are great at this practice. Whereas other colonies just leave their queen and male drones to overwinter and reproduce in the spring, honeybee colonies actually overwinter together in their hive. All of the bees huddle together inside their home, staying warm through body heat and occasionally eating leftover honey. This is why honeybee populations seem to be the most numerous out of all the common bee species every year. If a honeybee could ask for anything for the holidays, they would likely ask for a nice weighted blanket. The honeybee would value any kind of self care items for the holidays, as it spends its days working hard and giving everything it has to its job and interests. A honeybee would love being social and hosting all of its friends and family for the holidays, but when it comes time to finally rest, it would be very grateful for the new weighted blanket that helps the little bee fall asleep almost immediately. 

Fancy Alarm Clock – Bed Bugs

The old saying “good night, sleep tight, don’t let the bedbugs bite” is literally easier said than done when a bed bug infestation is happening. These pests can hitchhike on any type of fabric-covered item, like backpacks and clothing, until they reach their final destination where they will continuously feed and reproduce somewhere that humans consistently stay. Most bed bug invasions go largely unnoticed until at least one person wakes up with multiple red bites on their body. Bed bugs are tiny and nocturnal, making for a tough combination when it comes to catching and eliminating them. It also doesn’t help that bed bugs can continue laying eggs for over a week straight as long as they have a food source, aka our blood! This does not make for a good night’s sleep for the unfortunate host. On that topic, a popular gift every year that borders between fun and practical is a nice alarm clock. Many people just use their cell phones for this nowadays, but there is something more enjoyable about using an actual alarm clock. Plus, it’s another great decor item for the nightstand if you get a fancy one! The bed bug would receive a nice alarm clock for slightly humorous but mainly realistic reasons, as everyone who knows the bed bug knows that they are always oversleeping. The bed bug would love this new alarm clock, which has a phone charger, AM/FM radio, white noise, and increasing levels of alarms. The alarm clock would do wonders for the bed bug’s sleep schedule, provided they keep it on the highest volume setting in order to actually hear it in the mornings.

Puffy Coat – Mice

Since Chicago is already into its typical freezing winter temperatures, the importance of a good jacket is understood now more than ever. Some coats are made of polyester and are primarily for warmth, while rain jackets are excellent at keeping us as dry as possible when hustling into work or school and out of the elements. But one coat that has come back into style and is both warm and weather-resistant is the puffy coat. This style is available at various price points and colors, making it a popular choice for a holiday gift. Mice definitely understand the importance of staying warm, which is why they are such a problem pest in the winter. They can squeeze through holes in the house the diameter of a dime, then make their way to a hidden corner of the house to create their nest and grow its family. Mice usually prefer to be deep inside the house, like in between walls and near the insulation, for the warmest experience. A mouse would be thrilled to receive a puffy coat for the holidays, as it is always excited to have more cold-weather clothing in its closet. It would likely be a brown or gray colored coat, in order to have another natural-toned basic to choose from. Since the mouse would refuse to go outside without being completely bundled up in a big jacket, scarf, gloves, and boots, this big puffy coat would be a welcome addition to its collection. 

High-Quality Pest Control Services – Pointe Pest Control

You don’t have to wait for the holidays to receive the gift of reliable pest control services. Our team of dedicated technicians are here to keep your life pest-free in every season of the year. Our standard contracts have quarterly scheduled services, but we are happy to visit in between these to solve any surprise pest problems for free. We are confident in our thorough services and EPA-approved treatments, and our technicians are always happy to serve you! Contact us for a free quote and to learn more about how our services can ensure that the only surprise gifts in your home are from a loved one, not pests!