Staying on the Pulse of Pest Perception

The research arm of PPMA continues to provide us with a deeper understanding of our diverse consumer audience. Our periodic polls and surveys allow us to ask specific, timely questions about various pest topics in addition to the usage of pest control services and perceptions of the industry. On the other hand, our Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered research database monitors over a billion consumer conversations each year, by which we can deduce the top pest concerns across the nation and ascertain potential health and home threats.

Our research collateral, including our newly compiled resource document of 2022 research statistics, is readily available to Mainframe subscribers to inform marketing and media relations efforts and to provide tactical guidelines to resonate with various audiences.

TOP STATISTICS FROM 2022 CONSUMER RESEARCH*

Throughout the year, we conducted a series of online surveys via The Harris Poll. Here are the top five statistics we discovered from our 2022 research:

51% of American homeowners have never hired a licensed pest control professional to conduct a termite inspection on their homes.

63% of Americans have seen or removed a tick from themselves, someone else or a pet.

59% of U.S. homeowners would switch to a different hotel or motel if they found bed bugs at a hotel or motel they were staying in.

These are the top places American homeowners who have ever found a rodent in their home spotted the pest:

37% Kitchen

32% Garage/Shed

30% Basement

26% Backyard

17% Living Room

10% of Americans have found pests like spiders, insects and rodents in their real holiday decorations (e.g., fresh-cut trees, wreaths, garlands, pinecones).

17% Attic

16% Bedroom

14% Bathroom

7% Car

WHAT PESTS ARE CONSUMERS TALKING ABOUT?**

Using our artificial intelligence database, PPMA determined the top ten pests that consumers were talking about in 2022:

Flies

Rodents

(i.e. rats and mice)

Stinging Insects

(i.e. hornets and wasps)

Mosquitoes

Ticks and Fleas Bats

Spiders

Occasional Invaders (i.e. crickets, scorpions, centipedes, and stinkbugs)

Nuisance Wildlife

(i.e. squirrels, raccoons, and opossums)

Moths