Weird, Wacky Pest News

Like everyone, when I am surfing the web or scrolling through YouTube, there are certain rabbit holes I am prone to go down, including true crime and the Cleveland Browns. Neither of these are probably great for my mental health, but the brain wants what the brain wants. The third rabbit hole that gets me is headline-worthy pest news. From raccoons stealing Amazon packages to edible crickets being served at minor league baseball games, I can’t get enough of the wacky ways pests are intertwined in our lives. Here are a few of my favorites from 2025.

“Lanternfly honey has arrived. Just don’t ask how it’s made” — In December, a Washington Post feature explored how lanternfly honey has become a delicacy. The late-season honey is made by bees from the sugary honeydew excreted by spotted lanternflies; the result is honey with an earthy, smoky, maple-like flavor. Who knew? I found this story fascinating because (a) finally some good news related to these invasive pests; and (b) who figured this out?

“‘Diva’ rat puts on raunchy pole performance on NYC subway” — One of the reasons I like this February story is because it gave the always cheeky New York Post editors an opportunity to write a fun, catchy headline. As the Post reported, a Manhattan-bound subway ride took a bizarre turn when a swaggering rat turned a pole into its personal stage, sliding and spinning up and down like it was auditioning for “Showgirls.”

— In December, the Associated Press reported a raccoon was found passed out on the bathroom floor of a Virginia liquor store. Evidently the bandit had hit the bottom shelf, where scotch and whisky were stored. The raccoon, according to AP, was something of a nocturnal menace: bottles were smashed, a ceiling tile collapsed and alcohol pooled on the floor.

“Scientists strapped QR codes onto thousands of bees” — As reported in Gizmodo in January 2025, researchers attached tiny QR code-like tags to tens of thousands of honeybees in Pennsylvania and New York, using automated sensors at hive entrances to track individual bees’ movements, timing and environmental conditions. The technique, described in a recent HardwareX paper, is already helping scientists better understand how far bees actually forage, and to test whether long-distance estimates of up to 6.2 miles are biologically realistic. Imagine the patience and manual dexterity needed to do this research. Props to those researchers!

As these stories show, pests remain endlessly creative scene-stealers. I can’t wait to see what quirky headlines 2026 brings!

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As editors, there is nothing we appreciate more than reader feedback! It shows we have an engaged audience and lets us know whether or not we are writing compelling features and identifying on-target topics/speakers. We would love to hear from you related to this month’s cover story and this May’s Top 100 issue. Regarding the cover story, “AI in Pest Management,” this coverage was built around results from our 2026 AI and Technology survey in partnership with NPMA and sponsored by BASF. It includes insightful research findings and interviews with PCOs currently benefitting from using artificial intelligence. AI continues to develop at warp speed and is changing every aspect of our personal and professional lives, which is why PCT will be reporting on it throughout 2026. Please reach out to us and let us know what you think of AI in pest management; how you are using it; and where the industry is heading in the future with AI.

How can you help us when it comes to the PCT Top 100? This year is the 25^th anniversary of our annual listing of the 100 largest pest control companies based on year-end revenues. Fill out the Top 100 form on the cover or online at www.pctonline.com/news/top100-form. In addition to providing us with your yearly revenue figures, share with us the history of your firm, including any legacy companies involved. By providing feedback, experiences and company information, you play a role in guiding our editorial coverage and celebrating the growth and evolution of the pest control industry.

The author is editor of PCT magazine. Share your stories with him at bharbison@gie.net.