When people think of survival TV, they picture harsh weather and dangerous terrain. What they don’t see are the pests, the invisible opponents that can turn an extreme situation into a breaking point. For Andrew Shayde, star of Naked & Afraid, pests were the most medically serious challenge he faced.* 

At Terminix, we believe your home shouldn't be an environment you have to 'survive.'

Meet Andrew Shayde

Andrew Shayde isn’t new to high-pressure environments. Over the years, he’s appeared on some of the most physically and mentally demanding shows on television, including Naked & Afraid (2021, 2023), Naked & Afraid XL (2024), Castaways (2023), Buddy Games (2023), and The Amazing Race (2002).* Across deserts, jungles, beaches, and remote islands, Shayde pushed his body and mind to the limit. But while viewers watched him build shelters and find food, another challenge was always present: pests.

“

I used to be fearless with bugs; I didn’t take them seriously. I have learned not to make that mistake again. Evolution has given bugs incredible defense mechanisms that can really injure or even kill us, as humans. I learned to never let their size fool me.

— Andrew Shayde

Andrew’s survival scorecard

Andrew Shayde has been there, done that, and eaten, bitten, and crawled through it all. Here’s a look at his pest survival scorecard filled with moments that made him question everything:

  • Countless sleepless nights from bug bites
  • Hospitalized for four days with Dengue Fever after a nine-day battle with a single mosquito bite
  • Medically tapped by ticks after an infection in a very unfortunate location
  • Bitten up by chiggers and fleas on an island in Panama
  • Shelter eaten overnight in South America by leafcutter ants
Andrew Shayde 

The invisible opponent

Pests rarely get their own screen time, but they’re constant. Shayde encountered biting insects that made sleep nearly impossible, insects that destroyed shelters overnight, and parasites that caused serious infections. These weren’t isolated moments. They were ongoing battles that wore him and other contestants down physically and mentally.

That reality makes pests one of the most underestimated threats in extreme conditions. While most people won’t face these pests in a jungle or on a deserted island, the same types of insects exist much closer to home, and some even in your backyard.

From the wild to your walls

Shayde’s experiences spotlight a truth many homeowners learn the hard way: pests don’t need extreme environments to cause serious problems. In a home, pests can:

  • Disrupt sleep and comfort
  • Contaminate food and surfaces
  • Damage wooden structures
  • Spread bacteria and disease
  • Reproduce rapidly

Pests can be relentless in the wild, but at Terminix, we protect your home and yard so you never have to face them alone.

Survival is for TV, not your living room

Stay tuned for more of Shayde’s Survival Stories, where we’ll dive deeper into Andrew Shayde’s pesky encounters and give you the professional tips you need to keep your home protected. While Shayde may be brave enough to face the wild without clothes, he’s the first to tell you that you shouldn’t face a pest infestation without a professional.

Andrew Shayde survived the world's most extreme environments, but he knows your home shouldn't be one of them—Terminix It.

*This is not an endorsement. Terminix is not affiliated with Naked & Afraid, Castaways, Buddy Games, or The Amazing Race.