Pests
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AntsCarpenter Ants may occur in several colors, although the most important species are black. One of the largest members of the ant family, carpenter ants take their name from their habit of chewing passageways (called “galleries”) inside wood. They live in these galleries and make excursions, most often at night, to hunt for food and water. These ants often set up satellite colonies inside homes from parent colonies located outside in a tree or landscape timber. Carpenter Ants do more damage than any other pest. | |
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 | Bees, Hornets, and WaspsBees, hornets, & wasps: are for the most part a very beneficial group of insects, being the major pollinators of flowering plants, helping to reduce the numbers of many insect pest species. It is very important to know which group of bees, hornets, or wasps you are encountering. Since the hymenoptera family is very beneficial insects you should consult a pest professional when you feel there is a threat to your family or pets. | |
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 | Bed BugsBed bugs are small, brownish, flattened insects that feed on the blood of human beings but can suck blood from other animals as well. The common bed bug, Cimex lectularius, is the species most adapted to living with humans. It has done so since ancient times. When not feeding, bed bugs hide in a variety of places: around the bed, near piping, seams and tags of the mattress and box spring, along with the cracks on the bed frame and head board. | |
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 | FliesBlow Flies: Blue or green bottle flies are robust flies with shiny metallic bodies that can often be found in homes during winter and early spring. These insects develop in manure or carrion and are usually apparent in small numbers. However, they are strong fliers and are attracted to lamps or lights. Their “buzzing” flight is very annoying. Drain Flies often are a temporary problem. They develop in standing water so most commonly they are seen after returning home from a vacation or period of extended travel. Usually, they disappear soon after normal household activity resumes and water starts to move again through toilets and drain traps. | |
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 | Mice and RatsThe House Mouse is the most commonly encountered and economically important of the commensal rodents, the Norway and roof/black rats being the other two. House mice are not only a nuisance, damage and destroy materials by gnawing, eat and contaminate stored food, they are also of human health importance as disease carriers or vectors. It is thought to be of Central Asian origin, but is now of worldwide distribution and found throughout the United States. | |
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 | MosquitosMosquitos can make life miserable. Many recreational and work activities have been ruined by the constant annoyance and irritation caused by their presence. Some species can transmit serious diseases such as malaria, yellow fever, dengue, filariasis and encephalitis [St. Louis encephalitis (SLE), Western Equine encephalitis (WEE), LaCrosse encephalitis (LAC), Japanese encephalitis (JE), Eastern Equine encephalitis (EEE) and West Nile virus (WNV)] to humans and animals. | |
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 | RoachesGerman Cockroach: It is a small cockroach, adults are about 1/2 – 5/8 inch long, light brown to tan body, with two distinctive longitudinal stripes just behind its head. The German cockroach requires moisture regularly, has a high reproductive rate and is small enough to live in small cracks and crevices. Infestations are often at their worst in the late summer months. Because cockroaches tend to frequent garbage cans, sewers and other disease-laden locations, germs attach to their body that can transfer to food contact surfaces (utensils, plates) during the normal course of roach activities. | |
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 | SpidersSpiders tend to evoke two images – webs and bites. Webs are often associated with abandoned, neglected, or haunted houses, while the animals themselves bring to mind the image of a painful or deadly bite. Spiders spin webs so they can catch insects for their food and even larger and stronger insects cannot escape. The immediate question – “Is this a black widow or brown recluse?” A spider’s bite can kill insects and other small animals. A few kinds of spiders are harmful to human beings. | |
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 | TermitesEastern Subterranean Termite: is the most common and widely distributed termite in the USA. This termite is considered a Swarmer, about 3/8″ long (including wings) with a dark brown body and a small fontanelle (frontal gland pore) on its head. Their wings are brownish grey with two dark solid veins along the forefront of the front wings. The front wing is distinctly larger than hind wing. Eastern subterranean termites constantly search for new food sources. | |
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