Common Pests

Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are small, brownish, flattened insects that feed solely on the blood of animals. Adult bed bugs are about 3/16" long and reddish-brown, with oval, flattened bodies. Bed bugs do not fly, but can move rapidly over floors, walls, ceilings and other surfaces. Female bed bugs lay their eggs in secluded areas, depositing 1, 2 or more eggs per day and hundreds during a lifetime. The eggs are tiny, whitish, and hard to see on most surfaces without magnification (individual eggs are about the size of a dust speck). When first laid, the eggs are sticky, causing them to adhere to surfaces. Under favorable conditions (70-80°F), the bugs can complete development in as little as a month, producing three or more generations per year. Cooler temperatures or limited access to blood extends the development time. Bed bugs are resilient. Nymphs can survive months without feeding and the adults for more than a year. Infestations therefore are unlikely to diminish by leaving premises unoccupied.

German Cockroach

The German Cockroach is the most common species of cockroach. It ranges in size from 1/2" to 5/8" long. It has two dark stripes running from front to back and is found wherever man lives, eating the same foods and sharing the same habits. It is commonly found in restaurants, kitchens and stores where food, moisture and harborage are abundant. These roaches contaminate food, leave stains, create foul odors and carry disease organisms. Populations build rapidly from egg capsules being produced about every 20-25 days. Each capsule contains about 35 eggs, the young maturing in about 100 days. They hide during the day, closely packed in small cracks and crevices near food and water.

Pavement Ant

The Pavement Ant is dark brown to black in color and is about 1/8" in length. Pavement ants are found throughout the eastern half of the U.S. and are a major pest in the upper Midwest. The name for this ant comes from its habit of nesting under sidewalks and driveways and piling dirt removed from the nest in a mound on top of the pavement. In addition to nesting under sidewalks, pavement ant colonies can be found under other items lying on top of the ground, including stones, logs, boards, bricks and patio blocks. They may nest in open soil close to building foundations or under mulch in landscaped beds. Pavement ants rarely nest indoors in walls, under floors or in insulation. These ants will feed on a wide variety of different foods, though greasy and sweet materials are preferred. Worker ants may forage for food up to 30 feet from the colony and readily set up trails to and from food sources.

Silverfish

Silverfish are flat, wingless insects with two long, slender antennae on the front and three long, slender bristles at the rear of a carrot shaped body. They range in size from 1/3" to 1/2" in length. They are shiny and silver or pearl-gray in color and may be found almost anywhere in the house, but are commonly found in moist, warm locations such as around sinks and other plumbing fixtures. They may cause damage by eating foods, cloth or other items high in protein, sugar or starch. They will breed in bookcases, storage boxes and linen closets. Silverfish are most active at night and run very swiftly with a wiggling motion that resembles the swimming action of a fish.

Clover Mite

Clover mites are very tiny arachnids that live and reproduce outdoors. They are frequently encountered as a household pest in early summer and in the fall when they migrate into dwellings by mistake. They are long, soft, oval, and flattened from top to bottom and are approximately 1/64" in length. They can vary in color from rusty brown to dark red. A distinguishing characteristic is the very long pair of front legs that extend forward like antennae as the mites crawl. Clover mites are harmless. They cannot bite or sting; they do not infest stored foods; they cannot attack the house structure and furnishings. They are an annoyance and nuisance because of their presence and tremendous numbers. Clover mites reproduce outdoors. Every mite seen indoors has wandered in from outside. Clover mites are plant feeders only. They feed on sap from grasses and clover, and are especially numerous in lawns with a heavy growth of succulent, well-fertilized grass. They do not cause any apparent harm to turf grass.

Cricket

The field cricket is one of the most common household accidental invader insect pests. There are several species of field crickets ranging in size from 1/4" to 3/4" long, but the best known is the black field cricket, a large, shiny black insect. Like other accidental invaders, field crickets spend most of their life outdoors where they feed, grow, develop and reproduce. Only during a limited portion of their life cycle do they wander indoors by mistake and create an annoyance. Chirping is done only by the males and is produced by rubbing the wings together. Cricket problems usually end in the fall when the adults are killed by heavy frost or freeze.

 

Deer Tick

The blacklegged deer tick is named for its dark legs, which are a contrast to its pale body. They have 8 legs, a flat, oval shape and are about 1/8" long. These ticks like to feed on the blood of white-tailed deer which is why they are sometimes called deer ticks. They prefer to hide in grass and shrubs and can spread Lyme disease.

Centipede

House centipedes have long, flattened, segmented bodies approximately 1 1/2" long and 15 pairs of very long, almost thread-like, slender legs. The body is brown to grayish-yellow and has three dark stripes on top. Centipedes prefer to live in damp portions of basements, closets, bathrooms, unexcavated areas under the house and beneath the bark of firewood stored indoors. They feed on small insects, insect larvae, and on spiders. Technically, the house centipede could bite, but it is considered harmless to people.

Japanese Beetle

The Japanese beetle is a well-known pest of turf grass and landscapes in the eastern United States. Adult beetles emerge in mid-June through July. They are 3/8 " long and 1/4 " wide. The head and thorax are shiny metallic green, and the wing covers are coppery red. The row of five tufts of white hairs on each side of the abdomen is a distinguishing feature. Adult beetles eat the foliage, fruits and flowers of over 300 plants. Foliage is consumed by eating the tissue between the veins, a type of feeding called skeletonizing. Flowers and fruits are devoured completely, often by a horde of a dozen or more beetles at a time.

Yellowjacket Wasp

Late summer is the time of year when populations of yellowjackets (commonly called "bees") and other social wasps become large and noticeable. These wasps typically have a yellow and black head/face and patterned abdomen, 6 legs and are approximately 3/8 " to 5/8 " long. Yellowjackets build paper nests similar to hornets, but either in the ground, a log or landscape timber or building wall or attic. Yellowjackets are commonly observed hovering back and forth at the small nest opening or around garbage cans and other areas where they forage for food. Yellowjackets become more aggressive in the Fall when the colony begins to die out except for the queen. Yellowjackets pose significant health threats to humans as they may sting repeatedly and can cause allergic reactions.

House Flies

House flies are the most common fly found around homes. They are a dark gray color with 6 legs and are about 1/4 " long. Adult house flies usually live between 15 and 25 days. They are only able to feed on liquids but have the ability to turn many solid foods into a liquid for them to eat. These insects have been known to carry over 100 different kinds of disease-causing germs.

House Mice

The house mouse is the most common rodent pest in most parts of the world. They are light brown to black in color, have 4 legs, are round in shape and are about 2" long. House mice can breed rapidly and adapt quickly to changing conditions. House mice breed throughout the year and can share nests. House mice live in structures but can also live outdoors. Micro droplets of mouse urine can cause allergies in children. Mice can also bring fleas, mites, ticks and lice into your home.