- AntsThe forest is the carpenter ant’s natural habitat. Any wet, rotten wood attracts a new queen. Carpenter ants infest live, dead or fallen trees wherever there is some rot and moisture. In nature, they play an important role in recycling wood, but when they attack buildings they are destructive. The closer a forest with rotten logs is to homes or buildings, the more likely is a carpenter ant infestation.
- SpidersThe normal “house spiders” are gray, pale yellow or tan and are small, no more than ¼ inch in circumference. If you notice a spider that is larger, 1/2 inch or more with distinct patterns or brightly colored, and can move quickly and jump, then these are the outdoor species.
- TermitesTermite damage is more common than damage caused by storms, fires and earthquakes.Termites often avoid detection until damages are so severe that they are clearly visible. They accomplish this by traveling in tunnels from their underground colony through the soil to any source of cellulose (which could be your home). They devour material from the inside out so what looks like sound, intact wood could actually be hollowed out from destructive termites. Fortunately, termites do leave behind clues of their presence, including: Wood shavings or grass near their excavation sites, Mud tubes or tunnels that extend to the foundation, Swollen or sagging floors, Warped doors, Wood that sounds hollow when tapped.
- Bed BugsBed Bugs are blood-suckers commonly found in motels, hostels or boarding houses where itinerant travelers stay overnight. They are often found in buildings used to store second-hand furniture or clothing.
- FleasFleas are pests of dogs, cats, and livestock. With their piercing, sucking mouth parts, they will bite humans too. The large hind legs are good for hopping on and off their animal meal. Their legs which can jump relatively long distances, are good for changing hosts, and the comblike appendages help the insects resist being brushed out of hair. Because their bodies are flattened, they can move easily between the animal’s hairs.
- CockroachesCockroaches are insects of the order Blattaria or Blattodea, of which about 30 species out of 4,500 total are associated with human habitats. About four species are well known as pests.
- SilverfishSilverfish completely lack wings. They have long antennae, and move in a wiggling motion that resembles the movement of a fish
- BeesThough often confused with the bumblebee, carpenter bees can be readily identified by their black abdomen—a slick, shiny, black abdomen. The thorax of the carpenter bee (directly behind the head) is usually covered with yellow, orange, or white hairs.
- TicksAlthough the number of tick species is in the hundreds, there are relatively few ticks that interact with mankind and domestic animals causing harm. While most ticks limit their host selection, others are opportunistic feeders and will feed on almost any accessible host. A tick, which feeds on a select host group, will move infective agents within that group. However, when a tick is a nonselective feeder, it can transmit disease agents from one host group to another. These nonselective ticks pose the largest threat of infection in man.
- CricketsAdult mole crickets are light brown to black insects depending on the species and about 1 to 1 1/2 inches in length. Their front legs are short and stout and well adapted for tunneling in the soil. Mole crickets can be identified by the number and spacing of the tibial dactyls (digging claws) on the front legs and by the color and pattern on the pronotum (back area behind the head). The native northern mole cricket has four distinct claws/toes (dactyls) on each front leg.
- Mosquitoes
- FliesFlying insects, especially flies, carry disease – producing organisms known as pathogens. Flies especially are filthy creatures. They tend to feed on excrement, decaying food, dead bodies and other disgusting substances. Whenever they land or feed on these potentially disease-ridden areas, pathogens are transferred onto their numerous body hairs or are ingested into the gut.
- BeetlesSeveral beetles are common pest of stored food products and often occur in houses, bakeries, grain stores and warehouses – anywhere that food is stored, especially dried food stuffs such as grain, cereals, flour, nuts, etc.
- MothsDescription: Moths are 3/8 to 1/2-inch long with wings folded over the back. Wings are two-toned, with the bases a pale gray and the ends reddish brown or copper. Caterpillars are dirty white with brown heads. They grow to about 1/2-inch long and may become yellowish, pinkish, brownish or greenish.
- Stink BugsThe brown marmorated stink bug is more likely to invade homes in the fall than others in the family. The bug survives the winter as an adult by entering houses and structures when autumn evenings become colder, often in the thousands. In one home, more than 26,000 stinkbugs were found overwintering.[57] Adults can live from several months to a year.
- AphidsThe ants do not eat wood, but rather tunnel only to increase nesting space. In the forest, carpenter ants feed on sap, pollen, nectar, fruits, and both living and dead insects. Water is an important part of their diet. Honeydew, the sweet excretion of aphids and certain other insects, is also a favorite food.
- Moles
- RodentsThe term mouse has been applied to a number of rodents belonging to various families. The name was probably first given to the Old World house mouse, which originated in Asia and has spread to all inhabited parts of the worl
- MiceAlthough most people consider mice less objectionable than rats, mice are more common and cause significantly more damage. Mice are prolific breeders, producing 6-10 litters continuously throughout the year. The greatest economic loss from mice is not due to how much they eat, but what must be thrown out because of damage or contamination. Food, clothing, furniture, books and many other household items are contaminated by their droppings and urine, or damaged by their gnawing. House mice gnaw through electrical wiring, causing fires and failure of freezers, clothes dryers and other appliances. Mice also can transmit diseases, most notably salmonellosis (bacterial food poisoning) when food is contaminated with infected rodent feces.
- RatsCompared to rats, mice forage only short distances from their nest — usually not more than 10-25 feet. When food and shelter are adequate, their foraging range may be only a few feet. For this reason, traps and other control devices must be placed in areas where mouse activity is most apparent. Mice prefer to travel adjacent to walls and other edges– another critical point to remember when positioning control devices. Mice are very inquisitive and will investigate each new object placed in their foraging territory. If control devices are not initially successful, move them around to a different location.