CRICKETS There three types of crickets most common: HOUSE CRICKET, CAMEL CRICKET, AND FIELD CRICKET. These can be very annoying, but unless there are large numbers, they do very little damage. HOUSE CRICKET They live outdoors, but may come inside in great numbers. Adults are 3/4-1 inch long, light yellowish-brown with 3 dark bands on the head. They will eat almost anything, will chew on damaged silk and woolens. This cricket is nocturnal, staying hidden during the day. They have a distinctive chirping sound. They can be found in warm places like kitchens, basements, fireplaces, also in cracks and crevices and behind baseboard. FIELD CRICKETS This cricket is slightly longer than the House Cricket and is dark brown to Grey or black. They prefer to live outside, feeding on plants, but will come inside if food sources dry up or there or unfavorable extremes in temperatures.  CAMEL CRICKET This cricket is also known as a hump-back cricket due to it's hump-back appearance. They are light to dark brown, about 1/2 -1 1/2 inch long. There diet is almost anything but will feed on clothes .Most often are found in crawl spaces and basements, but also like any cool and damp area like under logs or stones. Treat as you would the House Cricket, but pay particular attention to crawl spaces and basements.

 

EARWIGS Earwigs are easily recognizable by their pinchers (forceps-no harm to humans) at the end of their abdomen. They are dark reddish-brown, with light brown legs, about 5/8 inch long. They are primarily nocturnal, with some species attracted to lights. They are considered scavengers, eating almost anything, but some are predatory.They also eat live plants. They can be found in the homes, but prefer cracks and crevices. Their populations will build up around foundations.They can produce large populations rather quickly and are often a major problem in new subdivisions. Earwigs live in habitats that also harbor centipedes, sow bugs,(rolly pollies) and millipedes. Their habitats are environments like mulch, pine straw, leaf litter,etc. The removal of their habitats is very important to the control of all insects, including earwigs.

 

GOPHERS Gophers are rodents from 5 to 14 inches long. Their fur ranges black to light brown and white. Their heads are small and flattened, with small ears and eyes .Gopher underground burrows can be very deep, up to several feet, and several hundred Feet in length. As they dig burrows, pushing the soil to the surface, they leave a mound, usually in a fan shaped, Moles leave a conical shape.

 

FLIES Flies go through a complete metamorphosis similar to that of fleas. SANITATION IS THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS. HOUSE FLY House Fly eggs are laid in warm, moist material such as animal manure, garbage, decaying rodent bodies and decaying vegetable matter. These areas also serve as food for the developing larvae. An adult female can lay five to six batches of 75-100 eggs. STABLE FLY The stable fly is known for it's painful bite .There eggs are laid in areas like fermenting weeds, decaying hay and straw, and grass and sea weeds. They are commonly found around stables and dog kennels.

 

MILLIPEDES Millipedes are oval, 1-1/2 inches long, segmented with many legs, coiling up when resting or dead. Their diet consists of damp and decaying wood and plant materials. It has been our experience that they invade the house during extremely wet seasons.

 

MOLES Moles are not classified as rodents, the most common being the Eastern mole, but the Townsend's and the Broad-footed mole find in the western states can be equally damaging to lawns and gardens. The control would be the same for all .They are 5-8 inches long, with fur that is usually gray .The eyes and ears are concealed in the fur. They burrow and form tunnels(runways).They make subsurface runways(raised ridges-used for feeding) and deep runways which are main runways that have a conical mound on top.

 

SILVERFISH

They have bodies that are flattened, long and slender, broad then tapered at the end, with three long appendages on the rear. The shape is like a carrot. They 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch long, gray or silver. They are usually found close to their food source. They can eat a variety of products, but will prefer starch, glue, paste, glue behind wallpaper and paper. They have been known to do serious damage to books. They thrive on hot humid conditions.

 

MOSQUITOES Mosquitoes go through a complete metamorphosis: eggs, larvae, pupae and adults. Eggs are laid in standing water. As a home owner, check the gutters, making sure they aren't clogged. Eliminate accumulation of water in places like tires, cans, barrels, etc.  Click here for more information on mosquitoes - Virginia's Teh's Dept. Of Entomology

 

PANTRY PEST-BEETLES & MOTHS These truly can be a "pest". There are several pantry pest: Rice Weevils, Granary Weevils, Grain Moths, Grain Bores, Drugstore Beetles, Tobacco Beetle, Indian Meal Moth, Confused Flour Beetle, etc. The first thing needed to done is the elimination of the source of infestation. In private residences the Pantry Pest is usually brought in products from the grocery stores. It is usually just in one area, but can spill over into other areas. They can also be a box that is "sealed" .Also look into cracks and crevices and any void area where food may have accumulated. Look into your cereals, grains, dried beans, sprouting seeds, dried fruits, and spices. Don't forget to check any bird seed or pet food. Bird Seed is sometimes a major source. Indian meal moths can take from 25-135 days for moths egg-egg development cycle to occur. One moth can lay 100-400 eggs over 1-18 day period. Any thing in your pantry that is not in a can is "suspect" . You will need to do your best in eliminating all possible sources. Moths and Beetles go through metamorphosis...from an egg to larva to pupa, then an adult. The adults lay their eggs in foodstuff, the eggs turning into larva.

 

POWDER POST BEETLE In this section we will discuss four types of Powderpost beetles in four families: Lyctidae, Bostrichidae, Anobiidae, and Cerambycidae. Adults do little damage, it is the larvae that does the major part of the damage.They go through a complete metamorphosis: adults, eggs, larvae and pupae.  True Powderpost Beetles(Lyctidae): The adults are very small, less than 1/4" in size. They are flattened and reddish-brown to black in color. Larvae are white, cream colored, c shaped with dark brown heads. Larvae create tunnels in the wood and become pupae. As adults they bore out through the wood, pushing a fine powdery dust out.The shape of their holes are round ,about 1/32-1/16 pinholes. They attack hardwoods depositing their eggs. They can attack bamboo(technically a grass),but because of the large pores they will attack. Their diet is starch, sugar and protein in the sapwood of hardwoods Wood that is less than 6% moisture content is seldom attacked .The life cycle averages one year to complete .This wood-boring beetle is the most widespread in the United States. Many times infestations are built into structures from infested lumber .They can reinfest. Ostriches Powderpost Beetle(Bostrichidae) The adults are 1/8-to 1-inch long, cylindrical, and reddish brown to black. The adults bore into the wood in order to lay eggs, leaving a hole larger that 1/8 inch, usually in wood less than 10 years old. The larvae are curved and wrinkled. Their diet is dependent on the starch in the wood, they are more common in softwood ,but can attack hardwoods. They require 6-30% moisture content in the wood, and complete the average life cycle in one year.The powder found inside their tunnels is fine to coarse, tightly packed. Most of the time they do not reinfest wood after it has been seasoned. They are often found in oak, firewood and furniture. Anobiid Powderpost Beetle (Anobiidae) The Adults are 1/8-1/4 inch long. They are red to dark brown in color and their shaped is usually oval. The adults lay their eggs in the cracks and crevices of seasoned wood. The larvae form tunnels in both softwoods and hardwoods They require 13-30% moisture content. The larvae are slightly curved and wrinkled. Their holes are round,1/16-1/8 inches. They can digest cellulose from the wood. They are inclined to the softwoods ,for this reason they are common in crawl spaces and basements ,infesting the pine used as framing lumber. The powder outside the holes (frass) is fine to coarse, many times with small pellets. The life cycle averages 1-3 years. They commonly reinfest crawl space areas that are poorly ventilated and humidity is absorbed in the wood. Old House Borer(from the family Cerambycidae) The Old House Borer is one of the most common from this family, with it's larvae hollowing out galleries in seasoned softwood(pine). It is found in older buildings, but is more frequent in newer buildings,(in houses less than 10 years old).The adults are brownish-black to black, slightly flattened and about 3/4-1 inch long. The average life cycle is usually one to three years, but can take up to twelve years if nutritional and environmental conditions are unfavorable. Because of the long life cycle,   reinfesting the wood it may take years before you see any structural damage .The exit holes are about 1/4-3/8-inch in diameter, but damage may have occurred for several years before spotting such holes. They are able to digest cellulose. When wood has been infested with fungi, the larval development is faster. Their powder (frass) in the tunnels are like sawdust ,tightly packed.

 

SPIDERS Spiders are considered a beneficial insect because of their prey to other insects. However their are two North American species that are dangerous to humans: Black Widow and Brown Recluse.  BLACK WIDOW The female has a shiny black, globular abdomen with two yellow or red markings in a triangle shape. It looks like a hourglass. Males are smaller, lighter in color, with light streaks on the abdomen. The web is irregular, many times found along exterior foundations on slabs, under stones and rocks, behind shrubs .They usually don't into structures .They will bite if provoked. The bite feels like a sharp pain ,like a needle puncture. After 15 minutes to an hour there will be muscular cramps. Bites are rarely fatal, but you should seek medical attention.     BROWN RECLUSE The body is yellow to dark brown, with the body size of 1/3-1/2 inch long. Combined with the legs it could be about 1 inch or longer in diameter .The dorsal has a dark brown violin shaped marking, very distinctive. Their web is off white to Grey .They can be found outside, under rocks, debris, wood piles, etc. ,but many times are found inside. hey can be found in storage areas like closets, basements, attics, garages and cellars. Sometimes they can be around above the ceiling ductwork or register. Many times people get bit by putting their hands or feet in something that has been in storage. You should always wear gloves when handling debris outside the home The initial bite is not intense, but poisonous. After 8-12 hours, the pain is more intense, and over the next few days large sores form leaving a disfiguring scar. You should seek immediate medical treatment after the bite.

 

TICKS There are several species that vary in appearance, but all of the adults are small, round with eight legs. They have four stages in their life: egg, larva, nymph and adult. When they are at the larvae stage they are called "seed ticks" with six legs. They attach themselves to a host, after receiving a blood meal, they drop to the ground and emerge as eight legged nymphs. Ticks can carry serious diseases. One of the more common tick is the Brown Dog Tick. They commonly attach to the animal's body, after feeding they drop to the ground in search of protective areas.

WASPS Wasps have smooth bodies, as opposed to bees that have hairy bodies. They are about 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch long in a variety of colors and shapes. They live off other insects, primarily spiders. They are considered social insects, with one egg producing queen. They build their nest from wood fibers, producing a paper like shelter. The Paper Wasp commonly builds it's nest under the eaves of houses or under porch roofs.

 

HORNETS These have large grayish-brown carton like structure, many times hanging from a tree or bush. They are considered wasps Treating hornets should be done at night, without shaking the nest.

 

YELLOWJACKETS They usually build their nest in the ground. You may find small rocks or pieces of earth built up around the opening. They have built nest in voids of concrete blocks and below railroad ties.   All wasps will defend their nests, but the Yellow Jackets and hornets are the most aggressive. They can be distinguished from bees by their thin "waists." Bees are thick-waisted. They fold their wings lengthwise when at rest. Like all wasps, yellow jackets prey on a variety of insects and other arthropods. Yellow jackets will also forage on foods that people eat, especially sweets and meats. They are considered beneficial insects, eating other insects. The yellow jacket colony will remain active for only one summer, after which the queens will fly away to start more colonies. The remaining ones, die at the end of the summer, the nest is not reused. IDENTIFICATION: Size: 5/8 to 1 inch Color: Black and Yellow or black and white They have a thin waist. HABITS: They usually nest in the ground, but will nest also in railroad ties, wall voids, and other above ground locations. In the spring, most yellow jackets will feed on insects. Many homeowners see"bees" flying around their hedges. These "bees" are usually yellow jackets and are there to eat insects on the foliage. Spraying the hedges with an appropriate insecticide will kill the food source of the yellow jackets, and they will soon leave the area. In the fall, wasp colonies have come the largest size, and foraging workers may be a serious nuisance as they search for food people eat or discarded food. If a colony is disturbed, they can become very aggressive and sting. For most a sting is temporary, but painful, but for allergic individuals as single sting may result in a serious reaction, requiring medical treatment.