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Pest Identifier
“Pests” earned their name because of their stubborn ability to find food and shelter in places where humans least want them. The craft of pest control is an ancient tradition which evolved with early agriculture, to keep foraging bugs and vermin away from human food crops and homes. The first historical record of pest control dates back to 2500 BC. Back then, the Sumerians wrote about creating insecticides out of sulfur compounds. Since those days pest control has become an ever more sophisticated and necessary service to our society. All the while, up to date information about pests and their habits remains of utmost importance.

If you are curious about common household pests, or if you’ve seen an unfamiliar pest in your home, consult our Pest Identifier. There are also many links to other helpful resources.

Ants
Overview: Ants are the country’s leading pest problem. They are a very versatile pest, coming in over 12,000 species. Black ants are the most common. An ant colony cannot survive without its queen. Diet: Omnivorous, consuming nearly any organic matter, animal or vegetable. Very fond of sugars. Habitat: Ants generally live in colonies underground, as well as under pavement, rocks and homes. They create elaborate networks of tunnels for gathering and storing food. Common types of ants include: Black Ants, Carpenter Ants (Nocturnal wood eaters), Odorous House Ants (release a noxious smell when crushed), Pavement Ants (live under pavement, driveways, and sidewalks), Red Imported Fire Ants (stinging bite). More Info


Cockroaches
Overview: Cockroaches thrive around any human settlement, particularly in tropical and subtropical climates. They are nocturnal pests that exhibit group decision making abilities. Cockroaches host 33 types of bacteria, at least seven varieties of human pathogens, and six different species of parasitic worms. Diet: Omnivorous scavengers, eating any organic matter they can find. Habitat: Cockroaches see human homes as the ideal living environment. Cockroaches can be found in dark places around food and storage units. Common types of cockroaches include: American Cockroaches, Brownbanded Cockroaches, Oriental Cockroaches More Info


Termites
Overview: Termites are swarming insects which consume cellulose and wood, eating human buildings, rather than simply living in them. Termites cause up $2 billion in structural damages per year. Of the many species of termites, subterranean termites cause the vast majority of termite-related damages in the United States. Termites pose a serious threat to the structures themselves, not just the people living in them. Diet: Cellulose and wood. Habitat: Termites prefer to live in damp and moist wood. Common types of termites include: Subterranean Termites, Drywood Termites, Dampwood Termites, Formosan Termites More Info


Spiders
Overview: These eight-legged arthropods are not insects, but arachnids. The arachnid family includes animals like the scorpion, mite and tick. All spiders are poisonous, using venom to subdue their prey. Spider bites are unpleasant and in some cases lethal. Spiders in small numbers can be helpful in a home, because they hunt and eat other insects. More than a few quickly become problematic, especially after a hatching. Diet: Primarily insects, though large spiders will eat birds and small mammals. Habitat: Spiders prefer dark nooks that provide warmth and shelter, like wood piles and storage areas, as well as behind and under furniture. Common types of spiders include: Black Widow Spiders, Brown Recluse Spiders, Long-Bodied Cellar Spiders, House Spider, Jumping Spiders, Wolf Spiders More Info


Flies
Overview: Flies are in the same insect family as midges, gnats, and mosquitoes. In mythology, literature, and popular culture, flies represent death and decay. This is a well deserved reputation, considering what flies eat. Diet: Flies eat any wet or decaying animal or vegetable matter. They also like pet waste because the strong smell makes it easy to find. Common house flys liquefy their food before eating it, by vomiting a chemical onto the food to dissolve it, than sucking it up through their tubular mouths. Common types of flies include: House Flys, Fruit Flies More Info


Rodents
Overview: Rodents are small mammals characterized by their teeth. Rodents have two incisors that grow continuously throughout their lives. The only way a rodent can keep its incisors short is by gnawing. Rodents are known carriers of diseases, usually transmitted through their droppings and urine. The most common rodent that is a household pest is the grey house mouse. The house mouse is small enough to squeeze through cracks and openings as narrow as ¼" across, making it easy for them to sneak into homes. They are curious, nocturnal creatures of habit that establish their own pathways through your home. An interesting fact about the house mouse is that it does not need to drink water. It can get all the moisture its tiny body needs from the food it eats. Diet: Rodents eat human food, stealing it from our pantries and countertops, or scavenging food we drop on the floor. Contrary to folklore, rodents are not crazy about cheese. They prefer to eat nuts, grains, and sweets. Habitat: Rodents build nests in the recesses of our homes, usually behind walls or in roofs. Common types of rodents include: Field Mice, House Mice, Norway Rats, Roof Rats Chipmunks, and Squirrels. More Info

Other Common Pests

Earwigs
Carnivorous insects that carry the threat of disease. Some earwigs emit a foul odor when disturbed. More Info
Pillbugs
Pillbugs are actually crustaceans, in the same family of animals as shrimp and crab. They are the only crustacean that can live its whole life on dry land. More Info
Stink Bugs
Four-winged plant feeders, green to brown in color. More common around produce crops. More Info
Silverfish
Silverfish like warm moist places around plumbing fixtures. They will eat or stain food, paper and fabric. More Info
Centipedes
Centipedes are predatory insects, devouring smaller insects, though they will eat plants when starved. More Info
Millipedes
Millipedes eat decaying vegetable matter. They prefer moist damp undergrowth and yard waste, living out doors. They are sometimes found in basements and garages when they wander into homes. More Info
Bed Bugs
Bed Bugs are tiny parasites that survive by biting humans and drinking their blood. They can lay one to five eggs daily. More Info
Blacklegged (Deer) Ticks
Blacklegged (Deer) Ticks are another blood feeding insect. It attaches to its host for 1 to 3 days at a time. If infected, the Blacklegged Tick can transmit Lyme disease. More Info