Bed Bug

This bug probably received its common name of bed bug from its close association with human sleeping beds where it often seeks refuge during daylight, …__ only to come out to feed on the bed’s occupant(s) at night. The bed bug is an ectoparasite of primarily humans but will also attack poultry and other mammals and birds. It was introduced into the United States with the early colonists. It is found throughout the United States and the world.

The German cockroach is the most common and thrives in all types of buildings, including hotels, hospitals, and food establishments. It will enter in food supplies, laundry deliveries, and even employee or guest handbags and luggage. This species prefers dark shelters near food and moisture. It carries disease organisms and can cause allergic reactions in people. The German cockroach is considered the greatest cockroach pest because of its small size and ability to breed in great numbers.

This cockroach gets its name from the yellowish brown bands running across its forewing. These pests prefer starchy foods and have lower water requirements than other cockroaches. Therefore, they do not reside in the places one normally expects to find cockroaches. Instead, they are found in all parts of a facility and prefer hiding places up off the floor. Brown-banded cockroaches are especially troublesome because they do not confine their activities to well-defined areas in buildings.

The brown cockroach is medium sized and lives in hot and humid conditions. Therefore, it is not found in the northern states, but it is very common in the south from Florida to Texas. It is sometimes found further north when transported with people moving from the south. Common hiding places include crawl spaces, sewers, garbage areas, food storage areas, ground cover, and palm trees. Brown cockroaches are capable of flight and eat plant material.

American cockroaches are the largest of the pest species and are very abundant in grocery stores, restaurants, hospitals, office buildings, housing authorities, prisons, and apartment buildings. These pests like warm, damp locations and can be found by the thousands in sewers, steam tunnels, and boiler rooms. They fly and, thus, can migrate between buildings. In Florida and other parts of the south, they are often referred to as palmetto bugs and can survive outdoors quite well, living in trees.

The Australian cockroach prevails in the southern states where it feeds primarily on plant materials. It is a severe pest of young plants in greenhouses, but rarely infests homes because it requires such hot, humid conditions. It can be found, though, in large numbers in commercial buildings which have areas of high temperature and humidity (such as restaurants) and those which incorporate tropical plants in their decor. The habits of the Australian cockroach are very similar to the American’s.

Smokybrown cockroaches are usually outdoor insects that are commonly found in the south. They prefer moist, warm, dark habitats, so they are often found around ground cover ivy and vines, loose mulch, and woodpiles. Smokybrown cockroaches are good fliers and are attracted to lights at night. They enter buildings through cracks and crevices and will infest any warm and humid areas not exposed to air currents. These cockroaches will feed on anything of nutritious value.

Oriental cockroaches are common indoor pests that prefer very damp, secluded places such as crawl spaces, basements, and drains. They commonly enter buildings through door thresholds, utility pipes, ventilators, and floor drains. Unlike most cockroaches, these pests cannot climb smooth surfaces, so they are often found trapped in bathtubs and sinks. They thrive outdoors in planters and ground cover, surviving even in freezing weather. They feed on filth and produce foul odors.

Surinam cockroaches are tropical insects that are usually found in humid, hot areas. They are common in Florida and south Texas and are pests of potted plants in malis, zoos, and greenhouses. Surinam cockroaches are ali female, producing eggs without having to mate with males. These insects burrow into soil and often go unnoticed for some time because they are active at night. Surinam cockroaches are plant feeders and can severely damage plants in greenhouses.

BOXELDER BUG

Boxelder bugs are very common and found almost anywhere that boxelder trees (their favorite food source) grow. In the fall, the bugs congregate on the sides of buildings in large numbers where the sun warms them during the day and evening. Boxelder bugs spend the winter inside wall voids or attics, and may be seen during the winter, sunning themselves on the south or west side of a building. They will not harm clothing, food, people, or structures, but may leave soiled areas due to their excrement

GROUND BEETLE

Ground beetles are predators and many are beneficial – feeding on harmful pests. The beetles are most active at night, and many species are attracted to light. They run rapidly, but seldom fly. They typically enter structures at night when internal lights are on by crawling under a door, through an open window, etc. Ground beetles will also enter structures looking for shelter during daylight hours, then wander aimlessly about. They are harmless to humans and do not reproduce indoors.

CRICKET

Crickets are most common during the late summer or early fall. In the fall, crickets move indoors when outdoor vegetation dries up or in unfavorable weather. Crickets are attracted to lights, mulch and other debris around foundations. They enter structures through cracks in poorly-fitted doors, windows, foundations, or siding. Crickets do not breed or live long indoors, but the chirping of the male cricket can be an extreme nuisance. Crickets can also damage furniture, rugs, and clothing.

EARWIG

Despite their name, earwigs do not invade the ear of humans. Their tail-like pincers are used to capture prey and serve as defensive weapons, but are too weak to pinch humans. Earwigs are active at night, hiding during the day under stones and other dark protected areas. Sometimes earwigs build to large numbers and invade structures, hiding in cracks and crevices during the day. They feed on organic matter and plants, but do little damage indoors. Earwigs will emit a foul odor when disturbed.

CENTIPEDE

Centipedes are very common and reside in damp areas, such as under leaves, stones, rotting boards, and mulch. The centipede’s body is worm-like and adapted for fast running. These animals are beneficial, feeding on insects and other small organisms. They have poison jaws to paralyze their prey, but are usually too small to bite humans. Only the house centipede typically reproduces indoors. Once indoors, centipedes cause no damage and generally stay at or below ground level.

FIREBRAT /SILVERFISH

Firebrats and silverfish (also called bristletails) are wingless, carrotshaped insects that are frequently found indoors. They prefer warm, moist areas close to food sources. These insects live for two to three years, and they can survive for long periods without eating. Because firebrats and silverfish like a wide variety of foods containing protein or carbohydrates, they can be found eating and damaging books, cloth, dried meats, glues, pastes, wallpaper, labels, and paper products.

MILLIPEDE

Millipedes are hard, brown to black, worm-like creatures that commonly invade structures. They are slowmoving and have a habit of curling up when disturbed or resting. They feed on decaying vegetation, so they are attracted to mulch, thick lawn thatch, decaying leaves, etc. In late fall, extreme dry or wet weather will cause millipedes to move indoors, sometimes in very large numbers. They do not bite or cause damage, but give off an unpleasant odor when disturbed. Millipedes live up to eight years.

SOWBUG & PILLBUG

Sowbugs and pill bugs are very common and resemble miniature armadillos. Pillbugs roll into balls (or pills) when disturbed; sowbugs do not. Both require very moist conditions, so they ar.e found under rocks, grass clippings, ground plant covers, or other similar materials on ‘the ground. Weather extremes will drive them indoors through groundlevel openings, where they usually . die because of lack of moisture or food. They cause no damage indoors, but are considered a nuisance.

<strong>Acrobat ants</strong>

Acrobat ants include several species. Their common name is descriptive of this ant’s habit of raising the abdomen over the thorax and head, especially when disturbed. Various species are found throughout the United States, including at altitudes of up to 8,000 feet (2,438m ).

<strong>Argentine ant</strong>

This species, which is native to Argentina and Brazil, was probably introduced at New Orleans via coffee ships from Brazil before 1891. Argentine ants are found in the southern states and in California, with isolated infestations in Illinois, Maryland, Missouri, Oregon, and Washington.

<strong>Bigheaded ants</strong>

These ants get their common name from the exceptionally large head of the major workers in relation to their body size. Various species are found throughout the United States including Hawaii. A few species serve as intermediate hosts of tapeworms which infect turkeys, chickens, and domestic fowl.

<strong>Carpenter ant</strong>

The black carpenter ant, Camponotus pennsylvanicus (DeGreer), is a native species and the common species in the east. Camponotus modoc Wheeler is the common western species. These ants get their common name from their habit of hollowing out galleries in pieces of wood for nesting purposes. This nesting habit can result in structural damage. Carpenter ants are found throughout the United States.

Crazy ant

This ant’s name comes from the worker’s habit of running haphazardly about a roomlbuilding in search of food. The crazy ant is found throughout the United – States, but is confined to the indoors in the northern states because it cannot survive the winter outdoors.

Field ant

The common name of field ant probably comes from their abundance in outdoor situations. This is the largest genus of ants in America north of Mexico, –‘ containing about one-sixth of our entire ant fauna. Some species are commonly called thatching ants because of their habit of constructing a mound or thatch of plant material, often grass. They are found throughout the United States.

Fire ant

These ants get their common name from their ability to inflict especially painful bites and stings. The two most important species are the southern fire ant (Solenopsis xyloni McCook) and the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta Buren). The southern fire ant is a native species and ranges from California to southern South Carolina to northern Florida. The red imported fire ant is from central Brazil and is found in the southeastern United States, from Virginia through Texas.

Ghost ant

This ant gets its common name from the fact that it is very hard to see because of its pale color and very tiny size. It is found primarily in central and southern Florida and Hawaii in the United States. In the northern states it is unable to survive except in greenhouses and in similar heated situations.

Harvester ants

These ants get their common name from their behavior of collecting or harvesting seeds as their primary food source. They are of concern in the urban setting because of their stings and their habit of removing all vegetation from around their nests causing large bare spots in lawns. Of the 22 species found in the United States, only the Florida harvester ant is found east of the Mississippi River.

Little black ant

This ant gets its name from its very small size and jet-black coloration. It is a native species and is found throughout the United States, especially in the eastern half of the U.S., in the southern half of California, and the San Francisco Bay area.

Odorous house ant

The pungent, “rotten-coconutlike” odor given off when this ant is crushed gives it its name. It is a native species and is found throughout the United States.

Pharaoh ant

Its name resulted from the mistaken belief of Linnaeus that this ant was one of the plagues of Egypt in the time of the Pharaohs. Pharaoh ants are thought to be native to the African region. This ant is found throughout the United States. Pharaoh ants have been strongly implicated in the spread of various disease pathogens.

Pavement ant

This ant gets its name from commonly locating its nest in or under cracks in pavement. Pavement ants were introduced from Europe by the early colonists. They are found in most of the eastern half of the United States and in California and Washington.

Pyramid ants

These ants get their common name from the conical or pyramidlike elevation of the dorsal/top rear thoracic surface. Pyramid ants are found throughout the United States but are more common in the southern half. In the United States there are 2 structural pest species, C. insana (Buckley), the pyramid ant, and C. bicolor (Wheeler), the bicolored pyramid ant, which were once considered to be a single species.

Small honey ant

This ant probably gets its common name of small honey ant from its small size, and because it is very fond of honeydew, engorging itself until its abdomen –‘ swells up like a tiny balloon. The common name of false honey ant probably comes from the mistaken belief that they do not have a special “caste” called repletes or honey-casks which hang from chamber ceilings and store honey, a caste commonly found in the true honey ants, Myrmecocystus spp. The small honey ant is found from Nebraska to Ontario, Canada, and south to Texas and Florida, and in New Mexico, California, Oregon, and Washington.

Thief ant

These ants get their name from their habit of nesting very near or even in the nest of other ants, which they rob of food and brood (larvae and pupae). Recent research indicates that this is most probably a group of species instead of just one species. This is a native species and is found throughout most of the United States.

Yellow ants

The common name of yellow ant probably comes from their yellowish color and that of moisture ant in the Pacific Northwest because of their structural nesting habit of utilizing high moisture areas. The most important structural pest species of this group is the larger yellow ant, Acanthomyops interjectus (Mayr), a native species whose common name probably comes from the fact that its workers are among the largest found in Acanthomyops in the United States. Yellow ants are found throughout the United States. The larger yellow ant is found from southern New England westward to Washington and southward to Florida and Mexico, but is more common in the eastern and midwestern states. This treatment will be confined to the larger yellow ant.

Mud daubers

This group of wasps gets its common name from the fact that they construct their nest of mud, They are typically nuisance pests. Mud daubers are found throughout the United States.

Mason and potter wasps

These wasps get their common name due to the fact that they make their nest of mud or clay in the form of a ceramic-like pot or jug. In the urban setting, they are occasional nuisance pests. Various species are found throughout the United States.

Paper wasps

Paper wasps get their common name from the paperlike material of which they construct their nests; true also of the other vespids. It has been suggested that they be called umbrella wasps based on the shape of their nests. In the urban situation, these usually unaggressive wasps are a nuisance pest. Various species are found throughout the United States.

Yellowjackets

Yellowjackets receive their common name from their typical black and yellow color pattern. They are worldwide in distribution with about 16 species occurring in the United States.

Human flea

This common name results from their frequent occurrence on humans under poor sanitary conditions, but they also infest pets and domestic animals. They can be vectors of plague and murine typhus, and serve as intermediate hosts of the dog tapeworm. Human fleas are found throughout the warmer parts of the world, and in the United States, especially on the Pacific Coast, the midwest, and in the south.

Dog flea

Their common name comes from one of their favorite hosts, dogs, the other being rabbits. Like other fleas found in homes, they cause discomfort by biting, but they can also transmit several diseases such as plague and murine typhus. Dog fleas are found throughout the United States and the rest of the world.

Cat flea

Fleas are one of the more important groups of insect pests because they not only cause discomfort by biting, but they can transmit several diseases such as plague and murine typhus. Cat fleas are found throughout the United States and the rest of the world.

Black rat

The roof rat is the smaller of the 2 commensal rats (Norway rat is larger) and the more common commensal rat in the subtropical and tropical regions of the world. It not only damages/destroys materials by gnawing, eats and contaminates organisms stored food . , Roof but it rat is s a a lso re us of u hu all ma y t n ho hea ught lth to impo be r of tan so ce uth as eas a t vec Asi to an r or orig c in ar , rier and of a d r i e sease now I worldwide in distribution. In the United States, it is more common in the coastal states, seaports, and the southern third of the country.

Brown sewer rat

The Norway rat is the largest of the commensal rodents and the most common commensal rat in the temperate regions of the world. It not only damages/destroys materials by gnawing, eats and contaminates stored food, but it is also of human health importance as a vector or carrier of diseases. It is thought to be of central Asian origin, but is now of worldwide distribution and found throughout the United States.

House spider

The common names reflect the fact that this is usually the spider most often encountered indoors. It is a nuisance pest, probably more because of its webs than ._ the spider itself. This spider is found worldwide and is common throughout the United States and Canada.

Black widow spider

These spiders get their common name from the popular belief that the female eats the male after mating, a phenomenon which rarely happens in nature. The genus Latrodectus is worldwide in distribution, with 5 species occurring in the United States. Recognition of the genus is sufficient for pea purposes.

Cellar spiders

The common name cellar comes from these spiders being frequently found in dark and damp places such as cellars, basements, and crawl spaces, and that of daddylonglegs from their very long, thin legs which give them an appearance somewhat similar to harvestmen/daddylonglegs (order Opiliones, family Phalangiidae; see similar groups below). Cellar spiders are nuisance pests, probably more because of their webs than the spider itself. About 20 species are found in the United States and Canada.