Library of Common Pests

Like the Oriental roach, American roaches are also outside roaches and have similar behaviors. These bugs are also nocturnal and you will notice them active in yards and garages. You may find them crawling in your home, but they will never breed inside. Chances are they got stuck in your home chasing their food.  

 The key to dealing with ants is finding the source, eliminating it and preventing conducive conditions. There can be many factors to persistent ant activity. Ranging from harborage areas to constant food sources. You can use peppermint and rosemary oils to repel them temporarily. Add 5 drops of each into a water bottle with added water. Shake well and spray the areas you do not want them. A way to stop them from entering your home or business is sealing off cracks and holes where you see them come in, and eliminate any attractants like garbage or spills left behind in the kitchen. If they persist we can help!

 Most people know earwigs by the name of pincher bugs. Occasionally these critters go in the house chasing food. They get their name earwigs because back in the day when people used to have to sleep on dirt floors they would migrate in swarms and crawl into peoples ears while they slept. It's always a good idea to trim the hedges of lawns, especially if you and your family spend a lot of time in your yards. Earwigs need moisture to thrive, so they will huddle up in groups under leaf build up or in the cracks a crevice's of overgrown grass near patios and walkways. They definitely will pinch you if they feel threatened, but for the most part these critters are non threatening. They are more of a nuisance.  

 These pests are most noticed in the warmer months. They are attracted by moisture. So, damp soil, standing water, or over watered potted plants can provide breeding zones for these pests. The rule of thumb is to seize all watering until soils are dry and dump all standing water around the exterior of your home or business to prevent future breeding zones. You can purchase yellow sticky traps to capture the remaining ones once you eliminate their source. Screens are a must for all open windows and doors in summer months to eliminate them from coming indoors.  

Did you know that the female roach, aka the kitchen roach, receives all the sperm needed to impregnate herself for life? Yeah, each egg sac, called the "ootheca" holds about 30 babies/nymphs. The way you know it's a female German roach is if you can see her carrying her egg sac around. When she is ready she will glue it to a safe place to hatch. If you wait too long to treat, they will over run your house or commercial kitchen. The key to gaining control of these critters is sanitation. If you take your finger and wipe the filter above your stove, will a big glob of grease come off? Well simply put, if the grease stays then the roaches stay too. You have to make it very uncomfortable for them to thrive. So, if you eliminate clutter and sanitize, it will make them very uncomfortable. German roaches typically need multiple treatments to get a handle on. Also, preventative treatments and a thorough sanitation plan are highly recommended to keep them away. 

Getting a handle on flies is tricky because you must find their breeding source and attractants and eliminate them. If you have pets that go potty close to your home and you don't have secure screens on your windows and doors, flies will come in. A tip for those living in complexes and have a patio potty, try purchasing an industrial floor fan with a strong blow to make it uncomfortable for the flies to hang out. If you have your trash receptacle close to the areas you hang out in yards, this will attract flies and depending on how much fermenting matter build up is inside the receptacle, it can make a perfect breeding zone. Flies will also be attracted to the fermenting process of fallen fruit and will lay their eggs in the rotten fruits on the ground. So if you have pets, make sure to pick up their poopies and clean urine spots often. If you have fruit trees, make it a habit to remove the fruits that fall. This will eliminate those breeding zones and attractants. What's left is to treat or capture the remaining adults flying around.  

Also known as water bugs, these critters tend to startle folks because of their size and how they look. You will notice them coming in from the garage or scattering the driveway as you pull up at night. Oriental roaches usually don't breed inside, they are nocturnal and most of their activity is done while we sleep. They may come in chasing their food. Water meters are great breeding sources for Oriental roaches as they like damp spaces. You may also find them at the edge of your front yard. You can purchase food grade Diatomaceous Earth from a hardware store to help with these critters. Be sure to purchase the proper tool, a duster, and read the label on how to and where to apply. If they persist you may need to hire a professional.

Wasps are one of the most aggressive flying insects. Paper wasps will be seen forming nests in the eaves of your roofs in common areas. You can tell if it's paper wasps if they form honey comb nests that are in the shape of an upside down umbrella. The most common mistake home owners make is buying the bee traps and installing them in the wrong places. If you do attempt a DIY control, make sure you install the wasp traps away from the home, as far as possible. These traps are designed to attract the wasps. So, you probably don’t want to put them in the areas that you're going to be hanging out. It is possible for paper wasps to reuse their nests that they form. If you see this happening you may need a professional treatment for long-term control. 

These critters get their name by their silver color and the way they move. They sway their tail side to side like a fish. You will find them in your bath tubs, book shelves, areas that store paper materials and basements. This is because they like dark, humid areas and eat paper like products. Things you can do to make it uncomfortable for them in your home or business is reduce the humidity and paper clutter. Also, after taking showers or baths you can air out by opening the window or turning on the fan for 20 minutes minimum. Another great way to make silverfish uncomfortable in your home is to use dehumidifiers in rooms where there is current activity. If you have a huge library of books and magazines, this might give you persistent silverfish activity and may need professional treatments. 

Yes the name is carpet beetle and you may even say, "But I don't have any carpet in my house!" or "Why are they in my house?"

If you're an avid flower buyer from grocery stores, then you should check your flowers before bringing them in your home and pluck any visible critters off. Carpet beetles tend to get in this way and since they are capable of flying, they can easily fly in an open window or door. Carpet beetles get their name because they can eat synthetic carpet fibers and they love to eat wool fibers. You might even notice little holes in your clothes. But their main food source is keratin, which is what hair, skin and nails are made up of. It's not the adult beetle that does the damage though. It's the larva stage that eats the fibers and keratin. They will even thrive off of dust! You will find them under that dresser you haven't vacuumed under in years. Some people are even allergic to the little hairs on the larva and will break out in welt like bumps that itch. Most people mistake them for bed bug bites, but carpet beetles and their larva don't have biting mouth parts. The best thing you can do to prevent a carpet beetle infestation is to vacuum often and periodically do some deep cleaning under places that collect lots of dust. Make a good habit of checking those flowers you buy from the store as well, these critters will hitch hike.  

Have you ever noticed little holes in your wool and cashmere garments or noticed gaps in your wool area rugs or carpeting? Chances are you have carpet beetles, and with carpet beetles come carpet beetle larva.  These critters cause damage to fibers and cause allergic skin reactions to some. Some customers unfortunately deal with these skin irritations thinking their dermatologist can help. For example, it could be excema, but it could also be an allergic reaction to carpet bettle larva. The larva are super tiny and have little hairs on them. Those who are allergic may experience small welts that itch and mimic bites. Consult your dermatologist and keep a good vacuum!

This spider is often mistaken for the brown recluse and are startling because of their size. Although they are very scary looking, these spiders are technically beneficial because they eat other bugs. They are hunter spiders and come inside chasing food. They are not poisonous to humans but they are venomous because they use their venom to paralyze their pray.  This venom is not harmful to humans so you can have peace of mind if this critter gets stuck in your home.

These critters are sometimes called sewer or moth flies that tend to inhabit drains and damp environments. You will notice them in areas with standing water, such as drains, pipes and sewage systems. Their larva thrive and breed in the organic matter that builds up over time. The gelatinous film that often forms in drains is a buffet for drain fly larva. You'll know it's a drain fly by the erratic flying patterns they exhibit. They are harmless but a nuisance pest. The best approach to eliminating them is locating and addressing their breeding grounds. Prevention is key, ensure proper drainage, fix leaks promptly and maintain clean and dry surfaces to ensure an uncomfortable environment for these pests. Commercial drain cleaners or biological drain treatments will take care of the the source. 

These small flying critters often find their way into our kitchens and homes. They are attracted to overripe fruits and are drawn to the fermenting scents from fruits as they ripen. This is why you'll notice them around fruit bowls or around garbage with fruit peels present. They are known to rapidly reproduce and can lay hundreds of eggs within their short life span. You'll want to reduce warm and moist environments to stop their breeding grounds. Sanitation like cleaning up counter spills, covering garbage cans and regularly disposing overripe fruits will help prevent these pesky pests from taking over your space. 

Rats and mice can cause a lot of damage! Their two front teeth continue to grow causing them to constantly chew on things to file them down to a manageable size. You hear those horror stories of them chewing through thousands of dollars of wire damage to cars or to piping and wiring under homes. You'll know if it's rodents if you hear scratching, or squeaking a night or while you sleep. Or if you start to see shreds of fabrics, paper towels and cardboard in undisturbed areas like linen closets or attics. You may even see droppings or them running around! The best way to deal with rodents is to find out how they are getting in, sealing off or eliminating those access points and setting traps for the remaining ones. Rodents use chemical scents to travel and communicate with one another, so it's crucial to clean urine and droppings that are present. Otherwise, their friends will continue to try to enter.