Insects
Termites
Subterranean termites are light yellow to
black with clear to smoky gray wings, about 7/16 inch long. Worker
termites (nymphs),
and are up to 3/8 inch long, wingless, white to grayish with white to
yellowish-brown heads, and
soldiers
are similar but with large rectangular darker heads bearing well
developed jaws (mandibles) used to defend the colony.
Carpenter Ants
There are several species of carpenter ants that may
be found infesting homes and other buildings. Normally workers are black
or red and black in color and range in size from 3/8 to 1/2 inch. Winged
queen ants may be as large as one inch. However, size is not a reliable
characteristic to identify carpenter ants.
Roaches
Cockroaches have been reported to spread at least 33 kinds of
bacteria, six kinds of parasitic worms, and at least seven other kinds
of human pathogens. They can pick up germs on the spines of their legs
and bodies as they crawl through decaying matter or sewage and then
carry these into food or onto food surfaces. Germs that cockroaches eat
from decaying matter or sewage are protected while in their bodies and
may remain infective for several weeks longer than if they had been
exposed to cleaning agents, rinse water, or just sunlight and air.
Spiders
Most spiders are not poisonous and like warm, dark
places. They frequent wall cracks, corners and air vents. They are most
active at night, searching for insects to eat.
Carpenter Bees
Although they buzz, hover and look like bumble bees,
carpenter bees are very much different in appearance and habit. Unlike
bumble bees, which have hairy (usually yellow and black) abdomens,
carpenter bees have hairless, shiny blue-black abdomens. Also, carpenter
bees lack pollen baskets on their hind legs.
Female carpenter bees have strong jaws which they use to bore into,
primarily, unfinished wood. Although the damage may appear minimal (all
one sees is the 3/8-inch circular opening), the tunnels in the wood may
be 6 inches in length.
Silverfish
Silverfish are wingless insects 1/2 inch when fully grown.
Three long, slender appendages project from their abdomen. They are
covered with silvery scales and somewhat carrot shaped. Silverfish are
tropical insects like to live in 71-90 degree temperatures, they feed on
books, cloth, and sometimes dried meats. They seem especially fond of
paper and glues and pastes found on wallpaper, labels and other paper
products.
Earwig
Earwigs are also drawn to damp conditions. During the summer, they can be found around sinks and in bathrooms. Earwigs tend to gather in shady cracks or openings or anywhere they can remain concealed in daylight hours. Picnic tables, compost and waste bins, patios, lawn furniture, window frames or anything with minute spaces (even artichoke blossoms) can potentially harbor these unwanted residents. Upon gaining entry to the basement and living areas of the home, earwigs can easily find cover in undisturbed magazine and newspaper piles, furniture/wickerwork, base boards, carpeted stairways, pet food dishes, and even inside DVD cases and keyboards.
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Stinkbug
There are many different species of stinkbugs. All have a flattened, shield-shaped body 6-20mm long. Most species are colored green or brown and are not readily noticed within their habitat. Many suck plant juices, but some are predacious on other insects. Both adults and nymphs discharge a foul smelling fluid when disturbed. Some species overwinter as adults and are a nuisance when they enter a home. Other species are well-known pests of crops and are sometimes brought indoors on produce
Box Elder
This bug is about 1/2 inch long and 1/3 as wide. It is
black with three red lines on the thorax, a red line along each side,
and a red line on each wing. The wings lie flat on the back when at
rest. The young nymphs are red and gray. The population of bugs may
number into the thousands.
Box elder bugs normally feed on the leaves, flowers, and seed pods of
the box elder tree or silver maple. Large numbers of box elder bugs are
usually on the female, or pod-bearing, tree. These insects feed on male
box elder trees and other trees and plants, but they usually do not
build up to such large numbers. The adults search for a place to
overwinter which brings them into houses where they hide in small cracks
and crevices in walls, door and window casings, attics, and around the
foundation. During warm days in winter and early spring they come out
and scatter through the house.
Centipede
The house centipede, when fully grown, is one to two inches long and has an average of 15 pairs of very long, delicate legs and a rigid body, which enables it to run with surprising speed up walls and along ceilings and floors. Its body is yellowish grey and has three dark-colored dorsal stripes running down its length; the legs also have dark stripes. Unlike most other centipedes, house centipedes and their close relatives have well-developed, faceted eyes.
Clover Mites
The full-grown clover mite is slightly smaller than a pin head and has a bright reddish to reddish-brown body. They appear as dark red specks crawling around sidings, doors, windows, drapes, curtains and furniture. When accidently crushed, they will appear red and will cause a stain. This is not blood but their coloration. The front legs are as long as the body, and extend forward.
