American Cockroach

American cockroaches are 2 inches long when mature, red-brown in color, and
characterized by fully developed wings that completely cover the abdomen. The pronotum
(shield-like area behind the head) has a yellow "halo-like" band around its edge

American roaches may be found occasionally invading homes. These native roaches are
usually found under loose bark or inside hollow trees. They may also colonize the space
under the decorative shake siding used on some homes.

They are quite active during the winter and are commonly seen in firewood. The nymphs
mature in spring and the adults mate. The adult males are excellent fliers and are often
attracted to lights during this mating season.

Wood roaches frequently enter homes that are built in or near woods. They also may
survive in firewood piles.


Brown-Banded Cockroach


Adult brown-banded cockroach are about 5/8-inch long. The females are dark and broad
with red-brown to dark wings that cover three-quarters of their rounded broad abdomens.
Males are narrower and brighter colored with light brown wings that completely their
narrow abdomens. Both sexes have two light, yellow-brown bands that run across the
body which gives the insects  their name. These bands are much easier to see on the
nymphs because they lack the wings to hide them. The underside of the body on both
sexes is light yellow-brown in color.

Brown-banded cockroaches are found in all parts of the home and seem to prefer hiding
places up off the floor. They are often found in or under furniture or appliances and
behind crown molding, pictures, tapestries, or other wall hangings. They like to hide their
eggs in secluded places in groups where they often appear to be clusters of seeds.
These insects like warmer environments and are not nearly as
common in homes or institutions.


German Cockroach


Adult German cockroaches are 1/2- to 5/8-inch long, pale brown or tan in color, with two
parallel black streaks on the pronotum (shield-like segment behind the head). The adult
males are somewhat narrower when viewed from below than the females. German
cockroach nymphs, 1/8-inch long when they hatch, are almost uniformly dark except for a
light area on the back of the second and third segments. As they grow, this light area
becomes larger until as mature nymphs they have two parallel black streaks separated by
a light tan area.

German cockroaches are the most common household insect found in the United States.
This pest is usually found infesting the kitchen or bathroom, but has the capability of living
in any portion of any heated structure. They are usually found in dark, secluded
harborage areas such as under cupboards, behind cabinets, in wall voids, or around
motor housings in appliances. The adult female produces four to eight Carmel brown egg
capsules in her lifetime, each of which is about 5/16-inch long and contains 30 to 40 eggs.
The nymphs emerge from the egg capsule in 28 to 30 days and they feed and live in the
same areas that the adults do. Cockroaches feed on all types of food and just about
anything with nutritional value found in a home.

German cockroaches are nighttime insects. They remain hidden in dark, secluded
harborage areas in the day. If they are seen during daylight it is a sure sign that a
tremendous population exists. Cockroaches like to congregate together in their  
harborages, but if the populations become too large they will be forced to move out of the
safest hiding spots.

Oriental Cockroach


Oriental cockroaches are usually black, but they may vary to red-brown. The females are
1-1/2 inches long when mature and lack wings, having only stubby remnants. The males
are 1-inch long. The nymphs are light brown and 1/4- inch long when they hatch. They
become more red-brown and eventually black when they develop.

Oriental cockroaches are seldom widely distributed in the home. They can become vary
numerous in damp, secluded places such as crawl spaces, basements, water meter
boxes, and drains. Thus, they are often found in bathtubs and sinks because they cannot
climb the smooth sides. They are also able to survive outdoors in planters and ground
cover, often thriving even in cold weather. These cockroaches are most often seen in
homes in the spring and early summer.

TERMITE CONTROL:
                    

Subterranean termites are serious pests, whose control is best left to professionals. Termites and termite management services can be confusing, however, and there are more options available today than ever before. Some of the most common termite questions raised by homeowners are answered below.

Q: Why worry about termites?

A: Termites cause billions of dollars in damage each year. They primarily feed on wood, but also damage paper, books, insulation, and even swimming pool liners and filtration systems. Termites can injure living trees and shrubs, but more often are a secondary invader of woody plants already in decline. While buildings may become infested at anytime, termites are of particular importance when buying or selling a home since a termite  inspection / infestation report is normally a condition of sale. Besides the monetary impact, thousands of winged termites emerging inside one's home are an emotionally trying experience — not to mention the thought of termites silently feasting on one's largest investment.


Q: Why are infestations often discovered during March - May?
                                         

A: Spring typically is when large numbers of winged termites, known as "swarmers," emerge inside homes. In nature, termites swarm to disperse and start new colonies. Triggered by warmer temperatures and rainfall, the winged termites emerge from the colony and fly into the air.   

The swarmers then drop to the ground, shed their wings, pair off with a mate, and attempt to begin new colonies in the soil. Few swarmers emerging outdoors survive to start new colonies. Swarmers emerging indoors are incapable of eating wood, seldom survive, and are best removed with a vacuum. They do, however, indicate that an infestation is present.


Q: How will I know if my home is infested?

A: Discovering winged termites indoors almost always indicates an infestation warranting treatment.

People often confuse winged termites with ants, which often swarm at the same time of year. Termites can be differentiated by their straight antennae, uniform waist and wings of equal size.
(Ants have elbowed antennae, constricted waists and forewings that are longer than the hind wings.)


The swarmers are attracted to light and are often seen around windows and doors. Termite swarmers emerging from tree stumps, woodpiles, and other locations out in the yard are not necessarily cause for concern, and do not necessarily mean that the house is infested. On the other hand, if winged termites are seen emerging from the base of a foundation wall or adjoining porches and patios, there's a good chance the house is infested also and treatment may be needed.

Other signs of infestation are earthen (mud) tubes (shown right) extending over foundation walls, support piers, sill plates, floor joists, etc. The mud tubes are typically about the diameter of a pencil, but sometimes can be thicker.

Termites construct these tubes for shelter as they travel between their underground colonies and the structure. To help determine if an infestation is active, the tubes may be broken open and checked for the presence of small, creamy-white worker termites.

If a tube happens to be vacant, it does not necessarily mean that the infestation is inactive; termites often abandon sections of tube while foraging elsewhere in the structure.

Termite-damaged wood is usually hollowed out along the grain, with bits of dried mud or soil lining the feeding galleries. Wood damaged by moisture or other types of insects (e.g., carpenter ants) will not have this appearance. Occasionally termites bore tiny holes  through plaster or drywall, accompanied by bits of soil around the margin. Rippled or sunken traces behind wall coverings can also be indicative of termites tunneling underneath.



Oftentimes there will be no visible indication that the home is infested. Termites are cryptic creatures and infestations can go undetected for years, hidden behind walls, floor coverings, insulation, and other obstructions. Termite feeding and damage can even progress undetected in wood that is exposed because the outer surface is usually left intact.

Termite damage to baseboard. Hidden infestation was discovered when vacuum cleaner attachment penetrated surface of baseboard.


Confirmation of infestation often requires the keen eye of an experienced termite
inspector.  Give us a call for a free inspection.

Q: Can I treat the house myself?

A: Ridding a home of termites requires special skills. A knowledge of building construction is needed to identify the critical areas where termites are likely to enter. Many of these potential points of entry are hidden and difficult to access. Termite control also utilizes specialized equipment such as masonry drills, pumps, large-capacity tanks, and soil treatment rods. A typical treatment may involve hundreds of gallons of a liquid pesticide, known as a termiticide, injected into the ground alongside the foundation, beneath concrete slabs, and within foundation walls.

In short, termite treatment is a job for professionals.  Give us a call for a free estimate.

House Spider

The female house spider is the larger of the two sexes, measuring about 1/3-inch long.
She is gray-brown in color and her abdomen is mottled with several dark stripes on the
upper side.

House spiders spin their webs outdoors or in dark corners of most rooms. They feed on a
wide variety of insects, especially flies. The female is fertilized several times during her
lifetime and produces up to nine egg sacs. Normally she will have three or four egg sacs
in the web at all times.

Each egg sac may contain 200 or more eggs. The young hatch in about eight days and
stay within the sac until after the first molt. They are cannibalistic and often eat one
another. The female provides some maternal protection for the newly emerged
spiderlings. However, they are soon trapping small insects for food. The spiderlings take
several months to mature.


Black Widow Spider

The female black widow is about 1/2-inch long, glossy black, with a nearly globe-like
abdomen. The abdomen has two triangular red spots on its underside that arranged in
such a way that the spots look like an hourglass. The males are much smaller than the
females,they are 1/4-inch long with a longer, narrower abdomen and somewhat longer
legs.

Black widow spiders are very shy and like to build their webs in dry, protected locations
where their pray is likely to travel. They are commonly found in wood piles, barns, or
sheds, beneath benches, in crawl spaces, under rocks, and similar protected locations. The
web is an irregular affair that serves to ensnarl the victim long enough for the spider to
tangle it  in more silk before giving it a lethal bite.

The female often eats the male after mating, thus giving them the rather morbid name.
She lays her eggs in a silken case which she protects in the nest. Several cases may be
constructed during a spider's lifetime, each on containing an average of 255 eggs. The
young spiderlings remain in the case until the second molt. They live in the vicinity of the
nest for two or three weeks before producing long threads of silk that helps them float
away like kites. Female spiderlings go through six or eight molts before maturing, taking
from 112 to 140 days.

Black widows have poison glands and will bite if handled roughly or disturbed. They
usually avoid trouble if possible. There have been deaths due to black widow bites, but in
most cases you may be sick.

Brown Recluse Spider

Brown recluse spiders are light brown or flesh-colored to dark brown. They measure 5/15-
to 1/2-inch long and have long legs that appear bare. There are six eyes arranged in a
semicircle on the top front of the first body segment. The best identifying characteristics
is the violin-shaped, dark mark that begins right behind the eyes, thus these spiders are
called "fiddle backs" or "violin spiders."

The brown recluse constructs a nondescript, irregular web that is used almost exclusively
as a retreat. Nests are usually built in hidden, secluded locations such as among old
papers, in seldom used clothes or shoes, or in attics. Outdoors, they are frequently found
under rocks and in barns and sheds. The spider usually retreats to the nest whenever
disturbed while hunting.

The female produces from one to five egg sacs in her lifetime, each one containing an
average of 50 eggs. The young emerge after about 30 days. Development from egg to
adult takes an average of 336 days. The young go through eight molts. Females live an
average of 628 days.

These spiders have a painful bite They seldom bite unless handles or disturbed in there
nests. People putting on old, seldom-used clothing should be especially cautious of being
bitten.

Don't Let This Happen To Your Loved Ones!

Because Brown Recluses like to live in heated homes, bites occur year round. And in just
hours, one bite from the highly venomous and dangerous Brown Recluse spider can cause
alarming damage to living tissue. Symptoms and secondary problems include:

• Severe Pain
  
• Blistering
  
• Necrosis (death of cells)
  
• Amputations
  
• Severe Infections
  

• In Rare Cases, Death  
  

Fleas

Adult fleas are not only a nuisance to humans and their pets, but can cause medical
problems including flea allergy dermatitis (FAD), tapeworms, secondary skin irritations
and, in extreme cases, anemia. Although bites are rarely felt, it is the resulting irritation
caused by the flea salivary secretions that varies among individuals. Some may witness a
severe reaction (general rash or inflammation) resulting in secondary infections caused by
scratching the irritated skin area.  Most bites usually found on the ankles and legs may
cause pain lasting a few minutes, hours or days depending on one's sensitivity. The
typical reaction to the bite is the formation of a small, hard, red, slightly-raised (swollen)
itching spot. There is a single puncture point in the center of each spot. (Ants and spiders
leave two marks when they bite. Mosquitoes, bees, wasps and bedbugs cause a large
swelling or welt). Also, fleas may transmit bubonic plague from rodent to rodent and from
rodent to humans. Oriental rat fleas can transmit murine typhus (endemic typhus) fever
among rats and from rats to humans. Tapeworms normally infest dogs and cats but may
appear in children if parts of infested fleas are accidentally consumed.

Identification

Adult fleas are about 1/16 to 1/8-inch long, dark reddish-brown, wingless, hard-bodied
(difficult to crush between fingers), have three pairs of legs (hind legs enlarged enabling
jumping) and are flattened vertically or side to side   allowing easy movement between
the hair, fur or feathers of the host. Fleas are excellent jumpers, leaping vertically up to
seven inches and horizontally thirteen inches. (An equivalent hop for a human would be
250 feet vertically and 450 feet horizontally.) They have piercing-sucking mouthparts and
spines on the body projecting backward. Also, there is a row of spines on the face known
as a genal comb. Spine I (first outer spine) is shorter than Spine II (next inner spine) in
dog fleas. Both spines are about the same length in the cat flea. The rabbit flea has a
vertical genal comb with blunt spines. The genal comb is absent in both rat fleas. Eggs
are smooth, oval and white. Larvae are 1/4-inch long, slender, straw-colored, brown
headed, wormlike, bristly-haired creatures (13 body segments), that are legless, have
chewing mouthparts, are active, and avoid light. Pupae are enclosed in silken cocoons
covered with particles of debris.




Life Cycle and Habits

Fleas pass through a complete life cycle consisting of egg, larva, pupa and adult. A typical
flea population consists of 50 percent eggs, 35 percent larvae, 10 percent pupae and 5
percent adults. Completion of the life cycle from egg to adult varies from two weeks to
eight months depending on the temperature, humidity, food, and species. Normally after
a blood meal, the female flea lays about 15 to 20 eggs per day up to 600 in a lifetime
usually on the host (dogs, cats, rats, rabbits, mice, squirrels, chipmunks, raccoons,
opossums, foxes, chickens, humans, etc.). Eggs loosely laid in the hair coat, drop out
most anywhere especially where the host rests, sleeps or nests (rugs, carpets, upholstered
furniture, cat or dog boxes, kennels, sand boxes, etc.). Eggs hatch in two days to two
weeks into larvae found indoors in floor cracks & crevices, along baseboards, under rug
edges and in furniture or beds. Outdoor development occurs in sandy gravel soils (moist
sand boxes, dirt crawlspace under the house, under shrubs, etc.) where the pet may rest
or sleep.  

Larvae are blind, avoid light, pass through three larval instars and take a week to several
months to develop. Their food consists of digested blood from adult flea feces, dead skin,
hair, feathers, and other organic debris. (Larvae do not suck blood.) Pupa mature to
adulthood within a silken cocoon woven by the larva to which pet hair, carpet fiber, dust,
grass cuttings, and other debris adheres. In about five to fourteen days, adult fleas
emerge or may remain resting in the cocoon until the detection of vibration (pet and
people movement), pressure (host animal lying down on them), heat, noise, or carbon
dioxide (meaning a potential blood source is near). Most fleas overwinter in the larval or
pupal stage with survival and growth best during warm, moist winters and spring.

Adult fleas cannot survive or lay eggs without a blood meal, but may live from two
months to one year without feeding. There is often a desperate need for flea control after
a family has returned from a long vacation. The house has been empty with no cat or dog
around for fleas to feed on. When the family and pets are gone, flea eggs hatch and
larvae pupate. The adult fleas fully developed inside the pupal cocoon remains in a kind
of "limbo" for a long time until a blood source is near. The family returning from vacation
is immediately attacked by waiting hungry hordes of fleas. (In just 30 days, 10 female
fleas under ideal conditions can multiply to over a quarter million different life stages.)




Control Measures

Flea control is best achieved by having house treated, pet treated, and yard treated. Call
us to schedule an appointment. Then to prepare for treatment make sure all animals and
people are out of the house the day of treatment.We Recommend You Vacuum Before
Treatment Is Performed.

Before vacuuming, collect all items (toys, shoes, clothes, etc.) off the floor, under beds,
furniture, in closets, etc., to ensure best access for treatment. Also cover fish tanks,
remove bird cages, pet food and water dishes and wash or dry clean any pet bedding.
Vacuuming carpet with a beater-bar type vacuum where the pet rests and sleeps will help
control flea larvae by removing eggs and dried blood feces (larval food) plus opening up
the carpet's nap for more effective insecticide treatment. Vacuuming must be performed
on a regular basis every other day to be effective. Flea larvae do not move far from the
site of hatching when there is adequate food (dried blood feces from adults). Research
indicates larvae spend 83 percent of the time deep in the carpet at the base of fibers
frequently becoming entwined within the carpet. At pupation, the larva move up the
carpet fiber spinning a camouflaging cocoon around itself. Vacuum especially where lint
and pet hairs accumulate along baseboards, around carpet edges, on ventilators, around
heat registers, in floor cracks, and under and in furniture where the pet sleeps.

After vacuuming, place the vacuum bag in a large plastic garbage bag and discard in an
outdoor trash container. If the cleaner uses a liquid water medium in a plastic pan (rather
than a dust bag) discard dirty water far away from the house.

Here are some common ants you may have. If you have ants in your home we
recommend that you do not spray household sprays on them as this may scatter them  in
other areas of your home depending on the type of ants you may have. If you are having
problems just give us a call.


Argentine Ant

Argentine ants are imported insects that are found throughout the southern United States
and California. These pests usually live in nests outdoors, but are major pests because
they often forage indoors for food. They are found over wintering deep in the soil or in
buildings near heat sources. Their large overwintering nests may have several queens. In
the spring, these nests disperse and smaller colonies are developed in moist soil, in trees,
or under stones or concrete slabs. These insects complete their life cycle in an average of
74 days-the eggs hatch in about 38 days, the larval stage lasts an average of 31 days,
and the pupal stage is completed in 15 days.
The colonies are mobile, moving to more acceptable nesting locations whenever
necessary. In the fall, the colonies congregate in communal overwintering sites and ant
members decrease somewhat during this period.
They are very aggressive insects, completely eliminating other types of ant colonies in the
area they colonize. They also attack, destroy, and eat other household pests such as
cockroaches. They prefer sweets and are often found tending aphids or scale insects on
plants, using them as a source of honey dew.

Carpenter Ant   


This species is common in the central and eastern United States.  Other species of
Camponotus are distributed throughout the United States. Carpenter ants are social
insects that usually nest in wood. They commonly excavate galleries or tunnels in rotting
or sound trees and will rapidly infest the wooden portions of structures. They prefer to
excavate wood damaged by fungus and are often found in conjunction with moisture
problems.     
The workers do all nest excavation, foraging for food and care for the young. Carpenter
ants feed off of sugar solutions from honey dew-producing insects such as aphids,
sweets,and the juices of insects they capture. They do not eat the wood they excavate
from nests.
Carpenter ants may enter homes while foraging for food. However, the appearance of
large number of winged adults inside a home indicates that the nest exists in the home.
The workers will often expel fibrous sawdust from the nest through slit-like openings in
the surface of wood. These piles of sawdust are good signs to look for when trying to
locate a colony in an infested structure.      

Fire Ant


There are several species of solenopsis that get the name fire ant because of the fiery
pain their sting inflicts upon the victim. These ants usually nest in the ground, but can
develop colonies in homes, especially in areas near the soil. When nesting in the soil, they
build large mounds which are unsightly and a detriment to cultivation of fields. These
ants, and especially the red imported fire ant, solenopsis invincta buren, have
tremendously large colonies that can severely injure crops, lawns, young birds, and
sometimes people.
Fire ants feed on practically everything, including other insects, honeydew, seeds, fruit
juices, nectar, plants, nuts, cereals, butter,grease,and meats. They will also gnaw on
electrical wiring and clothing, especially if it is soiled.

Little Black Ant


Little black ants are found throughout the United States. They usually nest beneath
stones, in lawns, or in areas that lack vegetation. Their nests are easily located because
they form small craters of fine soil at their entrances. These ants may also nest in rotting
wood or behind woodwork or masonry of homes. The colonies have several queens and
can build up large numbers in a fairly short period of time. The winged reproductives are
usually seen swarming in late spring or early fall.
Little black ants like to feed on a variety of foods. They will tend aphids as a source of
honeydew,feed on meats or greases, and are predaceous on other insects. In home they
will feed on both greases and sweet foods.

Odorous House Ant  


Odorous house ants are native ants that often nest out doors under stones or logs. They
can also nest indoors in walls or floor voids, especially around heat sources. Each nest will
have several females, each of which lay one egg a day. The eggs hatch in 11 to 26 days,
the larval stage takes 13 to 29 days and the pupal stage lasts eight to 25 days.
Odorous house ants are like Argentine ants in they travel in trails and prefer
sweets,although they will eat almost any household food. They usually invade homes
during rainy periods when honeydew on plants has been washed off.

Pharaoh Ants    


Pharaoh ants are imported from the old world tropics and are widely distributed in the
United States. They may nest outdoors and have at time been a crop pest, but they are a
major problem in homes and institutions such as hospitals, hotels, prisons,or apartment
complexes. They nest in warm, hard to reach location in the walls, sub floor areas, wall
sockets, attics, cracks, crevices,behind baseboards,and in furniture.
These ants do not swarm; females mate in the nest and new colonies are formed by
"budding." This means part of the main colony moves en masse to a new location.
A female can produce 350 to 400 eggs in her lifetime. The eggs hatch in five to six days,
the larvae develop in 22 to 24 days, and the pupal period lasts nine to 12 days. The
entire life cycle is completed in 38 to 45 days at room temperature. These ants can
develop year round indoors.
Pharaoh ants will eat dead or alive insects and seem to prefer meats or greases. However,
they will also feed on sugar syrup, fruit juices, jellies, and cakes.

 

Norway Rat

The Norway rat is larger and more aggressive than the Roof Rat. As an adult the Norway Rat can weigh between 12-16 oz. with a body length of 6-8 inches long. The nose is blunt with small ears, and small eyes. The fur is shaggy and coarse with variation in colors. The tail is shorter than the head and body combined, and scaly.

 

Roof Rat

The Roof Rat is smaller and more slender than the bigger Norway Rat.

The adults weigh about 5-9 ounces,7-10 inches long. The tail is longer than the head and body combined. They have large ears and a pointed nose. The fur is smooth, as opposed to the Norway rat with it's shaggy fur.

 

Field Mouse

Some of the most noticed features of mice are their small pointed noses, their whiskers, their small black eyes, their round ears and their long scaly tails. Mice weigh about one ounce. Their heads and bodies are three to four inches long not including their tails. A mouse's tail is almost as long as its body. They have five toes on each of their four feet and each toe has a sharp claw. Their claws help them grip onto things when they climb. Mice have two kinds of teeth. They have incisors which are their front teeth and cheeks which are their back teeth. Incisors are the teeth with sharp edges used to gnaw on things.