Is a mystery pest bugging your household? Here, you will find helpful information detailing insects, their habits, characteristics, and where they may be commonly found in or around your home.
Norway rats are nocturnal and forage at dusk and prior to dawn, preferring to hide during the day. These rodents prefer to make colonies near sources of water like beside riverbanks and while highly adaptable, they thrive in human habitats.
Carpenter ants rarely come in contact with humans and do not pose a threat, however they can damage the structure of your property due to their nest building
Like other cockroach species, brown-banded roaches can carry and spread bacteria and diseases that cause food poisoning. In large infestations, they can pose health issues such as triggering allergies or exacerbating asthma attacks.
Wolf spiders are adaptable and seek out habitats ranging from woodlands to coastal forests, but tend to dwell in gardens. Unlike other species, wolf spiders do not spin webs—they burrow in the ground.
Deer mice prefer tall grass for cover and frequent woodlands. As they do not hibernate in the winter, they seek out food and shelter in structures and they can be found in attics, garages, sheds, and hollow logs.
Argentine ants live in moist areas that are near a food source, such as outside office buildings or beneath boards in damp soil. They continuously leave trails to ensure they do not waste time returning to previous food sources, rather than depositing trails from nest to food source.
Black widows favor dark, secluded locations that are dry. In homes, they come in through cracks and crevices or boxes. They often are found in dimly lit rooms like garages, basements, and even cluttered areas.
Roof rats are nocturnal by nature, live in colonies, and are highly adaptable. They prefer to live in high places such as rafters or attics but will live wherever necessary including piles of rubbish or wood, and around or in structures.
While not dangerous, odorous house ants can contaminate food and can be a nuisance. Locating the colony and subcolonies is key with controlling odorous house ants.
Carpenter bees do not live in nests or colonies like other bees because they are solitary, instead they bore deep holes into decaying or weathered wood to deposit eggs inside.
House mice tend to live in structures but can survive outdoors in grassland or farmland. They prefer to nest in dark, secluded areas and build nests out of paper, cotton, insulation, and packing materials.
This species is considered a three-host tick because each feeding stage (larva, nymph, and adult) requires a different host. Between March and July is when these ticks become more active and feed.
Most active in late summer into fall, yellow jackets are considered one of the most aggressive wasps. Yellow jackets can have ground nests and aerial nests. Burrow nests are usually left behind by rodents while above-ground nests are found in trees, shrubs, and on the side of buildings.
Eastern subterranean termites need moisture to survive, so prefer damp timber and soil. Humid areas in and around the home are perfect habitats, including water-damaged lumber. Swarming typically happens during the daytime in spring, when groups of reproductive termites search to start new colonies
American dog ticks do not survive well indoors and prefer grassy areas with low vegetation or environments with brush and open pathways in forests. They can also be found where tree cover is limited. Their preferred environment consists of brightly lit areas with relatively low humidity.
While honey bees do sting, only females are capable of stinging and can only do so once. They are not likely to sting while foraging for nectar and pollen. As docile bees, they rarely strike unless provoked.
Formosan termites are aggressive and difficult to control once they infest a structure. They can cause costly damage to not just houses, but telephone and electric cable insulation coverings.
European hornets are social wasps and will build their nests in hollow trees around 6 feet from the ground or wall voids that have anywhere from 200 to 400 workers. They tend to come out at night and seek out the light from outdoor fixtures, where their prey frequent.
Named after the material they feed on and live in, drywood termites infest dry wood with low moisture content. No connection to the ground is necessary, so they can be found outdoors or indoors, like in attic frames.
Brown dog ticks can survive their entire lifecycle indoors, which can quickly lead to tick infestations in homes and kennels. They prefer warm, dry environments but can establish a population in colder climates by living indoors.
Most common in the southeastern United States, the bold-faced hornet is most active during the day and as social insects, they live in large colonies with between 100 and 400 members.
Smokybrown cockroaches are nocturnal and tend to stay in warm, humid climates as they are not cold-tolerant. It’s crucial for their survival that they have access to water, so prefer moist environments or wooded areas where they can hide under mulch and in tree cavities.
Blacklegged ticks, often referred to as deer ticks, are a vector of anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and Lyme disease. While a tick bite from this species is possible throughout the year, spring and summer are considered peak deer tick seasons.
Tropical and subtropical climates are preferred by yellow fever mosquitoes, and they thrive in urban and suburban environments. As container-inhabiting mosquitos, they breed in unused flowerpots, old tires, gutters, rain barrels, and any discarded cans, buckets, and outdoor toy
Primarily an outdoors species, oriental cockroaches can be found under mulch, rocks, and various outdoor debris. Indoors, they prefer moist locations such as basements and crawl spaces.
These spiders can be found throughout the year in structures although more commonly spotted in warm months. Indoors, common house spiders are found in upper corners, closets, basements, garages, and crawl spaces.
While they can thrive in various environments and conditions, Asian tiger mosquitoes are active year-round in warm regions. They tend to remain closer to the ground and breeding sites are likely to be close to where the bite occurred.
Due to their aggressive nature and ability to sting repeatedly, contacting a professional pest control technician is the best choice at eliminating this ant species from your property.
German cockroaches prefer to live in warm, humid places close to food and moisture sources. They are frequently found in residential and commercial kitchen environments, and bathrooms.
Like other spider species, brown recluses’ diet consists of other insects including moths, cockroaches, crickets, and flies. They tend to hunt for prey at night due to their nocturnal habits.
Culex mosquitoes prefer warm, wet environments and surface-level habitats of stagnant water, including ponds, marshes, floodwaters, pastures, and even old tires or tree stumps.
Pavement ants are commonly found in urban and suburban areas. Their name is due to being primarily found on sidewalks, cracks in driveways, and other concrete structures like office buildings. They tend to nest along curbs and sidewalks underneath objects like stone or rocks.
American cockroaches spread bacteria and other pathogens, making clean surfaces, food, and household items vulnerable to cockroach contamination. They are known to trigger allergies and exacerbate asthma attacks.
Jumping spiders are found worldwide in forests, deserts, and grasslands. Outdoors, they roam tree bark, decks, and stones, while indoors, they often appear in doorways and windowsills, hunting insects.
