Pest I.D.
In order to properly manage a pest problem, identification is key. We've assembled the guide below to assist in identifying household pests commonly found in homes. Browse the pest profiles below to learn more.
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AntsXAnts
Ants are among the most common household pests.
Identification
- The ant body is 1/16” – 1/2” with a mid-section that appears pinched in, a pair of bent antennae, and forewings that are longer than the hindwings (swarmers); termites have a uniformly straight midsection, straight antennae, and forewings and hindwings that are equal in length (swarmers)
- Many species build mounds that vary in size and look similar to a mini volcano
- They are usually found in trails leading to sugar and grease, depending on the species and season
Threats
- Large trails of ants can cause considerable concern and embarrassment among building occupants
- Some species can infest, damage and weaken wood structures (carpenter ants)
- Some can damage line insulation and shorten electrical circuits while entering buildings via electrical and phone lines (acrobat ants)
- Others inflict painful stings on people (red imported fire ants)
Management & Control
- Identify and monitor the correct ant species that is on the premises because not all products will be effective against all ant species
- Exclude ants from entry points by caulking cracks and crevices and minimize sources of moisture
- Keep indoor and outdoor environments clean and eliminate ant access to food and drink materials
- Use the appropriate bait that fits the diet of the ant giving trouble; baits are needed to wipe out colonies
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Bed BugsXBed Bugs
Bed bugs are small, wingless insects that feed on blood from humans and other animals.
Identification
- Adults are small (about 1/5 inch), flattened, oval, and rusty red. Nymphs (immature stages) are smaller and lighter colored.
- Blood spots on sheets, bites along the body, feces and cast skins are all indications of a bed bug infestation
- These insects hide along seams of mattresses, within box springs, or within cracks and crevices in furniture, personal belongings, and areas near sleeping and resting sites
Threats
- Bed bug bites can cause skin irritation and rashes. Areas around bites might redden, swell and itch several days later
- Infestations can cause extreme anxiety, stress, insomnia and delusional parasitosis due to the fear this pest has instilled in people
Management & Control
- Understand that bed bugs are not associated with poor sanitation necessarily
- Vacuum areas around cracks and crevices, beds, couches, dressers and other furniture where they may be near
- Do laundry to drown, apply heat to and kill any bed bugs that may be present in clothing
- Perform professional heat treatment to kill infested items such as mattresses
- Use treatments that are effective against pyrethroid-resistant populations
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CentipedesXCentipedes
Identification
- Centipedes are flat multi-segmented insects that have yellow or reddish-brown bodies
- They can actually have anywhere from 15-177 pairs of legs with one pair per segment, but the actual total number of legs in most species is closer to 30
- During the day they hide in dark cracks and crevices, coming out at night to search for insects to eat
Threats
- When provoked, a few large kinds of centipedes can inflict a painful bite that may cause localized swelling, discoloration, and numbness
- House centipedes are actually beneficial, as they capture flies, cockroaches, and other small household pests. They never damage plants or household items
Management & Control
- Outdoors, centipede control is aided by removing debris
- The most effective way to prevent a centipede infestation is to reduce areas of moisture in and around your home
- Store firewood off the ground
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CockroachesXCockroaches
Identification
- Cockroaches have oval-shaped, reddish brown to dark brown or black bodies that are typically between 1/2”- 3” long
- Many species have wings though not all can fly
- Gravid females carry an egg case and, depending on species, will deposit it on the floor or on another surface prior to hatch
- Not usually seen in the day time or when lights are turned on
Threats
- Cockroaches may transmit bacteria that cause food poisoning
- Cockroaches can carry bacteria that causes diseases such as Salmonella, Typhoid, Polio, and Dysentery.
- Indoor infestations of cockroaches are an important source of allergens and risk for asthma among some populations.
Management & Control
- Understand that cockroaches are nocturnal and if seen in the daytime preparations should be made to deal with a likely high infestation that is causing overcrowding within cracks and crevices
- Clean house regularly and identify points of entry
- Reduce food and water sources
- Use monitoring traps to identify hot spots and make more strategic treatments
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EarwigsXEarwigs
Identification
- Earwigs are slender insects with prominent appendages that resemble forceps/pincers at the tail end of its body
- Used for defense, the forceps are somewhat curved in the male but straighter in the female
Threats
- Earwigs make their home in wet and cool areas and can thrive in some backyards
- Earwigs are not vectors for diseases
- Earwigs may attack vegetables, herbaceous flowering plants, sweet corn, or plants with soft fruits such as strawberries and apricots
Management & Control
- Keep water and moisture away from structures
- Seal up cracks or other entry points
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FleasXFleas
Fleas are particularly annoying to people and pets, especially during spring and early summer
Identification
- Fleas are small wingless insects with shiny reddish-brown hairy bodies that are laterally compressed, so they look as if they are walking on edge
- Adult fleas are no larger than 1/8 inch long, roughly the size of a ballpoint pen tip
Threats
- Fleas can carry pathogens that cause disease, namely typhus and plague, as well as “Cat-Scratch Disease” which can be transmitted to humans
- Saliva can cause flea allergy dermatitis in pets
- Debris can cause allergies in humans
Management & Control
- Washing pets bedding and throw rugs regularly, vacuum to destroy larvae
- Locate heavily infested areas (usually areas where the pet rests) and concentrate treatment there
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Grubs (White/Lawn Grub)XGrubs (White/Lawn Grub)
Identification
- Off white or dirty white in color with brown heads
- C-shaped creatures with soft bodies. They are an immature form of a beetle
- Lawn grubs mature into beetles who emerge from the soil for mating and laying eggs
- Your local extension office can help you determine which grub is most common in your area, and help you identify the type
Threats
- Lawn grubs feed on grass roots causing sections of grass in the lawn to die
- Grubs attract racoons, skunks, moles and rodents to yards
Management & Control
- If more than 6 grubs are found per square foot, you may need to treat.
- Identifying your grub is important before you begin a control measure, since some products may only control for one type of grub.
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House FliesXHouse Flies
Identification
- House fly body is dark and dull-colored with four characteristic black stripes going down the back; flesh flies are bigger in size and only have three stripes going down the back
- Breeding sites are normally outdoors near and within decaying organic matter including in dumpsters, feces, and road kill
Threats
- House flies do not bite, but they are capable of transferring more than 100 different pathogens, including salmonellosis, typhoid and tuberculosis
Management & Control
- Eliminate breeding sites (usually outdoors but may be indoors)
- Keep doors and windows closed as much as possible
- Apply treatments to common fly resting sites around entry points where they tend to stage prior to entering a building
- Use commercial fly lights to monitor for and kill flies that make it inside buildings
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LiceXLice
Identification
- The six-legged, wingless adult head louse is about the size of a sesame seed and ranges in color from tan to gray.
- Also look for the egg, which is coated with a glue-like substance that cements it to the hair.
Threats
- The most common symptom of infestation is intense itching on the back of the head or neck. The itching occurs when the lice bite and suck blood from the scalp.
- Body Lice can be vectors of disease such as Typhus
Management & Control
- Good personal hygiene as well as laundered clothing and bedding can prevent the spread of Lice
- Avoid sharing combs, brushes, hats, clothing and other items with people.
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MosquitosXMosquitos
Mosquito adults are small flying insects that bite people and animals and can spread diseases.
Identification
- Mosquito adults are small with slender bodies, and delicate wings. They are typically less than 1 inch in length.
- Mosquito larva range in size from 1/16″ – 1/2″ in size depending on how old the larva is.
- Only female mosquitos bite, and can live off a feeding for 3 weeks and lay hundreds of eggs during that time period
Threats
- Mosquito bites can carry many different diseases. Most commonly, west nile virus, zika virus, and malaria
- Saliva left behind can be highly irritating and result in secondary infections, allergic reactions, pain, irritation, redness, and itching.
Management & Control
- Keep fine mesh screens on windows and doors in good repair
- Get rid of areas with standing water
- Wear repellents and protective clothing when outdoors during the mosquito season
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SpidersXSpiders
Identification
- Spiders have eight legs and two body parts—a head region (cephalothorax) and an abdomen. They lack wings and antennae.
- With so many species of spiders in the US, the size of the spiders vary greatly from 1/8″ – 3″.
- Spiders often make webs outside near vegetation or in dark moist crevices in and around the home
Threats
- Most spiders have toxic venom, which they use to kill their prey. However, only those spiders whose venom typically causes a serious reaction in humans are called “poisonous” spiders
Management & Control
- Remove vegetation from around the home to limit the number of places for spiders to set up webs
- Seal cracks on the outside of the home, especially around doors and windows
- Keeping the house clean and limiting clutter will give spiders less places to hide
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TermitesXTermites
Termites are among the pests most feared by homeowners.
Identification
- Termites have segmented bodies with a thick waist, with straight antennae. It is important to distinguish termites from ants in order to manage them effectively.
- Termites have shorter legs
- When wings are present, both pairs of wings will be the same length on a termite
Threats
- Damage to wood in and around homes
- Termites do not carry diseases, but an infestation can cause allergic reactions and asthma attacks
Management & Control
- Remove infested wood and eliminate excess moisture.
- Destroy any shelter tubes that subterranean termites have built between soil and wood structures.
- Most proven, effective methods for management termites is to hire a professional.
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TicksXTicks
Identification
- Ticks have a flattened oval or tear dropped shaped body before feeding and a plump, rounded body after feeding.
Threats
- Ticks are a vector for harmful diseases such as Lyme disease and can be dangerous to both humans and animals
- Lyme disease begins in up to 60 to 80% of patients as a slowly expanding reddish rash known as “erythema migrans”, typically 3 to 32 days after the bite of an infectious tick.
Management & Control
- Always inspect clothing, exposed skin, and pets for ticks when outdoors
- Wearing light-colored protective clothing, tucking pant legs into socks, and checking oneself daily can help prevent a tick bite
- Mowing your lawn and keeping the yard maintained can make it difficult for ticks and their larvae to infest a backyard
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WaspsXWasps
Identification
- Wasps vary in color, from a metallic blue to a dull red to solid black.
- The most common species of wasps in the US, Yellow Jackets, are winged insects with black and yellow bodies
- Wasps have have antennae and
- Wasps are typically smooth and shiny, with “pinched-in” or narrow, waists.
Threats
- Wasps are usually beneficial to gardens, but can be aggressive if disturbed and are likely to sting.
- Reactions to wasp stings vary from only short-term, intense sensations to substantial swelling and tenderness, some itching, or life-threatening allergic responses
Management & Control
- If wasp nests must be eliminated, it is easiest and safest to call for professional help.
- Physically removing wasp nests with water, pesticides, or smoke can deal with a wasp infestation. Use protective covering to prevent physical harm
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Learn more about Yellow Jackets at PestWorld.org
