Ants
Ants are social insects, they live in colonies that can range in size from thousands to several hundred thousand. Ants will nest in locations that provide shelter, protection, and typically near a source of food and water. Ants may sting, or bite, contaminate food, and spread human diseases.
Spiders
Spiders are a very common household pest, often placing webs over lamps, in corners and basements. Many like cold damp locations, while others are attracted to warm, dry areas. Spiders are often found in cracks, darkened areas, air vents, and the garage. Spider bites usually occur when they are unintentionally disturbed.
Mice
The house mouse is the most common rodent to invade any structure. The adult house mouse will range in size from 5 to 8 inches in length. Mice reproduce very rapidly, after a gestation period of just 3 weeks, litter sizes will vary from 5 to 10 young. Mice typically feed at night, and will make 50 to 100 visits to their food source nightly. Mice will gnaw on wiring, plastic, lead, wood, and anything else in their path. Mice urinate and defecate along their runways, which can spread germs and disease.
Rats
The Norway rat and the roof rat will range in size 6 to 16 inches. Rats are most active just before sunrise, and immediately following sunset. Rats can also produce very rapidly, litters vary from 6 to 12 pups, with gestation periods around 3 to 4 weeks. Rats nest in hedges, bushes, vines, burrows, sewers, attics, garages, and sheds. Rats readily spread germs, disease, salmonella, contaminate food, and cause property damage.
Cockroaches
There are thousands of different species of cockroaches throughoutthe world, in North America we have more than 50 different species. Cocroaches like to hide in cracks and crevices, can be found in toasters, microwaves, televisions, and any appliance that can provide shelter. Cockroaches are often a source of food poisoning, tape worms, allergens, they carry and spread bacteria which can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and other illnesses. Cockroaches can reproduce quickly, infestations can grow from a few, to hundreds, or even thousands in short order.
Earwigs
Typically feed on dead animal and decaying plant material. Earwigs are active at night, and will seek shelter or cover during the day under rocks, boards, pavers, etc. The pinchers, called cerci, are used to catch prey, and also as defensive weapons. Populations can grow quite large during the warmer months, and are often found in homes near base boards, in kitchen, or bathrooms.
Wasps
Wasps are social insects, and work together to build the nest, feed the queen, and workers. Nests are built in sizes ranging from 1 inch to 12 feet or more, and are found on eves of homes, in attics, in trees, on fences, in the ground, etc. Nest populations can be small from a few workers, up to 500,000 or more. Certain wasps will travel up to 1,000 yards from the nest in search of food. The sting from a wasp can be very painful, and in some individuals cause a severe allergic reaction.
Stored Food Pests
These pests can be found living in products such as rice, flour, grain, cereals, dried fruits, and vegetables, and more. The stored food pests contaminate far more food than they actually consume. Often clean, uncontaminated foods are contaminated by being placed next to, or in the pantry with infested foods.
Fleas
Fleas are very small averaging between 1/10 to 1/5 of an inch long, and can jump 6 to 8 inches vertically, and up to one foot or more horizontally. They have piercing and sucking mouthparts used to feed on the blood of cats, dogs, and humans. Fleas reproduce very quickly, female fleas lay between 10 and 30 eggs per day, and the eggs will ususally hatch in 1 to 10 days.
