Common Invaders

Ants

 Odorous House Ant - The odorous house ant is about 1/8" and dark brown in color. It gets its name because when crushed the workers give off a rotten coconut odor. These ants normally nest outdoors under items on the ground, within landscape mulch, beneath loose bark on trees, under ground cover, in potted plants and other suitable voids They are often found invading and nesting in homes. Odorous house ants may develop huge colonies containing thousands of workers and numerous queens making this species very difficult to control.

 Argentine House Ant - The argentine ant is light to dark brown measuring 1/10". This ant is readily adaptable and can nest in a great variety of situations. Colonies are massive, and may contain hundreds of queens. Their nests are usually located in moist soil, along sidewalks, or beneath boards. They often invade residential and commercial buildings in search of food and/or shelter. They travel in trails and forage day and night. The ant can eat almost anything but prefers sweets. It has no important natural enemy in the United States.

 Pharaoh Ant – The pharaoh ant is extremely small, measuring about 1/16" in length. It is light yellow to reddish brown in color. This ant is a serious nuisance in hospitals, rest homes, apartment dwellings, hotels, grocery stores, food establishments, and homes. They feed on jellies, honey, shortening, peanut butter, corn syrup, fruit juices, soft drinks, greases, dead insects and even shoe polish. They have been found in surgical wounds, I.V. glucose solutions and sealed packs of sterile dressing in hospitals. The pharaoh ant is capable of mechanically transmitting diseases, Staphylecoccus and Psuedomonas infections in hospitals.

 Fire Ant – Fire ants are reddish brown and found in many sizes ranging from 1/8" to almost 3/8". Fire ants pose a health risk to anyone venturing into areas where the ants are found. These ants nest in the soil and construct large mounds that are easily seen in lawns and pastures. The fire ant is a veracious stinger, and while most stings result only in a raised welt, a person allergic to insect stings could experience a more serious reaction. Additionally, a person seldom receives just one sting. Rather, dozens or even hundreds of stings can be inflicted quickly on a person accidentally kneeling or standing next to or on a fire ant mound.

Roaches

German Cockroach - The German Cockroach is about 0.63" inches in length and can be easily recognized by the two dark, longitudinal stripes on the "shield" at the front of the body under which the head is located. The German cockroach is the most prolific breeder among all cockroaches and like all cockroaches; it is omnivorous and will eat virtually anything. This pest will first locate itself in bathrooms and the kitchen, as close as possible to food and moisture sources and then spread throughout a home or building as the population grows. During its life it will spend about 80 percent of its time resting in cracks and voids.

 American Cockroach – The American Cockroach is among the largest of all cockroaches with adults ranging between 1"- 1 1/2" They are reddish brown and have a yellowish margin on the body region behind the head. American cockroaches generally live in moist areas, but can survive in dry areas if they have access to water. They prefer warm temperatures and do not tolerate cold temperatures well. In residential areas, these cockroaches live in basements and sewers, and may move outdoors into yards during warm weather. Like all cockroaches, they are omnivorous and will eat virtually anything.

 Oriental Cockroach – The Oriental Cockroach or "water bug" is about 1" in length. The female is entirely black, while the male is black with two brown wings. This difference in appearance often leads homeowners to believe they have two different types of cockroaches. During the summer, oriental cockroaches move outdoors where they may venture into neighboring buildings. It inhabits sewers and storm culverts and will enter buildings through floor drains. During the colder months, they invade homes, establishing themselves in basements and crawl spaces. This cockroach can be a public health concern because they have been known to carry Salmonella bacteria-the organisms responsible for food poisoning.

Rodents

Deer Mouse - The deer mouse is pale grey to reddish brown in colour and has a bi-coloured tail, white below and dark above.This species has several closely related cousins that are colored similarly. Unlike the house mouse, the deer mouse is not found in cities but is associated more with rural areas and buildings located in or near wooded areas. It does not commonly invade homes, but in some instances one or more deer mice may invade structures seeking food and shelter. The deer mouse is a medically important species because it carries the Hantavirus. This virus can result in a serious, often fatal, respiratory disease in humans.

Norway Rat - The Norway rat has a stocky body measuing 10"-12" (without the tail). They are much larger that mice, and can weight as much as one pound. It has a blunt nose and its scaly tail is shorter than the head and body combined. Rats contaminate food and cause extensive damage to buildings and equipment in houses, granaries, restaurants and other areas they inhabit. Rats are able to gnaw through wood, electrical wires, and even unfinished concrete. Rats are excellent climbers and need a hole only as big as a quarter to gain entry into a home. Rats are known to be a source of numerous diseases affecting man, such as the Plague and Murine Typhus.

Spiders

Hobo Spider - Vary from ½" to 1 ¾" in body length, with dark brown carapace. The abdomen has a chevron pattern that often fades in older specimens. The hobo spider actually helps control many insect pests. During late summer the male travels about looking for mates. Hobo spiders bite when startled or threatened. What starts as a small spider bite can grow into a large wound as its powerful venom slowly kills the flesh.

 Black Widow – The black widow (female) is shiny black with a bright red hourglass shaped marking on the underside of the abdomen. The female hangs upside down in the web such that the red hourglass faces up. This spider is present in all 50 states and is found in Canada and South America. The silk strands of its web are considerably heavier and stronger than those of other spider species.. Black widows are classified as dangerous spiders because their bite can cause severe cramping and pain throughout the body. Very young children, the elderly, and very ill persons are most at risk for severe reactions to bites.

 The Brown Recluse -  Yellowish-tan to dark brown in color. It has dark brown legs covered with short, dark hairs. The brown recluse is identified by 3 pairs of eyes arranged in a semicircle on the front of the head and a violin-shaped marking behind the eyes. The neck of the violin points away from the head toward the abdomen. They are most active at night and prefer dark, undisturbed areas. The brown recluse is not aggressive but will bite if disturbed. Bites are rarely fatal but do require immediate attention by a physician as they cause ulcerating sores. Left untreated, such bites often become infected and significant tissue necrosis can occur.

House Spider - Vary from ½" to 1 ¾" in body length, with dark brown carapace. The abdomen has a chevron pattern that often fades in older specimens. The hobo spider actually helps control many insect pests. During late summer the male travels about looking for mates. Hobo spiders bite when startled or threatened. What starts as a small spider bite can grow into a large wound as its powerful venom slowly kills the flesh.