Eastern Subterranean Termite
What Are Eastern Subterranean Termites? The eastern subterranean termite is a beneficial insect in forested areas, where it feeds upon dead trees and vegetation reducing these ‘ecological wastes’ into organic material. However, termites also cause millions of dollars in damage to homes each year, making termites the number one enemy of your home. Termite damage to […]
Black Carpet Beetle
Description Carpet beetles are a type of destructive pest that can cause significant damage to items located within your home. They are known for causing damage to carpets, clothing, upholstery, and other stored fabrics. The three most common species of carpet beetles that invade homes include the varied carpet beetle, the common carpet beetle, and […]
House Spider
Description As the name of the house spider suggests, they are a common species of spider that is found in homes throughout the world. The house spider enters houses and other structures like garages, sheds, and barns to find food sources. Once inside, the spider will build, abandon, and re-build webs to catch their prey. […]
German Cockroach
Description The German cockroach is the most important cockroach pest species because of its high reproductive rates, small size, and ability to adapt and survive under almost any condition. Before the new millennium, German cockroaches were the number one pest species throughout the United States. However, the advent of cockroach baits made their control significantly […]
Honey Bee
Description Honey bees are incredibly beneficial social insects because of their crucial role in pollination, but they can be serious pests at times. Honey bees are responsible for pollinating more than 100 crops in the United States. Because they are social insects, honey bees live in colonies where all the bees are of the same […]
Yellowjacket
Understanding Eastern Yellow Jackets Eastern yellow jackets (sometimes misidentified as ‘ground hornets’) are generally beneficial insects because they prey on many species of pest arthropods. However, they sometimes build their nests near occupied structures or outdoor recreational areas, which creates the potential for a dangerous encounter. Yellow jackets will mount an aggressive, organized defense of […]
Paper Wasp
Description The appearance of a wasp depends greatly on its specific species; however, most are black or metallic with yellow or brown markings. In general, wasps have two pairs of wings and a pinched waist. Their size is also species-dependent, but many adults range from 5/8th to 3/4th. Biology and Behavior Wasp Prevention Tips Action’s […]
Pillbug
Description Adult pill bugs grow to be about 3/4 of an inch in length and are dark brown to black. They have seven pairs of legs and seven distinct hard plates covering their bodies. Pill bugs are also referred to as “rollie-pollies” because of their ability to curl themselves up into a tight ball when […]
Ladybug
Lady bugs are occasional invaders. Lady bugs overwinter inside homes and other buildings, typically entering inside in the late fall. Description Adult lady bugs have a distinctive appearance; they have a domed, oval-shaped body and are usually red, orange, or yellow, and have black spots on their bodies. Lady bugs have short antennae, and their […]
Flea
Understanding Fleas: Description & Characteristics Fleas are tiny flightless insects, approximately 1/16 to 1/8 of an inch long. They feed on blood and are red when they’ve had a blood meal. They have a flat hard body with large back legs used for jumping, and they can sometimes jump vertically up to seven inches high. […]