Ants

Harvester Ants

Characteristics
Size: Ranges from 3/8-inch to 1/2-inch in length
Color: Color will vary from red to reddish brown to black, depending on the species

Behavior
These ants got their name from the way they “Harvest” or clear the vegetation that is located directly around the entrance to their nest. 
In some cases they are known to clear as much as 30 feet in diameter. Most of the time you will only see a few feet of clearing. 
Some species will carry the excavated soil away from the nest, while others will construct mounds.
Harvester ants will defend their nests by aggressively biting or stinging.

Habitat
Harvester ants are most common to the dessert and are mainly fond in the southwest. Arizona is especially known for it’s large population of harvester ants. These ants nest in the soil with a single entrance hole.

Tips for Control
Regular applications are important and necessary for prevention. The best method to gain control for harvester ants is the use of bait.

Fire Ants

Characteristics
Size: Ranges from 1/8-inch to almost 3/8-inch in length
Color: Reddish brown

Introduction
Fire Ants will usually take care of the introduction themselves…unfortunately, with a sting! This is the surest way to know if you are indeed dealing with fire ants.

Behavior
The most important thing to note about fire ants behavior is the sting. It is important to know that fire ants rarely only leave one sting; rather it is more common for stings to occur by the dozens and even hundreds. This can become very dangerous to individuals who have allergic reactions to them.

Habitat
The large mounds that are spotted in lawns and in park strips along the road are commonly fire ant mounds. Even though most of these mounds are large in size and located on the surface, they are also poorly constructed, which means that many mounds will not be visible to the untrained eye.

Tips for Control
Regular applications are important and necessary for control. The health threat alone makes prevention an important part of the control process.

Argentine Ants

Characteristics
Size: Workers are about 1/8-inch in length
Color: Will vary from dark brown to black, often the body will be shiny in appearance

Introduction
Argentine ant colonies can become very large. These colonies may grow as large as 10,000 workers, and have multiple queens. Every argentine ant colony will be divided into satellite colonies. Each satellite colony will then be connected by what is referred to as a trunk trail.

Behavior
Despite the face that there may be two separate colonies or satellites colonies located in close proximity, these two groups of ants will not become aggressive toward each other, rather they will combine into one super-colony.

Habitat
Argentine ants will typically make shallow nests n the soil beneath stones, boards, concrete slabs or anything that offers protection.

Tips for Control
Regular applications are important and necessary for control.

Roaches

German Cockroach

Characteristics
Size: About ½-inch in length 
Color: Brown. It is recognized by the two dark, longitudinal stripes on the thorax at the front of the body under the head.

Behavior
The German Cockroach is the most prolific breeder among all cockroaches. 
Each egg capsule can contain up to 40 eggs and development from egg to adult can occur in as little as 45 days. The females will deposit their egg sacks making control more difficult. German roaches are not unlike other roaches in their eating habits. They are omnivorous and will eat virtually anything humans will eat.

Habitat
German cockroaches locate themselves close to water and food, making kitchens and bathrooms the first place you will see them. When German roaches are present, they will be found in drawers and in cracks and crevices in the kitchen and bath areas. 

Tips for Control
This is a job for a professional! Using the correct method and treating the right areas is of utmost importance.

American Cockroach

Characteristics
Size: Up to 1 1/2-inches long 
Color: Reddish Brown

Introduction
There is not a larger roach in the United States that invades structures. This roach likes cool, wet climates, and it is known as the “sewer roach”, “water bug” or “palmetto bug”.

Behavior
Roaches are omnivorous and will eat anything that you will eat, including any Crumbs that may fall behind the stove or food left outside after a picnic.

Habitat
This pest thrives in areas such as sewers and any other comparable climates. In southern states, where humidity is higher, they are also found living and breeding outdoors.

Tips for Control
The most important step in treating this pest is to find the source and treat the breeding and dwelling areas directly.

Oriental Cockroach

Characteristics
Size: 1 inch in length
Color: Dark brown to black

Introduction
Male and female oriental cockroaches vary slightly in color and size. The wings 
on this species will not cover the entire back. The wings on a male oriental roach extent about ¾ of the abdomen.

Behavior
During the summer months, you are more likely to see them outdoors. But when it begins to cool down, they will make a big push to get indoors. The oriental cockroach prefers warm, wet climates.

Habitat
When this roach is found inside, it will usually be areas that stay warm with high humidity such as basements, crawl spaces, or around water piping. During the summer months, when it is more common to see them outdoors, they prefer storm drains and sewers. 

Tips for Control
Keep all cracks and possible entry points in the home sealed tight. A good time to do this is just as the temperature begins to cool down outside.

Brown Banded Cockroach

Characteristics
Size: Adults are 1/2 –inch in length
Color: Light to dark brown with colored bands running across the wings, 
directly under the thorax

Introduction
Not unlike the oriental cockroach, the brown banded cockroach also varies in 
size and color depending on sex.

Behavior
Brown banded roaches do not require as much moisture as other indoor roaches, such as the German cockroach. Many times, they will be spotted in closets, under furniture, and just about anywhere else! Though omnivorous, they will eat a wide variety of things including organic glues used in books and cabinets.

Tips for Control
Because brown banded roaches prefer the interior of structures, it is very important to seal all possible entry points. This includes sealing holes around plumbing pipes under sinks and in bathrooms. Don’t keep paper bags under sinks or in the kitchen areas.

Spiders

Black Widow

Characteristics
Size: ¾-inch in length with the abdomen reaching 3/8-inch in diameter
Color: Shiny black, but may also be dark brown to light brown. Male black widow is brown with white stripes

Introduction
The red markings associated with the black widow usually will be found on the belly in an hourglass shape. Occasionally, orange spots can also be found on the back.

Behavior
Bites from the black widow can result in sever pain and may take several days to cure. These bites are usually not fatal. The elderly and young children are at the highest risk. Black widows are also known for their irregular web; these webs are very sturdy. Egg sacks are similar shape to the abdomen of the mother. Newly hatched black widows will climb to a high point, release a strand of web, and float to a new location. Many new homes and buildings will have infestations for this reason. A myth about black widows is that the female will eat the male after mating. This is not always true, but does happen from time to time.

Habitat
Cluttered areas are the most likely places to locate a black widow indoors. Be very cautious when you are contacting things that you rarely come in contact with. Such areas are garages, basements, closets, under sinks, and in crawl spaces. Beware this spider is also known to be located under the toilet seat (ouch!). Common places to locate a black widow outdoors would be under siding or the siding over hangs, in electrical boxes, and in the front bottom corners of garages. Black widows are trappers of insects. This means they will locate their webs in high insect traffic areas. The more insects you have coming in and out of your home or business, the more likely you will be to have black widows.

Tips for Control
Here are some control tips:

  • Don't keep clutter around your home
  • Periodically sweep out spider webs in the garage, especially the front corners
  • Prevention is the safest control method. This is done by keeping other insects from traveling in and out of your home. This is done best by having your home treated on a regular basis.


Brown Recluse

Characteristics
Size: 1 1/2-inches in diameter
Color: Usually light brown, but may be darker in some cases. 

Introduction
It is very important to know how to identify this spider. The best way to do this is by the markings on its back. It will have a “fiddle” shape on its thorax and head. This spider also has six eyes that are arranged in 3 pairs. 

Behavior
This spider is a hunter and as such is very mobile. Even though they are not aggressive towards humans, they often crawl into beds, shoes, socks, and places that constantly come in contact with humans. This is usually when biting occurs. If you are bitten by a brown recluse, you should seek medical attention as quickly as possible. Bites from the brown recluse can cause tissue necrosis and usually leave unsightly scars. 


Habitat
These spiders typically stay in areas that are less disturbed, but still offer a food source (other insects). Similar areas are basements, garages, and crawl spaces; they have also been found in closets and under furniture. 

Tips for Control
If brown recluses are spotted in your home you should:

  • Shake our shoes, socks, and clothing before putting them on
  • Beds should be pulled away from walls
  • Don't allow bed skirts or bedding to touch the floor
  • Prevent through eliminating food source (other insects)
Wolf Spider

Characteristics
Size: Wolf spiders will vary in size; they will range anywhere from ¼-inch to more 
than 1 1/2-inches in length
Color: Dark brown, almost black

Introduction
Many times to an untrained eye these spiders will be mistaken for the infamous brown recluse. 

Behavior
Wolf spiders are mobile and will be found both day and night. They feed on other insects and spiders. They will become a problem when they have a plentiful food source (other insects). After the young hatch, they will ride on the mothers back for a few days. This can be quite startling to an unsuspecting person. They are not aggressive towards humans and their bites are not dangerous.

Habitat
Wolf spiders prefer the outdoors. Due to their mobility, they often time will end up inside searching for food. They can most commonly be found in grass and will often be present on foundation of structures. 

Tips for Control
Sticky traps are a great way to control this spider population indoors and garages. Maintaining control is done by controlling this spiders’ food source.

Stingers

Scorpions

Appearance
Range in size from 1-1/2 to 3 inches long; eight legs, a pair of large pinchers and a pair of small pinchers near the mouth; tail possesses a stinger.

Habitat
Most active at night; during the day they hide under bark, logs, or stones. In houses, they hide in closets, shoes, and folded clothes.

Diet
Small spiders and soft bodied insects; will eat other scorpions.

Reproduction
Females produce an average of 32 young; young reach maturity in three to four years.

Other Information
Common in southern states; very poor eyesight; use pinchers as feelers.

Wasp / Bee / Yellow Jacket

Characteristics
Size: Will range anywhere from 1/2-inch to 1-1/2 inch
Color: Depending on the species, the color will vary quite a bit. Some are orange, reddish-brown, or even dark red

Behavior
Paper wasps are easily identified by their nest. They build single circular 
comb-like nests. They will attach their nest by one single stock. These nests tend to be located under eves, in garages, between fence posts, and even in mail boxes. These wasps are social insects and will colonize. Each colony will typically only be a few dozen wasps, however, under the right breeding conditions, a colony may reach more than 100 workers.

Habitat
Wasps, for the most part, stay outdoors. When they do invade, it will be through holes in the soffits, cracks in crawl spaces, or underneath shingles or siding.

Tips for Control
It is important to take caution when dealing with wasps, as many individuals have allergic reactions to stings. A residual spray is important for lasting control.

Cricket

Characteristics
Size: No larger than 1-1/2 inches in length
Color: Generally black or brown 

Introduction
Crickets are usually easy to spot. They are not uncommon, so most people are familiar with their appearance. They have two long legs on the rear of the abdomen used for jumping. 

Behavior
Cricket are attracted to bright lights. They will swarm mid-to-late summer. Many times they will come by the dozens and often even the hundred to structures because of the lights. 

Habitat
Crickets that live near buildings will locate themselves under mulch, lumber, firewood, debris, boards, and heavy vegetations.

Tips for Control

  • To help control crickets, eliminate as many harborages as possible
  • Store firewood away from the home and off the ground
  • Remove leaf littler and any debris that could provide shelter
  • Rake back mulch areas and grown cover, at least 12-24 inches away from the foundation of the structure
  • Yellow lights or bug lights will help so that fewer crickets are attracted to the structure
  • All cracks in the structure need to be sealed
Ticks

Appearance
Appearance differs by species, but all adults are very small, round, with either legs (larvae or seed ticks have six legs); 1/8 to 
1/2-inch long.

Habitat
Live on the bodies of mammal, birds and reptiles. 

Diet
Blood; all species can swell to a considerable size after feeding.

Reproduction
Mating usually occurs while adults ticks are on the host animal; female hard ticks feed only once and lay one large batch of up to 10,000 eggs; female soft ticks will feed several times and lay 20-50 eggs after each meal. Eggs are hatched in 19-60 days.

Other Information
Ticks are known carriers of many serious diseases, including encephalitis, tick paralysis, typhus and Lyme disease; adults can live over 500 days without a meal.

Fleas

Appearance
Tiny insects measuring about 1/6-inch in length and are laterally flattened.
Color: Reddish brown

Habitat
Fleas are ectoparasites of animals, meaning they live on the outside of the body and need to feed on the blood of these animals in order to produce eggs. Because fleas usually feed and lay their eggs while the pet is sleeping, the pet's resting areas are where the most fleas will be found. Many pets acquire fleas outside in the yard. Research has demonstrated that urban wildlife, such as raccoons and opossums, are commonly responsible for introducing these insect pests onto residential properties where the pets can encounter them.

Reproduction
Cat fleas develop through the egg, larval and pupal stages before emerging as adults. This process can be complete in 30 days, although environmental conditions may cause the development cycle of the cat flea to stretch over one year. Females can produce one egg an hour. Eggs are oval-shaped and usually fall from the host animal's fur to the ground, remaining there until they hatch into larvae. Larvae then become pupae and eventually mature into adult cat fleas. Adult cat fleas live on their hosts, consuming their blood in order to reproduce.

Other Information
Of the approximately 2,000 recorded flea species, the most commonly found is the Ctenocephalides felis, or cat flea. These fleas are attracted to homes with domestic pets. Cat fleas infest a variety of animals and are not only found on cats.

While their bites cause little damage in small numbers, cat fleas can transmit murine typhus to humans. Cat fleas are also intermediate hosts of dog tapeworm. Some hosts develop allergic reactions to flea bites, resulting in flea allergy dermatitis. If the infestation is severe and the host is particularly small, the animal may become anemic.

In order to control a cat flea infestation, the host animal, home and yard must all be treated. Specially-formulated pet shampoos containing pyrethrins, carbamates and citrus peel derivatives can be effective. Topical creams may also be administered to bite wounds. Floors should be cleaned and fabrics should be washed. Areas indoors can also be treated with spray insecticides, containing pyrethroids or methoprene. Several other products may also be selected for outside use. The use of chemicals is best left to trained professionals, so contact your local pest control professional to discuss treatment options.

Other Information
Ticks are known carriers of many serious diseases, including encephalitis, tick paralysis, typhus and Lyme disease; adults can live over 500 days without a meal.