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Flies and Occasional Invaders |
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House Flies
Color: Dark gray
Legs: 6
Shape: Small oval
Size: 1/4"
Antennae: Yes
Flight: Yes
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House flies get their name from being the most common fly found around homes. Adult house flies can grow to one-quarter of an inch long and usually live between 15 and 25 days.
Habits
They are only able to feed on liquids but have the ability to turn many solid foods into a liquid for them to eat. House flies taste with their feet, which are 10 million times more sensitive to sugar than the human tongue.
Habitat
House flies tend to stay within 1-2 miles of where they were born; however, they have been known to migrate up to 20 miles to find food.
Threats
These insects have been known to carry over 100 different kinds of disease-causing germs, which makes them very bad house guests.
Prevention
House flies can be controlled through vigilant sanitation. Remove trash regularly and use well-sealing garbage receptacles. Clean up pet waste immediately. Use fine mesh screens on doors and windows to prevent fly entry.
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Fruit Flies
Color: Tan/ light abdomen
Legs: 6
Shape: Small oval
Size: 1/8"
Antennae: Yes
Flight: Yes
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Fruit flies feed on decaying fruits and vegetables.
Habits
Fruit flies feed on decaying matter, especially fruits and vegetables.
Habitat
Fruit flies are small pests that are commonly found in homes, restaurants and other facilities where food is processed. They are found on moist, decaying matter that has been stationary for several days.
Threats
Fruit flies are found in unsanitary conditions, so they are a potential heath concern, especially when present in health facilities.
Prevention
Fruit flies are best prevented through vigilant sanitation practices. Remove kitchen trash daily, and keep counter surfaces clean.
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Varied Carpet Beetles
Color: Black centers, with white, brown and yellow patches in an irregular arrangement
Legs: 6
Shape: Round
Size: 1/16"
Antennae: Yes
Flight: No
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Varied carpet beetles get their name from the rainbow of color on their back surfaces.
Habits
These pests enjoy dining on carpets, woolen fabrics, dead insects, furs, hides, feathers, horns, hair, silk and bones. It can take 249-354 days to three years for varied carpet beetles to grow from an egg to an adult.
Habitat
Varied carpet beetles are found in homes in attics, Oriental carpets, tapestries and wood-based wall-to-wall carpeting.
Threats
Varied carpet beetles feed on dead insects, but also feed on upholstery and carpet, so they can damage those materials. They can also damage clothing fabric.
Prevention:
As with moths, to avoid varied carpet beetle infestations, store clothing in plastic containers. Dry clean clothing thoroughly before storing for long periods of time.
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Powderpost Beetles
Color: Reddish brown to black
Legs: 6
Shape: Narrow oval
Size: 1/8" to 1/4"
Antennae: Yes
Flight: Yes
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Powderpost beetles lay their eggs in cracks of wood and the larvae tunnel into the surface, filling it with a very fine powder-like dust. Powderpost beetles have long, narrow, flat bodies that allow them to easily attack wood surfaces. These beetles are reddish-brown in color.
Habits
Adult powderpost beetles are very active at night, enjoy flying and are attracted to the light.
Habitat
Powderpost beetles often attack hardwoods, and can be found in hardwood floors, timbers and crates, antiques and other objects made of hardwood materials.
Threats
Some researchers believe that powderpost beetles are second only to termites in the United States in their destructiveness to wood and wood products.
Prevention
Powderpost beetles can be prevented through vigilant inspection of wood sources in the home.
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Merchant Grain Beetles
Color: Brown
Legs: 6
Shape: Narrow oval
Size: 1/8"
Antennae: Yes
Flight: No
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Merchant grain beetles are typically not found in grain products, but instead like to attack cereals, cake mixes, macaroni, cookies and chocolate. Merchant grain beetles are dark brown and have six saw-like teeth on each side of their bodies. They can grow to be one-eighth of an inch long and have very flat bodies.
Habits
The merchant grain beetle's body shape allows it to crawl into packaging to eat, live and have babies.
Habitat
Merchant grain beetles are found in pantries or in food processing areas or warehouses.
Threats
Merchant grain beetles can infest stored food products and can contaminate food.
Prevention
Discard infested packages. Clean spilled grain and food sources.
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Earwigs
Color: Dark brown
Legs: 6
Shape: Long, narrow
Size: 1"
Antennae: Yes
Flight: No
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Earwigs got their name from the myth that they crawl into sleeping people's ears and tunnel into their brains. The long cerci, or clippers, on their backsides easily identify an earwig.
Habits
Earwigs hide during the day and feeds on leaves, flowers, fruits, mold and insects at night.
Habitat
These insects live together outdoors in large numbers. They can be found under piles of lawn debris, mulch or in tree holes. They gain entry to a structure through exterior cracks
Threats
Contrary to folklore, earwigs do not crawl into ears and eat peoples' brains at night. They do not spread diseases, but their menacing appearance can be alarming to a homeowner.
Prevention
Remove harborage sites such as leaf piles, mulch piles or other vegetation. Seal cracks and crevices well to prevent structural entry.
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Indian Meal Moths
Color: Copper reddish coloring on outer part of wings
Legs: 6
Shape: Elongated oval
Size: 5/8"
Antennae: Yes
Flight: Yes
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The indianmeal moth was given its name after an insect scientist found it feeding on corn meal, also known as Indian meal. From wing tip to wing tip, adult moths measure from five-eighths of an inch to three-fourths of an inch long.
Habits
These moths like to feed on dried fruits, grains, seeds, nuts, chocolate, candies, bird seed, dog food, powdered milk, dried red peppers and candy.
Habitat
Attracted to the light, these bugs are found worldwide in areas where food is stored, such as grocery stores.
Threats
Indian Meal Moths infest foods and can contaminate food products.
Prevention
Dried food products should be inspected thoroughly for signs of moth infestations. Discard infested foods in outdoor trash bins. Clean infested cupboards thoroughly with a vacuum and soap and water. Store food in sealed containers.
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Pillbugs
Color: Dark brown to black
Legs: Seven pair
Shape: Oval; round when rolled up
Size: 3/4"
Antennae: Yes
Flight: No
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This pest is the only crustacean
that has become completely adapted to spending its
life on land. Pillbugs have oval bodies and seven
pairs of legs. They are easily recognized by their
back, which is made up of seven hard individual
plates. Pillbugs are sometimes referred to as rollie-pollies.
Habits
Pillbugs eat decaying vegetable material and are
most active at night. They are known for their ability
to roll into a ball.
Habitat
Pillbugs live in moist locations. They are found
under damp objects or under vegetable debris.
Threats
Pillbugs do not spread diseases or invade food products.
However, the pillbug is often considered a pest
when it gains entry into a home.
Prevention
Pillbugs can be avoided by eliminating food sources
such as vegetable or plant debris. If pillbugs enter
a structure, they will often dry out and die.
Thank you to the National Pest Management Association
for the pest identification information.
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