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Bed Bugs
Color: Mahogany to rusty brown; red after a blood meal
Legs: 6
Shape: Flat; broad oval
Size: 1/4"
Antennae: Yes
Flight: No
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Bed bugs get their name because they like to live and feed in beds.
Habits
Bed bugs like to travel and will hide in suitcases, boxes and shoes to be near a food supply. They are elusive, nocturnal creatures. They can hide behind baseboards, electrical switchplates, picture frames, even wall paper. They come out at night for a blood meal.
Habitat
Bed Bugs like to hide in small cracks and crevices close to a human environment. They can be found behind baseboards, wallpaper, upholstery, and in furniture crevices.
Threats
Although bed bugs can dine on any warm-blooded animal, they primarily dine on humans. Bed bugs do not transmit diseases, but their bites can become red, itchy welts.
Prevention
Vacuum suitcases after returning from a vacation. Check your bedsheets for tell-tale blood spots. Consider bringing a large plastic trashbag to keep your suitcase in during hotel stays. Carry a small flashlight to assist you with quick visual inspections. Bed bugs are elusive creatures, so it is imperative to seek professional pest control to address an infestation.
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Carpenter Bees
Color: Blue-black, green or purple metallic sheen on abdomen
Legs: 6
Shape: Oval; bee shape
Size: 1"
Antennae: Yes
Flight: Yes
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Carpenter bees look like typical bumblebees but often lack yellow stripes. They are solitary bees.
Habits
Unlike bumble bees, carpenter bees are solitary insects. Female carpenter bees will chew a tunnel into a piece of wood to build a nest gallery. The bits of wood she chews and deposits outside the nest are called frass. The male carpenter bee guards the outside of the nest. He does not have a stinger, but his constant buzzing causes concern for some.
Habitat
Carpenter bees bore through soft woods to lay eggs and protect their larvae as they develop.
Threats
Carpenter bees do not pose a public health threat, but they can damage wood through their nest building.
Prevention
Carpenter bees prefer bare wood, so painting and staining wood can sometimes deter them. However, they will sometimes attack stained or painted wood, so contact a pest control professional for assistance.
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Africanized ("Killer") Bees
Color: Golden-yellow with darker bands of brown.
Legs: 6
Shape: Oval; bee shape
Size: 1/2"
Antennae: Yes
Flight: Yes
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Africanized "killer" bees looks so much like a regular honeybee that the only way to tell the two apart is by measuring their bodies. Africanized bees have different wing measurements than honeybees.
Habits
These bees defend their colony and attack when threatened.
Habitat
Africanized bees have small colonies, so they can build nests in unique places. They have been known to live in tires, crates, boxes, and empty cars.
Threats
Their venom is no more dangerous than regular honeybees-they just tend to attack in greater numbers, which causes more danger to humans.
Prevention
Because of the aggressive nature of these pests and the enormity of their nests, a pest control professional or beekeeper must address an infestation. If you are chased by Africanized honeybees, run in a zig zag pattern and seek shelter in a house or car.
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Bumble Bees
Color: Black with yellow stripes
Legs: 6
Shape: Oval; bee shape
Size: 1"
Antennae: Yes
Flight: Yes
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Bumble bees are beneficial insects because they pollinate crops and plants.
Habits
The occupant of a disturbed bumble bee nest will buzz in a loud volume. They defend their nests aggressively.
Habitat
Bumble bees often nest in the ground, but can be found above ground around patio areas or decks. They will sometimes build their ness in soffits of attics.
Threats
As part of their aggressive defense of their nests, bumble bees will chase nest invaders for a considerable distance. The bumble bee sting is one of the most painful. Unlike honey bees, bumble bees can sting more than once.
Prevention
Bumble bees can be prevented through inspection of potential nesting areas and removal of potential harborage materials. Because bumble bees will sting when threatened, homeowners are advised not to address the infestation themselves.
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Honeybees
Color: Predominantly golden-yellow with brown bands
Legs: 6
Shape: Oval; bee shape
Size: 1/2"
Antennae: Yes
Flight: Yes
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Honey bees are social insects found all over the world. They are an extremely important beneficial insect because of their role in pollination. Honey bees pollinate more than 100 crops in the U.S.
Habits
Honeybees are active pollinators, and produce honey which feeds their young in colder months. The honeybee is the only social insect whose colony can survive many years.
Habitat
Honeybees produce honey from pollen and nectar of the plants they pollinate. They store the honey in honeycombs in their nests. They often build their nests in tree crevices, but will occasionally build nests in attics or chimneys.
Threats
Honeybees do sting, but they only sting once. The sting can be extremely painful if the stinger is not immediately removed from the sting. Persons allergic to insect stings will have a more severe reaction.
Prevention
Honeybees should be addressed by a professional. Removal of a honeybee nest and the honey product can be very messy. Because honeybee colonies are so large, only a pest control professional or experienced beekeeper can safely remove a honeybee nest.
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Mosquitoes
Color: Varies; Pale brown with whitish stripes across abdomen
Legs: 6
Shape: Narrow Oval
Size: 1/4" to 3/8"
Antennae: Yes
Flight: Yes
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One of the best known summer pests, mosquitoes breed in stagnant water or soft soil and can develop from egg to adult in 10 to 14 days.
Habits
Female mosquitoes suck our blood. Male mosquitoes feed on plant nectars. They can develop from egg to adult in 10 to 14 days. They are most active from dusk to dawn and will fly up to 14 miles for a blood meal.
Habitat
Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water sources such as storm drains, old tires, children's wading pools and birdbaths.
Threats
Mosquitoes are well-known to spread diseases such as West Nile Virus, malaria and dengue fever.
Prevention
Eliminate or reduce mosquito breeding sites by replacing all standing water at least once a week. This includes bird baths, ponds and unfiltered pools. Remove unneeded vegetation or trash from around any standing water sources that cannot be changed, dumped or removed. Introduce mosquito-eating fish such as gambusia, green sunfish, bluegills and minnows to standing water. Screen windows, doors and other openings with mesh. Avoid going outdoors when and where mosquitoes are most active: during dusk or dawn. Use insect repellent containing DEET on exposed skin whenever or wherever mosquitoes are likely to bite.
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Blacklegged Deer Ticks
Color: Dark brown to black body
Legs: 8
Shape: Flat; broad oval
Size: 1/8"
Antennae: No
Flight: No
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The blacklegged tick is named for its dark legs, which are a contrast to its pale body. Blacklegged ticks are sometimes called deer ticks.
Habits
These ticks like to feed on the blood of white-tailed deer, which is why they are sometimes called deer ticks.
Habitat
Blacklegged ticks prefer to hide in grass and shrubs.
Threats
Blacklegged (deer) ticks can spread Lyme Disease.
Prevention
When in an area where ticks are common, wear long sleeved shirts and pants, preferably light colored so ticks will be easy to detect. Tuck pants into socks. Use a tick repellent. When you return indoors, inspect clothing and skin thoroughly for ticks, including head. Wash clothes immediately.
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Flea
Color: Dark reddish-brown
Legs: 6
Shape: Flat
Size: 1/16" to 1/8"
Antennae: Yes
Flight: No
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Fleas are parasites that feed
on the blood of any warm-blooded body. The most
common species is the cat flea, which often feasts
on cats, dogs and humans.
Habits
Fleas transport themselves on rodents and other
mammals. They infest both household pests and wild
animals. Fleas use their powerful legs to jump as
high as 8 inches vertically and 16 inches horizontally.
Habitat
Fleas usually remain on their warm-blooded hosts
at all times. They can also be found on shoes, pant
legs, or blankets, which can transfer the fleas
to new environments. They are often found infesting
opossums, raccoons, and skunks in urban settings.
Threats
Fleas are the most common transmitter of the rare
Bubonic Plague. They also transmit the bacterial
disease murine typhus to humans through infected
rats. Their saliva can cause serious Flea Alergy
Dermatitus in pets, and their debris has been reported
to cause similar allergic reactions in humans. Fleas
can also transfer tapeworms and cause anemia in
pets. Flea bites commonly cause painful, itchy red
bumps.
Prevention
Clean and vacuum frequently to help remove flea
populations and prevent the laying of eggs. Keep
your lawn groomed to avoid rodent habitation. Protect
pets by keeping them on a leash when outside, bathing
and grooming pets regularly, visiting a veterinarian
annually, and using flea treatments according to
direction. It is important to hire a pest professional
to rid your home of rodents and fleas.
Thank you to the National Pest Management Association
for the pest identification information.
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