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Pest Control Problems During the Winter

Monday, December 21st, 2009

Winter wonderlands are great places for people to enjoy the season and all of the holidays that are celebrated during the winter. Ironically people’s homes are winter wonderlands for pests. Yes, pests are a year round problem that homeowners have to deal with, but during the winter is when pest invasions are on the rise. There might not be as many pests during the winter as there are in the spring, but the risk of pests wanting to get into homes is much higher. If you already have pest control services set up make sure you have them year round and not seasonally.

pest control problems in winter

With snow and bare trees there aren't many places for pests to live outside during the winter.

The main reason pest invasions are on the rise in the winter is that pests are looking for a warm and dry place to stay. Some pests will actually hibernate within your home because of the warmth. While other pests will remain active once they’re gotten into a warm home. Having active pests inside your home during winter can be very dangerous as they can spread their diseases. Also while in your home pests can cause serious damage to wires, beams, and so forth.

The active pests that are inside a home will be looking for food, so keep all food stored properly and do not leave fruit out in fruit bowls. If pests walk on your countertops or on any food that’s left out they can transfer their bacteria etc. that they carry onto those surfaces and food. This is the most common way for people to physically suffer from pests, other than being bitten. Also pests will be leaving droppings which are contaminated with diseases and can cause harm to people. Keep an eye out for any droppings, especially in attics, basements, corners, etc. If you do find droppings call your local pest control service right away, as this is a sign of pest activity. If there are large amounts of droppings it can be hazardous to your health so do not try to remove the mess yourself, again call a professional out to your home.

During the winter it is best to maintain any preventative methods that you do throughout the year; by maintaining these methods in the winter your home will also be ready for the spring problems. The best way to think of your house, in order to protect it from pests, is that inside your home it is like spring year round. Even though pest problems are year round, spring is the highest peak of pest population indoors and outdoors. So if during the coldest time of year the home feels like spring you are sure to have some pests trying to get inside. Here are some of the most common winter pests by state:

If you do not see the state you reside in on this list please check back as more states are still being added to our database. Also the database is still adding more and more pests, so if you have a problem with a pest and don’t see it listed in the database please continue to visit www.localpestcontrolservices.com as pests are continually being added.

Picture courtesy of www.creativecommons.org

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Spider: The Yellow Sac Spider

Monday, December 14th, 2009

Yellow sac spiders can be found all across the United States. Not only is the yellow sac spider found all over the United States it also accounts for more spider bites than any other type of spider in the United States. That is a lot of bites to be caused by yellow sac spiders; unfortunately the number is so high because many times the yellow sac spider bites are misdiagnosed. The symptoms of the bite are similar to the bite from a brown recluse spider, but the yellow sac symptoms are not as severe. Therefore many times physicians diagnose the bite victim as being bit by the yellow sac spider; when in fact, it could have been a brown recluse spider, but the symptoms have not fully developed.

Since the yellow sac spider and the brown recluse spider bites are so similar it is important to know what to do in any case of getting bit by a spider. Read more about what steps to take if bitten by a yellow sac spider in our first aid for spider bites blog. Also it is important to know what a yellow sac spider looks like in order to help identify what kind of bite you may have gotten.

Often times people are bitten in the middle of the night, and may have no idea what really bit them. Other times when people get bit they see the spider, in this case it is best to try to catch the spider or bug that way the doctor can properly diagnose the bite. The yellow sac spider is about the size of a nickel, on average. The yellow sac spider has a body that ranges from one-fourth of an inch to three-eights of an inch long. The eight legs span about an inch in length, and the first set of legs are longer than the other six legs.

spider yellow sac spider

Yellow sac spider.

Another interesting fact is that the males are generally smaller than the female yellow sac spiders. Like most other spiders the yellow sac spider has eight eyes, and their eyes sit in two horizontal lines of four eyes. Also around their feet they have a darker looking coloring to them, it is actually dark dense hair. There is also a darker stripe down the abdomen. Considering the name of the yellow sac spider most people would assume the spider is yellow. Some are yellow tones, while others can range from an orange tone to a green tone. It has been said that the color of the yellow sac spider sometimes depends on what it has most recently eaten, but some do not think that is where the coloring of the yellow sac spider comes from.

The yellow sac spider eats many things, while it mostly hunts for small insects and other spiders. During the fall the yellow sac spider will usually migrate into homes in search of food. While in the summer the yellow sac spider has plenty of food outdoors to feed on, although that doesn’t mean they won’t try to go into houses.

For the most part, yellow sac spiders live outdoors. Outside the yellow sac spider can be found in places like trees, low vegetation and shrubs. Even though the yellow sac spider lives mostly outdoors it can be found within homes. No matter where the yellow sac spider is living it will always make itself a sac to rest in and spend its days. Being a sac spider, the yellow sac spider does not spin a web; rather they make silken sacs to reside in. The sac is also used as a place for them to sleep during the day and hibernate in the winters. Also, the yellow sac spider will spin a sac for its eggs to stay protected in, and for the spiderlings to molt in. The sac is also a way for people to identify that their home may be infested with yellow sac spiders.

If yellow sac spiders have migrated into a home they still will make their sacs to live in. Most often they will set up shop in corners or ceilings of walls. These spots make it easy for people to notice the sacs and proceed from there, the best plan being to call your local pest control company out to your home. Yellow sac spiders look for small places where they can be protected from predators. Many times these areas are the hidden areas inside a home; like the closet, basements, window sills, behind furniture, along baseboards, or in doorframes. The yellow sac spider can crawl up to high to places because they are good climbers. Also their silk can be used as a bridge from one object to a next, especially from high to low places. This tool comes in use both indoors and outdoors for the yellow sac spider. There are also places outdoors where the sacs may be hiding, like under foliage, leaves, stones, or wood. Many people may come in contact with these areas while outside doing yard work or gardening. So be aware of the yellow sac spider inside your home out outside of your home. Here are some tips for preventing yellow sac spiders from getting near your home.

Yellow sac spiders are nocturnal so homeowners won’t really see them running around in the day. Therefore the risk of being bit is higher at night when the yellow sac spiders are running around your house hunting for food. Sometimes the yellow sac spider may crawl into your bed or couch; this is when most bites occur. While people are in bed sleeping or on the couch watching TV or if the yellow sac spider is in your sheets or on your cushions it may panic and feel threatened by your body and therefore will attack or bite you.

The yellow sac spider creates about one generation a year. The female usually will lay her eggs in the summer. She will deposit them into a sac to keep them protected. In this sac will be anywhere from 30-50 eggs. During the process of the eggs developing the female will stay near the sac to protect it. Once the eggs have hatched they will become spiderlings and molt for about two weeks. After that period the spiderlings will set out on their own venture. From there the cycle will just repeat itself, and there will be more and more yellow sac spiders out in the world.

Picture courtesy of www.creativecommons.org

Posted in Connecticut Pest Control, Delaware Pest Control, Distric of Columbia, Fall Pest Control Problems, General Information, Information, how-to, and things about pests, Pests, Yellow Sac Spider | 5 Comments »

Spider: Yellow Sac Spider Prevention Tips

Monday, December 14th, 2009

Preventing yellow sac spiders is just like preventing any other pest, the only difference is the damage they can cause. No one wants pests, more so yellow sac spiders, in their home. Nor does anyone want to take the risk of being bitten by a yellow sac spider. Follow these steps to help prevent yellow sac spiders from invading your home:

  • Keep all beds from touching the wall.
  • If you have a bed skirt either move it so that it doesn’t touch the floor or just completely remove it.
  • Before wearing any clothes that come out of your closet shake them out.
  • Keep closets, attics, basements, and other storage areas clean.
  • Vacuum regularly, don’t forget the undisturbed areas like behind furniture.
  • Keep clutter out of your house.
  • Place sticky traps behind furniture and other large objects that yellow sac spiders might hide behind, like appliances, credenzas, or armoires.
  • Make sure screens on doors, vents, etc. are installed correctly, and that there are no tears in them.
  • Seal any holes around pipes that go into the house, check basements and crawl spaces.
  • Install weather stripping on doors and windows.
  • Seal any cracks or crevices in the homes foundation.
  • Remove leaf litter, vegetation and spider webs that are adjacent to the house. A powerful hose should do the trick for the webs, etc.
  • Store wood piles away from the home.
  • Wear gloves when outdoors either gardening or working with things like wood or rocks.
  • Cut trees and shrubs back so they do not touch the roof or walls of the house.
  • Switch outdoor lights to yellow. As the yellow lights do not attract as many insects, i.e. yellow sac spider food.
  • Keep the use of outdoor lights to a minimum.

Posted in Connecticut Pest Control, Delaware Pest Control, Distric of Columbia, Fall Pest Control Problems, Information, how-to, and things about pests, Pests, Prevention, Yellow Sac Spider | 1 Comment »

Spider: The Yellow Sac Spider Bite- First Aid Tips

Monday, December 14th, 2009

Getting a bite from a yellow sac spider sounds much worse than it really is, unless you are allergic. Any kind of bite seems to terrify people and for good reason, some insect venoms are very poisonous. Luckily, the yellow sac spider has venom that is not as poisonous as other insects or spiders. Many people confuse the bite from a yellow sac spider with the bite from a brown recluse spider, which is much more poisonous. The initial symptoms are very similar. The problem is that later on if the symptoms become more severe, you know it was a brown recluse and not a yellow sac spider. Many times because of the similar symptoms, the bite of a brown recluse spider is misdiagnosed as a yellow sac spider. This has resulted in the yellow sac spider being known for being one of the most common spider bites people get in the United Sates.

If you are bitten by a yellow sac spider there are some basic first aid steps to follow. Other than the symptoms that become apparent these steps can be used to help relieve the pain etc. in any occurrence of a spider bite.

  • Bites often occur in bed when the yellow sac spider gets stuck in the sheets. Also, when hiding in things like the couch, shoes, or clothes.
  • When a person gets bit they will feel a sharp pain, similar to the pain one would get from a wasp sting.
  • The bite mark will become red and filled with puss within eight hours of the bite happening.
  • Clean the bite with hydrogen peroxide.
  • Apply an antiseptic like iodine.
  • Ice the bite mark, and also elevate the area that has been bitten.
  • Other physical side affects symptoms people will start to have can be nausea, fever, skin necrosis, and stomach cramps.
  • If these symptoms are present go to a doctor as soon as possible, as there is a chance of being allergic to the yellow sac spider’s venom.
  • If at all possible take the spider that bit you to the doctor for a proper diagnosis.
  • The red mark will harden as it heals, and can take up to a few weeks to do so.
  • While the bite is healing make sure to keep it extremely clean. Clean it thoroughly on a daily basis so that it does not get infected. If necessary, go to your doctor for an antibiotic to help as well.

Posted in Connecticut Pest Control, Delaware Pest Control, Distric of Columbia, Fall Pest Control Problems, First Aid, Information, how-to, and things about pests, Pests, Yellow Sac Spider | 2 Comments »

Ant: Tips for Preventing Carpenter Ants

Friday, December 4th, 2009

Carpenter ants can be a huge frustration to a homeowner. It can be time consuming to try to find the main source of the carpenter ants, the colony. Also there can be multiple colonies, adding to the frustration. The best thing to do is have your local pest control service come out and examine your home. Many times if there is a colony inside there is a larger colony outside. Like many other pests problems homeowners face there are some basic prevention tips to help keep carpenter ants outside of your home. Here is a list of things homeowners can do to avoid a carpenter ant invasion.

  • Eliminate any moisture sources. Correct roof leaks, plumbing leaks, and any other moisture problems.
    • Replace any damaged wood.
  • Get rid of anything that is wood to ground contact. If necessary elevate the wood with concrete pier blocks.
  • Stack firewood away from the homes foundation and elevate it off of the ground. Always keep outside in an open area, like the backyard.
  • Trim or clip any tree branches or vegetation touching the roof or siding of the house.
  • Remove logs, stumps, and waste wood near or under your home.
  • Add a gravel or stone strip around your house.
  • Make sure all window and door frames do not contact the soil of your yard.
  • Seal or caulk any cracks in foundation, openings in foundations, entry points on the house, and around electrical and water lines / pipes.
  • Check any crawl spaces, attics, and basements to make sure they are well-ventilated, and have no moist or damp areas.
  • Clean any clogged gutters to prevent water damage.

Posted in Alabama Pest Control, Carpenter Ant, Colorado Pest Control, Connecticut Pest Control, Distric of Columbia, Fall Pest Control Problems, Florida Pest Control, Georgia Pest Control, Information, how-to, and things about pests, Pests, Prevention | No Comments »

Ant: Carpenter Ant Nests

Friday, December 4th, 2009

The nest of the carpenter ants can be very intricate. If you were to find one it could just look like a piece of wood has been carved out very nicely. Unfortunately, the carving is done by carpenter ants while they make their home. The cut outs are actually called galleries or tunnels. In a way the galleries almost look like a maze has been cut into the object.

ant carpenter ants

This carpenter ant nest was built in an old tree. It's hard to believe that carpenter ants made this carvings, galleries.

An important factor in the nest location for carpenter ants is moisture. Carpenter ants can make their nest in many different things that either have natural moisture to them or are near moist areas. Some of these spots are things like moist wood, firewood, near sinks or showers, under roofing, and or in wall voids. Once a location has been chosen the carpenter ants will get to work.

The nest of a carpenter ant may be found indoors or outdoors, although most often the main nest will be outdoors. Within the carpenter ant colony there will be a main nest, called the parent colony, and then there are smaller nests, called satellite colonies. A colony of carpenter ants can have up to 20 satellite colonies. The main purpose of a satellite colony is to have a place outside of the chaos within the parent colony to take care of the pupa. The workers take the pupa and transfer them from being with the Queen to a satellite colony where the workers will take care of them until they are adults. Often times the satellite colony can be found inside a home. Unlike the parent colony the satellite colony does not need as much moisture.

Many times homeowners will see carpenter ants in their home and do not know where they are coming from. This is usually because the carpenter ants are out searching for food. If the carpenter ants are inside the home they can either be passing through or coming out of their nest. The best way to determine where the carpenter ants are coming from is to find their nest. If you can not find the nest it could be outdoors, and the carpenter ants are just looking for food. If you do find the nest it is best to call your local pest control service to come remove the carpenter ants. Finding a nest can be trying. It is best to attempt to locate the nest at night when the carpenter ants are more likely to be out. Once you see them follow them, you don’t want to startle them so use a flashlight with a red film or lens on it. Carpenter ants can not see red light so they won’t see you following them. Hopefully they will be headed back to their nest and you can follow them. If they look like they are looking for food go ahead and lay some of their favorites out as a lure, then once they get their food they will head back to the nest. In the case that you do not see the carpenter ants out and about look around your home for frass, the saw dust looking stuff, as that is usually left near the nest.

ant carpenter ants

Here's an example of what frass looks like if you need to search for carpenter ants within your home.

Another option is listening for the ants. Check in any suspected areas where carpenter ants like to build their nests, and tap on the object or wall. Put your ear up to it and listen for a rustling sound, carpenter ants make this sound with their jaw and if they are disturbed, by tapping on the wall, the sound will get louder. If you locate the noise you have your nest location. At any time you find a nest call your local pest control service to come out and evaluate the colonies. The most important thing in controlling carpenter ants is that you destroy the parent colony, and not just all the satellite colonies. A professional pest control agent will be best at determining if the nest you have found is a parent or satellite nest.

Pictures courtesy of www.creativecommons.org

Posted in Alabama Pest Control, Carpenter Ant, Colorado Pest Control, Connecticut Pest Control, Distric of Columbia, Fall Pest Control Problems, Florida Pest Control, Georgia Pest Control, Information, how-to, and things about pests, Nest, Pests | No Comments »

Ant: The Carpenter Ant

Wednesday, November 18th, 2009

Carpenter ants are one of many species of ants. Even though carpenter ants look similar to many of the other species they have their own physical characteristics that differentiate them from other ants. Also,of carpenter ants are often confused with termites. The best way to differentiate carpenter ants from another kind of ant is the carpenter ant only has one segment between it’s thorax and abdomen; also, the thorax is evenly rounded. Some carpenter ants are winged and this physical aspect confuses them with termites. The carpenter ants wings are different sizes, with the front wings being larger in size than the back wings. While the termites wings are the same size. Another physical characteristic that confuses people as to if it’s a carpenter ant or a termite is their antennae. The carpenter ant’s antennae are elbowed, where they look like they bend in the middle. The termite’s antennae are straight. These two simple physical traits of wings and antennae can confuse people, but knowing the difference will help homeowners correctly identify their pest problem.

ant carpenter ants

Carpenter ants have distinctive physical traits like the antennae being elbowed, and only one segment between the thorax and the abdomen. Both of these traits are visible in this picture.

The black- to red-toned carpenter ant is a hard worker, depending on it’s role within the colony that is. Ranging from three eights of an inch to a half of an inch, and sometimes larger, the carpenter ant does a lot with it’s little body. Whether the ant is a worker, a swarmer, a Queen, or a male, their size is contributed to their title. There are two varieties of workers, the larger worker is called a major and the smaller worker is called a minor. A swarmer is a winged reproductive carpenter ant. Queens are all usually about the same size, and there may be more than one Queen per colony. Males are used just for reproducing.

ant carpenter ants

These carpenter ants are swarmers. All swarmers have wings.

While males are used mainly for reproducing, Queens do just the same. Queens stay in the colony and lay eggs. In the late summer the eggs the Queen lays are males and more Queens, these eggs will hatch in early spring. Then these carpenter ants will reproduce once they are adults. Other eggs that the Queen lays throughout the year are females that become worker ants. The eggs take about three weeks to hatch into larvae. Once they are larvae they take about another three weeks to develop into pupa. From the pupa stage to adult it will be about another three weeks. The timing of all these stages may vary depending on the climate the carpenter ants are in at the time. During the carpenter ants development once it becomes a pupa worker ants come and take all the pupa to a satellite colony where the workers will take care of them. With Queens having so many babies the colony grows and grows over time. With in two to four years there can be hundreds of workers within a colony, and just a few years more there can be thousands of workers within a colony.

A kind of ironic fact abut carpenter ants is that they don’t eat wood. This is ironic because the colony that carpenter ants build is most often in some form of wood. They like to live in moist wood, rotting trees, tree stumps, logs, firewood, near tubs, near sinks, near showers, near dishwashers, under roofing, in attic beams, hallow spaces like doors, curtain rods, wall voids, and foam insulation. With a favorite living space being wood and the fact that carpenter ants make tunnels or galleries within the wood to form their colonies many people assume they eat wood.

ant carpenter ants

Here is a small nest found outside a house. The nest is in the wood of the patio.

Another common thing that confuses people as to if they have ants or termites in their house is that they both live in wood, and eat it. While the carpenter ant may live within wood and obviously has to destroy the wood to make its home it does not actually eat the wood, but many people think carpenter ants do eat the wood like termites do. Piles of what looks like sawdust, called frass, are left near the colony. Carpenter ants move it away from the colony once they have built their home so that people can’t find their nest right away. This confuses people even more because they assume the wood has been eaten by the carpenter ants and do not know where the piles of frass have come from.

Since the carpenter ants do not eat wood they find many other sources of food to eat. Carpenter ants go out to look for food usually around sunset and may stay out scavenging until midnight. Carpenter ants will even go as far as 100 yards away from their colony in order to find food. Proteins and sugars like meat, tuna in water, syrup, honeydew, honey, sugar, jelly, and other sweets are all favorites of the carpenter ants to eat. People can often find carpenter ants in their homes looking for food. This confuses people and makes them think they have an ant problem, when really there are just a few ants inside looking for food. Although there may be an infestation of carpenter ants the best thing to do to determine if there is a problem or not is to find the colony.

ant carpenter ants

Here are two carpenter ants feeding on a grape.

Pictures courtesy of www.creativecommons.org

Posted in Alabama Pest Control, Carpenter Ant, Colorado Pest Control, Connecticut Pest Control, Distric of Columbia, Fall Pest Control Problems, Florida Pest Control, General Information, Georgia Pest Control, Information, how-to, and things about pests | 5 Comments »

Cockroach: Preventing the Oriental Cockroach from Getting Inside Your Home

Wednesday, November 4th, 2009

Preventing oriental cockroaches can be very easy. It is mostly about maintaining a clean house and yard. Also of course, making sure there are no entry points from the outside into your home. Overall the oriental cockroach’s habitat needs to be modified. Here are the basic steps to help prevent oriental cockroaches from getting into your home.

  • Keep your home clean and dry.
  • Vacuum often, make sure to get the corners and in dark places like closets.
  • Fix any plumbing leaks you may have and keep moist spaces ventilated.
  • If there are any gaps near plumbing pipes, cables, or anything of that manner fill the gaps with steel wool or caulk.
  • Check around the foundation of the home and fill any openings, holes, or cracks that are visible. Pay special attention to the ground level. Also sometimes it is best to look at dusk when oriental cockroaches will start to come out to look for food.
  • Decaying leaves and organic matter should be removed from windows and doors.
  • Keep garbage cans outdoors, but away from moist areas.
  • Do not leave trash bags that are filled lying around, put them in a proper trash can because oriental cockroaches will eat through the plastic.
  • Drain traps should be capped.
  • Install door sweeps, thresholds, and weatherproofing seals on doors, including garage doors.
  • Add screens to your attic vents, crawl spaces, floor drains, and any other exposed areas.
  • On your windows make sure to have screens and weatherproof them as well.
  • Outside of your home keep all trash cans, firewood, and lumber away from the house, at least three feet. You just don’t want it set up right next to the house.
  • If you have any mulch in your front or backyard keep it at or below two inches thick.
  • Mow any weedy vegetation near the structure of the home or any other structures on your property.
  • Keep basements and crawl spaces ventilated, and free of clutter.
  • Maintain keeping gutters clean, another source of moisture for oriental cockroaches to feed on.
  • Keep branches and bushes from touching your house.
  • Place sticky traps around, indoors and outdoors. Pesticides don’t always work because the oriental cockroaches may have already eaten, and can go for some time with out food. So trying to get them to eat poison is pointless.

Posted in Alabama Pest Control, Arkansas Pest Control, California Pest Control, Connecticut Pest Control, Distric of Columbia, Fall Pest Control Problems, Florida Pest Control, Georgia Pest Control, Information, how-to, and things about pests, Oriental Cockroach, Pests, Prevention, Winter Pest Control Problems | 1 Comment »

Cockroach: The Oriental Cockroach

Thursday, October 29th, 2009

Cockroaches are all over the world, one of the more common species in the U.S. is the oriental cockroach. Known as the dirtiest species of all of the cockroaches, the oriental cockroach is pretty gross. Not only is it disgusting to look at it, it even smells bad. Ranging from an inch to an inch-and-a-quarter long the oval-shaped oriental cockroach hides out in homes and backyards searching for food. In the case of food for the oriental cockroach – anything goes. The oriental cockroach’s diet consists of things like garbage, plant material, animal material, decaying matter, and sewage. As mentioned, anything goes when it comes to the oriental cockroach. The oriental cockroach can survive up to a month without food. On the other hand, the oriental cockroach can not go more than two weeks without water.

Some cockroaches fly and some do not. The oriental cockroach has wings, but it does not fly. The female’s wings are short and the male’s wings cover its body. But even with these wings they can not take flight. The oriental cockroach can be a reddish to dark brown to a black tone, usually the older ones are darker in color; they also are shiny or glossy looking.

cockroach oriental cockroach

This picture shows both sexes of the oriental cockroach. The male is on the far left, then the female, and then some oriental cockroaches in the nymph stage.

Based on their appearance they have have also been given other names, the black beetle and the water bug. The oriental cockroach gets the water bug name from where it is often found, near water. The oriental cockroach likes to live in damp and dark places. Aside from the fact that the oriental cockroach has two other names this gross creature has actually been around way before people. It is said that the cockroaches are one of the most successful animals since they have been around for nearly 300 million years.

cockroach oriental cockroach

Here is what the egg sac or oothecae looks like, on the left. On the right is a young oriental cockroach nymph.

One factor of how the oriental cockroach is such a high populated species today is that they re-populate often. A female oriental cockroach will get pregnant anywhere from once to eight times with in her life. Each time this occurs she lays up to 16 eggs which are deposited into a sac, also called an oothecae. The female will carry her oothecae around with her for up to 24 to 36 hours, after this time she will find a spot to leave the oothecae. The oothecae is usually left near a food supply, so when the nymphs come out of the sac they are near some food. Also the mother will want to leave her oothecae somewhere where it will be safe, so she looks for cracks or crevices to leave the sac. The eggs will stay in the oothecae for up to two months, depending on the environment. Once they have developed enough they will leave the sac, and are now nymphs. The nymphs are left to survive on their own, because the mother really does just leave her oothecae full of eggs and never comes back. Unlike many other insects the oriental cockroach nymphs looks a lot like an adult oriental cockroach, and is usually more of a reddish tone than a black tone. During the nymph stage the oriental cockroach will shed its skin seven to ten times before the nymph becomes an adult. As an adult the oriental cockroach will live up to six months to a year and a half. Then the cycle will just repeat itself.

Unfortunately, oriental cockroaches are slow movers, and it can take some time for them to get from one location to another. This also is a problem if a person finds an oriental cockroach and wants to kill it. Many times people will think that the oriental cockroach is going to take flight and fly away because they have wings on their bodies, but remember they do not actually fly. Therefore, the best thing an oriental cockroach can do is to hide. Also unlike other pests the oriental cockroach does not have sticky pads on their feet. This makes it challenging for the oriental cockroach to go certain places because they can not climb up smooth surfaces.

cockroach oriental cockroach

Here is an oriental cockroach outside crawling through some leaves on the ground.

People often find oriental cockroaches near any type of decaying organic matter (trash, compost), sewers, drains, damp basements, porches, under sinks, under washing machines, crawlspaces, and or floor drains. A common thread of all of these locations is that there is water near all of these spots. Also the oriental cockroach can find many places to live that are often in backyards or frontyards of homes. Oriental cockroaches like to live in bushes, under leaf ground cover, under mulch, anywhere damp, under porches, around shrubs, around flowers, near garbage cans or chutes, and under or in firewood piles. Knowing these are popular places for oriental cockroaches to live make sure to pay extra attention when you are near these spots. Some of the other locations mentioned can be found inside a home, and no one wants oriental cockroaches inside their home. A problem that can happen even if the oriental cockroach is living outside of your home is that the oriental cockroach can get easily brought in on accident. Oriental cockroaches get into homes by crawling on or into food packages, laundry (if your laundry room is outside of the main house), doors, air ducts, garbage chutes, plumbing, window jams, openings in foundation, and or ventilators. The oriental cockroach will try to get inside homes during droughts in search of water and when the weather cools down in search of warmth and food. Once inside your home the oriental cockroach can cause major problems.

The scary part about the problems oriental cockroaches can cause is that the actually harm people and not things. There is rarely any real physical damage left behind from oriental cockroaches. One thing that might actually be left behind is feces, which is a huge problem. The feces of an oriental cockroach have allergens in it, and this can make people have allergy problems or worse yet asthma. Also the skin cast from molting has allergens in it, so finding either one of these can be harmful for people, especially children. The allergens are more of an airborne problem, while the oriental cockroach is still able to get people sick just by crawling around a home.

This oriental cockroach looks to be crawling on some tile inside of a home. If you do find an oriental cockroach inside your home call your local pest control.

This oriental cockroach looks to be crawling on some tile inside of a home. If you do find an oriental cockroach inside your home call your local pest control.

The oriental cockroach is constantly secreting bacteria, viruses, and diseases from their bodies. As the oriental cockroach roams around they are constantly contaminating everything they touch. From the counter tops where food is prepared to the bowl of fruit to the dishes and utensils in the kitchen, these are all things that can be contaminated by oriental cockroaches and make people really sick. As the oriental cockroach moves the secretions fall off its body and onto whatever may be below, and if the item gets into the hands of a person with the contaminates still on it the person can become very ill. Washing all exposed fruits and vegetables is very important, also keep counter tops and tables thoroughly clean. The hard thing for people is that you can not see that the food or counters have actually been contaminated, so you may never know if things have been contaminated or not. This happens because oriental cockroaches are nocturnal so they come out at night, and the homeowners will not know if there were oriental cockroaches on their table or in their kitchen. It is best to assume they could be there every night and to clean everything in the morning before breakfast. Or better yet if traces of feces are found or even an oriental cockroach call your local pest control company to eliminate the problem. Although there are many things people can do to keep oriental cockroaches from even getting inside their home so they don’t have to worry about the harm oriental cockroaches can cause. Read more for tips on preventing oriental cockroaches, on our blog.

Pictures courtesy of www.creativecommons.org

Posted in Alabama Pest Control, Arkansas Pest Control, California Pest Control, Connecticut Pest Control, Distric of Columbia, Fall Pest Control Problems, Florida Pest Control, General Information, Georgia Pest Control, Information, how-to, and things about pests, Oriental Cockroach, Winter Pest Control Problems | 5 Comments »

Beetle: Carpet Beetles

Wednesday, October 21st, 2009

Carpet beetles are not really harmful to people, they are more harmful to the possessions that people love. Carpet beetles do not just live in carpets per se, they can actually be found in many different areas of a home. The problem that occurs with carpet beetles is with what they feed on. Yes, depending on the material carpet beetles can and will feed on carpets; but, there are many other things within a home that are food for carpet beetles. Many times the things carpet beetles feed on can be either very valuable or invaluable to a person. In any case no one wants any of their possessions to be damaged because these beetles are hungry. To give you a better idea of what kind of possessions can be damaged here is a list of the more popular food items for carpet beetles: wool, fur, feathers, hair, horns, silk, velvet, felts, dog / cat food, flour, cake mixes, cereals, grain, seeds, bone, rayon, linen, cotton, leather, and dead insects. Many of these materials are used to make items that can be found within a home. For instance, a woman’s favorite fur coat, silk pajamas, furniture, an oriental rug, a babies stuffed animal, a mounted elk head, Christmas decorations, and sheets. Of course these items are not found in every home, but it gives you an idea of some items that can very valuable to people that they might not want to be destroyed by carpet beetles.

beetle carpet beetles

Here is an adult carpet beetle on a flower, most likely on it's way to eat some pollen.

There are actually a few different popular varieties of carpet beetles. The four most common varieties of carpet beetles are the varied carpet beetle, the furniture carpet beetle, the black carpet beetle, and the common carpet beetle. Over all the different varieties are similar for the most part, and vary more so when it comes to physical characteristics.

An interesting fact about the carpet beetle is that the most damage done with in a home is actually done by the larvae, not the adult carpet beetle. The larvae can be in the larval stage of development longer than the adult will end up living. Most often an adult carpet beetle will lay her eggs inside of a home, near a food source. The female can lay up to 100 eggs; the eggs will take about 15-30 days to hatch, and this depends on the climate of where the eggs are. Once the eggs hatch they have become larvae; and, they will immediately begin feeding on a food source. The larvae stage can last anywhere form 60 days to two years. Like the egg stage, it all depends on the climate the larvae are in. They will move around from room to room within a house in search of food, although they can survive for weeks without food. While traveling in a home the larvae try their hardest to stay away from light. They look for dark, secluded, and undisturbed places for food.

beetle carpet beetles

These are skin shells of carpet beetles. When people find skin shells they often think it's an actual carpet beetle.

During the larvae development the skin will shed many times. As this molting takes place the shell of the skin is left behind, depending on where the molting occurs this is often how homeowners discover they have a carpet beetle problem. By seeing the skin shells is the most frequent way to realizing your home has been infested by carpet beetles. After the larvae has molted enough skin it will become an adult, and possibly make its way outside of the home. Once an official adult, the carpet beetle will only live for about another four to eight weeks.

Most adult carpet beetles are found outdoors, although they will go into homes in search of a place to lay their eggs. Unlike the larvae the adult carpet beetle mostly feeds on nectar and pollen from sources outside. Considering that carpet beetles feed on pollen they can often be found on flowers, and this is an instance of how carpet beetles can get inside homes. If you cut fresh flowers from your garden always check for carpet beetles, as their shape and size resembles the lady bug. Another difference of the adult from the larvae is that they actually like light, even night lights inside homes. This is another example of how they may enter a home when they see the night light, or any light, indoors during the night they will fly into the home. Another spot the adult carpet beetle likes to hang out is near windows. One more way a carpet beetles gets inside a home is on furniture that is being moved in. Whether it is coming out of storage or purchased slightly used, carpet beetle larvae or adults could already be nestled in it, and then will just migrate to other areas of your home once inside. Other than on or under furniture the carpet beetle can also be found on mattresses, pillows, in heating ducts, between floorboards, behind baseboards, and really any where that is hidden.

beetle carpet beetle larvae

This carpet beetle larvae is on the move in a bathroom, most likely looking for some towels or robes to feed on.

Knowing what carpet beetles eat and where they like to live there are some other interesting things about carpet beetles one should know. The carpet beetle is a very difficult pest to control within a home. Since the carpet beetle can find food in obscure places and disperse throughout the home it is challenging to get rid of them. At any time of noticing a carpet beetle inside your home it is best to contact your local pest control company. Fortunately for the adult carpet beetle they are good fliers which helps them enter and exit homes. Unfortunately them being good fliers is not helpful for people trying to handle the infestation problem. Two things to keep in mind about what carpet beetles eat are that they enjoy soiled or stained fabrics, i.e. dirty clothes. They also are able to digest keratin, which is a protein found in animal hairs and fibers. Some older furniture used to be stuffed or padded with horse hair; also other objects inside homes may have animal hair on or in them. Keeping in mind these bizarre things about carpet beetles can also be helpful when thinking of what can be done to prevent carpet beetles from causing too much damage with in your home.

Pictures from www.creativecommons.org

Posted in Alabama Pest Control, Arkansas Pest Control, Carpet Beetle, Colorado Pest Control, Connecticut Pest Control, Delaware Pest Control, Distric of Columbia, Fall Pest Control Problems, General Information, Georgia Pest Control, Information, how-to, and things about pests, Pests, Winter Pest Control Problems | 8 Comments »

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