| Earwig |
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(Length: 3/4" to 1 1/2")
Earwigs were named by a superstition that the insect would crawl
purposely into the ears of sleeping people. More easily recognized
by its forceps-like tail appendage, the earwig is a major garden
pest, as well as an annoying household pest. It is one of the few
insects that take care of its young. Earwigs feed on green plants,
and other vegetation, and do little damage indoors. The pinch of
their forceps is neither painful nor poisonous, but does an effective "scare" job. |
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| House Cricket |
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(Length: 3/4")
The tan house cricket is found in warm, damp, dark places such as
shrubs, grass, basements or crawl spaces. Active mostly at night,
they will eat almost anything they can chew from rugs to drapes,
and they usually enter a building from harborage right outside. |
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| Millipede |
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(Length: 1" – 1 1/2")
Brownish and worm-like in appearance with many body segments, millipedes
have two pairs of legs on each segment. They typically live outside
in moist vegetation, leaf litter and mulch and feed upon decaying
organic wood and plant matter. When conditions are right, migrations
can occur and large numbers will find there way inside homes trough
cracks and crevices. When disturbed, they curl up like a watch
spring. |
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| Centipede |
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(Length: 1" – 2")
The color of the centipede varies depending on the species, but most
are brown to orange brown with many body segments. Unlike millipedes,
centipedes only have one pair of legs per segment. They usually
live outdoors in dark, moist areas and are seldom seen inside homes,
except for the house centipede which is recognized by its extremely
long legs. The house centipede is usually found where dampness
occurs. They are nocturnal and when disturbed move swiftly towards
darkened hiding places. |
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| Clover Mite |
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(Length: 1/30”)
A tiny reddish brown mite with very long front legs, it feeds on
grasses and weeds. Migration into homes is common in the early
Spring and late Winter. Large numbers can be very annoying and,
when crushed, leave red stains. Heavily fertilized lawns provide
succulent growth for clover mites and support high populations. |
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| Pill Bug and Sow Bug |
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(Length: 1/4” – 3/8”)
These crustaceans are found in lawn turf, under leaves, or other
moist areas of decaying vegetable matter. Extremes of wet, dry,
or hot weather drive them inside, where they do no damage but are
an annoyance. Pill bugs roll into a ball or “pill” when
they are disturbed. The sow bug is unable to roll into a ball. |
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| Asian Ladybug |
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(Length: 3/8”)
This beetle is a beneficial insect due to its predatory control of
aphids, scale insects and other shrubbery pests. However, they
make a nuisance of themselves by invading homes in large numbers
to over-winter. They normally enter on the southern or western
exposure of your home and spend the winter in attics, wall voids
and under siding. On warm sunny days, they come out of these hiding
places and gather around windows. |
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| Boxelder Bug |
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(Length: 1/2”)
The boxelder bug is black with 3 longitudinal red lines on its back.
It feeds on boxelder, maple and some fruit trees. In buildings,
it is an over-wintering insect and may be found in large numbers. |
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