Ants

Have you ever walked into the kitchen, turned the lights on, and saw a bug scurry into hiding?  Well it could have been a roach!  Cockroaches have a unique ability to adapt and overcome, and can be found in many different environments.  Proper identification is key to developing any type of pest control plan, and cockroaches are no different.  Below are the three most common roach species we encounter in our area.  

Measuring the largest, the American cockroach can reach 1.5-2 inches in length!  And they can fly!  But don't worry, they generally don't, and only can for short distances when they do.  They are typically found in warm, humid environments, particularly in sewers.  In fact, a healthy population in sewers indicate a healthy sewer system.  Egg casings produce around 10-18 young and take a few months to reach adulthood.  

Mosquitoes are the most deadly insect in the world.  They are significant vectors of many diseases to include Malaria, West Nile, Zika, and many more.  The northern house mosquito (pictured) is one we commonly see in our area.  They easily breed in sites that accumulate stagnant water such as old tires, bird baths, tarps, barrels, etc.  Life cycles can reach maturity in as little as two weeks, and you may notice the larval stage called "wigglers" moving up and down from the water surface.  Adult females become active from dusk to dawn as they search for a blood meal in order to reproduce and lay eggs.

While rodents may appear cute, don't be fooled!  They are vectors for many diseases and pathogens.  They easily contaminate food, water, and belongings with their droppings and urine.  They can also cause structural damage to buildings, and can present fire hazards by chewing on wires or electronics.  Below are the 3 most common rodents we tend to encounter in our area:

The most common rodent you will see in your home as the name implies.  House mice are very curious by nature and will breed quickly once inside.  In fact, a single pair of house mice could produce close to 60 mice offspring each year!  They can sneak into openings as small as a quarter inch, and will readily feed on bird and grass seeds, as well as any other food options they can find.  They tend to be nibblers, moving from one food source to another.  Their ability to thrive in many situations has made them one of the most successful mammals on earth!

Nothing strikes fear quite like getting cornered by a few of these stinging insects.  In particular, social wasps such as yellow jackets, bald faced hornets, and European hornets will aggressively defend their nests, and should be handled by a professional.  Take a look at some of these common stinging insects we encounter in our area.

Paper wasps are another social insect with nests generally exposed under awnings or overhangs.  They are not as aggressive as yellow jackets or bald faced hornets, and can be seen with numerous workers sitting on the nest.  We generally encounter two types; the Northern paper wasp (pictured) and the European paper wasp which looks very similar to a yellow jacket, but has a longer, slender body. 

Unlike the other stinging insects in this list, European Hornets tend to be nocturnal, and you may see them bumping into your lights or screen door at night.  They normally nest in voids in the house or in tree trunks.  They are very large at about 1" in length, and body resembling a reddish/brown color with yellow stripes on their abdomen.  Nests reach maturity in fall with a few hundred workers.  Interestingly, the European hornet is the only true hornet in America.  At times, you can see them stripping the bark off bushes or trees in order to make their nests.  

Cicada killers are large, and can reach a length of 2 inches!  They are a solitary wasp, and generally non aggressive but are still capable of stinging.  Cicada killers will emerge in late summer or fall and feed on annual cicadas.  They will capture a cicada, paralyze it, and then drag it back to their nests to lay an egg.  The egg will then hatch and consume the cicada over time.  Nests will be built in loose soils and can reach an impressive 6-10 inches in depth.  Nests can be identified by their large openings and mounds of dirt they kick out.  Similar to other solitary wasps, you may see numerous ones together as they look to mate or nest in suitable soils.  

Ticks are significant vectors for many disease-borne pathogens.  They are not born with these pathogens, but can obtain them from the hosts they feed on, and then transmit them to their next host.  They can be difficult to see, and will feed for several days on their host before releasing.  Below are two highlighted species we encounter in our area.

As its name implies, the American dog tick can be found commonly on dogs, but will readily host on other animals or people.  They are best known to transmit the disease Rocky Mountain spotted fever.  Compared to deer ticks, the American dog tick is much larger in size and can survive months in between life-cycle stages without blood meals.   They are commonly found primarily in open, grassy fields.