OCCASIONAL INVADERS

Varied carpet beetles get their name from the rainbow of color on their back surfaces. These pests enjoy dining on a variety of upholsteries, carpets and clothing fabrics. Storing clothing in plastic containers and dry cleaning the clothing thoroughly before storing for long periods of time will greatly reduce the chances of infestations.

Color: Black centers, with white, brown and yellow patches in an irregular arrangement 

Legs: 6 

Shape:  Round 

Size:  1/16 

Antennae:  Yes

Centipedes are sometimes called "hundred-leggers" because of their many pairs of legs, but they can actually have anywhere from 15-177 pairs of legs, depending on the species. Interestingly, centipedes always have an odd number of pairs of legs. They are nocturnal by nature and prey primarily on flies, spiders, and sometimes plant tissue. Centipedes in the home are found in areas of high moisture, such as damp basement, crawlspaces and bathrooms. Reducing the moisture levels in these areas will help reduce centipede infestations.

Color: Yellowish to dark brown, sometimes with darker stripes or markings 

Legs: 15 - 177 pairs 

Shape:  Elongated, flattened, worm-like 

Size:  1/8 – 6” (4-152 mm) 

Antennae:  Yes

Earwigs got their name from the myth that they crawl into sleeping people's ears and tunnel into their brains. Their long cerci, or clippers, on their backsides easily identify an earwig. Earwigs hide during the day and feeds on leaves, flowers, fruits, mold and insects at night. Like other occasional pests, they typically gain entry to a structure through exterior cracks.

Color: Dark brown 

Legs:  6 

Shape:  Long, narrow 

Size:  1 

Antennae:  Yes

House crickets get their common name from the fact that they often enter houses where they can survive indefinitely. Interestingly, they are known for their loud chirping which is caused by rubbing their front wings together to attract females. House crickets are most active at night usually hiding in dark warm places during the day. Outside, they feed on plants and dead or live insects. Indoors, house crickets can feast on fabrics, especially those clothes soiled with perspiration. While found mostly outdoors during the warmer months, they will seek shelter indoors during the colder months.

Color: Yellowish brown with 3 dark cross bands on head 

Legs:  6 

Shape:  Long, winged 

Size:  3/4 – 7/8” (16-22 mm)

Antennae:  Yes

Ladybugs are also known as lady beetles or ladybird beetles. Most species of this beetle family are highly beneficial insects, but some have a habit of overwintering in structures, leading them to become nuisance pests.

Color: Red, orange, yellow, brown or shiny black in color usually with various markings including dark spots

Legs:  6

Shape:  Broadly oval to nearly round

Size:  1/31 – 3/8” (0.8 - 10 mm)

Antennae:  Yes

Millipedes are sometimes called "thousand-leggers" because of their many pairs of legs, but they can actually have anywhere from 30-90+ pairs of legs, depending on the species. Most millipedes are nocturnal and are primarily scavengers, feeding on decaying plants and occasionally dead insects. Found typically in areas of high moisture, they cannot survive indoors for very long without a food supply and high moisture conditions.

Color: Blackish or brownish, some red, orange or with mottled patterns. 

Legs: 

Shape:  Long, cylindrical and wormlike 

Size:  1/16 – 4½ ” (2-155 mm)

Antennae:  Yes

Periodical cicadas are known for the loud buzzing noise that males make to attract female mates. The majority of a periodical cicada's life is spent in an underground habitat.

The cicadas will emerge from underground in 13- or 17-year cycles. Immature periodical cicadas develop underground and feed on the juices of tree roots. After 13 or 17 years, they emerge from the soil when the temperature eight inches below the surface reaches 64 degrees. Once above ground, the periodical cicadas feed from a wide variety of plants and shrubs. They will remain above ground for about a month to reproduce, before laying their eggs on tree branches and dying. The cicada offspring fall to the ground and burrow in the soil until they re-emerge 13-17 years later.

Color: Black bodies, striking red eyes and orange wing veins

Legs:  6

Shape:  Large, winged

Size:  Range from ¾ in. up to 2 ¼ in.

Antennae:  Yes

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. Often found in moist environments, they eat decaying vegetable material and are most active at night. Pillbugs are known for their ability to roll into a ball.

Color: Dark brown to black

Legs:  Seven pair

Shape:  Oval; round when rolled up

Size:  3/4"

Antennae:  Yes

This insect gets its name from its silvery, metallic appearance and fish-like shape and movements. Silverfish have no wings, but are able to run very fast. They are nocturnal and tend to hide their presence from humans which means any damage they have caused could go unnoticed as well. Silverfish will feed on paper items, glue, clothing and certain food items. They can live up to a year without food, but require a high humidity environment

Color: Silver to brown

Legs:  6

Shape:  Oval, elongated

Size:  ¾ inches

Antennae:  Yes

Moth flies, also known as drain flies, develop in gelatinous film and decaying organic matter often found lining drain pipes and traps, and garbage containers.

Color: Yellow to brown /black

Legs:  Six

Shape:  Cylindrical

Size:  less than ¼”

Antennae:  Yes

The German cockroach is the most common species of the cockroach. German cockroaches can breed at a rate of up to six generations per year. The German cockroach can fit through an opening as small as 3/8 inch in width. They will feed on almost anything and are excellent hitchhikers often finding their way into new structures via grocery bags, cardboard boxes and secondhand appliances. As with many other species of roaches, the German cockroach has been implicated in outbreaks of illness and allergic reactions in many people.

Color: Light brown to tan, with two dark, almost parallel stripes located on their backs, just behind their heads 

Legs:  6 

Shape:  Oval 

Size:  ½”-5/8” long 

Antennae:  Yes

These rats can cause damage to properties and structures through their gnawing. Norway rats have smaller eyes and ears and shorter tails. They can gain entry to a home through a hole the size of a quarter, often nesting in basements, piles of debris or undisturbed materials. They are vectors of many diseases and like the house mouse, can contaminate food and also introduce other insects such as fleas into a home.

Color: Brown with scattered black hairs; gray to white underside 

Legs:  4

Shape:  Long, heavily bodied; blunt muzzle 

Size:  7-9 ½ inches long

Roof rats, also called black rats or ship rats, are smaller than Norway rats, but cause similar issues. This rodent gets its name from its tendency to be found in the upper parts of buildings. Like most rodents, these rats are primarily nocturnal. They forage for food in groups of up to ten, following the same pathway back and forth to their food source.

Color: Brown with black intermixed; Gray, white or black underside 

Legs:  4 

Shape:  Long and thin with scaly tail; large ears and eyes 

Size:  16" total (6-8" body plus 6-8" tail)