Occasional Invaders

 

Earwigs

  • Mostly nocturnal and hide in moist locations such as under stones and mulch
  • Feed on live or dead plants and insects
  • Attracted to lights
  • Move into homes to find food or shelter from outdoor elements
  • Earwigs use their pinchers for defense and for sparing with rival earwigs

Millipedes

  • Adults about 1/16 - 4½" long
  • Cylindrical and wormlike but sometimes slightly flattened
  • Color: Blackish or brownish but some red, orange, or with mottled patterns
  • One pair of short, 7-segmented antennae
  • Cluster of simple eyes on each side of their head
  • Most body segments bear 2 pairs of legs

 

Centipedes

  • Adults about 1/8- 6"h long; elongated, flattened and wormlike
  • Color: Yellowish to dark brown, sometimes with darker stripes or markings
  • Have 1 pair antennae
  • Flat, segmented bodies with one pair of legs per segment.
  • 14-50 segmented
  • Some with compound eyes, most with a cluster of simple eyes on each side of head, or no eyes
  • Most body segments bear 1 pair of similar legs
  • Pairs of legs number 15-177

Pill Bugs

  • Adults -5/8"h long
  • Raised above but flat or hollow beneath
  • Color: slate gray
  • 7 pairs of similar legs
  • 2 pairs of antenna (1 tiny and the other visible)
  • Rolls up into tight ball when disturbed

 

Sow Bugs

  • Crustaceans and arthropods; not an insect
  • Adults about 5/8"h long
  • Raised above but flat or hollow beneath
  • Color: Dark to slate gray
  • 7 pairs of similar legs
  • 2 pairs of antenna (1 tiny and the other readily visible)
  • Rolls up into a loose ball when disturbed

Silverfish

  • Adult body length, about ¾" long
  • Wingless with flattened body
  • Teardrop/carrot/fishlike shape from head to rear
  • Covered with scales
  • Color: Silvery to gun metal
  • Antenna long and threadlike
  • Posterior end of the abdomen with 3 long bristlelike appendages

 

Crickets

  • Crustaceans and arthropods; not an insect.½" to 1-¼" in size
  • Two basic types of structure-invading crickets:
    • Camel/Cave/Stone Crickets
    • Field Crickets
  • Come in many different colors but the most common colors are brown, tan, green.
  • There may be 1-3 generations per year
  • Found around home wells, drainage culverts/pipes, A/C units, garages, etc.
  • Field crickets make chirping sound with their hind legs
  • Camel Crickets are usually found in cool, moist, and dark areas. Crawl spaces and finished basements.

Springtails

  • Adults are 1/32-1/8h long
  • Soft, wingless with an elongated or globe shaped body
  • Color: Whitish or gray, sometimes purple, blue, green, yellow, or orange
  • Head with chewing mouth parts
  • Small eyes
  • Short antenna; 4-6 segmented
  • Abdomen 5 or 6 segmented; forked and small tubular structure
  • Legs slender, small and unmodified

 

Carpet Beetles

  • 1/32-½" in length
  • Color varies: shades of brown, white, and black
  • Chewing mouthparts
  • Antennae short, with 3-segmented compact club
  • Body elongate-oval to almost circular, covered with scales or hair
  • Also known as a "fabric pest"
  • They have the ability to digest keratin found in wool, hair, fur, feathers, horns and hoofs.
  • Tend to infest carpets, blankets, coats, etc.
  • Prefer to feed in dark, undisturbed areas
  • On dead insects, they typically feed from within and the accumulation of fine powder beneath the specimen is usually the only indication of their presence.

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug

  • 12-17 mm long
  • Shield shape body
  • Color: Brown with light and dark bands on the antennae and wings
  • They get their name from the unpleasant odor they produce when they are threatened
  • Feed on apples, peaches, blackberries, tomatoes, corn, soybeans, lima beans and green peppers.
  • The bugs move inside the home through cracks and other openings. They spend the winter hiding inside the walls or in the attic or crawl space.
  • They will not reproduce inside structures or cause damage
  • They can produce allergies in some individuals who are sensitive to the bugs odor

 

Controlling Occasional Invaders

Inspect and locate colonies and trails.

  • INSPECT
  • Select an appropriate pesticide to apply indoors and to the outdoor perimeter of the home
  • Glue Boards can be effective for monitoring
  • Remove piles of fire wood, piled up debris, plywood and cardboard from near the home and in the yard.
  • Seal holes in masonry and entry points such as door thresholds by installing door sweeps, etc.
  • Provide adequate ventilation in crawl spaces by opening vents
  • Change outdoor light bulbs to yellow or sodium vapor lamps