German CockroachThe German roach is a nocturnal animal, strongly avoids light, cannot fly, and in almost all situations will be found indoors. Infestations normally begin by the introduction of roaches in packages. The biological potential of this species is enormous, with females producing an average of 5 egg capsules in their lifetime, each with an average of 30 eggs in it. Successful control relies heavily on habitat modification to eliminate food and water resources and to close access to harborage sites. It also is dependent on an inspection to discover all harborages that need to be treated or eliminated.
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Carpenter AntsMany species of these ants are native to North America, with several species seemingly the most likely to invade structural wood members. We have several common species in the upper Midwest that are encountered in homes. The usual habitat of a colony of carpenter ants is within wood, often wood partially buried in the soil. If you think you may have a carpenter ant problem and would like an on site inspection, contact us. We offer a free, on site evaluation of the problem and estimate for treatment
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Boxelder BugA native pest, the Boxelder Bug is an overwintering pest in our homes as it migrates into structures to avoid the winter cold. If you have a seed producing maple (The Boxelder tree is a member of the Maple family) these pests can be a challenge from time to time.. Hot dry summers seem to make the population explode in the late summer and about Labor Day, you will see them begin migrating towards your home. Control methods are effective if timed correctly.
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Multi Colored Asian Lady BeetleLooking like our small native ladybug on steriods, this recent arrival from overseas is now a yearly pest.. Migrating into homes in the late summer/early fall and emerging in the spring, these pests will sometimes appear in huge numbers about the time of the first frost. Control methods, if timed correctly, can be very effective.
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House FlyThis species is found abundantly throughout the world, and in many countries, where sanitation is not adequate and human wastes are commonly deposited outdoors, the House Fly is responsible for the spread of numerous serious diseases Sanitation and removal of any and all potential breeding sites is crucial. Cleaning surfaces of spills and keeping foods covered and stored properly will reduce the attraction of flies and the potential for contamination of the food.
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Paper (umbrella) WaspThe umbrella wasps derive their name from the upside-down umbrella shape of their nests. These nests will commonly be found on eaves or overhangs and the adult wasps will cluster on the surface of the nest at night and in cooler or rainy weather. The nest is created from chewed bark, dried plant parts, or other cellulose materials, and the cells in which the larvae will grow are formed as the traditional hexagon shape. Once the first adults emerge they become the workers and the original female, or 'queen', settles into laying eggs. All members of the colony are females and all of them can sting.
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CentipedesThe house centipede is an eerie-looking animal, with 15 pairs of extremely long legs that give the impression of a feather moving across the floor or wall. It normally occurs outdoors, hiding under materials on the soil in the daytime, but commonly will enter structures, spending most of its time in damp areas around sinks, basements, crawl spaces, or other areas of higher moisture.
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YellowjacketsYellowjackets are social wasps, with a Queen that initiated the colony and female workers that build the nest, care for the young, forage for food, and defend the colony. Yellowjackets are very similar to the other social paper wasps called Umbrella Wasps, but differ by having no narrow waist between their thorax and abdomen. Colors are yellow and black. Yellowjackets will be found most commonly inside wall voids or in ground nests. The nest itself will not be visable but a steady stream of yellowjackets going to and from the nest will be visible in the right light. They love to nest in the lower wall voids of homes or in soffet areas where there is a void ready to occupy. WARNING.. Do not seal up an outside yellowjacket nest opening without first exterminating the colony unless you want a lot of angry yellowjackets inside your house. Read More...
BatsBats found in Minnesota and Wisconsin are primarily of 2 species.. The Little Brown Bat & the Big Brown Bat. Both of these species are common and we occasionally even find both species living in the same structure. Bats occupy our homes for the purpose of finding overwintering harborage and for the purpose of colony development, breeding and social interaction. Bats are mammals but not rodents. They have insect eating teeth and cannot gnaw into structures. They must use existing entry points to get into your home. Attic spaces as well as wall voids and soffet/facia areas are the voids most commonly used by bats to colonize in your home.
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MillipedesMillipedes Millipedes are slow moving vegetarians, feeding on both decaying vegetation as well as live plant tissues. Most commonly seen indoors after they have died and curled up in a classic 'C' shape. Millipedes differ from Centipedes in that they have 2 legs per body segment and they move very very slowly. They are not harmful but in large numbers can be a considerable pest by migrating into basements and garages from the outside.
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RatsThe Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus, also called the brown rat or sewer rat) is a destructive pest found in urban and suburban neighborhoods. These rodents eat and contaminate food, damage buildings and other property by their gnawing and burrowing, and may spread diseases that affect people and pets. Norway rats are husky, brownish rodents that weigh about 11 ounces. They are about 13 to 18 inches long including the 6 to 8 1/2 inch tail. Their fur is coarse and mostly brown with scattered black on the upper surfaces. The underside is typically grey to yellowish-white.
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Bald Faced HornetAnother social Wasp?the Bald-faced hornet?lives throughout North America, including southern Canada, the Rocky Mountains, the western coast of the United States, and most of the eastern US. They are most common in the southeastern United States. They are best known for their large gray football-shaped paper nest, which they build in the spring for raising their young. This insect is extremely territorial and defends it's nest aggressively if challenged. Called 'bald faced' because of the predominance of white on the face of the insect, it is the largest of the native hornets.
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Bed BugThe Human bed bug is nocturnal, feeding only at night when people are asleep. During the daylight hours it hides in any available crack or hole in the immediate area. The presence of bedbugs may be determined by an unusual 'sweet' odor in the room. Bed bugs in general are wingless insects with an extremely flattened body from top to bottom, except when they are engorged with blood. They have a large, round abdomen, long 4-segmented antennae, and a small prothorax that flares to the sides. Not known to spread disease, these blood feeders are none the less a serious problem for those that have them.
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Indian Meal MothThis moth species can be found infesting possibly the widest range of food products of any moth, from nuts to grain products to fresh or dried fruit. It will infest virtually any processed food of vegetable origin, including candy bars, pet foods, and spices. It infests seeds and commonly will be in dried flower arrangements. The adult moth is very distinctive, with a coppery red outer half to each forewing, and a creamy white basal half. They will not infest wool or silk but are good flyers so you will see them all over the house when they emerge.
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Cluster FlyThe pest significance of the Cluster fly is due to the habit of the adults gathering in large numbers within structures, where they spend the winter months. On warm winter days they may awaken and become a nuisance within the structure. The Cluster fly is a dull, dark gray color, it is slightly larger than the House Fly. Control of the larval stage is not possible, so attention instead is given to either preventing the entry of the adults into structures, or killing them once they are hidden in voids.
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Pavement AntsThe common name of these ants is derived from their habit of creating nests under asphalt or concrete slabs, pushing small mounds of soil out through cracks and expansion joints. The nests are usually very shallow, and may also be found under debris or objects on the ground, as well as within structures near heat sources in the winter. Pavement Ants can easily be controlled by routine outside applications. Call for a free estimate.
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MosquitoMinnesota and Wisconsin's State Bird.. Not a hard pest to ID but it is important to know that there are a number of things that can be done to control them. If they are a problem, give us a call.
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Field CricketThese are outdoor insects, but they commonly enter structures to escape weather extremes or to seek hiding places following nocturnal activity. Like the House Cricket they have been known to damage fabrics, paper, leather, furs or other materials indoors, and outdoors they can cause tremendous destruction to landscape or agricultural plants. Field Crickets are a shiny black and 'chirp' excessively while the less common house cricket is brown and rarely chirps.
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MiceThe House Mouse is commonly a small grayish brown to almost black rodent that infests homes. It commonly is seen in kitchens, pantries and throughout the house and leaves its droppings wherever it frequents. If you have food items that are being chewed into, this is probably the culprit.
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SilverfishOnce a major problem, this pest has been relegated to the occasional pest call. The discontinuation of wheat flour as a base ingredient in wallpaper paste and its replacement with modern adhesives with no food value has been more effective than pest control methods have. You may, however find them in fairly large numbers in any moist environment such as bathrooms or basement areas. Silverfish are small, silvery, fast moving insects that will damage paper products such as books, magazines and infest cardboard boxes. The author has found them commonly in stored boxes of old magazines and books where air movement is not keeping things totally dry.
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SpidersMost spiders are small, inconspicuous arthropods which are harmless to humans. Their beneficial role in keeping insect populations in check far outweighs the hazard posed by the few spiders that occasionally bite humans. Very few of the 100's of species of spiders in the Upper Midwest can hurt people. Only two groups--recluse spiders and widow spiders-- are considered poisonous to humans. Jumping spiders, wolf spiders and some other spiders worry people who mistakenly believe they are seriously poisonous. Although these spiders are often large, hairy and formidable-looking, their bite is typically less harmful than a bee sting. People who are extremely allergic to spider venom, though, react severely to any spider bite.
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