Pest Facts
The problem …
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Ants
Known as America's most prolific pest, some ants can carry bacteria and contaminate food sources; while others can damage wood or inflict painful bites. Ants have also been known to nest and cause damage in computers.
Argentine Ants
Argentine Ants are a common household pest, entering structures in search of food or water (particularly during dry or hot weather), or to escape flooded nests during periods of heavy rainfall. Argentine ant colonies have multiple reproductive queens, sometimes as many as eight for every 1,000 workers. Eliminating a single queen does not stop the colony’s ability to breed. When they invade a kitchen, it is not uncommon to see two or three queens foraging along with the workers.
Carpenter Ants
Carpenter ants are large (10 mm or more) black or brown ants often found in wooded areas. However, they are known to enter homes also, especially in the spring. These ants are most often seen one at a time, and they are by far the largest ants seen on the property. In the spring, you may find large numbers of flying ants. These are the reproductive members of the colony. They indicate the presence of a mature colony nearby, and this is cause for concern. This colony must be found and destroyed immediately because carpenter ants are capable of doing severe structural damage if left untreated.
Fire Ant
Fire ants were accidentally brought to the United States from South America. Since arriving in Mobile, AL, they have spread to 14 States and Commonwealths. Identifying fire ants is difficult because they look much like ordinary ants. They are 1/8 to 1/4–inch long and reddish brown to black in color. Fire ants are probably best distinguished by their aggressive behavior and characteristic mound–shaped nests.
Carpenter Bee
Carpenter bees get their name from their ability to drill through wood and nest in the hole. Their drilling creates a near-perfect hole, approximately Z\x inch in diameter. The hole is usually located on the underside of the wood surface, including siding, decks, overhangs, fence posts and window frames. Although the hole appears to be only an inch or two deep, it rarely ends there.
Flea
Cat fleas are frequently encountered in homes and are common pests on domestic cats and dogs. Sticktight fleas can become a problem when pets frequent areas near poultry. Female sticktight fleas firmly attach themselves around the ears and eyes of their host. Fleas on either cats or dogs in Texas are most likely cat fleas.
Flies
Flies can threaten not only your business, but the health of your employees and customers. Flies breed quickly and can lay hundreds of eggs every few days. Their eggs can hatch in as little as 12-24 hours. Maggots begin feeding immediately. Flies often come from rotting and disease laden garbage and are known for contaminating food in exposed areas. They spread disease through pathogenic bacteria that can cause Staph, E.coli, Salmonella and Shingles. Also, flies can cause customers to form an unsanitary image of your business, thus undermining your establishment.
Rodents
Rodents are a business owner's worst nightmare, and are capable of causing electrical fires due to their constant gnawing. They can spread diseases such as Salmonellosis, Rickettsia, Smallpox, Lymphocytic choriomenigitis, and others. Rodents can contaminate 100 times the amount of food they eat. Each year, rodents cost U.S. business millions of dollars.
House Mouse
The house mouse is one of the most troublesome and economically important rodents in the United States. House mice thrive under a variety of conditions; they are found in and around homes and commercial structures as well as in open fields and agricultural lands. House mice consume and contaminate food meant for humans, pets, livestock, or other animals. In addition, they cause considerable damage to structures and property, and they can transmit pathogens that cause diseases such as salmonellosis, a form of food poisoning.
Norway Rat
Norway rats, sometimes called brown or sewer rats, are stocky burrowing rodents that are larger than roof rats. Their burrows are found along building foundations, beneath rubbish or woodpiles, and in moist areas in and around gardens and fields. Nests may be lined with shredded paper, cloth, or other fibrous material. When Norway rats invade buildings, they usually remain in the basement or ground floor. The Norway rat occurs throughout the 48 contiguous United States. Generally it is founds at lower elevations but may occur wherever people live.
Roof Rat
Roof rats are largely commensals and live in close association with man. They may live near the ground, but usually they frequent the attics, rafters, and crossbeams of the buildings. They make typical runways along pipes, beams or wires, up and down the studding, or along the horizontal ceiling joists, often leaving a dark-colored layer of grease and dirt to mark their travel ways. Like the Norway rat, the roof rat is largely nocturnal and only where populations are relatively high does one see them frequently in the daytime. There is some indication that the larger and more aggressive Norway rat is supplanting the roof rat in many parts of the United States.
Roaches
The roaches' ability to survive surpasses all other creatures on earth. Business owners fear the cockroach more than any other pest. A customer that sees a roach in your business is apt to tell ten people about it
German Cockroach
The German cockroach is found throughout the world in association with humans. They are unable to survive in locations away from humans or human activity. The major factor limiting German cockroach survival appears to be cold temperatures. Studies have shown that German cockroaches were unable to colonize inactive ships during cool temperatures and could not survive in homes without central heating in northern climates. The availability of water, food, and harborage also govern the ability of German cockroaches to establish populations, and limit growth.
Scorpion
Scorpions are not insects but are a closely related arthropod. Except when the scorpion accidentally stings man or invades his house, he is most beneficial. Scorpions feed on insects, and their presence is due to insect food in the area. Thus a key to control is to control the insects and the scorpions will leave. Scorpions are most abundant in the warmer areas of the U.S. They like trees, rock piles, old buildings, etc., where they lie in wait for prey.
Silverfish
Silverfish are found worldwide. Females deposit fertilized eggs in cracks and hidden places. The hatched young are scaleless and have short appendages. Silverfish normally live indoors and, because they eat starchy materials (e.g., paste, book bindings, and wallpaper), can cause much damage. They live two to three years and molt throughout life.
Spiders
Spiders are carnivorous pests (feed on other bugs). Large numbers of spiders are often a sign of a more extensive pest problem. Scorpions can inflict a painful sting that can cause serious illness requiring immediate medical attention. These pests can be a liability risk should a customer or employee come in contact with them in your business.
Black Widow Spider
The adult female black widow spider has a shiny, jet black, spherical abdomen with two connected red triangles on the underside that form a characteristic hourglass marking. Note, however, that the hourglass color may range from yellowish to various shades of orange or red. Adult females are about 1/2-inch long, not including the legs (about 1-1/2 inches when legs are spread). Adult males are harmless, about half the female’s size, with smaller bodies and longer legs.
Wolf Spider
These hunting spiders are fast runners that will chase their prey. Wolf spiders are hairy and often large, up to 1-3/8 inches long, sometimes confused with tarantulas. Their legs are long and spiny. Many are dark brown.
