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Bed Bugs

Color
Mahogany to rusty brown; red after a blood meal

Legs
Six

Shape
Flat; broad oval

Size
1/4 inches

Antennae
Yes

Flying
No

Region
All 50



Argentine Ants

Description Argentine ant colonies can grow to monumental size. Their colony borders sometimes cover entire habitats. Argentine ant queens also assist with foraging for food. The ant gives off a musty odor when crushed. Worker argentine ants are about one sixteenth of an inch long. Queen argentine ants are one eighth of an inch to one quarter of an inch long.

Color

Dark brown to black; shiny

Legs

Six

Shape

Segmented; oval

Size

1/16-1/4 inches

Antennae

Yes

Flying

Rare winged swarmers

Region

AL, AR, CA, FL, GA, IL, LA, MD, MO, MS, NC, OR, SC, TN, WA




Description

Carpenter ants get their name because they excavate wood in order to build their nests. Their excavation results in smooth tunnels inside the wood (formicarium). Carpenter ants range in size from one-quarter inch for a worker ant to up to three-quarters inch for a queen.

Color

Varies depending on species, from red to black or a combination. The two most common species are black.

Legs

Six

Shape

Segmented; oval

Size

5/8 inches

Antennae

Yes

Flying

Winged swarmers

Region

Contiguous states

Size ranges from one-fourth inch for a worker ant to up to three-fourths inch for a queen in the most common species.

May range from red to black in color.

Build nests in deteriorating, moist wood; often the colony will extend its nest into adjacent, sound wood.

Are commonly found in porch pillars and roofs, window sills, telephone poles, live and dead trees, rotting logs and stumps and wood in contact with soil.

Do not actually eat the wood removed during nest-building activities; rather, deposit it outside entrances to the colony in small piles.


 

Pest Facts: Odorous House Ants Images



Description This ant gets its name from the strong, rotten coconut-like smell it gives off when crushed. These tiny insects range in size from one-sixteenth of an inch to one-eighth of an inch long.

Pest Facts

Color

Brown or black

Legs

Six

Shape

Segmented; oval

Size

1/16-1/8 inches

Antennae

Yes

Flying

Winged swarmers

Region

All 50, AR, CA, KY, MS, NJ, OR, TN, VA, WA

Habits Odorous house ants like to eat sweets, especially melon.

Habitat Typically living for several years, these ants make their homes in exposed soil and wall voids.

Threats These ants do not pose a public health risk, but they can contaminate food and should be avoided.

Prevention Eliminate standing water. Pests such as odorous house ants are attracted to moisture. Keep tree branches and other plants cut back from the house. Sometimes pests use these branches to get into your home. Make sure that there are no cracks or little openings around the bottom of your house. Sometimes pests use these to get into your home. Make sure that firewood and building materials are not stored next to your home. Pests like to build nests in stacks of wood.

Pest Facts: Pavement Ants Images



Description Pavement ants get their name because they make their nests in or under cracks in pavement. They can infest structures.

Pest Facts

Color

Dark brown to blackish

Legs

Six

Shape

Segmented; oval

Size

1/8 inches

Antennae

Yes

Flying

Winged swarmers

Region

All 50

Habits These ants will eat almost anything, including insects, seeds, honeydew, honey, bread, meats, nuts and cheese.

Habitat These ants live in or under pavement cracks.

Threats These ants do not pose a public health risk, but they can contaminate food and should be avoided. They are not aggressive, but can bite and sting.

Prevention Eliminate standing water. Pests, such as ants, are attracted to moisture. Keep tree branches and other plants cut back from the house. Sometimes pests use these branches to get into your home.* Make sure that there are no cracks or little openings around your house. Sometimes pests use these to get into your home. Make sure that firewood and building materials are not stored next to your home. Pests like to build nests in stacks of wood.









Description

Red imported fire ants nest in soil and build mound nests. They can infest garages.



Color

Dark reddish brown

Legs

Six

Shape

Segmented; oval

Size

1/8-3/8 inches

Antennae

Yes

Flying

Winged swarmers

Region

Southeastern U.S. from Virginia to Texas

Habits

These ants will build large mound nests, and will sting humans who come across a nest.

Habitat

Red imported fire ants will build their nest mounds outdoors in landscape areas or near a structural foundation. The ant will gain entry to a building through holes or cracks.

Threats

The sting of a red imported fire ant is painful and often results in a raised welt that becomes a white pustule. Often, a person stung by a red imported fire ant receives multiple painful stings from more than one of the ants. Persons allergic to insect stings will react more severely.

Prevention

Red imported fire ants and their telltale mound nests should be actively avoided. To prevent entry into a structure, seal all internal and external cracks and crevices.


Picture
Habits
Bed bugs like to travel and will hide in suitcases, boxes and shoes to be near a food supply. They are elusive, nocturnal creatures. They can hide behind baseboards, electrical switch plates, picture frames, even wall paper. They come out at night for a blood meal.


Habitat
Bed bugs like to hide in small cracks and crevices close to a human environment. They can be found behind baseboards, wallpaper, upholstery, and in furniture crevices.


Threats
Although bed bugs can dine on any warm-blooded animal, they primarily dine on humans. Bed bugs do not transmit diseases, but their bites can become red, itchy welts.


Prevention
Vacuum suitcases after returning from a vacation. Check your bedsheets for tell-tale blood spots. Bed bugs are elusive creatures, so it is imperative to seek professional pest control to address an infestation.

 





Habits

Argentine ants deposit trails continuously, instead of just from nest to food source. This habit ensures they do not waste time visiting the same area for food. They prefer to eat sweets but they will eat almost anything including meats, eggs, oils and fats.

Habitat
Argentine ant colonies are located in wet environments near a food source.


Threats
Argentine ants do not pose a health threat, but they can contaminate food.


Prevention
Eliminate standing water. Pests, such as Argentine ants are attracted to moisture. Keep tree branches and other plants cut back from the house. Sometimes pests use these branches to get into your home. Make sure that there are no cracks or little openings around the bottom of your house. Sometimes pests use these to get into your home. Make sure that firewood and building materials are not stored next to your home. Pests like to build nests in stacks of wood.














Habits


All species mainly attack wood that is or has been wet and damaged by mold. Even though these ants first invade wet, decayed wood, they may soon begin building paths through dry, undamaged wood. They usually come into buildings through cracks around doors, windows, or through holes for wires. They will also crawl along overhead wires, shrubs, or tree limbs that touch the building far above the ground.

Habitat

Carpenter ants build their nests outdoors in various wood sources, including tree stumps, firewood or landscaping. They need a constant water source to survive. They will enter homes through wet, damaged wood.

Threats

Carpenter ants damage wood through their nest building. If they gain entry to a structure, they pose a property threat. They can convey a painful bite with pronounced mandibles and injection of formic acid into the wound.

Prevention

Because carpenter ants require a water source, eliminate sources of moisture or standing water. Keep tree branches and other plants cut back from the house. Sometimes pests use these branches to get into your home. Make sure that there are no cracks or little openings around the bottom of your house. Sometimes pests use these to get into your home. Make sure that firewood and building materials are not stored next to your home. Pests like to build nests in stacks of wood.