General Pest (insects)

Ants In And Around The Home

Ant

HYG-2064-96

Ants rank number one in inquiries at our Ohio State University Extension Entomology office over all other household/structural pests. It is very important to have an accurate ant identification in order to determine the best method of control if needed. When in doubt, collect several specimens in a watertight vial, add isopropyl or 70 percent alcohol (not water), and enclose in a crush proof box. Take to your county Extension office of Ohio State University Extension or mail to the C. Wayne Ellett Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic, 110 Kottman Hall, 2021 Coffey Road, Columbus, Ohio 43210-1087, phone (614)292-5006. A nominal fee is charged for specimen identification. Some ants are so small and similar in appearance when viewed by the naked eye, that it takes trained specialists to tell the difference between species.

Common Name	Scientific Name
Carpenter Ant	Camponotus spp.
Cornfield Ant	Lasius alienus (Foerster)
Larger Yellow Ant	Acanthomyops interjectus (Mayr.)
Pharaoh Ant	Monomorium pharaonis (Linn.)
Thief Ant	Solenopsis molesta (Say)
Pavement Ant	Tetramorium caepitum (Linn.)
Little Black Ant	Monomorium minimum (Buckley)
False Honey Ant	Prenolepis imparis (Say)
Allegheny Mount Ant	Formica exsectoides Forel
Lawn Ant	Iridomyrmex pruinosus var. analis (E. Andre)
Acrobat Ant	Cremastogaster lineolata (Say)
Odorous House Ant	Tapinoma sessile (Say)
Crazy Ant	Paratrechina longicornis (Latrielle)

Identification

There are several kinds of ants that may occur in and around the home ranging in size from about 1/32 to 3/4 inch long and colored yellowish, light brown, reddish-brown, brownish-black or jet black. Ants, as all insects, have three body parts, head, thorax, and abdomen. Most are wingless, but the homeowner sometimes may confuse swarming, winged ants with swarming, winged termites, causing alarm. Ants can be easily distinguished from termites by several characteristics: Figure 1a.

Ant bodies appear constricted or pinched in at the waist (shaped like a figure 8), while termites do not have the waist constriction.
Ants have elbowed antennae, while termites have straight, bead-like antennae.
The forewings of ants are much larger than the hindwings. Termites' wings are equal in size and shape.
Ant wings are transparent or brownish, while termite wings are milky-white or grayish and longer than the body.
Ant wings are firmly attached, while termite wings are easily removed or shed (fall off).

Life Cycle And Habits

Ants are social insects that live in colonies or nests usually located in the soil near the house foundation, under concrete slabs, in crawlspaces, in structural wood, in the yard or garden, in trees and in other protected places. Ants have three castes, namely queens, males and workers. Queens and males are the reproductive's. Workers are sterile wingless females. New ant colonies are started by a single fertilized queen that lays eggs and tends her brood (larvae and pupae) that develop into worker ants. Tending of the brood is then taken over by the worker, which may shift the brood from place to place as moisture and temperature fluctuate in the nest. When workers forage for food for the queen and her young, they often may enter houses and become a nuisance by their presence and contaminate food.

Cockroaches And Their Management

Roach

Cockroaches are pests throughout the United States. They are annoying and, when abundant, they are also destructive. Cockroaches, also known as water bugs, croton bugs, or palmetto bugs, destroy food and damage fabrics, book bindings, and other materials. When cockroaches run over food they leave filth and may spread disease. They secrete an oily liquid that has an offensive and sickening odor that may ruin food. This odor may also be imparted to dishes that are apparently clean. Excrement in the form of pellets or an ink-like liquid also contributes to this nauseating odor. Some people are allergic to cockroaches and become ill.

Kinds Of Cockroaches

The kinds of cockroaches most commonly found in and around central Alabama homes are the; American (Figure 1), smoky brown (Figure 2), brown (Figure 3), Australian (Figure 4), German (Figure 5) and Asian. The smallest cockroaches, the German, Asian, and brown banded (Figure 6), are close to the same size and the adults are seldom more than 5/8" long. The larger cockroaches, the American, Australian, brown, and the smoky brown, are 1 1/4" - 2" long and are often called palmetto bugs. Though they are generally found outdoors, they can become an indoor problem when they migrate or are carried indoors. The largest cockroach, the Florida woods roach, will also enter dwellings from the outside or from beneath the house. Outdoor cockroaches do not survive well indoors and many times people overreact to the presence of these cockroaches. Often, removal of these outdoor cockroaches from the house is all that is needed for control.

Spiders

Spiders are arachnids, a group of arthropods that also includes scorpions, harvestmen, mites, and ticks. Approximately 3,000 species occur in North America.

Spiders, like insects (another group of arthropods), have jointed legs and a hard external or outer skeleton. Spiders have four pair of legs, with a body divided into two regions (cephalothoraxes and abdomen), while insects have three pair of legs and the body divided into three regions: head, thorax, and abdomen. Spiders have no wings or antennae, but have enlarged, sharply pointed jaws called fangs (chelicerae).

All spiders are predators. They feed on a wide variety of insects and other soft-bodied invertebrate animals. Spiders attack and subdue their prey by biting with their fangs to inject a poison. As predators spiders are beneficial.

All spiders spin silk, but the silk is used in a wide variety of ways. Most spiders construct a silken case to protect their eggs, but not all spiders make a web. A few use silk threads much like a parachute to aid in dispersal on wind currents, e.g., balloon spiders.

All spiders are poisonous, but fear of all spiders is unwarranted because most are either too small or possess poison that is too weak to harm humans. Only a few have bites that are dangerous to humans. However, the bite of these few species can cause serious medical problems and possible death under certain circumstances.

The most dangerous spiders to humans in North America are the widow spiders (usually known as black widows) (Fig. 7), the brown spiders (also known as the fiddle backed spiders), the tarantulas, an innocuous-looking sac spider, and a funnel-web spider.

Problem Spiders

Widow Spiders (Family Theridiidae).

Five species of widow spiders occur in North America. However, the single species occurring in Washington is the western black widow Latrodoctus hesperus. The adult female is a velvety jet black, but males and immature are striped with white or yellow. The underside of the abdomen of the adult female usually shows two reddish markings, often joined to resemble the shape of an hourglass. The back of the abdomen is usually entirely black, but may be marked with a broken stripe of white, red, or yellow spots.

An adult female, including legs, is 3 to 4 centimeters (about 1-1/2 inches) in diameter. This species is usually associated with dry, undisturbed piles of firewood, old lumber, dry crawl spaces, outbuildings, rock piles, or bales of hay. Poorly constructed wooden pit privies are favored haunts for these spiders. Widow webs are poorly defined, amorphous sheeting's of very strong, fine silk.

The bite of the adult female is more toxic than that of juveniles or males. However, widows are shy, retiring spiders and bite only reluctantly, usually only when molested.

Widows are more aggressive when they are protecting an egg sac. The bite of the widow spider causes little immediate pain and may go unnoticed. Slight local swelling and reddening at the bite site are early signs, followed by intense muscular pain, rigidity of the abdomen and legs, difficulty in breathing, and nausea. There is little first aid advised other than cleaning the bite and calming the victim. Consult a physician as soon as possible. Pain can be relieved with injections of calcium gluconate. In untreated cases symptoms generally fade in 2 to 3 days. Widow bites are more dangerous if the victim is a small child or an elderly person.

Brown Spiders (Family Loxoscelide).

This common name refers only to spiders in the genus Loxosceles. Several species of Loxosceles occur in the United States, but only the brown recluse spider, L. reclusa, (Fig. 8), and another brown spider, L. laeta, introduced into California and Massachusetts from its normal range in western South America, are known to be dangerous.

The brown recluse spider is common in the southern states, but is sometimes introduced into other areas as a transient on objects or in motor vehicles. However, the brown recluse does not occur in the Pacific Northwest. The only specimen of the brown recluse ever collected in the Pacific Northwest was found in Prosser in 1978. This spider came from a trailer of household goods brought into the area from Kansas. No additional specimens have been collected.

Figure 20

Fig. 20. The shaded pattern shows areas where the brown recluse spider is well established. Reports of spiders outside these areas from as far north as Maine and Minnesota, and as far west as southern California are based on specimens known or presumed to be carried there by commerce.

These spiders also are known as fiddle backed or violin spiders, as they have a dark violin pattern on the front portion of the body. They have only three pair of eyes instead of four like most spiders. Their overall size is 2 to 3 centimeters (3/4 to 1-1/4 inches) in diameter. Brown recluse spiders vary in color from tan to dark brown. They readily enter human dwellings and hide during the daytime in baseboard or ceiling cracks, behind or in furniture, or in undisturbed piles of clothing.

The bite of the brown recluse spider either may go unnoticed with no aftereffects or may be followed by a severe localized reaction characterized by scabbing, sloughing off of affected tissue (tissue necrosis), and very slow healing. Again, as with other suspected spider bites, consult a physician if pain and other discomfort follow the bite.

Tarantulas (Family Theraphosidae).

These are the very large, hairy spiders, up to 15 centimeters or more in diameter (6 inches), frequently used in horror movies. A number of smaller, native species exist in the southern United States, but none occur naturally in Washington. However, tarantulas are sold and are kept as pets. Unfortunately, some of those sold as pets have extremely venomous body hairs (Fig. 9).

These spiders are normally nonaggressive, and they rarely bite. Even if they do, their bite is not usually considered to be dangerous and causes little lasting pain or few serious health problems.

The hazard of these spiders is a physiological fear because of their large size, and the risk of developing a hypersensitive or allergic response to their body hairs. When agitated or uneasy, tarantulas rake their abdomen with their hind legs to throw very fine abdominal hairs in the direction of danger. These hollow, needlelike, barbed hairs readily penetrate human skin to introduce a toxic material that can cause a serious skin rash, an allergic response, and possible anaphylactic shock. Anyone handling a pet tarantula should recognize these potential hazard problems.

Funnel-web Spiders (Family Agelenidae).

The aggressive house spider, Tegenaria agrestis, (sometimes called the hobo spider) is a member of the family Agelenidae, commonly called the funnel-web spiders or funnel weavers. These spiders build funnel webs in dark, moist areas, often in basements, and sit in the mouth of the funnel waiting for prey. The funnel opens at both ends, and the web expands outward into a broad, slightly curved sheet. When prey, usually an insect, becomes entangled in the web, vibrations from its struggle alert the spider, which dashes out to bite the prey. The subdued prey is quickly carried into the funnel (Fig. 10).

In Europe, members of the genus Tegenaria are often called house spiders since they are common inhabitants of houses and adjacent vegetation. Only a single species of Tegenaria, T. chiricahuae, is native to the United States. It occurs in caves and other dark places in Arizona and New Mexico. The other six species of Tegenaria found in the United States are of European origin. They were probably introduced to this country very early through commerce. Three Species Occur in the Pacific Northwest.

Tegenaria domestica, the domestic house spider, is common in both the Northeast and the Northwest, while Tegenaria gigantea, the giant house spider, has been collected to date in the Pacific Northwest and in Winnipeg, Canada. Neither of these two species are known to cause serious bite reactions in humans (Fig. 11). T. gigantea has been encountered more frequently than T. agrestis in the last few years.

Tegenaria agrestis, the aggressive house spider, is one of the most common spiders found in houses in the Pacific Northwest. Although this spider was first reported from Seattle in 1930, it did not become common in the Pacific Northwest until the 1960s. In the Pullman-Moscow, Idaho area, it is clearly a prevalent spider in basements and in window wells of houses. It rarely climbs vertical surfaces and is usually found only on the ground or lower floors. We have called it the "aggressive house spider" because it bites with little provocation when cornered or threatened.

The Tegenaria agrestis is a relatively large, swift running spider. Mature adults range from 4 to 5 cm diameter (1 to 1-3/4 inches) including legs (Fig. 12). As with most spiders, males can be identified readily by the expanded, swollen tips of their palps.

Sexually mature males and females are abundant from mid-summer (July) through fall. During this period males tend to wander relatively long distances in search of females. Eggs are laid into a spherical silken sac spun by the female, usually in September or October in the Pullman area. The sac is then placed within or adjacent to the funnel, usually on the underside of a rock or other object. This sac is usually covered with a thin layer of soil, wood chips, or other debris, including prey. The debris coated sac then is often covered with another layer of silk. Eggs hatch the following spring. Most Tegenaria molt about 10 times over a span of 2 years before reaching sexual maturity. Immature'are commonly found wandering in the spring searching for web sites.

Investigations of aggressive house spider bites show the venom produces skin injuries, or lesions, similar to those produced by the brown recluse. Therefore, ulcerating lesions of this type occurring on humans in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho are probably due to bites by the aggressive house spider. Surprisingly, males are somewhat more venomous than females.

Bites commonly occur as a spider is squeezed against the body when a homeowner picks up a firewood log with a spider on it or when a spider is located in an article of clothing and is squeezed when the clothing is put on. The initial bite is not painful. It has been described as producing a very slight prickling sensation. However, a small, insensitive, hard area appears within 30 minutes or less, and is surrounded by an expanding reddened area of 5 to 15 cm in diameter (2 to 6 inches).

Typical bite sequence pathology for the aggressive house spider. Fig. 13.

Within 15 to 35 hours the area blisters. About 24 hours later the blisters usually break, and the wound oozes serum. A cratered ulcer crusts over to form a scab. Tissues beneath the scab may die and slough away. In some cases the loss of tissue may become so severe that surgical repair is needed. The fully developed lesion can vary from about 1/2 to 1 inch or more in diameter. Lesions may take several months to heal, and frequently leave a permanent scar (Fig. 14).

Systemic illness may or may not accompany the bite. However, the most common symptom is a severe headache, sometimes occurring within 30 minutes, usually within 10 hours, that does not respond to aspirin. The headache may persist for 2 to 7 days, and is sometimes accompanied by nausea, weakness, tiredness, temporary loss of memory, and vision impairment.

The symptoms are similar to those experienced with migraine headaches. Bites by Tegenaria agrestis have not caused a death. In Europe, their area of origin, there are few records of bites by these spiders causing medical problems. However, a person bitten by one of these spiders should seek immediate medical treatment.

Sac Spider (Family Clubionidae)

Chiracanthium inclusum is a small (ca. 5 mm or 1/4 inch), whitish spider common around the Tri-Cities and in the Columbia Basin (Fig. 15). They live in flat, tubular nests that are open at both ends, under bark or in rolled leaves. They are seldom found in houses. Their bite is venomous to humans, but bites are unusual because the species occurs only in relatively non-populated areas. The bite produces local pain, nausea, and severe muscular discomfort lasting several hours. There is one recorded instance of tissue necrosis around the bite site.

Other Common Spiders.

Other Funnel-Web Spiders.
Species of Hololena and several other funnel-web spiders are common house invaders in eastern Washington (Fig. 16). Adults are commonly found in bathtubs and sinks throughout the fall and winter. These are nonaggressive spiders that pose no threat to humans. However, they could be confused with the aggressive house spider so note the abdominal markings carefully. This species lacks the chevron pattern found on the aggressive house spider.

Other Comb-footed or Cobweb Spiders.
These very common spiders hang upside down in an irregular, somewhat amorphous web. They tend to be drab brown, but several species are white with red markings. They are common in basements, abandoned buildings, and piles of wood. stone, or debris. Their bodies are globular like widow spiders, but their bite is not dangerous (Fig. 17).

Folding Trapdoor or False Trap Door Spiders (Family Antrodiaetidae).
These large, primitive spiders are excellent burrowers. At the top of their silk-lined burrows is a collapsible collar that serves as a door. The spider then disguises the entrance with plant debris and sits at the entrance at dusk to capture passing insects (Fig. 18).

Wolf Spiders (Family Lycosidae).
These are large, dark, and somewhat hairy spiders that hunt by running down prey on the ground. They often wander into homes in the cool autumn. They have a superficial resemblance to the house spider (Fig. 19).

Jumping Spiders (Family Salticidae).
These compact, active, and usually colorful spiders often are found on window sills and ceilings where they stalk and pounce on unsuspecting flies and gnats (Fig. 20).

Orb Weaving Spiders (Family Araneidae).
These belong to the largest family of spiders. All construct the circular, flat, wheel-like web in which they trap flying insects. The very large black and yellow garden spider is a typical example (Fig. 21).

Crab Spiders (Family Thomisidae).
These colorful spiders, have a crablike appearance. They generally appear on blossoms, where they blend with their background and pounce on prey that visits flowers (Fig. 22).

Sheetweb Spiders (Family Linyphiidae).
These small, drab spiders engineer dew speckled webbing that enshrouds fields and forest in the early morning. Their populations may reach many thousands per acre. They are very elusive and readily drop to the ground to escape danger (Fig. 23).

Hackled Band Weavers (Family Amaurobiidae)
A robust spider, Callobius severus (19mm or 3/4" diam), is a common crawl-space inhabitant of houses in western Washington. These large, impressive spiders pose no threat to humans or pets (Fig. 24).

Spider Control.

Spiders are far more beneficial than they are dangerous. The benefits we realize from spiders preying on insects, mites, and other spiders far outweigh the low potential health hazard to humans.

Most spider problems can be solved without the use of chemicals. The first, and perhaps best, suggested controls are mechanical. Inspect door and window casings in the house for closeness of fit. Repair holes large enough to admit spiders. Other areas to inspect include entry points of water pipes and electrical lines. Caulk any cracks and other small openings. Before bringing firewood into your home, inspect it for spiders or their egg sacs. In addition, keep woodpiles and other debris away from the house. Use a good vacuum that will readily remove all spiders and webs from corners and nooks. Crush spiders by stepping on them as they run across floors, or capture them with your vacuum; they will die rapidly in the dry, enclosed bag. Depending on the type of vacuum used, it might be best to dispose of the vacuum bag immediately after capture so the spider will not escape.

If spiders are numerous and constantly entering the house, you may want to contact us, we would welcome the chance to serve you.

Adult European Earwig

Earwig

Earwig male and female.

Earwigs may cause alarm to homeowners when discovered indoors. They have a frightful appearance, move rapidly around baseboards at the ground level, and may emit a foul-smelling, yellowish-brown liquid from their scent glands. These creatures, active at night while hiding during the daytime, normally live outdoors and do not establish themselves indoors. They are harmless to humans and animals, although if handled carelessly, the earwig can give a slight pinch with the forceps. Serious feeding damage may occur on flowers, vegetables, fruits and other plants, giving the leaves a ragged appearance with the numerous, small, irregular holes. Also, decomposing organic matter is consumed. They are considered temporary pests in spite of the fact that they sometimes occur in large populations.

Silverfish

SIZE: 1/2 to 1 inch (12.7-25.4mm)
COLOR: Brown or silver-gray
DESCRIPTION: Silverfish are small, soft insects without wings. The abdomen has three filaments extending from it. Silverfish are not often seen by homeowners because they are nocturnal and can run very swiftly. Occasionally, they are found in bathtubs. They crawl in seeking food or moisture and can't climb out. These insects prefer vegetable matter with a high carbohydrate and protein content. However, indoors they will feed on almost anything. A partial list includes dried beef, flour, starch, paper, gum, glue, cotton, linen, rayon, silk, sugar, molds and breakfast cereals.
HABITAT: Silverfish normally live outdoors under rocks, bark and leaf mold, in the nests of birds and mammals, and in ant and termite nests. However, many are found in houses and are considered a pest, or at least a nuisance, by homeowners. Usually they are found trapped in a bathtub, sink, or washbasin.
LIFE CYCLE: Adults lay eggs in small groups containing a few to 50 eggs. The eggs are very small and deposited in cracks and crevices. A female normally lays less than 100 eggs during her lifespan of two to eight years. Under ideal conditions, the eggs hatch in two weeks, but may take up to two months to hatch. The young nymphs are very much like the adults except for size. Several years are required before they are sexually mature, and they must mate after each molt if viable eggs are to be produced. Populations do not build up rapidly because of their slow development rate and the small number of eggs laid.
TYPE OF DAMAGE: A household pest, they feed on cereals and non-food items such as paste, paper, starch in clothes, rayon fabrics and dried meats.
CONTROL: Sanitation alone will not eliminate an infestation, although it may prevent new ones from starting. A large infestation usually means the house has been infested for some time.
Residual insecticides (use an aerosol) will help to control these pests. Removing old papers, boxes, books, and clothes from the attic to basement will help remove food and hiding places. Moth crystals placed in boxes in the attic will also help.

Fleas

Flea

HYG-2081-97

Common Name	Scientific Name
Cat Flea	Ctenocephalides felis (Bouche)
Dog Flea	Ctenocephalides canis (Curtis)
Northern Rat Flea	Nosopsyllus fasciatus (Bosc)
Oriental Rat Flea	Xenopsylla cheopis (Rothschild)
Rabbit Flea	Cediopsylla simplex (Baker)

Fleas are very important pests in Ohio, especially during the months of July through October, but sometimes persist all year when indoors. It is estimated pet owners alone spend over $1 billion each year controlling fleas.

Adult fleas are not only a nuisance to humans and their pets, but can cause medical problems including flea allergy dermatitis (FAD), tapeworms, secondary skin irritations and, in extreme cases, anemia.

Bites: Although bites are rarely felt, it is the resulting irritation caused by the flea salivary secretions that varies among individuals. Some may witness a severe reaction (general rash or inflammation) resulting in secondary infections caused by scratching the irritated skin area. Others may show no reaction or irritation acquired after repeated bites over several weeks or months.

Most bites usually found on the ankles and legs may cause pain lasting a few minutes, hours or days depending on one's sensitivity. The typical reaction to the bite is the formation of a small, hard, red, slightly-raised (swollen) itching spot. There is a single puncture point in the center of each spot. (Ants and spiders leave two marks when they bite. Mosquitoes, bees, wasps and bedbugs cause a large swelling or welt).

Also, fleas may transmit bubonic plague from rodent to rodent and from rodent to humans. Oriental rat fleas can transmit murine typhus (endemic typhus) fever among rats and from rats to humans. Tapeworms normally infest dogs and cats but may appear in children if parts of infested fleas are accidentally consumed.

Identification

Adult fleas are about 1/16 to 1/8-inch long, dark reddish-brown, wingless, hard-bodied (difficult to crush between fingers), have three pairs of legs (hind legs enlarged enabling jumping) and are flattened vertically or side to side (bluegill or sunfish-like) allowing easy movement between the hair, fur or feathers of the host.

Fleas are excellent jumpers, leaping vertically up to seven inches and horizontally thirteen inches. (An equivalent hop for a human would be 250 feet vertically and 450 feet horizontally.) They have piercing-sucking mouthparts and spines on the body projecting backward. Also, there is a row of spines on the face known as a genal comb. Spine I (first outer spine) is shorter than Spine II (next inner spine) in dog fleas. Both spines are about the same length in the cat flea. The rabbit flea has a vertical genal comb with blunt spines. The genal comb is absent in both rat fleas. Eggs are smooth, oval and white. Larvae are 1/4-inch long, slender, straw-colored, brown headed, wormlike, bristly-haired creatures (13 body segments), that are legless, have chewing mouthparts, are active, and avoid light. Pupae are enclosed in silken cocoons covered with particles of debris.