Our Main Goal

Our main goal is to provide our customers with the best possible service available for their investment. We emphasize the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach - to reduce the use of pesticides in the environment. Our latest efforts lead the industry with eco-friendly green services. Ask for more information.

We strive to fulfill all of your pest control needs. We service commercial, industrial, institutional, and residential. We not only cover the common pests but also wildlife management, such as raccoons, squirrels, opossums, snakes and skunks. We also perform bird and bat services, including for pigeons. We are also a leader using Heat and Cold Treatment to kill pests, such as bed bugs in hotels or stored product pests in food processing facilities (certificate from American Institute of Baking).

We provide service to a 90+ mile radius of the San Antonio area including Helotes, Boerne, Lytle, Castroville, Schertz, Pleasanton, New Braunfels, and all areas in between.

Ants Overview

Overview
Ants are very numerous and are one of the most successful insects. They are social insects and live in colonies which are located in: Soil, referred to as "soil dwelling ants" (make mounds in the yard) and structures, referred to as "structure dwelling ants" (nest in structures, trees etc.). Ants will have either 1 or 2 pedicel nodes which helps in identifying them (the pedicel is the "thin" segment which connects the abdomen to the thorax). The biology and habits of each ant species are different so the following is a general description of the ant species which can be pests in our area.

• Vary in color, red, black, brown, yellow or combinations of these colors.
•  Have a complete life cycle: Egg → Larva → Pupa → Adult.  There are no “baby” ants. They have 3 distinct castes: Queen, Workers and Males.
• Workers are females, never with wings. They can be 3 sizes: minor, media and major. They do all the work of the colony: gather food, care for the young and enlargement and protection of the nest.
• Males exist solely to inseminate the queen and will usually die within 2 weeks of mating.
• Queens, which are usually the largest ants in the colony, function to establish new colonies and lay eggs.
•  For most species of ants, the colony will contain many functional females or queens, but only 1 founding Queen.
• Generally, un-mated functional females have wings; mated females will chew them off after finding a suitable site for a new colony.

Bats Overview

Biology: Bats are nocturnal, flying mammals which like to live in dark, secluded areas. 
They are a medical concern as their old droppings, or guano may harbor a fungal organism that causes the lung disease Histoplasmosis, also a very small percentage of bats are infected with rabies. Bats, distributed worldwide, are essential to the function of many ecosystems and provide ecosystem services important to humankind. They are prodigious consumers of insects, many of which are considered pests. They mate in the fall, and the young are born in summer.

Identification: The Mexican Free-tailed Bat is a medium sized bat that is native to the Americas. Their bodies are about 9 cm (3.5 in) in length, and they weigh about 12.3 g (0.43 oz).
 
Control: We recommend sealing up the building to exclude the bats and provide for the best long term solution.  Inspection should always be performed first to determine:

• Is there evidence of bats?
• If so, how big is the pressure (how bad is it)?
• How are they getting in?  Where are the openings and how many are there?
• Are the obstacles to sealing the structure?
• Any health hazards/health risks, due to bat droppings?
• Can the structure be bat-proofed safely?
• Exclusion materials may include: ¼ in mesh screening, Silicone caulk, Duct Seal (like putty), Small pieces of wood, backing rod, etc.

Beetles Overview

Biology: The varied carpet beetle (Anthrenus verbasci) is a 3 mm–long beetle that can be a serious household pest. These small beetles feed on a wide range of animal and plant products, being severe pest problems in stored foods as well as on wool, hides, furs, feathers, or other materials with animal hair origins. They feed commonly on dead insects, and this may be the attraction to structures, where the beetles find leftovers in wasp nests, ant colonies, termite colonies, or bee hives, as well as accumulations in window sills. They are destructive to collections of insects or animals in museums. The length of time from egg to adult varies widely depending on temperature, humidity, and food quality, but appears to average around 275 days, extending to almost 2 years in some circumstances. Adults live for around 1 month.
Identification: Carpet beetles in general are patterned in mottled, checkerboard, or wavy lines with black, white, gray, brown, or orange colors. They are only around 2 to 3 mm long, flattened from top to bottom, oval in shape, and very compact, with no separation between the prothorax and the elytra. The Varied Carpet Beetle is the most common in the western U.S., and it has the typical coloration and a “checkerboard” pattern, and the elytra meet at the posterior end with a straight juncture. The Furniture Carpet Beetle is identical to the Varied, but where the elytra meet there is a small concave notch or “V” at the juncture. The larva of the Varied Carpet Beetle is brown, very hairy, with several enlarged tufts of hairs at its tail end, and is much wider at the tail end than at the front.
Control: Control of carpet beetles begins with storing susceptible food or fabric materials in containers that exclude the adult insects. Prevention also centers on removal of abandoned insect, rodent, or bird nests that may contain leftover skins, feathers, or hairs that the carpet beetle larvae feed on.

Birds Overview

Biology: Woodpeckers can damage structures by pecking holes in siding in their desire to create openings for nesting or to store food materials such as acorns. They also may be a nuisance when they peck on metal rain gutters or other structural elements in what is called “drumming”, which is a communication tool of the birds, often during mating season. Foods consist of a variety of nuts, acorns, seeds, fruits, and insects and holes are pecked into trees to seek out insect larvae, as well as gathering insects on the ground or capturing them in flight. Flickers are very fond of ants, and may eat thousands at one meal, feeding most often on the ground on insects, seeds, or berries. Sapsuckers feed on the sap of trees, drilling holes close together around the trunk and major branches to access the cambium, and then lapping the sap with a brush-like tongue. Flickers picking up insects from the soil have tongues with sticky, flattened tips, while woodpeckers that drill into trees for insects may have longer tongues with barbed tips to hold the food while it is withdrawn. From 4 to 6 eggs are laid in early to mid spring, with young hatching in about 2 weeks.
Identification: Woodpeckers generally are black and white, often with red patches to varying extents on their heads. And black bars through the eye area. Sapsuckers are very similar in appearance to woodpeckers. Most species have long, straight, very stout beaks, and most often will be seen resting on the vertical trunks of trees. The unique arrangement of their toes allows them easily to climb vertical surfaces, including sides of structures.
Control: All woodpeckers are classified as migratory non-game birds and are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Other than exclusion and repelling, any control that may harm the birds is permitted only under supervision of regulatory wildlife agencies, and only when depredation of structures is occurring. Most effective control is with exclusion by installation of physical devices, such as netting, which keeps birds from accessing areas of the structure where they would cause damage. Repellents also exist that can be applied to susceptible surfaces.

Bugs Overview

Biology: Bed bugs go through gradual metamorphosis: egg to nymph to adult. Females can lay 200 - 500 eggs in her lifetime, approximately 5-8 eggs/day. Eggs are laid singly or in clusters and are cemented to wood, fabrics, or other surfaces in places where the bed bugs normally hide. Eggs typically hatch out in 6 to 17 days. Nymphs go through 5 molts during a 35 - 48 day nymphal stage. They cast their shed skin each molt. Each nymph requires at least one blood meal to develop to the next developmental instar. At room temperature, the complete bed bug lifecycle takes about two months. However, at optimal conditions their life cycle may take four to five weeks. Adults can live for almost four to ten months, providing they have a food source. There can be up to 3 to 4 generations of bed bugs per year.

Identification: Bed bugs in general are wingless insects with an extremely flattened body from top to bottom, except when they are engorged with blood. They tend to be about the size of an apple seed when not engorged. They have a large, round abdomen, long 4-segmented antennae, and a small prothorax that flares to the sides. Their mouth is a short, 3-segmented proboscis that is held below the body when at rest. The human bed bug is distinguished from other species by the antennae, where the last segment is shorter than the segment before it, the fringe of hairs along the sides of the pronotum are very short, and the front of the pronotum is deeply concave. Evidence may include bites on occupants of the structure, although a PMP should not attempt to diagnose a bite mark. There also are often small spots of blood on sheets or mattresses, left by the departing bug following its meal. Feeding by adults may last for around 15 minutes.

Control: Professionals are almost always needed to properly treat and get rid of this insect. Control relies on a thorough inspection of a structure to determine hiding places of the bugs, thorough cleaning of mattresses and bed coverings, and a thorough application of a residual insecticide to all possible cracks, crevices, holes, or other hiding places in the room. Vacuuming with a high-powered vacuum will help to remove many of the pests that are hiding.

Cockoraches Overview

Biology: American cockroaches prefer very warm, dark and moist areas; still, they can infest dry areas if they have access to water. Because of their sizes, habits, and reproductions, they are more common in commercial buildings, food processing facilities and food storage areas than in houses. Though, in certain times of the year, especially during extremes in weather conditions, they may enter inside a house from outside sources seeking warmer temperatures, food, water or shelter. American cockroaches have flexible and elastic bodies that enable them to squeeze through tiny entry pints. Generally, typical homes have several entry points that American cockroach can use to find their way into the structure. American cockroaches are usually found on the ground floor or lower levels of a building. In the US, they are the most common cockroach species found in city sewer systems, particularly around pipes and drains. A mated female of American cockroaches produces an ootheca once every week. Each ootheca contains from 14 to 16 eggs. Depending on food availability, a single female produces from 15-70 egg capsules during its life span. During the summer months, American cockroaches can be found outdoors in yards and alleys. As aforementioned, they can enter structures and establish themselves where moisture, warmth and shelter are available. Once indoor, due their cryptic behaviors, they can squeeze through narrow cracks and crevices for safety. American cockroaches have a high reproduction rate. They are not social insects like bees, but they can form large populations in moist and warm habitats. For mating purposes, females produce a pheromone that attracts males from as far away as 98 feet. American cockroaches can run very fast. Except when threatened, they can fly short distances. American cockroaches have a symbiotic relationship with bacteria that allows them to digest cellulose. Their diet is omnivorous and will eat anything. They consume organic materials, bark, leaves, paper, wool clothes, sugar, cheese, bread, oil, lemons, ink, soap, flesh, fish, leather, other cockroaches (dead or alive), or their own cast-off skins and egg-capsules. These insects however, if they have given choice, American cockroaches prefer fermenting food. However, when food and water sources are rare, the adults can survive two or three months without food, but only about a month without water. American cockroaches are cautious and are usually active at night, but when they are hungry, they may come out searching for food during the day.
 
Identification: Adult American cockroaches are 1 ½ -1 ¾ inch in length. They are reddish brown with a pale band in the edges of the pronotum (the upper surface of the prothorax, the first segment of the thorax). They have chewing mouthparts. Males and females are fully winged, but those of the males extend beyond tip of abdomen. Unlike most other cockroach species, the American cockroach adults can fly (poor to moderate flier), and are also attracted to light

Control: A thorough inspection is the key to a successful cockroach management plan. It helps to determine the best treatment method. The purpose of an inspection is not only to sight American cockroach life stages, but also to locate the source of the infestation whether associated with sewer areas, wall voids, or any moist, warm and dark places in a building. In commercial facilities, inspect incoming materials, especially packages containing food materials brought into plant for all stages of cockroaches.  Immediately destroy infested items if found. Whenever possible, eliminate clutter, sheltered and dark places where roaches may hide during the day.

Crickets Overview

Biology: They prefer to live outside, feeding on plants, but will come inside if food sources dry up or there or unfavorable extremes in temperatures. Field crickets will feed on almost anything. They occasionally damage cultivated crops such as alfalfa, cotton, and strawberries. They can also damage vegetables and ornamentals when they are numerous. The eggs are usually laid in the soil. The newly hatched nymphs burrow to the surface. They will molt 8 to 10 times over a period of 2 to 3 months before becoming adults. One species overwinters as nymphs and the adults are present in the spring and early summer. Others overwinter as eggs and adults are present during the summer and fall. In certain years, field crickets appear in very large numbers during August and September. These outbreaks seem to occur after periods of prolonged dry weather in the spring and early summer followed by rainfall in July and August.
 
Identification: Field crickets are normally 0.6–1.0 inch in size, depending on the species, and can be black, red or brown in color. While both males and females have very similar basic body plans, each has its own distinguishing features. Females can be identified by the presence of an ovipositor, a spike-like appendage, about 0.75 inches long, on the hind end of the abdomen between two cerci. This ovipositor allows the female to bury her fertilized eggs into the ground for protection and development. In some female field crickets, species can be distinguished by comparing the length of the ovipositor to the length of the body. Males are distinguished from females by the absence of an ovipositor. At the end of the abdomen there are simply two cerci. Unlike females, however, males are able to produce sounds or chirps. Thus, males can be identified through sound while females cannot.

Control: Crickets commonly spend the daylight hours hiding in dark, damp areas. The elimination of piles of bricks, stones, wood, or other debris around the home will help reduce numbers. Since crickets are attracted to lights, the elimination of light sources at night will reduce the numbers attracted to the home and business areas.

Earwigs Overview

Biology: Earwigs usually hide in cracks, crevices, under bark or in similar places during the day, but are active foragers at night.  They are usually scavengers in their feeding habits, but occasionally feed on plants. Earwigs cause no physical harm to man.  Certain species have scent glands from which they can squirt a foul-smelling liquid. This is probably used for protection; however, it makes them very unpleasant when crushed.
 
Identification: Earwigs are beetle-like, short-winged, fast moving insects about one-half to one inch in length.  They have chewing-type mouthparts, a pair of pincer-like appendages at the tip of their abdomen and are dark brown in color. Favorite foods include armyworms, aphids, mites and scales. They also forage on food scraps or dead insects. The female lays about 50 tiny eggs in a subterranean burrow. The eggs hatch into nymphs in about 7 days and the nymphs feed on their egg case. The female continues to care for the young, grooming and manipulating them in the burrow throughout the first nymphal stage. The young nymphs are about one-eighth inch long.In about seven days, the nymphs molt into the second stage and they are released from the burrow by the female. At this time the female loses her maternal instincts and many times will devour the nymphs before they can hide. During later stages, the nymphs tend to be cannibalistic. After passing through 6 nymphal stages, the earwig becomes an adult, the life cycle egg to adult having taken an average of 56 days.

Control: Control of earwigs parallels that of Centipedes, Millipedes and is considered an Occasional Invader in the pest management industry. 

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Fleas Overview

Biology: The Cat Flea is a blood feeder as the adult, and a scavenger as the larva. The adults remain on the animals they feed on unless physically forced off, and may live up to a year. The female lays the eggs on the host animal and these eggs fall off to the floor or other surface below. The eggs hatch in a few days and the larvae begins to feed on organic debris it finds, but also must consume some dried blood in order to progress to the pupa stage. This blood is from the dried feces of the adult fleas, and it falls off the pets wherever they spend time. Under ideal conditions the time from egg to adult can be as short as 2 weeks, or it may take several months if there is no host activity to stimulate some of the pupa to hatch to the adult stage. The Cat Flea is a possible vector of bubonic plague, and it is a common flea species on raccoons and opossum, as well as the primary flea on both dogs and cats in the U.S.

Identification: All fleas are similar in appearance, as wingless insects with bodies flattened from side to side and with long hind legs for jumping. They are black to reddish black in color and have spiny legs as well as rows of spines along other body areas called “combs”. These combs are important for identification of the species. The genal comb is a row below the head, and the pronotal comb is a row behind the head, at the back of the pronotum. The Cat Flea has both combs, it has eyes present, the genal comb is horizontally placed, and the first two spines on the genal comb are the same length. These characters separate it from the similar Dog Flea. Flea larvae are rarely seen, but they are legless and whitish with a brown head, unless they have fed on fecal matter from the adults, in which case they assume a reddish color. They are covered with short hairs, and when disturbed are able to flip about violently in order to escape.

Flies Overview

Biology: The blow flies are important decomposers of dead animals and other rotting organic material, such as decomposing plant material. They are the first insects to arrive at a newly deceased carcass and their larvae are frequently used in forensic science to determine facts about a crime scene. The maggots also have been used in “maggot therapy”, to eat dead tissue off the skin of victims of burns or wounds. Females may lay several hundred eggs on an appropriate larval food source, with development to the adult stage being completed in about one week in hot, humid conditions. The larvae leave the food and may squirm long distances to find a protected crevice in which to pupate, often falling through ceilings or across floors because of this.

Identification: In general the blow flies are shiny and metallic, with species ranging from green to bright blue to a coppery orange to almost black, and species names are assigned accordingly. The adults are from 10 to 15 mm long and robust, with compact, wide bodies. They are loud, buzzing fliers and are strongly attracted to lights. The larvae are the typical legless, white maggots of the filth flies, with the head end noticeably tapering to a point and the posterior much wider and flattened from behind. Identification to species is done based on the specific patterns of the lines of the spiracles, found at the posterior end.

Control: Control of the source of the larvae is critical, involving cleanup and proper maintenance of garbage containers, removal of dead rodents or birds, and elimination of piles of yard debris or animal feces outdoors. Adult entry to structures is prevented by good building maintenance. The use of UV light traps is highly effective in trapping adults, along with bait granules or bait strips, and possible use of residual insecticides on surfaces the adults frequent.

Mites Overview

Biology: Clover mites can become a nuisance in and around houses. They generally enter houses close to thick vegetation and can infiltrate houses in very large numbers through cracks and small openings around windows and doors. Whether indoors or outside, clover mites are found more commonly in sunny areas than in darker areas. The clover mite feeds on many kinds of trees, shrubs, bedding plants and turf, but does not bite humans. It becomes a problem when it invades structures in large numbers, especially during warm periods of the year. When crushed they leave small red stains on the surface. No male clover mites have been found, with females reproducing by parthenogenesis. Reproduction is rapid, with hundreds of thousands of mites being produced in a very short time. Eggs are laid in cracks on almost any surface, including trees and the outside of buildings. All stages of the mites may overwinter, although the egg stage is the most common.

Identification: Clover mites are 1/30 inch long, oval shaped arachnids with a pair of long legs pointing forward often mistaken for antennae. They are reddish-brown; the younger ones and the eggs are a bright red.
Control: Inside invasions can be controlled by vacuuming. However, due to the staining potential of these mites indoors it is better to prevent entry. Reduction of their populations outside can be done to the infested foliage, as well as with perimeter applications around the exterior of a building to intercept migrating mites. Maintaining a strip of bare ground, without vegetation, around the perimeter of a building also helps to discourage their presence near the structure.

Mosquitos Overview

Biology: Tiger mosquitoes are one of the most important groups of mosquitoes in the world, as a principal vector of Yellow Fever, Dengue, and Encephalitis. Many of the species breed within small, temporary pools such as tree-holes or small containers, while others are found in larger ponds or marshy areas. In the temporary water environments the eggs may be laid by the female well in advance of the water’s presence, and the eggs then hatch once water fills the cavity.

Identification: It is difficult to give a short summary that would allow identification of a mosquito to this genus. Many of the species have black and white banded legs or tarsi, many of them have patterns of black and white hairs on their dorsal thorax, as well as black and white patterns of scales on the dorsal abdomen. The patch of hairs immediately behind the spiracle on the side of the thorax is present in about half of our species and absent in about half.

Control: Habitat modification is important for those species which breed in small, temporary pools of water. Tree holes can be permanently filled or drained to eliminate future potential, and buckets, cans, or tires around urban areas should be drained and removed. Larval control in permanent bodies of water can be accomplished as well.

Moths Overview

Biology:  Clothes moths are among main fabric pests in homes, warehouses, museums or wherever woolen products are found. If not properly managed, the larvae of these pests will cause serious damage to wool clothing, fur, hair, skins, feathers, silk, and other animal products. Among very few insects, the larvae of clothes moths are capable of digesting keratin as food. Clothes moths can lay an average of 37-48 eggs before it dies at the age of only 4-6 days. Eggs are usually deposited singly or in groups of 2 or more, and then glued to the fabric by females. At warm and humid conditions, it normally takes from 4-10 days for eggs to hatch. Newly hatched larvae immediately begin feeding on fabric materials attracted to areas that have been stained with food, liquid, body oils, sweat, or urine.

Identification: Webbing clothes moths adults are about 1/4 inch in length and are buff-colored with gold hair on the head. Eggs are oval ivory color and about 1/25 inch long. Larvae are creamy-white with a brown head, and can reach up to 1/2-inch long. Larvae spin tunnels of silk as they feed; this silk will catch fecal materials, cast skins, etc and crest a messy accumulation on the infested fabric.

Control: Discard infested items that cannot be cleaned. If you decide to do so, seal them tightly in plastic bags and properly throw them away inside a trashcan/dumpster outside the building. Another option is to place infested fabric in polyethylene bags, squeeze all air out to minimize condensation and then deep-freeze the materials for three - five days. Infested fabric items can also be placed in a hot dryer for 1-2 hours. Thoroughly vacuum rug pads, under heavy furniture, and carpets, especially around the edges

Millipedes Overview

Biology: Millipedes are slow moving vegetarians, feeding on both decaying vegetation as well as live plant tissues. They are essentially harmless to humans in North America, while some species in South America are able to exude a cyanide-like spray from their bodies when disturbed. North American species do exude an unpleasant smelling secretion, and they also may lose body fluids as they die, causing staining on indoor surfaces. The secretion is a combination of irritating chemicals that may cause skin rashes on people and even be toxic to small animals. The larger species are capable of living up to 8 years, sometimes requiring up to 5 years to reach sexual maturity. Eggs are laid in the soil in batches of from 20 to 300 eggs, and newly emerged nymphs are very small with only around 7 body segments and only 3 pairs of legs. As they grow they add more sections and legs. In addition to the foul odor they can give off, millipedes protect themselves by rolling into a tight coil when disturbed, protecting the more vulnerable ventral parts.

Identification: The larger millipedes are elongate and cylindrical, getting up to more than 4 inches in length. The smaller garden millipedes are usually less than ¾ inch long and are more flattened in appearance. They all have 2 pairs of legs on each body segment, differing from the centipedes. There is a pair of short antennae.

Control: Habitat modification to remove the objects and debris on the soil that millipedes use for harborage is needed. These animals require areas of fairly high moisture, and reduction of unnecessary moisture also reduces the attraction of an area. The indoor use of household insecticides provides little if any benefit. Millipedes that wander indoors usually die in a short time because of the dryness, and spraying cracks, crevices and room edges is not very useful. Sweeping or vacuuming up the invaders and discarding them are the most practical option.

Rattlesnake Overview

Biology: Life expectancy is more than 20 years, but is typically shorter because of hunting and human expansion. Solitary outside of mating season, they are one of the more aggressive rattlesnake species found in North America because they rarely back away from confrontation. When threatened they usually coil and rattle to warn aggressors. There is suspicion that rattlesnakes living around human population centers do not rattle as often because it leads to the snake’s discovery and consequent destruction. However, there is little available evidence of this hypothesis. In the winter, they hibernate or brumate in caves or burrows sometimes with many other species of snakes. They are poor climbers. Although adult specimens have no natural predators, hawks, eagles, and other snakes have been known to prey on young or adolescent individuals. Usually inactive between late October and early March, although occasionally they may be seen sunning themselves on warm winter days.

Identification: Average length of the snakes is 4½ feet, maximum length 6½ feet. The color pattern generally consists of a dusty looking gray-brown ground color, but it may also be pinkish brown, brick red, yellowish, pinkish or chalky white. This ground color is overlaid dorsally with a series of 24-25 dorsal body blotches that are dark gray-brown to brown in color. The first of these may be a pair of short stripes that extend backwards to eventually merge. Some of the first few blotches may be somewhat rectangular, but then become more hexagonal and eventually take on a distinctive diamond shape.

Control: All pit vipers have the ability to control the flow of venom through their fangs, allowing the diamondback to release most of its venom in a single strike (though often a pit viper will not release any of its venom). Most of the toxin released is proteolytic like all other American pit vipers. Proteolytic venoms are, in fact, advanced and concentrated fluids that destroy tissues and other cells through intramolecular digestion. Unlike neurotoxins, hemotoxin envenomation becomes quickly apparent; the area around the wound swells at a rapid rate. Discoloration and pain are also experienced shortly after being bitten. Professional medical attention should be sought immediately, especially when the victim is a child. The smaller the victim the less time it takes for the venom to spread.

Rodents Overview

Biology: Mice live about 1 year and reach sexual maturity in 35 days. They have about 6 young per litter (5-8 range) and up to 8 litters per year (every 40-50 days). They are poorly sighted, seeing about 6 inches clearly. Mice can survive on 1/10 ounce of food and 1/20 ounce of water per day.  They do not need water if there is high moisture content in the food. When it comes to their waste products they can produce about 50 droppings per day although they have a bladder but no bladder control and will urinate anywhere and often. They are known reservoirs of diseases such as rickettsial pox (mites), typhus (fleas), and filth problems with Salmonella, tapeworm, roundworm, and others parasites. They easily spread disease by contaminating food and utensils with droppings and urine.

Identification: Brown to gray in color with the tail as long as the body. Adults remain small, less than 7 inches long from tip of nose to tip of tail. They have hairless, scaly tails that separate them from meadow or deer mice, and ears relatively bare of hairs. A young rat looks similar to the House Mouse, but the rat has feet and eyes that are disproportionately large in comparison with its head and body.

Control: Structure should be thoroughly inspected for openings, which would, or could, allow easy access.  Holes should be plugged, patched, and sealed.  
Depending on circumstance, rodent equipment may be utilized on the interior and/or exterior depending on the level of infestation, level of control needed, and level of prevention desired. Like the other domestic rodents they prefer to remain against vertical surfaces, in contact with their “guard hairs” on their body, and control measures should be placed against these pathways.

Scorpion Overview

Biology: True scorpions are characterized by the presence of an elongated “tail-like” appendage off the abdomen, tipped by a sharp stinger. They are arachnids, and have four pairs of legs, a pair of enlarged palps that are modified as claws, and the head and abdomen are combined as a cephalothorax. All true scorpions are predators that feed on other animals, using their stinger to subdue the prey or as a defensive weapon. They are part of a system of natural pest control, though most people prefer to have them exterminated. The venom of most species is considered of little health consequence to humans. Scorpions may live up to 5 years or longer as adults, and the nymph stages usually complete in about one year. After mating the male scorpion may find itself being eaten by the female. Females do not lay eggs, but instead give birth to living young which climb onto her body and remain there until after their first molt, around one or two weeks later. Up to 100 young are possible from a single female.

Identification: True scorpions are easily identified by the large claws in front and the long, narrow tail tipped by the pointed stinger. Sizes range from about 1 inch to well over 7 inches in length. Colors of North American species range from light yellowish tan to very dark brown. The dangerous species in the genus Centruroides are slender, yellowish, and may have two darker stripes running front to back on their dorsal side. They also have a short spine at the base of the stinger.

Control: Control is best accomplished by removal of habitat around structures. Scorpions are nocturnal, and spend their daylight hours hidden under debris or wood piles on the soil, or within clutter in storage areas of structures. Damper areas may also be an attraction to many of them, and control of moisture and exclusion efforts to prevent their entry to crawl spaces will help in their prevention.

Silverfish Overview

Biology: These are primitive insects that undergo simple metamorphosis, molting as much as 50 times before reaching the adult stage. The development to the adult stage can be anywhere from a few months to as long as 3 years, depending on the conditions it is living in. They generally live for several years. Both species feed on a wide variety of materials, including human foods, paper products, fabrics, or glue in books and wallpaper. They are common outdoors in woodpiles or fences. The firebrat is so named because it prefers a habitat of higher temperatures, preferably above 90 degrees, and they may be common in attics in the summer. These insects are both covered with scales; they are flattened from top to bottom, and are able to squeeze into tiny cracks to hide or to gain entry.

Identification: There are several species of silverfish, including some that closely resemble the firebrat. These are elongate insects with very long, thin antennae and with three long appendages at their rear end – a pair of long, thin cerci that project out sideways and a central, longer filament. Colors range from silvery gray to dark gray with darker lines running front to back on top, giving these insects common names such as “silver” fish or “four-lined” silverfish. Evidence of their presence commonly will be the black, pepper-like fecal droppings that they leave everywhere the roam. Attics often have a huge abundance of the feces lying on insulation or rafters. Evidence of their damage will be holes made by their rasping mouthparts.

Control: Silverfish commonly invade a structure from the outside, and elimination of harborage sites near the structure will be important in preventing their presence. Inspection of incoming materials also helps to prevent their presence inside. For interior infestations treatment of attics and wall voids with a residual dust insecticide will be effective, and an exterior treatment around the foundation with a residual insecticide also helps to prevent their entry.

Snakes Overview

Biology: A highly dangerous snake that is common in many areas but their habitats are secretive. Usually encountered in early morning and evening hours, coral snakes can be found in any environment. About three species of coral snakes are found in the United States.  All are small, brightly colored snakes.  The venom is neurotoxic and attacks the nervous system. Coral snakes have small grooved fangs which are permanently erect.  They usually hang on after biting.  Coral snake antivenom is produced for these species in this country. The Arizona Coral Snake (Micruroides) is found only in the Southwestern United States.  The venom appears very toxic.  The bites are very rare and there is no antivenom for this species.

Identification: Average length 24 inches, maximum length 47½ inches. The first color (starting with the head) on the coral snake is black and the coral snake has red and yellow bands that touch.

Control: When confronted by humans, coral snakes will almost always attempt to flee, and bite only as a last resort. If bitten, seek immediate medical attention. Coral snakes have a powerful neurotoxin that paralyzes the breathing muscles; mechanical or artificial respiration, along with large doses of antivenin, are often required to save a victim's life. There is usually only mild pain associated with a bite, but respiratory failure can occur within hours.

Spiders Overview

Biology: Jumping spiders are common spiders outdoors and indoors. They are active during the day and are often found around windows, ceilings, walls, and other areas exposed to sunlight. These spiders move quickly in a jerky, irregular gait. They get their name from their ability to leap on their prey, often jumping many times their own body length.

Identification: Jumping spiders are generally small to medium-sized (about 1/5 - 1/2 inch long) and compact-looking. They are usually dark-colored with white markings, although some can be brightly colored, including some with iridescent mouthparts. Like most spiders, jumping spiders have eight eyes, of which the two middle eyes are particularly large. Jumping spiders have the best vision of spiders, seeing objects up to 8 inches away.

Control: There is little reason to kill these beneficial spiders, and those found inside should be captured alive and removed to the outside, where their activity as predators serves a benefit to the landscape. General cleanup of unnecessary debris outside will reduce harborage sites, and cleanup of clutter in garages or storage areas will reduce the numbers of spiders living on the interior. If invading spiders become a problem they can be prevented with an application around the building exterior and in likely pathways along walls on the inside.

Springtails Overview

Biology: Springtails can be a problem in newly built structure because of damp building materials and wet plaster. In older homes they will usually be found in the kitchen, bathrooms, basements, or other areas where moisture is present. Springtails have an "ametabolous" life cycle, meaning that they DO NOT undergo metamorphosis. This indicates that they do not have nymphal, larval or pupal stages. Instead, springtails develop by going through a number of molts (shed their exoskeleton) as their body size is growing. Unlike other hexapods, springtails perform additional molts after reaching adulthood. Reproduction of springtail species can be complicated sometimes. For example, while parthenogenesis (reproduction without males) is common among females of some springtail species, females of other species require mating in order to lay eggs, and they are so picky about which males they desire to mate with. These females desire the males to dance for them before they actually mate. On the contrary, many males of other species leave a sperm packet on the ground that is later picked up by the female. Others place sperm with their hind legs directly into the female's reproductive organs. Females usually lay up to 400 eggs during their life span. Eggs can be laid singly or in large masses. It takes about 10 days for eggs to hatch, and the immature springtails go through three successive molts lasting 7 to 10 days before they change onto adults. The number of generations per year, the longevity of springtails and preferred temperatures are species- dependent topics. However, depending on the species, springtails can live from one week to three years. In general, they survive low temperatures and can appear in large numbers on snow surfaces (hence their nickname "snow fleas").
 
Identification: Springtails have a pair of fork-like appendages (furcula) in the end of their abdomens. The common name springtail is derived from its behavior of springing (jumping) away by snapping its tail-like structures against the ground when disturbed. Springtails are usually light brown to cream in colors. They are tiny (1/16 to 1/8 inch in length), wingless and require very moist conditions for survival. They have oval heads with four-segmented antennae.

Control: Because there are little known about springtail habits and behaviors inside a structure, these hard pests have created big concerns among pest management professionals for a long time.  Usually, repeated pesticide treatments in and around homes are preformed to achieve an acceptable level of management.  But to successfully eradicate springtail problems and prevent future infestation, eliminate their entryways, find the source of the infestation and remove it

Termites Overview

Biology: With very rare exception colonies are located in the ground, with foraging done from these colonies into structures or other wood sources. There is a true worker caste, with adult workers, soldiers, and alates in the colony. It is possible that a colony can have up to two hundred thousand workers or more, and several separate colonies may exist near and be foraging in a single structure. Swarming by the alates may consist of many hundreds of alates from the colony, and many colonies in an area releasing swarmers simultaneously. This usually occurs in late morning to mid-day on a sunny day following a rainfall. Most swarming is in the spring, but fall swarms are also common, and a colony will be at least 3 years old before it produces swarmers. The wings are shed shortly after the flight takes place.

Identification: Alates are a shiny dark brown to black, and have both a fontanelle as well as a single ocellus near each compound eye. The antennae have less than 18 segments. The wings are very light colored to white and are without hairs on them. There are 2 thickened veins that run parallel to each other from the base to the tip along the leading edge of the wing, and numerous short veins connect these two long veins. Soldiers have head capsules that are as long as the rest of the body and the sides of the head are parallel. The jaws are symmetrical and without teeth along their inner margin, and they remain parallel to each other without having the tips crossing.

Control: Control is best left up to a professional but here are some things to do to help prevent a termite issue at your property.    Avoid moisture accumulation near the foundation. Divert water away with properly functioning downspouts, gutters and splash blocks. Ground near the foundation needs to be sloped or graded in order for surface water to drain away from the building. Termites and ants are attracted to moisture. Reduce humidity in crawl spaces with proper ventilation. Crawl spaces should have ventilation openings in the foundation at the rate of two square feet per 25 linear feet of foundation wall. One vent needs to be within five feet of each exterior corner of the building. This helps keep the ground dry and unfavorable for termites. Prevent shrubs, vines and other vegetation from growing over and covering the vents. It is important to have maximum cross-ventilation. Install polyethylene sheeting over 75 to 85 percent of the soil surface in crawl spaces to reduce excess moisture. There should be no contact between the building woodwork and the soil or fill. Exterior woodwork should be located a minimum of 6 inches above ground and beams in crawl spaces at least 18 inches above ground to provide ample space to make future inspections.

Termite images, termite description

Termites are social insects.  Their workers are best described as "little white things" or "little white ants" that are often found in damp, rotting wood. Termites have a strict caste system, which consists of worker termites, soldiers, winged reproductive termites, a queen termite, and a king termite.

Termites have the ability to change from one caste type to another during their immature stages.  This allows the colony to change the proportion of different caste members as the need arises.
The two most common types of termites are "drywood" and "ground" termites.  Both types of termites eat cellulose for nutrition.  Cellulose is found in wood and wood products.  Both types of termites have the "flying termite" or "winged reproductive".  These winged termites are new kings and queens attempting to establish a new colony.  They may also be referred to as "swarmers".  Ant colonies also send swarmers, which have nearly the same appearance as termites, but may be identified upon closer inspection.  Below you will see the obvious differences between ant and termite swarmers.

How to Distinguish Between Termites and Ants

 
Of the two types of termites, ground and drywood, ground termites typically do much more damage to structures over a shorter period of time.
At the surface ground termites create mud tubes from the soil to wooden portions of a structure.  These tubes provide a protective "highway" for termites to attack your home. 
 Other less obvious access points include:
        through construction joints
        through retaining wall joints and cracks
        through floor cracks over 1/16th"
        through plumbing, electrical, or other slab penetrations

Ticks Overview

Biology: One of the most frequently encountered ticks is the American dog tick, also sometimes known as the wood tick. The larvae and nymphs feed on small warm-blooded animals such as mice and birds. The adult American dog tick will feed on humans and medium to large mammals such as raccoons and dogs. They generally are found on grass, shrubs, brush and other vegetation, particularly along animal trails or footpaths.  They can be carriers of the infections tularemia or “rabbit fever” and spotted fever.  For this reason they should be removed immediately.  If you have been in a tick-infested area, you should carefully examine your body for ticks before retiring for the night.  The American Dog Tick may be carried into the home but will not become an established pest there.

Identification: Unfed males and females are reddish-brown and about 3/16-inch long. Females have a large silver-colored spot behind the head and will become ½-inch long after feeding or about the size of a small grape. Males have fine silver lines on the back and do not get much larger after feeding. Males are sometimes mistaken for other species of ticks because they appear so different from the female.

Control: Tick control begins with prevention, by helping people understand what ticks look like, how to inspect for them, and how to remove them when found on clothing or the body. The use of repellents, light colored clothing and frequent inspection when in tick infested habitats are important. Pets should be carefully inspected as well after activity in potential tick habitat. For tick infestations within a structure careful applications can be performed to cracks and crevices that may harbor the ticks or their egg masses may be needed, and outdoors applications to turf and foliage around the perimeter of a property will kill ticks that are close to this urban environment. They generally are found on grass, shrubs, brush and other vegetation, particularly along animal trails or footpaths.