Golden Hills Pest Control
Pest Identification Guide
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Asian Lady Beetles
It is native to eastern Asia, but has been artificially introduced to North America and Europe to control aphids and scale insects. It is now common, well known, and spreading in those regions, and this species is conspicuous in North America where it may locally be known as the Asia Ladybug.
Silverfish
If items on your bookshelf have chewed-on pages and bindings, suspect the look–alike household pests silverfish and firebrats. Both insects have enzymes in their gut that digest cellulose, and they choose book–cases, closets, and places where books, clothing, starch, or dry foods are available.
Black Widows
She is shiny jet black all over her body and legs except for a red pattern on the underside of the abdomen, which looks, in perfect specimens, like an hourglass. Usually these are females that are so well fed the black pigment on the abdomen has expanded until it looks brown instead of black.
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Cockroaches
There are six species of cockroaches in California: German cockroach, brown-banded cockroach, oriental cockroach, smoky-brown cockroach, American cockroach, and Turkestan cockroach. Oriental and American cockroaches occasionally pose problems in moist, humid areas.
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Ants
Ants belong to the insect order Hymenoptera and are close relatives of bees and wasps. They are familiar insects that are easily recognized, especially in their common wingless adult forms, known as workers. However, winged forms of ants, which leave the nest in large numbers in warm weather to mate and establish new colonies, are often mistaken for winged termites, which also leave their nests to mate.
Fleas & Ticks
Fleas are truly devoted to their work. In one day, a single flea can bite your cat or dog more than 400 times. During that same day, the flea can consume more than its body weight of your pet’s blood. And before it’s through, a female flea can lay hundreds of eggs on your pet, ensuring that its work will be carried on by generations to come.
Box Elder Beetle
When full grown, the boxelder bug is about 1/2 inch long and one-third as wide. Adults are mostly black and have three red lines on the pronotum of the thorax (one down the middle and on each margin) and several fine red lines on each wing. The wings lie flat on the bug’s back when it is at rest.
Earwigs
The adult earwig is readily identified by a pair of prominent appendages that resemble forceps at the tail end of its body. The adult body is about 3/4- inch long and reddish brown. Most species have wings under short, hard wing covers, but they seldom fly.
Pantry Pests
Stored-product pests are usually brought into the home in an infested package of food. Initially, infestations are easy to overlook because the insects involved are quite small, especially in the egg and larval stages. Often the first indication of the infestation is the appearance of small moths flying about or the presence of beetles in or near the food package.
Yellow Jackets
In Western states there are two distinct types of social wasps—yellow jackets and paper wasps. Yellow jackets are by far the most troublesome group, especially ground- and cavity-nesting ones such as the western yellow jacket, which tend to defend their nests vigorously when disturbed.
Carpet Beetles
Carpet beetle adults don’t feed on fabrics but seek out pollen and nectar. They are attracted to sunlight, and you’ll often find them feeding on the flowers of crape myrtle, spiraea, buckwheat, and other plants that produce abundant pollen. However, you can accidentally bring these pests inside on items such as cut flowers. With their rounded bodies and short antennae, carpet beetles somewhat resemble lady beetles in shape.
Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are a brown/orange color and an adult is about the size of an apple seed. Before eating their bodies are as this as a piece of paper – during feeding their abdomen expands and becomes a darker red/brown color. Bed bugs bite their host to feed on their blood and are usually hiding in protected spots near their host. Bed bugs are often found in the seams along mattresses, box springs, and other furniture, and personal belongings. They are carried into homes and businesses by hitching a ride on luggage, shoes, handbags, used furniture, etc.