Use our pest library to identify your pests, learn about their characteristics, behaviors and habitats, and find out how to control them. If the pest you have questions about does not appear in our list, contact Dowie Pest Control and we will identify the pest for you and provide you with information.
Color: Reddish brown, with a yellowish figure 8 pattern on the back of the head.
Legs: 6
Shape: Oval
Size: 2″
Antennae: Yes
Region: Found throughout U.S.
American cockroaches are found in food processing areas and food storage areas, as well as other types of buildings. They are active when the temperature is 70 degrees or higher, but they can survive lower temperatures with the right conditions.
American Cockroaches are often found in sewers and basements, particularly around pipes and drains.
Cockroaches have been reported to spread at least 33 kinds of bacteria, six kinds of parasitic worms, and at least seven other kinds of human pathogens. They can pick up germs on the spines of their legs and bodies as they crawl through decaying matter or sewage and then carry these into food or onto food surfaces. Recent medical studies have shown that cockroach allergens cause lots of allergic reactions. They were even shown to cause asthma in children. These allergens build up in deposits of droppings, secretions, cast skins, and dead bodies of roaches.
Good sanitation and habitat reduction, along with vacuuming, surveillance, a baiting program and some sealing of cracks can usually quickly reduce or eliminate a cockroach population.
Color: Dark grey
Legs: 6
Shape: Small oval
Size: 1/4″
Antennae: Yes
Region: Found throughout U.S.
They are only able to feed on liquids but have the ability to turn many solid foods into a liquid for them to eat. House flies taste with their feet, which are 10 million times more sensitive to sugar than the human tongue.
House flies tend to stay within 1-2 miles of where they were born: however, they have been known to migrate up to 20 miles to find food.
These insects have been known to carry over 100 different kinds of disease-causing germs, which makes them very bad house guests.
House flies can be controlled through vigilant sanitation. Remove trash regularly and use well-sealing garbage receptacles. Clean up pet waste immediately. Use fine mesh screens on doors and windows to prevent fly entry.
Color: Unfed adults are mahogany to rusty brown; an engorged bed bug is red-brown after a blood meal. Nymphs (baby bed bugs) are nearly colorless when they first hatch and become brownish as they mature.
Legs: 6
Shape: Unfed bed bugs are flat: broad oval. Fed bed bugs become swollen and more elongated.
Size: Adult bed bugs are about 1/4″. Nymphs (baby bed bugs) range from 1.3 mm to 5 mm.
Antennae: Yes
Region: Found throughout U.S.
Bed bugs like to travel and are good hitchhikers. They will hide in suitcases, boxes and shoes to be near a food supply. They are elusive, nocturnal creatures. They can hide behind baseboards and in cracks, crevices and folded areas of beds, bedding and adjacent furniture, especially mattresses and box springs. Bed bugs can also hide in electrical switchplates, picture frames, wallpaper and nearly anywhere inside a home, car, bus or other shelter. Bed bugs usually come out at night for a blood meal. however, they are opportunistic insects and can take a blood meal during the day, especially in heavily-infested areas. Bed bugs usually require 5 – 10 minutes to engorge with blood. After feeding, they move to secluded places and hide for 5 – 10 days. During this time, they do not feed but instead digest their meal, mate, and lay eggs.
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. Bed bugs are also known to survive in temporary or alternative habitats such as backpacks and under the seats in cars, busses and trains.
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.
Color: Copper reddish coloring on outer part of wings
Legs: 6
Shape: Elongated oval
Size: 5/8″
Antennae: Yes
Region: Found throughout U.S.
The Indian meal moth likes to feed on dried fruits, grains, seeds, nuts, chocolate, candies, bird seed, dog food, powdered mik, dried red peppers and candy.
Attracted to the light, these bugs are found worldwide in areas where food is stored such as grocery stores.
Indian Meal moths infest foods and can contaminate food products.
Dried food prducts should be inspected thoroughly for signs of moth infestations. Discard infested foods in outdoor trash bins. Clean infested cupboards thoroughly with a vacuum and soap and water. Store food in sealed containers.
Color: Black, with characteristic red ‘hourglass’ on black
Legs: 8
Shape: Round
Size: 3/4″ in length; 3/8″ in diameter
Antennae: No
Region: Found throughout U.S.
Black widow spiders spin their webs near ground level. They often build their webs in protected areas, such as in boxes and in firewood.
Black widow spiders are often found around wood piles and gain entry into a structure when firewood is carried into a building. They are also found under eaves, in boxes, and other areas where they are undisturbed.
The venom of a black widow spider is a neurotoxin (a toxin that attacks the nerve cells) and is used as a defense. Black widow spiders do not bite humans instinctively. The black widow spider bite can cause severe pain. Young children and the elderly are especially susceptible to a severe reaction to a black widow spider bite.
Avoid black widow spider bites by wearing heavy gloves when moving items that have been stored for a long period of time. Spiders often hide in shoes, so check shoes and shake them out before wearing. When spider webs are visible, use caution before putting your hands or feet in that area.
Color: Light brown to black
Legs: 4
Shape: Round
Size: 2″
Antennae: No
Region: Found throughout U.S.
House mice can breed throughout the year and can share nests.
House mice live in structures, but they can live outdoors.
Micro droplets of mouse urine can cause allergies in children. Mice can also bring fleas, mites, ticks and lice into your home.
To keep mice and other rodents out, make sure all holes that are larger than the size of a pencil, are sealed. Mice can squeeze through spaces as small as a nickel. Seal any cracks and voids. Don’t overlook proper drainage at the foundation and always install gutters or diverts which will channel water away from the building.
Color: Light to dark brown, with characteristic dark brown violin marking on back.
Legs: 8
Shape: Round
Size: 5/8″
Antennae: No
Region: Found in the South Central Midwest from Ohio to Nebraska and Southward through Texas to Georgia
Brown recluse spiders are nocturnal and eat other bugs like cockroaches and crickets. Male brown recluse spiders wander farther than fremales and will crawl into shoes or other clothing.
Brown recluse spiders often live outdoors in debris and wood piles. They can be found indoors in storage areas and dark recesses.
Like the black widow spider, the brown recluse spider bites in defense and does not bite humans instinctively. They will bite humans when the clothing they are hiding in is worn. The brown recluse spider bite is painful and can produce an open, ulcerating sore.
To avoid brown recluse spiders, avoid keeping clothing on the floor. Store clothing and shoes inside plastic containers and shake out all clothing that has been in a hamper before wearing or washing.
Color: Gray, Brown or Black
Legs: 4
Shape: Long
Size: 10″ to 12″ (8″ body plus 4″ tail)
Antennae: No
Region: Found throughout U.S.
Rats are excellent climbers and often enter a home in the fall when outside food sources become scarce.
Norway rats live in fields, farm lands and in structures. Rats are often found in woodpiles. Rodents can gain entry to a home through a hole the size of a quarter.
Rats can chew through wiring, causing fires. They also spread numerous diseases.
Keep firewood stored well away from the structure. Remove debris piles. Seal any holes larger than 1/4 inch. Remove moisture and harborage sources.
Color: Varies depending on species, from red to black or a combination. The two most common species are black.
Legs: 6
Shape: Segmented; oval
Size: 5/8″
Antennae: Yes
Region: Found throughout U.S.; most common in the Northern half of the country.
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.
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.
Carpenter ants damage wood through their nest building. If they gain entry to a structure, they pose a property threat.
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 house. Make sure that firewood and building materials are not stored next to your home. Pests like to build nests in stacks of wood.
Color:Dark brown, almost black
Legs: 6
Shape: Oval
Size: 1″
Antennae: Yes
Region: Northern regions of the United States
This species of cockroach often travels through sewer pipes. It survives on filth and enjoys temperatures from 68 to 84 degrees. This is a cooler temperature than that preferred by other cockroach species.
Oriental cockroaches are often found in sewers and will enter structures through drains. They find indoor harborage in basements and crawl spaces. They can also be found in leaf piles and firewood outdoors.
Cockroaches have been reported to spread at least 33 kinds of bacteria, six kinds of parasitic worms, and at least seven other kinds of human pathogens. They can pick up germs on the spines of their legs and bodies as they crawl through decaying matter or sewage and then carry these into food or onto food surfaces. Medical studies have shown that cockroach allergens cause lots of allergic reactions. They were even shown to cause asthma in children. These allergens build up in deposits of droppings, secreations, cast skins, and dead bodies of roaches.
Good sanitation and habitat reduction, along with vacuuming, surveillance, a baiting program, and some sealing of cracks can usually quickly reduce or eliminate a cockroach population.
Color: Dark reddish-brown
Legs: 6
Shape: Flat
Size: 1/12″ – 1/6″
Antennae: Yes
Region: Found throughout U.S.
Fleas transport themselves on rodents and other mammals. They infest both household pests ane wild animals. Fleas use their powerful legs to jump as high as 8 inches vertically and 16 inches horizontally.
Fleas usually remain on their warm-blooded hosts at all times. They can be found on shoes, pant legs, or blankets, which can transfer the feas to new environments. They are often found infesting opossums, raccoons, and skunks in urban settings.
Fleas are the most common transmitter of the rare Bubonic Plague. They also transmit the bacterial disease Murine Typhus to humans through infected rats. Their saliva can cause serious Flea Alergy Dermatitus in pets, and their debris has been reported to cause similar allergic reactions in humans. Fleas can also transfer tapeworms and cause anemia in pets. Flea bites commonly cause painful, itchy red bumps.
Clean and vacuum frequently to help remove flea populations and prevent the laying of eggs. Keep your lawn groomed to avoid rodent habitation. Protect pets by keeping them on a leash when outside, bathing and grooming pets regularly, visiting a veterinarian annually, and using flea treatments according to direction. It is important to hire a pest professional to rid your home of rodents and fleas.
Color:Brown or black
Legs: 6
Shape: Segmented; oval
Size: 1/16″ – 1/8″
Antennae: Yes
Region: Found throughout U.S.
Odorous house ants like to eat sweets, especially melon.
Typically living for several years, these ants make their homes in exposed soil and wall cracks.
These ants do not pose a public health risk, but they can contaminate food and should be avoided.
Eliminate standing water. Pests such as odorous house ants are attracted to moisture. Keep tree branches and other plants cut back from the house. 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.
Color: Creamy brown
Legs: 6
Shape: Long, narrow oval
Size: 1/8″
Antennae: Yes
Region: Found throughout U.S.
Subterranean termites live underground and build tunnels, referred to as mud tubes, to reach food sources. Like other termite species, they feed on products containing cellulose. Subterranean termites swarm in teh spring. Groups of reproductive termites go off to start new colonies.
Subterranean termites need contact with the soil to survive and live underground. They can build tunnels through cracks in concrete.
Subterranean termites are by far the most destructive species. They can collapse a building entirely, meaning possible financial ruin for a homeowner. The hard, sawtoothed jaws of termites work like shears and are able to bite off extremely small fragments of wood, one piece at a time.
Avoid water accumulation near your home’s foundation. Divert water away with properly functioning downspouts, gutters and splash blocks. Reduce humidity in crawl spaces with proper ventilation. Never bury wood scraps or wast lumber in the yard. Most importantly, eliminate wood contact with the soil. Maintain a one-inch gap between the soil and wood portions of the building.
Color: Dark brown to blackish
Legs: 6
Shape: Segmented; oval
Size: 1/8″
Antennae: Yes
Region: Found throughout U.S.
These ants will eat almost anything, including insects, seeds, honeydew, honey, bread, meats, nuts and cheese.
Pavement ants live in or under pavement cracks.
Pavement ants do nto pose a public health risk, but they can contaminate food and should be avoided.
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 there are no cracks or little openings around your house. Make sure that firewood and building materials are not stored next to your home. Pests like to build nests in stacks of wood.
Color: Tan with light abdomen
Legs: 6
Shape: Small oval
Size: 1/8″
Antennae: Yes
Region: Found throughout U.S.
Fruit flies feed on decaying matter, especially fruits and vegetables.
Fruit flies are small pests that are commonly found in homes, restaurants and other facilities where food is processed. They are found on moist, decaying matter that has been stationary for several days.
Fruit flies are found in unsanitary conditions, so they are a potential health concern, especially when present in health facilities.
Fruit flies are best prevented through vigilant sanitation practices. Remove kitchen trash daily, and keep counter surfaces clean.
Color: Black, brown or yellowish
Legs: 6
Shape: Oval with a humpbacked appearance from the side
Size: 1/16″ – 1/8″
Antennae: Yes
Region: Found throughout U.S.
A Phorid Flies flight pattern is characteristically short and erratic. Adults have a peculiar habit of rapidly running across windows, TV screens, tables, walls and plant foliage.
Phorid flies are fairly common in many habitats, but are most abundant about decaying plant and animal matter. In structures, these flies can be found breeding wherever moisture exists around plumbing and drains in bathroom and kitchen areas, garbage containers, garbage disposals, crawl space areas and basements. These breeding areas are occasionally very difficult to locate.
Because Phorid flies breed wherever moisture exists, the presence of Phorid flies can indicate that a serious plumbing issue exists.
Eliminate the plumbing or moisture issues in the home as well as keeping drainage pipes clean.
Color: Light brown to tan with two dark, almost parallel stripes located on their back, just behind their head
Legs: 6
Shape: Oval
Size: 1/2″ – 5/8″
Antennae: Yes
Region: Found throughout U.S.
German cockroaches can be found throughout structures but show a preference for warm and humid places. They are usually found in kitchens and secondarily in bathrooms, but infestations often occur in rooms where people eat and drink.
German cockroaches prefer to live in cracks and crevices near food sources and spend 75% of their time in such harborages. German cockroaches prefer to live close to sources of food and water, hence their affinity for residential and commercial kitchen environments.
Cockroaches have been reported to spread at least 33 kinds of bacteria, six kinds of parasitic worms, and at least seven other kinds of human pathogens. They can pick up germs on the spines of their legs and bodies as they crawl through decaying matter or sewage and then carry these into food or onto food surfaces. Medical studies have shown that cockroach allergens cause lots of allergic reactions. They were even shown to cause asthma in children. These allergens build up in deposits of droppings, secreations, cast skins, and dead bodies of roaches.
Good sanitation and habitat reduction, along with vacuuming, surveillance, a baiting program, and some sealing of cracks can usually quickly reduce or eliminate a cockroach population.
Color: Abdomen usually black and yellow pattered similar to bands
Legs: 6
Shape: Segmented
Size: Workers: 3/8″ – 5/8″
Antennae: Yes
Region: Found throughout U.S.
Yellowjackets nest in the ground or in cavernous area such as eaves and attics. They feed on sweets and proteins and commonly invade outdoor activities.
Yellowjackets can be found any place humans can be found. Check near recycling bins or other areas where sugars are common but keep in mind these pests also feed on protein. Yellowjackets become more aggressive in autumn when the colony begins to die out except for the queen.
Yellowjackets pose significant health threats to humans as they may sting repeatedly and can cause allergic reactions. Stinging insects send over 500,000 people to the emergency room each year.
Remain vigilant and call a pest professional if you suspect yellowjacket activity. Control requires specialized equipment and safety precautions. Do not leave sweet drinks or meats in accessible areas. For example, clean up and remove food and trash after picnics and outdoor events.
