STINK BUGS (Pentatomidae) of about 5,000 species characteristically give off a strong odor when disturbed. Sometimes the odor can be smelled, or tasted, on fruits or vegetables on which the bugs have been crawling or feeding. Members of this family, which is worldwide in distribution, are easily recognized by their shield-like shape and by the […]
INTRODUCTION: Pillbugs are sometimes called “roly-polies” and get this common name because they roll up into a tight ball when disturbed. These land-dwelling crustaceara are arthropods but not insects. RECOGNITION: Adults about 1/4-5/8″ (7-15 mm) long, convex above but flat or hollow beneath. Color slate gray. BIOLOGY: The eggs are deposited and hatch within the […]
INTRODUCTION: The common name of bumble bee possibly comes from their rather large, clumsy appearance and/or the buzzing sound they make as they fly. In the urban setting, bumble bees do not usually nest in structures but are of concern because of their abundance around the many flowering plants typical of yards, and because they […]
INTRODUCTION: These flies receive the common name of house from being the most common fly found in and around homes, especially in the pre-automobile era and in rural areas. It is not only a nuisance pest but of greater concern is its potential as a carrier of disease organisms, having been found to harbor over […]
INTRODUCTION: This wasp gets its common name from the fact that it hunts and provisions each of its nest cells with a cicada (Homoptera: Cicadidae) as food for its young. These wasps can become an urban nuisance pest when they select a bare area around a structure as a nesting site. People become alarmed because […]
Its name resulted from the mistaken belief of Linnaeus that this ant was one of the plagues of Egypt in the time of the Pharaohs. Pharaoh ants are thought to be native to the African region. This ant is found throughout the United States. Pharaoh ants have been strongly implicated in the spread of various […]
Paper wasps get their common name from the paper like material of which they construct their nests; true also of the other vespids. It has been suggested that they be called umbrella wasps based on the shape of their nests. In the urban situation, these usually unaggressive wasps are a nuisance pest Adults are about […]
INTRODUCTION: All members of the order Thysanura have a teardrop/carrot/fish-shaped body and get their common name of bristletail because of their 3 long, bristle like or tail like appendages on the posterior/rear end of their body. Silverfish is a common name for species of this group whose bodies are covered with silvery scales. Silverfish are found throughout the […]
INTRODUCTION: These Mites get their common name of the northern because they occur in temperate or northern regions and of fowl because they are parasites of domestic fowl. They become a structural pest when they migrate from bird nests on buildings and attack humans. They are found throughout temperate regions of the world including the […]
INTRODUCTION: This species is the most commonly encountered clothes moth in the United States. Its common name comes from the larval produced silk webbing which characteristically covers over the area upon which the larva is feeding. This pest is found throughout the United States and the world. RECOGNITION: Adults measure about 1/2” (12 mm) from […]