Bed Bugs
Characteristics and Habitat
Bed bugs are oval, flattened, brown, and wingless insects approximately 1/4" to 3/8" long (5-9 mm). They are similar in appearance to a wood ticks. After the bug has taken a blood meal, its color will change from brown to purplish-red. Also after feeding, it is larger and more cigar-shaped making it appear like a different insect.
Bed bugs are active at night and hid during the day. They also tend to cluster together, in areas where you sleep or store luggage.
Damage
Bed bugs typically hitch rides with travelers, so make sure you check around the headboard and adjacent areas of the bed in your hotel accommodations. Bed bugs are most commonly found in bedrooms, infestations can also occur in other rooms, including: bathrooms; living rooms; and laundry rooms. Dark blood spots on sheets and bedding may indicate bed bug feeding. Bed bugs will sometimes excrete while they are feeding. This results in darker (reddish or brownish) spots or smears placed on bed sheets, pillowcases and mattresses, or in nearby areas. This material is composed mostly of digested blood and the stains care very characteristic.
Control
Controlling an infestation requires very detailed work and much moving (and disassembly) of furniture. Careful inspections must be completed in conjunction with non-chemical controls (such as vacuuming, and steam treatments) and insecticide treatments. The insecticides available are commercial products requiring special equipment and training, that is not readily available in over-the-counter products. We recommend professional pest control assistance.
Wasps - Yellow Jackets
Characteristics and Habitat
Yellow jackets are social insects, and very aggressive in defending itself or the nest. It is about 12 mm long and has alternating yellow and black markings on the abdomen. The stinger is not barbed, so the wasp can sting repeatedly. The nest can be quite large for some colonies of yellow jackets. It is made of a papery material. Inside, the new nest has layers of combs to raise the brood. Some nests are aerial, but usually the nests are subterranean or are both aerial and subterranean. People are usually stung when they step into or disturb a nest.
Damage
Humans differ greatly in their reaction to Hymenoptera (yellow jackets, bees, hornets, wasps) venoms. Allergic reactions are often more important than the toxic effects of the venoms. Of individuals who die, 96% had an allergic reaction.
Control
Nests should be treated with insecticide at night to minimize the danger of being stung or protective clothing should be worn.
Termites or Flying Ants
Characteristics and Habitat
Florida is home to the insect genus called Neotermes, which contains the largest termite species in the eastern United States, and which are found only in Florida. Unlike colonies of structure-infesting drywood termites (e.g. Cryptotermes and Incisitermes), Neotermes colonies require higher humidity and regular contact with free water, and unlike subterranean termites, they do not forage in the soil. These termites are referred to as Southern Dampwood Termite or Florida Dampwood Termite.
As with most other members in the termite family, species of Neotermes build networks of galleries that meander through the wood in which they are hidden. Winged termites (also known as "Flying Ants") leave mature colonies via multiple dispersal flights over "swarming" seasons that can last for several months. Depending on the species, flight may occur in the late spring or summer, or in the late fall or early winter. Flights occur at dusk or at night. Dampwood termites are relatively strong fliers and, like most nocturnal flying insects, are attracted to lights. Porch lights, indoor lights, and video monitors often lure the insects inside, especially when doors and unscreened windows are opened.
Damage
As with most other members in the termite family Kalotermitidae, species of Neotermes build networks of galleries that meander through the wood in which they are hidden. Because of their moisture requirements, structural infestations of dampwood termites are associated with sources of free water. These include wood-to-soil contact, wood exposed to roof leaks, or wooden siding or ornamentation exposed to rainfall or sprinkler irrigation. Neotermes infestations can extend into sound dry wood several meters away from the moisture source.
Control
Eliminating conditions of moisture can help control structural infestations of Neotermes. As with the preventative management of subterranean termites and wood decay, wood-to-ground and wood-to-water contact should be eliminated to prevent colonization by dampwood termites. When untreated wood cannot be removed from a moisture source, chemical treatment may be necessary.
Ants
Characteristics and Habitat
Ants are social insects, creating nests that house many ants. Different ant species have different nesting habits, with some never entering buildings, and others building nests near buildings or inside. Ants differ from termites in that ants have a narrow waist, while termites have a broad waist between the thorax and the abdomen. Most ants eat a variety of food, though some have specialized tastes. Fire ants, Pharoah ants, and Carpenter ants like sugary foods and insects.
Ants common in Florida include Pharoah, Imported Fire, Crazy, Thief, Acrobat, Big-Headed, Ghost, Carpenter, and Native Fire ants.
Damage
Ants are pests around the home because they feed on and contaminate human foods, infest structures, and build unsightly mounds in lawns. In some cases, ants are able to inflict painful bites or stings. Ants do not attack or eat fabrics, leather or wood in houses; however, some species can establish nests in decaying wood in structures.
Several species of ants are found in or around houses in Florida. In general, the most common ants can be grouped as house-infesting ants, yard-infesting ants, and carpenter ants.
Control
Ants can be controlled with baits, crack and crevice treatments, indoor space and surface treatments, outdoor barrier and broadcast treatments, as well as void and attic treatments. However, methods that target individual trails of ants such as crack and crevice treatments and indoor space and surface treatments are usually a “quick fix” and ineffective in the long term because they do not significantly reduce the ant population and do not affect the queen.
Cockroaches
Characteristics and Habitat
A cockroach has a flattened, oval shaped body and long antennae (about the length of their body). When looking at a cockroach from above, its head is hidden from view. It has six strong legs covered with spines.
Cockroaches are nocturnal, hiding during the day and becoming active at night. The number of cockroaches people see is usually a small percentage of a much larger population. Roaches thrive in warm, damp environments, such as sewers, steam tunnels, basements, crawl spaces, and boiler rooms. In southern states, they will also be found living and breeding outdoors.
Damage
Cockroaches spread disease, contaminating food and eating utensils. Cockroaches are known to carry human pathogens, such as Salmonella and E. coli, which can result in human diseases, such as food poisoning or diarrhea. Occasionally, they will destroy fabric and paper products. In large numbers, cockroaches secrete a substance which can result in stains on surfaces they contact and produce disagreeable odors. Finally, products of cockroach infestations, including saliva, feces and cast skins, are a source of allergens and can irritate allergies and asthma in people, especially children.
Control
Sanitation is very important to reduce cockroach infestations. Cockroaches need water and food to live. By limiting their access to these resources, you reduce their ability to survive and reproduce. It is difficult to make your home and other buildings completely unacceptable for cockroaches, but you can minimize an existing infestation when improving sanitation.
Spiders
Characteristics and Habitat
Spiders are not insects. They have eight legs, a head and an abdomen. They are extremely common with too many species to cover here. However, four species of poisonous widow spiders occur in Florida: the southern black widow, the northern black widow, the red widow and the brown widow. All these species are rather large spiders about 1 1/2 inches long with the legs extended.
The southern black widow and the northern black widow are a shiny, jet-black color. The southern black widow has a red hourglass marking on the underside of the abdomen and another red spot at the tip end of the abdomen. The northern black widow has a row of red spots located in the middle of its back and two reddish triangles resembling an hourglass on the underside of the abdomen. The red widow spider has a reddish orange head-thorax and legs with a black abdomen. The abdomen may have a dorsal row of red spots with a yellow border. The red widow lacks a complete hourglass under the abdomen but may have one or two red spots. The brown widow spider varies in color from gray to light brown or black. The abdomen has variable markings of black, white, red, and yellow. On the underside of the abdomen it has an orange or yellowish-red hourglass marking.
Damage
Almost all spiders found in Florida are harmless to humans and most species do not attempt to bite unless they are provoked. Spiders usually remain hidden and do not seek out and bite humans. Most spiders cannot penetrate the skin of a human with their fangs. Almost all spiders possess venom, but only a few are considered dangerous to humans.
Several species of spiders enter houses and become a nuisance to the homeowner. Many people simply dislike spiders and cannot tolerate their presence. When numerous, spiders are annoying because they construct webs. Abandoned webs collect dust, resulting in cobwebs. However, spiders are considered beneficial because they feed on insect pests and other spiders.
Control
Control efforts should target black widow spider webs because that is where the spider spends most of its time. Control is best achieved by following an integrated pest management (IPM) strategy, which involves using multiple approaches such as preventive measures, exclusion, sanitation, and chemical treatment when necessary. IPM requires a thorough inspection of the building to locate the pest. An inspection preferably should be done at night because the black widow spider is nocturnal.
Silverfish
Characteristics and Habitat
Silverfish are common in homes and apartments. The silverfish lives and develops in damp, cool places. Large numbers may be found in new buildings in which the newly plastered walls are still damp. They may be found in bookcases, around closet shelves, behind baseboards, windows or door frames.
Silverfish are slender, wingless insects and their bodies are covered with scales. Adults are about one-third to one-half inch long. Silverfish are shiny and silver or pearl-gray in color. They have two long slender antennae attached to their heads and three long tail-like appendages at the hind end. Each appendage is almost as long as the body. The young insects look like adults except they are smaller. Both insects have two long slender antennae attached to their heads and three long tail-like appendages at the hind end. Each appendage is almost as long as the body.
Silverfish are active at night and hide during the day. When objects under which they hide are moved, they dart about seeking a new hiding place.
Damage
Silverfish may cause damage in the home by eating foods or other materials that are high in protein, sugar, or starch. They eat cereals, moist wheat flour, paper on which there is glue or paste, sizing in paper and bookbindings, starch in clothing, and rayon fabrics.
Control
Minor infestations can be controlled by eliminating food sources, damp environments and regular vacuuming. Large infestations may require baiting or perimiter treatments with approved insecticides.
Ticks
Characteristics and Habitat
Ticks are not insects, and are closely related to the spiders. Adult ticks have eight legs. All ticks are parasitic, feeding on the blood of animals. Of the ticks found in Florida, the brown dog tick (shown here), and the American dog tick (shown below), are the most troublesome.
Damage
The brown dog tick (above) rarely bites humans, but infestations are frequently found on dogs and in the home. The American dog tick (left) attacks a wide variety of hosts, including humans, but rarely will infest homes. Brown dog ticks seldom attach animals other than dogs, nor are they known to transmit diseases to humans. American dog ticks will feed on humans, and may carry Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tularemia and other diseases, and can cause paralysis in children if they attach to the base of the skull or along the spinal column.
Control
Ticks should be removed from pets and humans as soon as they are noticed. Ticks should be removed carefully and slowly. If the attached tick is broken, the mouthparts left in the skin may transmit disease or cause secondary infection. Ticks should be grasped with tweezers at the point where their mouthparts enter the skin and pulled straight out with firm pressure. A small amount of flesh should be seen attached to the mouthparts after the tick is removed. Premise infestations should be treated through professional fumigation.
Fleas
Characteristics and Habitat
Fleas are small (1/16"), dark, reddish-brown, wingless, blood-sucking insects. Their bodies are laterally compressed, (i.e., flattened side to side) permitting easy movement through the hairs on the host's body. Their legs are long and well adapted for jumping. The flea body is hard, polished, and covered with many hairs and short spines directed backward. The mouthparts of an adult flea are adapted for sucking blood from a host.
Several species of fleas may be pests in Florida, and five kinds have been found on a single animal. The cat flea is the most frequently found flea, although the dog, human, and sticktight fleas are also found in Florida. Fleas may attack a wide variety of warm-blooded animals including dogs, humans, chickens, rabbits, squirrels, rats and mice.
Adult fleas must feed on blood in order to reproduce; however, adults can live for long periods without feeding. Fleas usually live and breed most heavily where pets rest. Persons coming near these resting places are also subject to attack. If fleas are established in a home, they will feed on man as well as on the pets. The usual places of attack are the ankles and lower portions of the legs.
Damage
Fleas often breed in large numbers where pets and other animals live. Pets infested with fleas bite and scratch themselves constantly. Their coats become roughened and the skin can become infected. Symptoms of sensitized hosts are often mistaken for mange. Cat fleas and dog fleas may be intermediate hosts for the dog tapeworm.
Some people suffer more than others from flea bites. The bites can cause intense itching often resulting in secondary infection. The usual flea bite has a small red spot where the flea has inserted its mouthparts. Around the spot there is a red halo with very little swelling. Many people do not react to flea bites at all while others are sensitive and suffer severe allergic reactions. Fleas may also vector such human diseases as plague, typhus, and tularemia.
Control
Flea control is difficult for pet owners to implement because two things must be done: (1) treat the pet and (2) treat the premises. Pet treatment alone is not sufficient because the animal quickly becomes reinfested from untreated premises. Insect growth regulators (IGRs) are the most effective chemicals and are found in some indoor, space, and surface treatments. Common IGRs are methoprene, hydroprene, and piriproxyfen. These may be used in conjunction with residual sprays to quickly reduce adult populations. IGRs prevent flea larvae from turning into adults, and have a residual effect of almost three months. For IGR applications to be effective, pets must not be allowed access to heavily infested areas outdoors; otherwise adult fleas will constantly be carried indoors by the pet.
Weevils
Characteristics and Habitat
The adult rice weevil can fly and is attracted to lights. When disturbed, adults pull in their legs, fall to the ground, and feign death. The larval rice weevil must complete its development inside a seed kernel or a man-made equivalent, like macaroni products.
Damage
Weevils are insect pests which usually attack stored grain. They can be easily overlooked in grain shipments since they cannot be seen. The rice weevil is one of the most serious stored grain pests worldwide, especially in the southern United States. Other examples include the granary weevil and the lesser grain borer, and the angoumois grain moth.
The rice weevil is one of the most serious stored grain pests worldwide. This pest of whole grain originated in India and has been spread worldwide by commerce. It now has a cosmopolitan distribution. It is a serious pest in the southern United States. They attack wheat, corn, oats, rye, barley, sorghum, buckwheat, dried beans, cashew nuts, wild bird seed, and cereal products, especially macaroni.
Control
The most important aspect of control is identifying the location of the source of the infestation. Common sources of infestations include decorative "Indian corn" saved from Thanksgiving, wild bird seed, dry plant arrangements that contain wheat or other seed heads, popcorn, beanbags or toys stuffed with grain, macaroni products, and seeds for sprouting. Infested materials should be destroyed or disposed of. Large-scale infestations are controlled by fumigation.
Millipedes
Characteristics and Habitat
Millipedes are commonly known as "thousand leggers" and belong to a group of arthropods called Diplopods. Millipedes are worm-like, cylindrical animals with many body segments. Most of the body segments bear two pairs of legs. Millipedes tend to coil up tightly when disturbed and some species can secrete a foul smelling fluid. Millipedes feed on decaying vegetable matter and are often found under stones, flower pots, boards or similar debris where there is abundant moisture. Occasionally after rains or during cold weather, large numbers of millipedes may migrate into buildings. They can climb foundation walls and enter homes through any small opening.
Damage
Millipedes cause no damage inside the home, either to furnishings or food. Their only importance is that of annoying or frightening individuals.
Control
These arthropods are generally more troublesome in wooded or newly developed areas where decaying vegetation provide excellent food and breeding conditions. A large indoor population of these pests indicates large numbers are surrounding the structure. Removal of breeding sites and harborages will aid in control. Compost piles and decaying vegetation should be removed from areas close to the house. Mulch should be only 2-4 inches deep so it remains dry most of the time.
Simple mechanical control, such as a broom and dustpan, can be used to remove the pest from the house. If these pests become a serious nuisance, elimination of hiding places, food material, and moisture sources will reduce the infestation. Be sure to check potted plants for pest activity before bringing them indoors.