Pest Library – Detailed information About Various Pests

Bed Bug – Bed bugs are small, wingless insects that feed on warm-blooded hosts. These oval shaped insects have a flattened body and can grow up to 5 mm in length. They are rust brown to reddish brown. Bed bugs are also called ‘red coats’ ‘mahogany flats’ etc. These blood feeders are most often active at night when their victims sleep. Their bite is painless but create irritation and swelling.

Ants – Ants can range from 1/16 to 1 inch and can be black, brown or red. Ants have sleek body structure, pinched waist and two antennae. They forage food and water sources. Thus, most often found in residential areas particularly in the kitchens. There are hundreds of ant species found around the world. Some ant species can bite that is painful and cause irritation and swelling. Preventing the food sources can limit ant infestation to a certain level.

Ant Species

Fleas – Fleas can reach up to 1/8 inch in length and are dark brown to black. These are wingless, robust-bodied pests with large hind legs. These parasites feed on the blood of warm-blooded animals. They can live up to 100 days and a female flea can produce 400-500 offspring in its lifespan. They use their mouth parts for piercing and sucking. They transmit bacterial disease that can cause allergic reactions in animals and humans as well.

Cockroach – There are more than 4,000 species of cockroaches found across the world. They can grow up to 1 to 1.2 inches in length and have reddish-brown appearance. They can feed on almost everything and prefer dark and moist places. These pests carry a variety of diseases that can cause allergic reactions and many other health ailments such as food poisoning, hepatitis and diarrhea.

Centipede – Centipedes are nocturnal creatures having around 100 legs. They prefer moist places and prey on insects and spiders. These pests are venomous but, don’t cause any health threat to humans. Indoors, they can be found around baseboards, windows and doorways. Unfortunately, they don’t show any potential sign of infestation. Centipede bite can cause pain and some allergic reactions.

Rat and Mice – Rats and mice are those small invaders that can wreak havoc on your property. They can gain access to your dwelling even through a small hole or crack. They can gnaw on almost everything and reproduce at a faster pace. Rodents can adulterate your food items that can cause various health ailments. There are specially formulated ‘rodenticides’ that can effectively prevent these challenging pests from your premises.

Bees and Wasp – Bees and wasps are dangerous insects as they can sting readily when disturbed. They almost have similar body structures including a head, an abdomen and a thorax. Bees can reach to 2.54 cm in length and have hairy, shiny skin. Wasps are four winged insects with narrow waist and black and yellow pattern. They are capable of giving painful stings.

Flies – There are numerous fly species found worldwide. The most common of them all is house fly which is black and ¼ inch in size. Flies are known for spreading vast number of diseases from one place to another. They can contaminate your food items and water sources leading to various health hazards including typhoid, cholera, diarrhea etc.

Types of Flies

Hornets – Hornets are those pesky pests that can create great nuisance. Their sting can be extremely painful leading to swelling and redness. They can reach up to 11/2 inches long and are yellow and brown. Hornets have around 20 species found worldwide. They feed on insects and tend to create their nests in attics, hollow trees, porches etc.

Spider – Spiders are predators that prey on a variety of pests and insects. There are a vast number of spider species available around the world. They have four pairs of legs and can be black or rusty brown. Some spider species are venomous that can even lead to death. They create great nuisance when found indoors. They are mainly active during the night and have a lifespan of around 20 years.