Common Pests Library

American Cockroach

The American cockroach is the largest of the house-infesting cockroaches. Despite its name, the American cockroach is not native to North America, but was probably introduced via ships from Africa in the 1600s. American cockroaches often enter structures through drains and pipes. They are more active when the temperature is 70 degrees or higher, but they can survive lower temperatures with the right conditions. Although American cockroaches can be found in homes, they are also common in larger commercial buildings such as grocery stores, food processing plants and hospitals. American roaches are also known to infest basements, yards, and alleys. 

American Dog Tick

The American dog tick gets its name from the fact that adult ticks prefer domestic dogs as hosts, and this tick species is only found in North America. It is thought that American dog ticks are attracted by the scent of animals, so they are common along roads and trails. Adult ticks prefer domestic dogs as hosts and can therefore be brought into the home and potentially transferred to humans. These ticks prefer grassy areas with low vegetation where larger mammals pass by. American dog ticks do not survive well indoors. The American dog tick is the primary vector of Rocky Mountain spotted fever in the United States.

Box Elder Bug

Box elder bugs are black winged insects with 3 red stripes running lengthwise down the body. The underneath of their wings is bright red. Immature box elder bugs or nymphs are wingless, smaller and rounder shaped, and bright red in color. Box elder bugs are found on elm, maple and box elder trees. They are found on houses and structures usually on the sound side during warm days where the sun is shining.

Brown Banded Cockroach

Brown-banded cockroaches get their name from the two lighter bands they have across their dark brownish bodies. Male, brown-banded roaches have full wings that reach beyond the tip of their pointed abdomens, but females have underdeveloped wings that prohibit them from flying. Brown-banded cockroach can be found throughout structures but show a preference for drier locations and warmer areas over 80 degrees. Brown-banded cockroaches often hid their egg cases in or under furniture. These roaches tend to prefer higher locations than most cockroach species and are often found in upper cabinets in kitchens and bathrooms.

Brown Recluse Spider

Brown recluse spiders have a characteristic dark brown violin marking on their back. Brown recluse spiders are nocturnal and eat other small bugs like cockroaches and crickets. These spiders spin irregular webs, which are not used for catching prey but rather as a retreat. Brown recluse spiders often live outdoors where they are typically found around rocks, utility boxes and woodpiles. Indoors, brown recluses can be found in any undisturbed area, such as inside boxes, among papers, in seldom-used apparel and shoes, under furniture or in crevices of window moldings. Closets, attics, crawl spaces and basements are the most common brown recluse spider hiding spots. Like the black widow spider, the brown recluse spider bites in defense and does not bite humans instinctively. However, both female and male brown recluse spiders can bite and inject venom. The brown recluse’s bite is usually not felt but results in a stinging sensation followed by intense pain as long as six to eight hours later. A small blister usually develops at the bite location that can turn into an open ulcer.

Chigger

A Chigger is often seen in lawns and moving across pavement. They are brilliant red and are often called "red bugs". In Missouri the adult stage spends its winter in the soil and the females will deposit eggs during the first warm days of spring. Eggs hatch into chiggers that are only about 1/150 inch in diameter. The threat of being attacked exists from May until the first killing frost. After coming into contact with a human host, chiggers will crawl upward, going under or through clothing until they find an area where clothing fits tightly against the skin. Rather than pass through tight places, they will frequently settle down and begin to feed. They commonly feed in areas such as the tops of shoes and socks, inside tight-fitting underwear, under a waistband or bra band, at the back of the knees. It can take several hours after being bitten to have a reaction to chiggers. 

Clover Mite

Clover mites are reddish brown in color and ovoid in shape. As arachnids, mites have found pairs of legs and are incapable of flight. Clover mites are slow moving. They are known to reproduce in the spring and summer when temperatures are suitable for their breeding and survival. Their populations grow rapidly, as females lay up to 70 eggs, each of which matures within 30 days. Eggs can be found in small crevices in concrete and wooden structures, as well as within walls, under loose bark and in other protected locations. Clover mites feed on plants, with clover being a preferred food source, hence their name. When plants begin to die in the fall, it results in the mass movements of the mites, potentially into the home.

Cluster Flies

Adult Cluster flies are 3/8 inch long, robust, and colored dark gray with numerous short golden hairs on the thorax and with irregular lighter areas on the abdomen. The wing tips overlap at rest. Overwinter cluster flies are typified by sluggish movements indoors. Adult cluster flies overwinter in sheltered places, emerging in the spring to mate. Eggs are laid in soil cracks and hatch in about 3 days. As days shorten and the weather cools (in September and early October), cluster flies often enter structures to overwinter, sometimes traveling more than a mile to do so. They usually occupy attics and wall voids of the sun-warmed south, east, and west exposures of houses and buildings. 

Flea

Fleas are reddish-brown in color, usually between 1-3 millimeters in length. They do not have wings; however they are able to jump a distance up to 13 inches. Fleas feed on blood, larvae typically feed on the excrement of adult fleas. These insects can carry diseases and have proven to be a significant nuisance to humans and animals alike. Most flea infestations occur through animals bringing them into the home. The flea will attach itself to an animal and lay eggs that usually end up being distributed throughout the home. Many times, the eggs become embedded in carpet flooring making it increasingly difficult to remove them before they hatch.

Fruit Fly

The Fruit fly is easily identified by its red eyes. 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 stationery for several days. Fruit flies are found in unsanitary conditions, so they are a potential health concern, especially when present in health facilities.

Fungus Gnat

Fungus gnats are pests of greenhouses, nurseries, and interior plantscapes. Adult flies are short-lived insects and may be noticed away from their breeding sources flying around light fixtures or windows. Outdoors, the problem spots are likely landscaped and/or heavily mulched areas or low-lying areas in the yard that remain extremely wet following heavy rainfall or a leaking outdoor water spigot. Indoor sources can be potted plants or fresh flowers with excessive moisture, kitchen or bathroom sinks/drains, damp crawlspaces,

Japanese Beetle

Adult Japanese beetles can be easily identified by their coloring. The Japanese beetle has a metallic green body with copper-brown wing covers. Adults appear from the ground and begin feeding on plants in the early summer. The peak of their activity lasts from late June through August or September when they will begin to die off due to temperature and climate. Japanese beetles live for up to two months during their adult life form. Japanese beetles are commonly known to cause a multitude of damage to a variety of plants including vegetable crops, flowering plants and ornamental shrubs as rose bushes. They are attracted to the leaves produced by these types of plants. The beetles are most active on warm, sunny days, and prefer plants that are in direct sunlight.

Ladybug

Ladybugs are also known as lady beetles or ladybird beetles. Most species of this beetle family are highly beneficial insects, but some have a habit of overwintering in structures leading them to become nuisance pests. During the spring and summer months, ladybug populations typically grow because the seasons favor tender foliage and aphid infestations. In the autumn, adults seek protected places to overwinter including under leaves, rocks, and landscape timers. Other ladybug species are known to inhabit structures such as buildings and homes.

Millipede

Millipedes are often called "thousand-leggers" because of their many pairs of legs, but they can actually have anywhere from 30-90 plus pairs of legs, depending on the species. Most millipedes are nocturnal and are primarily scavengers, feeding on decaying plants and occasionally dead insects. In the autumn, millipedes are known to migrate in great numbers. Millipedes usually do not survive indoors for more than a few days unless there are high moisture conditions and a food supply is present.

Pavement Ant

Pavement ants get their name because they make nests in or under cracks in pavement. These dark brown to black ants can also infest structures. These black ants will eat almost anything. Pavement ants have been known to consume insects, seeds, honeydew, honey, bread, meats, nuts, and cheese. They forage in trails for distances of up to 30 fee and are known to climb masonry walls that enter into occupied areas.

Pill Bug

The Pill bug is the only crustacean that has become completely adapted to spending its life on land. Pill bugs have oval bodies and seven pairs of legs. They are easily recognized by their back, which is made up of seven hard individual plates. Pill bugs are sometimes referred to as rollie-pollies. Pill bugs eat decaying vegetable material and are most active at night. They are known for their ability to roll into a ball. Pill bugs live in moist locations. They are found under damp objects or under vegetable debris.

Scorpion

Scorpions are nuisance pests that are closely related to spiders, mites, and ticks. There are about 1,200 scorpion species in the world and 70 species in the United States. Scorpions are nocturnal pests, so they hide during the day and are most active at night. They feed primarily on insects, especially crickets and cockroaches, and they also feed on spiders. However, they can survive for months without food if water is readily available. During periods of hot weather, scorpions may enter homes through wall voids and take shelter in cool, moist areas like crawl spaces and attics.

Springtail

Springtails are very small, jumping insects that sometimes alarm homeowners by appearing in large numbers in moist indoor areas such as kitchen sinks, bathtubs, and in the soil of houseplants. They may also be found outdoors in swimming pools, moist landscaped areas, or vegetable gardens, and on the surface of mud puddles. They usually appear in the spring and early summer but can be found year-round in moist environments. Because they jump when disturbed, springtails are sometimes confused with leas. However, springtails do not bite humans or pets, nor do they spread diseases or damage household furnishings.