Pest Guide

American Cockroach – The American Cockroach is often called “water bugs” or “palmetto bugs” because they often enter homes or buildings, seeking warm damp areas like laundry rooms or bathrooms. They can reach lengths of 1 ½ – 2” in length, and are
normally a reddish-brown color. They are primarily found in the southern half of the country, but can travel on things shipped from other areas. Females can produce 1,400 offspring a year, so action should be taken immediately.

Asian Lady Beetles – Asian Lady Beetles are commonly mistaken with the lady bug. It can be seen in a range of colors, ranging from orange to yellow to red. This pest is not a native of the US, but was introduced to help with the control of Aphids for soybeans. When Soybeans are harvested in the fall, these pests can be seen flying from the soybean fields in great numbers. They will fly until they find a sunny warm place to land, often times your home. Since soybean harvest can vary by months from year to year, it’s important to have a fall spray from Exact on your home in preparation.

Bald Faced Hornets – Bald faced hornets are black and white, with most of the white on the face. They are normally ½” to ¾” long and produce a nest shaped like a strawberry that normally hangs on trees or off of structures like decks. Bald faced hornets are very protective of their nests and can be very aggressive if the nest is threatened. These omnivores are beneficial to our ecosystem, often acting as a natural pest control. If a nest is not near a high traffic area or on a structure, nests can be left alone.

Bed Bugs – Bed bugs are small ¼” insects that are flat and shaped like an apple seed. These bugs are tremendous at hiding, and often times difficult to find. They feed on the blood of humans, normally waiting until we are sleeping. Because of their feeding habits, Bed Bugs are normally found on beds, or other furniture where people spend most of their time sleeping. Bed bugs do not live outside because of their need for a human host. They are usually picked up from places, and brought back to your home on items like bags, purses, and furniture.

Boxelder Bugs – The boxelder bug is often a nuisance pest around and in homes. Boxelder bugs usually feed on the leaves, flowers, and box elder trees. They don’t cause much damage to plants but can be a nuisance when they come indoors. Removing box elder trees is recommended when possible, however sometimes these trees may not be on your property. On a sunny fall afternoon, they will fly from miles away to the sunny side of your home. When the sun fades, they will look for entry points to get inside. Exact’s fall spraying makes short work of these pests with an extremely high effectiveness.

Brown Banded Cockroach – The brown-banded cockroach is a small, invasive indoor pest measuring about ½ inch long. They have two light-brown or yellowish bands running across their dark brown bodies. Unlike most of their cockroach relatives, they prefer warm, dry, elevated areas rather than basements. They reproduce quickly and infest areas if action is not quickly taken.

Carpenter Ants – Carpenter ants are large ants (ranging from 1/4 to 3/4 of an inch long, and can vary in colors from black to brown. Carpenter ants do not feed on wood, but rather tunnel and create colonies living inside of wood. Because they do not eat the wood, carpenter ants are often discovered by the large piles of saw dust material called frass. Often times when colonies are being established, winged carpenter ants are found. Carpenter ants can cause serious damage to structures and should be treated immediately.

Carpet Beetles – Carpet beetles are very small oval insects, that vary in color by the species. They are common household pests entering homes from outside. Larvae are often carrot shaped, and feed on animal-based materials like wool, fur, feathers, and leather. They can also feed on dead animals, so it’s important to look for signs of dead rodents or
other animals that may have entered in the home.

Centipedes – Centipedes are arthropods, meaning they have segmented bodies with no spine. They are elongated, flattened animals bearing one pair of legs per body segment. They are often referred to as 100 leggers, but normally have closer to 30. Centipedes move very quickly and feed on insects like spiders. They prefer dark, damp spaces like basements and bathrooms. Centipedes are such great hunters, they actually are beneficial to keeping insects under control, but can be startling inside your home.

Cluster Flies – Cluster flies, also known as attic/loft flies, are large sluggish flies often times found in windows. They are particularly noticeable on warm winter days, and appear to die quickly. They are often replaced the next day with more cluster flies, giving the impression they are entering at that time, or breeding inside. In reality the pests have been inside for months, laying dormant until spring. They do not cause damage or breed inside, but can cause alarm by their large numbers and irritating buzz. These flies can start to infiltrate your home as early as August some years, so be sure to let Exact know if you have a problem with cluster flies.

Crickets – Crickets are medium-to-large jumping insects closely related to grasshoppers. They range in color, but generally are found in dark colors like brown and black. They have strong back legs and can jump 50 to 60 times its body length. Crickets are known for their chirp, made by males rubbing their wings together. Crickets rarely enter homes, but can be very irritating when they do.

Drain Flies – Drain flies are tiny, fuzzy, moth-like insects about 1/8 inch in length and often dark-colored. They feed on decaying matter usually found in drains and sewer lines. They are normally found hovering near drains or sinks. Finding drain flies is a likely sign that drains need cleaned or treated. Like other kinds of flies, it’s important to treat flies as they
can carry diseases or other pathogens.

Earwigs – Earwigs are about 5/8 inch long, with a flat, reddish-brown body and very short wings. Their most distinguishable feature is a set of strong pinchers (cerci) on the tip of their abdomen. They can feed on weakened or dead insects, or plant material. Earwigs can enter homes, and prefer dark damp spaces like basements or bathrooms. Keeping your home dry in the warmer humid months is recommended.

Flour Beetles – Flour beetles are a stored pantry pest. They often arrive in your home or business through the purchase of an infested item, such as flour, oatmeal, cereal, or even pet food. Flour beetles are tiny, reddish-brown measuring roughly 1/8-inch long. Items should be searched through and any items found containing them should be discarded. Any left-over beetles in the home can then be treated.

Fruit Flies – Fruit flies are tiny, 1/8-inch-long pests recognizable by their bright red or brown eyes and tan bodies. They can often be found hovering near sink drains or food sitting on counters. They breed inside drains, with the larvae feeding on decaying matter inside the drain. Fruit flies reproduce quickly and numbers can grow exponentially. Any food they are near should be removed, and sink drains should be cleaned of organic material.

Fungus Gnats – Fungus gnats are small, dark-colored flies about 1/8“long. They thrive in overly moist, high-organic environments such as house plants. A female can lay up to 100 to 300 eggs in damp soil, completing their entire life cycle in a few weeks. Fungus gnats often times come already inside of potting soil. Plant soil should be allowed to dry out completely in-between watering.

German Cockroach – The German cockroach is a small, fast-moving indoor pest, measuring about ½” in length. They are easily identified by their light brown or tan coloring and the two distinct, parallel black stripes running down their backs. German cockroaches normally live near their food source. They are normally found in kitchens, and sometimes bathrooms. German cockroaches breed quickly, and are excellent at hiding. They love electrical wiring and motors for warmth, so refrigerators are a common harborage area. German cockroaches are extremely tough insects, and need to be dealt with immediately.

Honey Bees – Honey bees measure about 1/2 inch long, featuring alternating reddish-brown or golden-brown and black bands across their abdomen. They are an integral part of our ecosystem, and needed for pollination of plant life. Exact pest solutions work with local bee keepers to help safely remove honey bees whenever possible. If the rare occasion arises where relocation of the honey bees is not possible, or they pose a threat to your health, we are able to treat honey bees inside your home.

House, Flesh & Bottle Flies – There are approximately 120,000 species of flies known to man. Common pest flies found in your home like house flies, flesh flies, and bottle flies can be a real nuisance. The key to fly control is identifying the type of fly in your home, and identifying a food source causing the fly infestation. Treating for flies can include light traps, insecticides, baits, and removal of food sources.

Millipedes – Millipedes are slow-moving, worm-like arthropods. The name Millipede means thousand feet, but most have less than 100. They vary in color by species from brown, black, or reddish colors. Millepieds primarily feed on damp, decaying plant
material, playing a crucial role in soil health and nutrient cycling. They can sometimes invade homes looking for dark, damp areas. Most homes are not damp enough to support them living inside, and they can often be found rolled up dead in a circle.

Mud Dauber Wasps – Mud daubers are solitary, non-aggressive wasps known for their long, thread-like waists. They can vary in color from black, blue, and yellow and black striped. They build nests out of mud on the sides of structures that hardens like a rock. Treating for Mud Daubers is removing the nests from the structures, and sometimes spraying areas where nests will be made.

Odorous House Ants – Oderous Houe Ants are small, brown-to-black ants that produce a rotten, coconut-like odor when they are crushed. Like most ants, they are often found in homes foraging for food. Sometimes foraging trails can be seen and can be up to 150 feet from the colony. These ants can be baited or sprayed to be controlled.

Oriental Cockroach – The Oriental is a large, dark brown to shiny black species. They measure about 1 to 1.25 inches long. They thrive in dark, damp, and cool environments like basements, sewers, and mulch beds. The oriental cockroach is often found feeding on garbage, sewage, or decaying organic matter and will eat almost anything. Like other cockroaches, they can reproduce quickly. Oriental cockroaches should be controlled as soon as possible.

Paper Wasps – Paper Wasps are a commonly found stinging insect. It gets its name from its unique ability to manufacture a paper-like nesting material by chewing dead wood and mixing it with saliva. These honey comb type nests are often found in the peak of eaves, or hanging under any structure that provides shelter for the nest. They aren’t normally very aggressive unless people get too close to the nests. They do not reuse the nests, but will often times make new nests next to old nests. Nests should be treated and removed when possible.

Yellow Jacket Wasps – Yellow jackets are highly aggressive, predatory wasps. Ranging ½ to 1 inch in size, they are black and yellow striped hairless bodies. Yellow jackets make nests in any type of void they find. This can be in the ground, inside walls, or inside trees. They are normally spotted by the high activity levels of flying in and out of the nests. Yellow jackets are very aggressive when protecting the nest, and we do not recommend people try to treat themselves.

Pavement Ants – Pavement ants are small, dark brown to black insects, about 1/8 inch long. They are most commonly recognized by the cone shaped eruptions protruding around sidewalks or driveways. Pavement ants are masters of tunneling and can find their way into homes about anywhere they want. The are normally found in homes foraging for food. These ants can be baited or sprayed for control.

Powder Post Beetles – Powder post beetles are small, wood-destroying insects whose larvae feed on and tunnel through dry wood. These beetles tunnel in wood leaving flour- like powder (frass) they leave behind as evidence. Powder post beetles commonly cause structural and cosmetic damage to homes, furniture, and flooring, and fences. They can arrive on their own, but its common for wood to come already infested. Because they cause damage to wood, its best to treat when first spotted.

Sawtoothed Grain Beetles – The sawtoothed grain beetle is a common stored product pest. They are reddish-brown and around 1/10 of an inch long. They are best identified by their flattened bodies and six saw-like “teeth&” on each side of the body. They feed on dry food products like cereals, grains, and nuts. Products with Sawtoothed Grain Beetles should be discarded when possible, or frozen when not.

Silverfish/Firebrats – Silverfish are small, wingless insects named for their silvery-gray metallic scales. Firebrats look similar only duller gray or even brown colors. They can grow up to ¾” long. They come out at night to seek food and water, preferring dry food such as cereals, flour, pasta, pet food, paper with glue or paste, and book bindings. Both can normally be found in basements or bathrooms as they prefer damp humid settings.

Sow/Pill Bugs – A pill bug is a land-dwelling crustacean best known for its ability to roll into a tight ball when threatened. They are commonly also known as “roly-polies”. Despite having bug in the name, they are not actually related to insects. They feed on decaying matter, like leaves and plants as they are decomposing. Any matter that they feed on should be removed from around the house.

Spiders – Spiders are ancient arachnids that have been on Earth for roughly 380 million years. There are over 53,000 species of spiders that have been identified. All true spiders have 8 legs, and 8 eyes. They come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Spiders sometimes use webs to hunt, while others actually chase on legs. Spiders are extremely beneficial to insect control in the world, but are not necessary in your home. Spiders need to be sprayed directly, as many have long legs that keep their body away from insecticides.

Stink Bugs – The stink bug is an invasive pest that is present throughout much of the United States. The presence of this stink bug is concerning for farmers because it feeds on a large number of crops. In addition to plant damage, brown stink bugs are a nuisance to people because adult stink bugs often seek shelter to overwinter inside houses and other buildings. While large infestations can be a nuisance, they do not bite people or animals, nor do they damage buildings. When disturbed or squashed, the stink bugs release an unpleasant odor from scent glands on their abdomen. Fall power sprays from Exact can help prevent stink bugs from gaining access to your home.

Wood Cockroach – Wood cockroaches are native, outdoor-dwelling insects that measure ½ to 1 1/4 inches long. They are normally black in the earlier life stages, and switch to a chestnut brown in adult stage. Wood cockroaches are common outdoors, and commonly found underneath woodpiles. They do not breed or feed inside of homes. They can occasionally enter homes through doors or windows, but often times are carried in on items left outside like firewood.