Scientific Name: Siphonaptera Common Names: Flea Color: Reddish Brown Weight: Average approx. .19mg – .34mg Length: Adults range from 1.5mm – 3mm long FUN FACT: Flea circuses were extremely popular in the nineteenth century. These circuses featured fleas dressed as humans or pulling miniature carts, chariots, or cannons. Fleas were selected to be in circuses … Read more
Scientific Name: Cimex lectularius Common Name: Bed bug Color: range from yellowish –white – 1st instar to a brown to reddish-brown, adult stage Size: 4 – 5 mm long (3/16 inch) FACT: Bed bugs do not transmit any known human diseases. Some people will react to the saliva from the bite and have an allergic … Read more
Scientific Name: Blattella germanica Common Names: German cockroach Color: Varies from light brown to tan Size: 13 to 16 mm long FACT: German cockroaches have wings but do not use them to fly! HABITS German cockroaches are becoming the most common household insect within the United States and Canada. This pest typically infests kitchens and … Read more
Scientific Name: Mus musculus Common Names: House Mouse Color: generally gray-brown with a gray stomach Weight: adults weigh between 17 – 25 grams Length: up to 20cm, nose to tail FACT: The house mouse often lives in close association with humans and therefore is termed one of the “commensal” rodents along with Norway rats and … Read more
Scientific Name: Pollenia Common Names: Cluster Fly Color: Non-metallic gray with golden hairs Size: 5/16 inch long FACT: Cluster flies are not related to livestock production. They do not develop in manure or manure pits. They are not interested in food, do not develop in garbage and are not a sign of unsanitary conditions. HABITS … Read more
Scientific Name: Vespidae Common Names: Wasp Color: Most are black, white and yellow Size: ½ inch long FACT: Unlike bees, wasps do not make honey, but some species help in the pollination of plants. HABITS Wasps have four stages in their life history: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Adult wasps have four sparsely veined, membranous … Read more
Scientific Name: Camponotus spp. Common Names: Carpenter Ant Color: Mainly black, but varies from brown and red Size: Up to 1 inch or 25 millimetres long (workers can be 3 to 13 mm), nearly 5 times the size of a typical pavement ant or black garden ant. FACT: In North America, lumbermen during the early … Read more
Scientific Name: Urocitellus richardsonii Common Names: Gopher, Dakrats, Flickertail Color: Brownish – Grey Weight: .44 – .88 pounds, on average Length: 12 inches Fact: A Richardson Ground Squirrel’s aka ‘Gophers’, tail is constantly trembling, hence the nickname “Flickertail”. Habits Richardson Ground Squirrels are generally active during the day in spring and summer months. Females tend … Read more