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Carpenter Ant

Size: Large - from 1/4 inch for a worker up to 3/4 inch for a queen
Color: Black, or sometimes red and black

Description - Carpenter ants are active indoors during many months of the year, usually during the spring and summer. When ants are active in the house during late winter/early spring (February/March), the infestation (nest) is probably within the household. When carpenter ants are first seen in the spring and summer (May/June), then the nest is likely outdoors and the ants are simply coming in for food. The natural food of the ants consists of honeydew from aphids, other insects, and plant juices, but they will readily forage for water and food scraps within the house.

Habitat - Under natural conditions, carpenter ants nest in live and dead trees and in rotting logs and stumps. However, they will also construct their nests in houses, telephone poles, and other man-made wooden structures. Nests are begun in deteriorating wood which has been exposed to moisture. Often, the colony will extend its nest to adjacent, sound wood. Nests are commonly found in porch pillars and roofs, window sills, and wood in contact with soil.

Life Cycle - The colonies of carpenter ants are often long lived. Each colony is founded by a single fertilized queen. She establishes a nesting site in a cavity in wood. She then rears her first brood of workers, feeding them salivary secretions. She does not leave the nest nor feed herself throughout this period. The workers which are reared first assume the task of gathering food with which to feed the younger larvae. As the food supply becomes more constant, the colony population grows very rapidly. A colony does not reach maturity and become capable of producing young queens and males until it contains 2,000 or more workers. It may take a colony from three to six years or more to reach this stage. Each year thereafter, the colony will continue to produce winged queens and males, which leave their nest and conduct mating flights from May through July.

Damage - Carpenter ants rarely cause structural damage to buildings, although they can cause significant damage over a period of years because nests are so long lived. Some recent evidence indicates that they can also cause extensive damage to foam insulation.

Control - Control of carpenter ant infestations requires that the nest be found. Once this is done, the infested wood can be removed or treated chemically, and causes of moisture damage to the wood can be corrected. The best procedure is to inspect all possible locations-and to select these locations on the basis of potential water exposure. Once the nest is located, control can be achieved by the use of an aerosol insecticide labeled for the purpose.

INTERESTING FACTS: Ants of the genus Camponotus are known as carpenter ants because they house their colonies in galleries they excavate in wood. Carpenter ants do not eat the wood they remove during their nest-building activities, but deposit it outside entrances to the colony in small piles. The wood is used solely as a nesting site. The galleries of carpenter ants are kept smooth and clean, and are not lined with moist soil as termite galleries are.

Pavement Ants

Pharaoh ants are very small yellowish ants, almost translucent, that can be a major nuisance inside a house. When they occur, there is often more than one nest, each with many egg-laying queens. They are difficult to control and should not be attempted by a home owner. Professional pest managers should be called. Poisoned baits are the only method of properly controlling this type of ant. Sprays will actually cause the colonies to split and spread making the problem worse.

Pharaoh Ants

Pharaoh ants are very small yellowish ants, almost translucent, that can be a major nuisance inside a house. When they occur, there is often more than one nest, each with many egg-laying queens. They are difficult to control and should not be attempted by a home owner. Professional pest managers should be called. Poisoned baits are the only method of properly controlling this type of ant. Sprays will actually cause the colonies to split and spread making the problem worse.

Odorous House Ants

Odorous house ants are brown or black. When squashed, they give off a distinct odor. The nests are found both indoors and outside and are sometimes very difficult to control. When they do take poisoned bait, it will still take time for the colony to disappear.

 
Field Ants

Field ants is a common name for several types of large ants that can be black, brown, yellowish, or with a red head and thorax, and a black abdomen. They often nest in tree stumps and in large mounds in fields. Sometimes they will invade and nest in buildings. They do not do any damage but they can be annoying and can bite. This ant is a beneficial predator so should be controlled only when they are becoming a nuisance.

Cornfield Ants

They are often called moisture ants and they are not normally seen indoors except when the large winged honey colored females or the smaller dark males swarm in late summer. They live only in damp or rotting wood, the presence of these ants is an indication of a moisture or wood-rot problem. Effective control requires eliminating the cause of the moisture problem and replacing the damaged wood. Spraying the winged ants with a household pesticide may provide temporary relief during the swarming season but it will not kill the colony.

Moths

Moths are insects. Adult moths have wings and fly. Most damage is done by larvae (wormlike immature moths). Common types: Indian Meal Moth larvae eat and spoil a variety of grains and other foods. Clothes Moth larvae eat some materials, especially if already damaged.

Mice

Mice are the most common rodent found in our area in houses and commercial buildings. The main species is the common house mouse, but field mice occasionally come inside in winter.

Mice are usually first noticed in the kitchen, where you may find their droppings. They tend to nibble and damage several different types of packaged foods. Mice are great climbers, and will often follow water and drain pipes as well as electrical conduit and wiring. They will use almost anything they can gnaw to build their nest such as paper, labels from jars and canned goods, fabrics, etc. Nests have been found in the bottom of boots and shoes. Sometimes, mice are suspected because of noises in the walls.

Once mice have become established, several methods are available to eliminate them. It is always helpful to eliminate clutter and to close up entry holes. Mice can come in through surprisingly small holes but these can effectively be sealed. However, especially in older structures, new entry holes can appear so a yearly inspection is a good idea. Mice often get in through poorly fitted garage doors and other such spaces. They often travel along pipe pipe conduits and these conduits can be sealed so that there is no room for the mouse to pass.

Although it is possible to eliminate mice without a professional, it is a good idea to work with a professional who knows mouse habits and can both correct immediate problems and point out preventative measures unique to your situation. In addition, there are several methods to eliminate mice including various traps and bait stations. Each has advantages and disadvantages, and your pest control professional can work with you to choose a method that is the best fit for your situation.

Rats

Biology and Life cycle - Rats, like house mice, are mostly active at night. They have poor eyesight, but they make up for this with their keen senses of hearing, smell, taste, and touch. Rats constantly explore and learn about their environment, memorizing the locations of pathways, obstacles, food and water, shelter, and other elements in their domain. They quickly detect and tend to avoid new objects placed into a familiar environment. Thus, objects such as traps and baits often are avoided for several days or more following their initial placement. While both species exhibit this avoidance of new objects, it is usually more pronounced in roof rats than in Norway rats.

Both Norway and roof rats may gain entry to structures by gnawing, climbing, jumping, or swimming through sewers and entering through the toilet or broken drains. While Norway rats are more powerful swimmers, roof rats are more agile and are better climbers.

Norway and roof rats do not get along. The Norway rat is larger and the more dominant species; it will kill a roof rat in a fight. When the two species occupy the same building, Norway rats will dominate the basement and ground floors, with roof rats occupying the attic or second and third floors. Contrary to some conceptions, the two species cannot interbreed. Both species may share some of the same food resources but do not feed side-by-side. Rats may grab food and carry it off to feed elsewhere.

Rats of either species, especially young rats, can squeeze beneath a door with only a 1/2-inch gap. If the door is made of wood, the rat may gnaw to enlarge the gap, but this may not be necessary.

Norway Rats. Norway rats eat a wide variety of foods but mostly prefer cereal grains, meats, fish, nuts, and some fruits. When searching for food and water, Norway rats usually travel an area of about 100 to 150 feet in diameter; seldom do they travel any further than 300 feet from their burrows or nests. The average female Norway rat has four to six litters per year and may successfully wean 20 or more offspring annually.

Roof Rats. Like Norway rats, roof rats eat a wide variety of foods, but their food preferences are primarily fruits, nuts, berries, slugs, and snails. Roof rats are especially fond of avocados and citrus and often eat fruit that is still on the tree. When feeding on a mature orange, they make a small hole through which they completely remove the contents of the fruit, leaving only the hollowed out rind hanging on the tree. The rind of a lemon is often eaten, leaving the flesh of the sour fruit still hanging. Their favorite habitats are attics, trees, and overgrown shrubbery or vines. Residential or industrial areas with mature landscaping provide good habitat, as does riparian vegetation of riverbanks and streams. Roof rats prefer to nest in locations off the ground and rarely dig burrows for living quarters if off-the-ground sites exist.

Roof rats routinely travel up to 300 feet for food. They may live in the landscaping of one residence and feed at another. They can often be seen at night running along overhead utility lines or fence tops. They have an excellent sense of balance and use their long tails for balance while traveling along overhead utility lines. They move faster than Norway rats and are very agile climbers, which enables them to quickly escape predators. They may live in trees or in attics and climb down to a food source. The average number of litters a female roof rat has per year depends on many factors, but generally is three to five with from five to eight young in each litter.

DAMAGE CAUSED BY RATS
Rats consume and contaminate foodstuffs and animal feed. They also damage containers and packaging materials in which foods and feed are stored. Both species of rats cause problems by gnawing on electrical wires and wooden structures (doors, ledges, in corners, and in wall material) and tearing up insulation in walls and ceilings for nesting.

Norway rats may undermine building foundations and slabs with their burrowing activities. They may also gnaw on all types of materials, including soft metals such as copper and lead as well as plastic and wood. If roof rats are living in the attic of a residence, they can cause considerable damage with their gnawing and nest-building activities. They also damage garden crops and ornamental plantings.

Among the diseases rats may transmit to humans or livestock are murine typhus, leptospirosis, trichinosis, salmonellosis (food poisoning), and ratbite fever. Plague is a disease that can be carried by both roof and Norway rats, but in California it is more commonly associated with ground squirrels, chipmunks, and native wood rats.

Spiders

Spiders have eight legs and two main body parts: head and abdomen. They cannot fly. All spiders eat insects. and are pests in structures when their webs become annoying or when they bite in self defense.  Some will defend their eggs. Baby spiders look like miniature adults.

Spiders are pests for some people because of their appearance and messy webs. They are valuable predators of other pests. Often, vacuuming, good housekeeping practices, and use of screens can eliminate their prey and thus reduce their numbers. Low humidity is also beneficial to reducing number of spiders.

If spiders are a concern, please contact us for an inspection and possible treatment to control these pests.

Brown Recluse Spider - a spider that's around 1 inch long including legs, and is sometimes found inside, usually in and under piles of belongings. For this reason is a good idea to wear protective clothing, such as gloves and long sleeves and pants when cleaning out basements and other storage areas, and ductwork. Brown recluse spiders can be found in piles of wood and for this reason care should be taken in handling firewood.

Fleas

Most fleas in our area are cat fleas. These will bite humans, dogs, and other mammals in addition to cats. There are effective flea treatments for pets, but if a household pet is treated, and the house is not treated, the fleas may become a very irritating pest for the resident humans. Professional treatment of the house, coordinated with treatment of pets is highly recommended. Several treatments might be necessary for complete eradication.

Ticks

The dog tick is the most common tick inside human structures. Deer ticks, which are smaller carry Lyme disease.

Ticks usually come in on pets or clothing and do not usually reproduce inside. However, they can carry disease and some people are allergic to their bites. There are effective treatments to prevent tick infestation of pets, and these should be used. Clothing and backpacks should be examined for ticks during tick season, and people should inspect themselves after walks in rural areas to make sure they haven't picked up ticks.

Beetles

Beetles have their wings hidden beneath a covering that can be colorful.

Powder post beetles are small beetles that bore into wood and, when present in large numbers, can weaken structural wood. They make small holes in the wood, but the presence of holes does not necessarily mean there is an active infestation. Professional inspection and treatment is needed.

Old house beetles sometimes make their presence known by chewing noises that can be heard by people, especially at night. They make small holes in wood. Professional inspection and treatment is needed.

Carpet beetle larvae damage carpets and other materials. The damage is similar to that of the clothes moth, but treatment is different. Good housekeeping and frequent vacuuming are useful for prevention. Professional treatment is advised if there is a visible infestation.

Various types of small beetles infest stored grain and other dry foods such as pasta. Some also eat dried plant material. All damaged food should be put in plastic bags (to prevent spread) and discarded outside. The storage area should be cleaned thoroughly. Grain beetles often come into a house on or inside packaged food. Some grain beetles can bore through most packaging materials.

Lady Bugs

Lady bugs are usually not a problem. There are several types of lady bugs, and they vary in color and number of spots. They can become a pest when they gather in large numbers inside a structure. They do no harm, but it can be frightening to see such large numbers of this "cute" bug inside a bedroom!

Bedbugs

Bedbugs have no wings and cannot fly. They are light to dark brown and up to 1/3 inch. They look a little like small ticks but have only six legs (ticks have eight). Bedbugs bite mainly at night. They feed on animal blood and the common bedbug prefers humans, but will also feed on dogs and cats and other warm-blooded animals. Some people do not notice the bites, but other people become allergic and the bites can be itchy and cause much misery and lost sleep. Bites can become infected, but bedbugs are not thought to carry disease. Bedbugs need professional treatment.

Batbugs

Batbugs are similar to bedbugs and will bite people. They are found in places where bats nest, and if the bats are removed from a human dwelling, they will seek new victims. Therefore, it is important to remove and treat areas where bats have nested. These pests need professional treatment, which is the same as for bedbugs.

Boxelder Bugs

Boxelder bugs are about 1/2 inch long and black with distinct red markings. They do no damage, but can be very annoying when they enter a home because of the loud noise they make when attracted to lamps.

Carpenter Bees

Carpenter bees look similar to bumble bees. They are large and fly slowly. They can do a lot of damage to wood.

The female drills neat round holes about the size of a dime in wood of siding and fascia, sometimes high off the ground. Then, she drills nest galleries at a 90 deg angle to the hole, parallel to the grain of the wood. She lays eggs and provisions them with food for the hatching larvae. The galleries damage the wood, which eventually needs replacement. Females can sting, but usually do not bother people.

Male carpenter bees often buzz around the nests and dive-bomb people near the nest. Males cannot sting, but can be very annoying. Their abdomens are a distinctive shiny black on the end, and their thick black legs dangle down. Females can sting but usually don't bother people.

Carpenter bees prefer bare, somewhat damaged wood so painting wood and replacing damaged wood deters them. Professional help is recommended to get rid of carpenter bees.

Wasps

Unlike bees, wasps are predators and do valuable work by killing many pest insects. However, some are also attracted to human food and both them and their nests can be very annoying. Common wasps are paper wasps (also called umbrella wasps), mud dauber wasps, bald-faced hornets, and yellowjackets.

Earwigs

Earwigs are harmless, but these one-inch insects are scary looking because of the big pinschers on their abdomens (these are used to fend off ants that attack them from the rear). Earwigs are attracted by light and so can be a nuisance when then blunder into a house and fly around lamps. Screens and sealing doors and windows is good prevention.

Sow Bugs

Sow bugs are small segmented crustaceans with many legs (distantly related to lobsters and shrimp). They like dampness and are found in damp debris. They sometimes come into cellars and other damp places from the outside. They do no harm, and dehumidifying can help control them. Removal of debris and mulch from around the structure can keep them from coming inside easily.

Pill Bugs

Pill bugs are similar to sow bugs but curl up into a round "pill" when touched. They can be controlled in the same way as sow bugs.

Silverfish

Silverfish are soft-bodied insects that have no wings. They live in damp places and damage paper and other stored materials and some food. Good housekeeping and prevention of dampness can help control these pests.