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There are a limited number of insects that actually
live in human dwellings. Several more may occasionally enter homes
accidentally, and thus become a nuisance. |
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PESTS OF STRUCTURES
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Coleoptera
Wood-Boring Beetles
Several species of beetles feed on wood as larvae, including
powderpost beetles, deathwatch beetles and oldhouse borers.
Fortunately most require wood with a higher moisture content than
found in the lower deserts. The grub-like larvae are often found
in firewood, but this is of little concern to the homeowner. Some
wood boring beetles may attack structures at the higher
elevations. |
Winged Ant |
Isoptera
Termites
Termites are social insects that live in colonies of many
individuals, with a queen and king. New queens and kings have
wings, and fly out to start new colonies in a process known as
swarming. Winged ants and termites may fly at the same time of
year, and may be difficult for the homeowner to tell apart. The
termites will have thick waists and antennae that look like a
chain of beads. |
Winged Termite |
Immature termites are light-colored and soft-bodied.
There are many species of termites, but they fall into three
categories based on their life histories: subterranean, dry-wood,
and dampwood. The subterranean termites build tubes of mud from
the soil to the wood in structures. Dry-wood termites do not need
soil contact in order to survive. |
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Hymenoptera
Carpenter Ants
Carpenter ants build their nests in wooden structures. Often they
find sites where the wood is moist, such as around bathrooms,
kitchens or utility rooms where water condenses or leaks occur.
The colony is founded by a queen ant that lays all the eggs. The
eggs hatch into grub-like larvae that are fed by the worker ants.
Carpenter ants like sweets, but also feed on any dead or injured
insects they find. They do not eat wood. |
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PESTS OF LIVING QUARTERS
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Orthoptera
Cockroaches
There are seven species of cockroaches found in Arizona, in
assorted colors and sizes. All cockroaches are oval, flattened
insects which have a pair of appendages on the rear of their
abdomen called cerci. These appendages are covered with hairs
which sense the tiniest breeze. They help the cockroach detect and
flee from danger. |
American Cockroach |
The most common and largest species found in Arizona is
the infamous sewer roach (American cockroach). These pests
can reach sizes up to 2 inches long and are chestnut or
reddish-brown in color. Sewer roaches, as their name implies, live
in sewers where they build up to high numbers. They may make their
way into houses through drains, so covering and closing all drains
helps prevent them. |
German Cockroach Nymph |
The brown-banded and German cockroaches
are also common inside houses. The German cockroach is about 5/8
inch long and pale yellowish brown with two darker stripes running
lengthwise on the top of the thorax. Females carry their eggs in
cases which resemble large "pills" at the end of their
abdomen. The brown-banded cockroach is about 5/8 inch long with
light yellowish-brown bands encircling the front of their thorax
and across their wings. |
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A recent introduction, the Turkestan cockroach,
is becoming quite common outdoors in urban areas. The male is
winged, light yellowish-brown and an inch long. The female has
shortened oval wings, and is black with cream-colored markings on
the wings and thorax. When populations are high, some individuals
enter houses. Males fly to lights at night. Nymphs are brown in
front and black behind, and are the stage seen most often.
Cleaning up wood piles, and other debris helps keep numbers down.
Also, geckos are apparently good predators of these roaches. |
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Sanitation and insecticidal baits can be helpful for
controlling cockroaches. |
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Indian House Crickets
Indian house crickets are light tan with darker spots and bands,
and as with all crickets, they have enlarged hind-legs for
jumping. House crickets enter houses through any cracks and
crevices they find, including an open door. They are nocturnal,
which means they hide during the day and are active at night. They
feed on a variety of plant materials and debris, but apparently do
not feed on fabric (other species of crickets are reported to feed
on fabrics). |
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The males attract females by chirping at night, which
can be extremely annoying for homeowners. They are capable of
reproducing within the house, and may produce piles of unsightly
droppings. Seal all cracks and crevices to keep them out. |
Flea Larva
Flea Adult |
Siphonaptera
Fleas
Adult fleas are compressed (flattened side to side) insects about
1/8 inch long, dark-brown to black in color, with enlarged hind
legs for jumping. The adult female must have a blood meal in order
to produce eggs. The larvae are thin, hairy wormlike creatures
approximately 1/8 to 1/2 inch long. They feed on debris such as
adult flea feces, dried blood, animal feces, etc. |
Fleas can stay in the pupal stage for up to a year.
They emerge when they perceive the vibrations of an animal walking
by. In order to control fleas successfully, all stages must be
attacked at once. The adult fleas must be controlled on the animal
using sprays, dusts, or dips and at the same time the immature
fleas must be removed by washing or destroying bedding, as well as
vacuuming. |
Argentine Ant |
Hymenoptera
Ants
Adult ants have a constricted "waist" and their
antennae have a distinct bend or elbow. There are several species
which may enter houses, including the southern fire ant, odorous
house ant and the pavement ant. These ants enter homes in search
of food (and shelter during rainy seasons). Often their nest
remains out of doors, although fire ants may establish a nest
inside houses. |
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Ants are social insects that live in large groups.
Baits treated with insecticides often offer the best control
because the worker ants carry the poison down into the nest and
feed it to all the members of the colony. For ant nests found
outside, homeowners may grind up three or four orange peels and
immediately pour the slurry down any entrance holes seen. This
method works best during the hottest days of the summer. |
Blow Fly |
Diptera
Blow Flies
Adults are shiny, metallic blue, green or copper colored flies.
The immatures are white, legless maggots that generally feed on
dead animals, but some species complete development on pet
droppings. Infestations may be prevented by removing any potential
breeding sites and keeping screens in good repair. |
Fruit Flies
The adults are tiny flies less than 3/16 inch long, usually brown
or grayish-brown in color. The most common species is Drosophila
melanogaster, famous in genetic laboratories, but also common in
households. Adults of this fruit fly have bright red eyes. The
larvae are legless maggots found in rotting fruit. Most fruit fly
immatures feed on the yeasts found in fruit rather than on the
fruit. The native fruit flies are found in rotting cactus. |
Fruit Fly |
If the flies are numerous enough to be pests, they
probably are breeding. The best control is to track down and
remove all exposed or rotting fruits and vegetables. Look for that
bag of potatoes you forgot under the stove or the apple cores your
teenager left behind the couch. |
(Note: the Mediterranean fruit fly belongs to another
group of flies. It is larger, about the size of a house fly, and
has multi-colored wings. As of this writing, they are not found in
Arizona.) |
House Fly |
House Flies
The adults are about 1/4 inch long with gray hairy bodies, and
large eyes. Adult houseflies have sponging mouthparts to suck up
sweets such as flower nectar, and can not bite humans. If a fly
bites you, it is a stable fly. The immatures are legless white
maggots that live in manure, food wastes, dead animals or rotting
garbage. Homeowners that allow their dogs to run freely in the
back yard and leave out bowls of dog food are likely to have house
fly problems. Also, don't put meat or fish scraps in your compost
heap. |
Control procedures run from simple to complex. Removing
garbage promptly and repairing screens is often enough to prevent
problems. Sticky strips of fly paper or fly swatters are low cost
methods to control flies. More complicated traps, parasitic wasps
and bait materials all have been used successfully, as well.
Aerosol sprays are available at lawn and garden supply stores. |
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Moth Flies (Drain or Sewage Flies)
Adults are less than 1/8 inch long, with scaly wings held
roof-like over the back of the body. The immatures live in organic
matter or garbage found in sink drains, plumbing traps, etc. They
may invade homes from nearby sewers. To prevent further
infestations, keep sink drains and traps clear by using drain
cleaners regularly. |
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Stable Flies
The adults are 1/4 inch long and resemble house flies, but are
capable of biting. The larvae develop in manure, particularly
manure mixed with straw or hay. |