Darkling Beetle |
Coleoptera
Darkling Beetles
Adults are 1/4 to 1/2 inch long, dull bluish-black or brown
beetles that are slow moving and clumsy. Immatures feed on weed
and rotting plant matter, particularly in fields and abandoned
lots. Numbers of beetles build up in the spring of wet years, when
there is an abundance of weeds. When the weeds dry out and die
during the summer months, the beetles move into yards. The beetles
are most active at night, and hide during the day. If given the
opportunity, they may seek shelter in houses. |
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Cleaning up all weeds early in the spring is the best
way to prevent this problem. |
Green Fruit Beetle |
Green Fruit Beetle (or Green June Beetle or Fig
Beetle)
The larvae (grubs) are found in rotting organic matter, such as
compost. They are up to two inches long when mature. You can tell
them from white grubs because they move on their back by
undulating their body, and are curled into the typical C-shape.
Adults have emerald green wings with brown at the margins. They
congregate in large numbers to feed on various types of fruit.
Their normal food is prickly pear fruit. |
Palm Flower Moth |
Lepidoptera
Palm Flower Moth
The adult is a light tan or cream-colored moth with two dark
circles on the edges of its rear wings. The larvae are up to one
inch long and vary in color from pink or pinkish-brown to dark
cream with a greenish tinge. The caterpillars feed on the blossoms
of fan palms, where they do little damage. However, when they
reach maturity they crawl into the "bark" of the palm
tree to pupate. If they are knocked out of the palm tree by wind
or pruning at this time, they may look for a place to pupate
within your home. They may chew carpets, upholstery or even books
to create a pupal chamber. |
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Palm flower moths may be prevented by delaying palm
pruning until fall and by sealing any cracks or covering vents
where the caterpillars may enter homes. |
Palo Verde Buck Moth Larva |
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Palo Verde Buck Moth
The adult moth is about two inches across with dark gray
forewings with two white bands across them. The band closest to
the body resembles an inverted V. The hind wings are white, and
the back part of the body is dark red. They may be found flying to
lights in late January and early February. The caterpillar is
nearly two inches long when full grown. It is a pale yellow green
with branching black spines and a brown head. The hairs on the
first segment directly behind the head are especially long and
give a crown-like appearance. The spines contain a poison which
causes irritation and burning to the skin on contact. |
Palo Verde Buck Moth |
The adult moths lay eggs on palo verde trees. The
larvae feed on palo verde foliage, but cause little damage. These
insects become a problem in the fall when they leave the trees in
search of a site for pupation. They may be found on walls, patios,
and other areas around the yard where humans may accidently come
in contact. |
White-Lined Sphinx Larva and Adult |
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White-Lined Sphinx Moth
The adults are robust moths with a wing span of three inches. The
forewings are dark with broad white lines, and the hind wings have
a peach-colored band. They are sometimes called the hummingbird
moth. The caterpillar is up to three inches long and is mostly
green, but may vary from pale green to black, usually with some
black stripes or patches on the back. |
They feed on a variety of plants, including beets,
fuchsia, grapes, melons, elms, apples, peaches, etc. Despite their
large size, they are not a very destructive pest. However they do
tend to migrate into urban areas, and end up in pools or homes. |
Honey Bee
Paper Wasp
Carpenter Bee |
Hymenoptera
Wasps and Bees
Adults range in size from 1/4 inch to over two inches long, but
all have two pairs of clear, membranous wings and have a
constriction between the thorax and abdomen. |
Bees are robust, hairy insects. They are usually dark
in color with minimal contrasting color patterns (bumble bees are
an exception because they may have broad bands of yellow, black or
red on their abdomen). They feed on nectar and pollen from
flowers, and their hind legs are flattened into a surface for
carrying pollen. |
Wasps are more slender than bees and have a severe
constriction between the thorax and abdomen. They are often
brightly colored, with contrasting black and yellow patterns.
Their legs are narrow and cylindrical. Wasps are parasites or
predators, and feed on other insects and spiders. |
Bees and wasps are known for their tendency to nest in
and around human dwellings. They may nest in the ground, in old
bird nests, in cavities, or in paper nests constructed under the
eaves of the house or in pyracantha or palm trees. Some species
are social and live in large groups. Female bees and wasps are
also known for their ability to sting. Honey bees leave their
stinger behind when they sting, which kills the bee. This means
they may only sting once. Individual wasps, on the other hand, may
sting a number of times. If you are stung by a honey bee, remove
the stinger by scraping it out with a straight-edge such as a
knife or credit card. Do not squeeze it with your fingers or
tweezers because this releases more venom into the wound. |
False Chinch Bug |
Hemiptera
False Chinch Bugs
Adults are true bugs less than 1/4 inch long with light grayish
wings covering a dark brown to black body. Nymphs and adults feed
on weeds such as wild mustard, and may build up to high numbers in
wet years in the spring. When the wild vegetation dies in the
summer, the false chinch bugs may move into yards in "swarms." |
To prevent false chinch bugs from becoming pests,
control all annual weeds around the home and in vacant lots. |
Cicada |
Homoptera
Cicadas
The adults are approximately two inches long, with large wings
that fold over their backs. Cicadas have chunky bodies and bulging
eyes. The adult cicadas emerge in the summer from odd-looking
nymphs that are feeding on roots of trees and shrubs. Homeowners
may find the cast skins of the nymphs clinging to the base of
walls or tree trunks and may spot the 1/2 inch diameter holes in
the ground where they emerged. |
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The males produce a loud, shrill rasping noise to
attract females. Cicadas are not thought to be serious pests, only
a nuisance. Control measures are not considered to be effective or
necessary. |
Springtail |
Collembola
Springtails
Adults and immatures are generally less than 1/4 inch long and
are gray or brown in color. They may be distinguished from other
tiny insects because they have a projection or "tail"
which they lock under their abdomen and release to "spring."
Springtails need high moisture in order to survive. Occasionally
they build up in high numbers during wet years in irrigated areas.
When this area dries up, they are attracted to the lights and
moisture in yards, and may become severe nuisances. They may enter
homes under doors, through cracks, or through vents. Once inside,
springtails are often found in the kitchen and bathroom, trapped
in sinks and tubs. Sometimes they form swirling "rafts"
in swimming pools, when they fall in looking for moisture. |
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Springtail numbers will decrease through natural
mortality. Common household insecticides will also kill
springtails. Do not mistake these for fleas, which are flattened
from side to side and not related to springtails. |