Earwigs – Order Dermaptera – These insects have slender, flattened bodies, and are usually between 1/4 to 1 3/8 inch in length. They are easy to identify with their antennae and a pair of very large pincers at the tip of the abdomen. Some species of earwigs do have wings, but most do not fly. Earwigs hide during the day in dark, moist areas (under rocks, wood, etc), and emerge at night to feed on plants, smaller insects, or organic waste. Earwigs are a nuisance pest, and do not follow the old superstition that they crawl into people’s ears at night to bite them. They can damage flower blossoms in their foraging activities, but are generally harmless to humans, except from being unsightly.
Ladybugs – Order Coleoptera, Family Coccinellidae - Ladybugs are among the most familiar beetles, easily recognized by their round, often spotted bodies, usually less than 3/8 inch long. Most are shiny red, orange, or yellow and have black markings. They are primarily predators, feeding on aphids. They are common on plants, and often overwinter as adults in large swarms under fallen leaves or bark (or any other sheltered areas). They do attempt to get indoors to overwinter sometimes, as the warmth insures more of them survive the winter. Most prevalent in our area is the Harmonia axyridis, or Asian lady beetle. This is a quite hardy species, and large numbers of them can be seen outdoors in mid- to late summer. They are attracted to lighter colors and sunlight, and can be seen covering the sides of homes during peak times. These insects, when disturbed, produce a yellowish “stress blood” that can stain, and also has a disagreeable smell in large enough quantities. As these insects desiccate (dry out and decompose), the dust produced can cause allergic or asthmatic reactions in some people. Even vacuuming these insects up is not a sure way to get rid of them, as they will usually survive the vacuuming, and will later emerge as if from overwintering.
Silverfish or Firebrats – order Thysanura, family Lepismatidae - These long, flat insects have broad bodies at the front that taper gradually towards the rear. They have long slender antennae and three appendages that are found at the rear of the body. All are wingless. They may be found anywhere near a house, however they are usually found living close to their source of food. They prefer both proteins and carbohydrates. They can also be found feeding on the surface mold found in damp basements or crawlspaces. These insects can also live for long periods of time without food. They are primarily a nuisance insect, but can contaminate food with their body scales and droppings. They can also do quite a bit of damage to some natural and synthetic fibers (books, boxes, paperwork, etc). Silverfish are usually found around warm, moist areas, and can sometimes leave yellowish stains where they have been feeding.
Boxelder Bugs -Boisea trivittata– These small (3/8 to 5/8 inch) insects are shaped like an elongated oval. They are dull black or dark brown, with narrow red markings along each side. Their primary food source is found in the juices in the boxelder tree, but they can be found on other plants as well. Indoors, these insects cause few problems structurally, but can damage fabrics or material with fecal spots, and some varieties leave an unpleasant odor when crushed. Adults of this family will be found in great numbers in the fall of the year, when they are trying to find a way indoors to a warmer location to overwinter, emerging in the spring to seek out host trees on which to feed and lay eggs.
House Centipedes – Scutigera coleoptrata – These insects are quite common in any moist, dark area, and can be found throughout the United States. They are only around 1 to 1 1/2 inches long, but their fifteen pairs of legs do make them seem larger. Eggs are laid in the damp places (sometimes also being found behind baseboards or behind bark on firewood). Being carnivorous, these insects forage at night for small insects and their larvae, and are even known to eat some spiders.
Pillbugs and Sowbugs – Class Crustacea, order Isopoda – These pests are actually crustaceans, more closely related to shrimp and crayfish than to insects. Both types feed on decaying vegetable matter, and are found under mulch or vegetable debris of all kinds, and can be seen underneath objects on the damp ground. They can be commonly found in crawlspaces or unfinished or damp basements, and seeing them indoors is a good indication that there is a quite large population outside somewhere.
Cricket – Order Orthoptera, Family Gryllidae – These pests are common in dark, damp basements, especially those with a partial dirt floor. When present in large numbers, these insects can cause damage to some fabrics. Being closely related to the cockroach family, these insects attack all sorts of paper, foods of all types, and even rubber sometimes. Being primarily nocturnal, these omnivorous insects will feed on almost anything available, ranging from fruits and vegetables to plants and paper or fabric products. They are also found to be attracted to more lighted areas. They can vary greatly in size, being between 3/8 and 2 inches commonly, and range in color from tan or grey to black. They are quite distinguishable due to the longer, powerful rear legs used for jumping.
Black Carpet Beetle – Attagenus unicolor – This is the most abundant and widespread of the varieties of carpet beetle, and are the most likely to cause damage. These small beetles (1/8 to 3/16 inch) are shiny black with brownish legs, and are frequently found outdoors around flowers. When found indoors, they prefer to stay away from lighted areas, and are found feeding on dead animal materials, hair, fur, hides, and horns, as well as fabric and many plant materials. They are even found in cereals, stored grain, or nuts. These insects are quick to breed, and are also more hardy to environmental conditions than many of their relatives, and can sometimes be quite a problem if they have gone unnoticed for some time.
