American Cock Roach

What do American Cockroaches look like? With the American Cockroach being one of the largest cockroaches, the adult can reach 1 1/2 to 2 inches in length. They are reddish brown in color. They can fly and are often be seen around light during the night. Whenever temperatures reach 70 degrees or higher the American cockroach can be seen all year round. The adults are however more common during the...
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Bed Bugs

What do Bed Bugs look like? Adult Bed Bugs are brown wingless insects and are about 1/4 inch long. The young ones appear like the adult but are colorless and are smaller. After a blood meal they are swollen and dark red. Whenever one sees blood spots on the sheets bed bug infestation should be suspected. Why are Bed Bugs important? These blood sucking Bed Bugs feeds on human blood and are as...
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Black Widow Spider

What do black widow spiders look like? Black Widow Spiders are about 1 1/2 inches long, females are jet black and glossy, with a round abdomen or Belly. There is a hour glass marking on their (abdomen) belly. The southern form sometimes have dots on the dorsal side of the abdomen. The northern form has red spots in the middle of their backs. How dangerous are black widow spiders? The female...
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Caribbean Crazy Ant

What do crazy ants look like? The worker of the crazy Ant is about1/10 inch long all sections of their bodies is dark brown to blackish. They have a thin body on which long slender legs are attached. These crazy ant can be easily identified by their fast crazy movement. Why are crazy ants important? These ants contaminate food and are a cause great annoyance. They eat fruits ,proteins and other...
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Carpenter Ant

Why are Carpenter Ants Important? Carpenter Ants inflict a terrible bite. They move about day and night invading homes. They feed on wood that has been damaged by termites and decay. Carpenter ants invading our homes can be traumatic especially during the night. The motive for entering homes includes escaping from unfavorable conditions or in search of food. Where do Carpenter Ant live? Carpenter...
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Cat Flea

Why are cat fleas important? Cat fleas are parasites of human and animals alike, from which they get their blood meals. Cat fleas transmit disease causing organisms such as the bubonic plague. The rat flea also transmit the bacterium Yersinia pestis which causes plague. Where do cat fleas live? Carpeted homes provide the ideal living conditions for the cat flea. This is especially true for carpet...
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House Cricket

Why are crickets important? The common cricket becomes a bother when they occasionally invade our homes. There they destroy silk, wool and other materials. Since crickets are attracted to stains and perspiration, soiled textile and clothing are often chosen. Their chirping is a source of annoyance “especially to me I hate them.” Where do crickets live? Crickets generally live on the outside...
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Flies

What disease do the Housefly transmit? The House Fly is capable spreading typhoid, cholera, dysentery and diarrhea. The germs which causes these diseases can be transmitted by the House Fly from garbage, sewage and fecal matter to food or to a person’s hands or lips. Restaurant owners are at risk of suffering economic losses as people avoid eating in fly infested restaurants, (dirty dining....
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Drywood Termite

The importance of Drywood termites: The damage done by Drywood termite can be extensive if not treated. Over 2,000,000 homes in the U.S. will require treatment for termite infestation this year ‐Florida Department of Agriculture and consumer services. Where do Drywood Termites live? The Drywood termite live inside dry and sound wood hence any structure that is made of wood is ideal for a...
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House Mouse

Are mice important? The House Mouse are known for harboring diseases like salmonellosis, rickettsia, pox and leptospirosis. They eat human food items, consuming meat, grains, cereals, seeds, and vegetables. The average House Mouse has the capability of eating eight pounds of food per year and destroys much more through fecal and urine contamination and partially eaten food. The Deer Mouse a...
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German Cockroach

Reproductive Capacity: The reproductive cycle for the German Cockroach is the highest of all common cockroaches. They lay there eggs in the warm weather, 50 at a time. The eggs hatch in 28 days and reach full adult in 3 to 4 months. In warm conditions eggs could hatch in as little as 14 days What do German Cockroach look like? The adult German Cockroaches are about 1/2 inch in length, brown in...
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Norway Rat

Economic or Health Significance The Norway Rat eats vegetable matter including fruit, nuts, grains. Foods that are not eaten is contaminated by their urine and feces . Norway Rats transmit diseases such as murine typhus ,leptospirosis, listeriosis and other diseases. Rats will bite sleeping people and the tropical rat mite causes skin irritation. Habitat When on the outside the Norway Rat will...
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Roof Rat

Why are rats important? The Roof Rat eats vegetable matter including fruit, nuts, grains. Foods that are not eaten is contaminated by their urine and feces . Roof Rats transmit diseases such as murine typhus ,leptospirosis, listeriosis and other diseases. Rats will bite sleeping people and the tropical rat mite causes skin irritation. Do Roof Rats live in roofs? The Roof Rat hardly nests in...
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Paper Wasp

Why are paper wasps important? Paper Wasp occasionally invade our homes where they annoy us. They build their nest in attics and other areas. They inflict a painful sting which can result in allergic reaction to those who are sensitive. People who become hyper sensitive to the venom from the wasp bite can develop a severe reaction resulting in death. The nest of the Paper Wasp can be a source of...
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Scorpion

What do scorpions look like? If provoked or disturbed the Scorpion will sting and inject venom in to what it sees as an attacker. The scorpions venom is a neurotoxin. The dosage is small and is therefore insufficient to prove to be fatal to the adult human. The sting however causes soreness and the areas remain swollen for days. The sting of the black scorpion causes pancreatitis due to its...
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Tick

Why are ticks important? Ticks have been know to carry Lyme disease. The tick is a parasite that feed on the blood of animals. The most troublesome ticks in Florida are the Brown dog tick and the American dog tick. The Brown dog tick are not too fond of human blood and rarely do they bite humans. They however infest homes when they are brought in by dogs. The American dog tick attack humans and...
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Silverfish

The importance of silverfish The silverfish feeds on any human food including cereals and seem to have a special likeness to starch. In addition the silverfish feed on wool, hair and other fibers as well as paper and book bindings. They are however able to survive for a long time without feeding. The silverfish also leaves yellow stains and dark colored feces on fibers which they touch. Where do...
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Yellowjacket

Can one die from the stings of yellowjackets? Yellow jackets can kill people by the numbers of stings Symptoms associated with yellow jacket stings include headache, vomiting, diarrhea. People who are sensitive may have an allergic reaction. It takes about 1,500 stings to kill an adult. The Yellowjacket sting can cause death through respiratory congestion. Whatever happens never try to swat...
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Subterranean Termite

Termite damage The damage done by Subterranean termite can be extensive if not treated. Over 2,000,000 homes in the U.S. will require treatment for termite infestation this year ‐Florida Department of Agriculture and consumer services. Where do termites come from? The Subterranean termites live in colonies that are hidden behind walls, wood beams, and wooden posts. Moisture is critical for the...
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