"I am extremely satisfied with the services I have received from the American Pest company. Even after the first time of service all of the mice were eradicated. I have not had any difficulty since beginning the service with American Pest. The professionalism of the men who have come to do the work have been superior. This is the first time I've worked with such a company where I have been so completely, thoroughly satisfied."
Insect And Rodent Pest Identification
Ants are social insects belonging to the order of insects known as “Hymenoptera” – the same order containing bees and wasps.
Bed bugs are very small parasitic insects that are rising in number, making a strong comeback after nearly 50 years of limited activity in the United States.
Box Elder Bugs (Boisea trivittata) are common pests – sometimes called “Garage Beetles” or “Maple Bugs” – that can be found throughout Maryland.
Carpenter ants are social insects that are among the largest species of ant found throughout Maryland and much of the United States. These ants have strong mandibles, which are used to excavate wood for the purpose of nesting.
Carpet beetles are often found inside homes, warehouses, museums, and other buildings in Maryland, Virginia, and DC, where they may cause serious damage to stored fabric items.
Like the drugstore beetle, the cigarette beetle is a common pantry pest that occurs in our region, and is most common in the fall and winter months. As its name implies, the cigarette beetle is a pest of dried tobacco.
Clover Mites are tiny red bugs that invade households, and are close relatives of ticks and spiders. They are considered true mites, not insects.
Human co-habitation is associated with 30 of the 4000 species of Cockroaches in the world, but only four species are considered pests in the United States.
There are thought to be around 900 species of true Crickets, belonging to the “Gryllidae” family. These crickets tend to be nocturnal, and are generally characterized by long antennae that are slightly flattened looking and light brown.
Drugstore beetles are considered pantry pests, and commonly infest a wide variety of foods including those made from dried plant or animal products. Reddish-brown in color, the drugstore beetle is oval in shape and is about 1/8 inch long.
Earwigs are an insect easily recognized by their long, smooth bodies and pair of appendages in their abdomen called “cerci”. Pincer-like in appearance, the cerci are fairly straight, while the females are more curved.
Ctenocephalides felis, the ‘Cat Flea,’ is one of the most profuse and prevalent fleas found in the world. As the name suggests, the ‘Cat Flea’s’ primary host is the domestic cat, but they can also live on other pets and animals.
Flies are insects of the order ‘Diptera,’ and have a single pair of wings. Of the many types of fly, the three most encountered by American Pest are: Blow Fly or Bottle Fly, Fruit Fly and House Fly.
Fungus gnats are small, dark, short-lived flies of the order Diptera. Also known as dark-winged fungus gnats, they are mosquito-like insects often found in homes and offices in the vicinity of houseplants.
House Centipedes belong to the family Chilopoda, and are not an insect, but a common arthropod relative. These “hundred-footed creatures” are commonly found throughout most of the U.S. and the entire world.
Indian meal moths are pests of stored food products in kitchens and pantries. As adults, Indian meal moths have wings and fly, with bodies ranging from 1/2 to 5/8th of an inch in length.
Ladybird Beetles belong to the order Coleoptera, and are also commonly referred to as Ladybugs. Adult Ladybird Beetles are oval, convex, and are typically red in color with 6 black spots on each wing. Their hemispheric body is about the size of 1/2 of a pea.
Millipedes belong to the family Diplopoda and are not actually an insect, but rather an arthropod. Millipedes are typically brown or black in color and tend to range from 1 to 2 inches in length, but some may grow larger.
Thousands of species of Mosquitoes inhabit the earth, although only about 150 species call the United States home. Mosquitoes feed on nectar, but female mosquitoes will also feed on the blood of humans.
Rodents are mammals that are characterized by having two incisors, which must be kept short by gnawing as they grow continuously. Among the most common rodents are: Mice, Rats, Chipmunks, and Squirrels.
The Silverfish is a long but slender insect with a flattened body measuring from ½ to 1 inch in length. It derives its name from the light grey and blue coloring which can give off a silvery glimmer as it moves quickly across floors and surfaces.
The American House Spider, House Spider, or Domestic Spider is found throughout the world, and is common throughout the United States and Canada. The adult male spider is smaller, with an elongated abdomen.
Springtails, or Collembola, are closely related to insects, but are in a group of 6 legged arthropods now considered apart from insects. Tiny and soft-bodied, the Springtail ranges in size from 1mm to 6mm and tends to dwell in soil, leaf litter, and other humid areas.
There are many species of stinging insects that range from the beneficial Honeybee and parasitic Wasp, to the invasive European Paper Wasp. Some of the primary species found by American Pest are Yellow Jackets and wasps.
Stink Bugs belong to the order hemiptera and are also known as Shield Bugs. They are appropriately named because Stink Bugs have small glands located on their thorax that are capable of emitting an offensive smelling liquid.
Termites are small, foraging insects that live in large social colonies while feeding on cellulose from leaf litter, wood, soil, and dung. It is thought that there are around 4,000 species of Termites, but only about 10% are considered pests to wood.
Ticks are members of the ‘Ixodidae’ family of insects. They are external parasites that feed on the blood of non-domestic wildlife such as mice, deer, foxes, raccoons, and rabbits. Ticks pose serious health concerns, as they are known to carry and transmit diseases.
