Bug and Pest Identification - NJ Bug Exterminator Experts

Argentine Ant - Linepithema humile

Argentine worker ants are about 3 millimeters long, with queens that are about two to four times the length of a worker ant. they are relatively dark in color and normally tan to black. These ants are an invasive species native to a few countries in South America. They were inadvertently introduced by humans to many other areas of the world, including the US. They tend to colonize in the ground, or in narrow spaces between the cracks in concrete walls, spaces between boards, in some human belongings around the house, loose leaf litter, and beneath small stones. They are poor diggers but they will take over the abandoned nests of other species.

Carpenter Ants - Camponotus spp.

With over 1,000 other species in genus Components, these are a large ant species (measuring at a quarter of an inch) indigenous to many parts of the world. Though they tend to establish their colonies in decaying, moist or hollowed wood and can hollow out sections of trees, they do not eat wood. Black carpenter ants are the most common species of carpenter ant to infest homes in the United States. If you believe that you might have a black carpenter and infestation you can start by checking areas around your house that are vulnerable to moisture. Some examples of that would be areas around windows , decks, porches, and roof eaves.

Odorous House Ants - Tapinoma sessile

The odorous house and is common throughout the United States. They nest in a wide variety of habitats that would include marshes, buildings, beaches, fields, and forests. They are black with a shine or can be brown to blackish brown. They measure at 2.4 - 3.5 mm in length. They don't sting, and though they do bite the damage is minimal because they are so small. They emit a rotten coconut-like or rancid butter-like odor from their anal glands that can be smelled when they are crushed.

Pharaoh Ants - Monomorium pharaonis

The adults of this species are tiny, measuring at 2mm. They are yellow to light brown with a exoskeleton that looks almost transparent. Though this a tropical ant species, it has been introduced to practically every area of the world and can thrive in temperate regions if they're in a building where central heating is provided. A colony can have up to 200 queens and 1,000 - 2,500 workers. Exterminating these pests can be a little difficult because multiple colonies can consolidate into one to survive baiting programs and then repopulate. They can become serious infestations in any type of building structure where warmth is provided.

Thief Ant - Solenopsis molesta

Adult thief ants are very small and often mistaken for Pharaoh ants because of their color and their size. They can nest in exposed soil, under stones, bricks, logs, inside rotting stumps, in woodwork, masonry, and nesting in cracks and crevices in wall voids. They tend to invade homes or other buildings when the weather turns hot. They like to eat household foods and love grease or greasy foods. They tend to seek out protein, sweets, dairy products or anything a high oil content. Their size makes it easier for them to slip into tiny holes in packaging that larger ants can't get into. Baiting is normally ineffective with this type of ant. A more effective way of eliminating them would be to find the nesting site and apply an insecticide to it. It's important to then monitor the house and seek out any other nests if the problem persists.

Red Velvet Ant or "Cow Killer" - Dasymutilla occidentalis

The Red Velvet Ant is actually a wasp. Though they generally aren't considered pests, the can occasionally appear in populated areas in large numbers. They are typically solitary insects and don't live in colonies or have nests as most wasps do. They aren't likely to sting you unless provoked (being handled, stepped on, etc.) They aren't aggressive and will normally try to escape from you. You can identify them by their fuzzy coat and their black and rust orange to red coloring. The females are flightless and the males are larger with wings. Their sting is very painful and the reason for the name "cow killer".

American Cockroach - Periplaneta americana

The American cockroach is also known as the palmetto bug or water bug. At an average length of 4 centimeters long it is the largest species of common cockroach and common in tropical climates. Though native to Southern US, humans have inadvertently introduced it to other countries such as Spain, Cape Town, Durban, Greece, and Taiwan. They are reddish brown with a slightly yellow margin on it body behind the head. They prefer moist areas but can live in dry climates if water is accessible. They are intolerant to cold temperatures. They live in basements, sewers and sometimes yards when the weather is warm. They are scavengers and feed on decaying or fermenting organic matter.

Brown Banded Cockroach - Supella longipalpa

This type of cockroach is a smaller species (1/2" long) that is more commonly concentrated in the Southern United States. They are often transported into homes with furniture and quickly infest the structure once introduced. They are not normally seen during the day unless there is a serious infestation. You can search in areas behind picture frames, inside cracks, and in furniture. You might find them scurrying for a dark crevice when you suddenly exposed a dark area to light. They can be identified by their size, light brown coloring and two light, irregular bands found on their wings.

German Cockroach - Blattella germanica

Adult German Cockroaches can grow to about 3/4" long. They are tan with 2 black parallel lines that run down their back from their head to the base to their wings. They're the most common household cockroach in the world. They're often found in restaurants, hotels, food factories, and other such business structures as well as apartments and other residential structures, especially when the climate is cold. They are normally active during the night but can sometimes be seen during the day if there is a serious infestation or if caught unawares. They can also emit a horrible odor when they are excited or frightened.

Oriental Cockroach - Blata orientalis

The oriental cockroach is a large species of cockroach. They can grow to as large as an inch in length and they are dark brown to black in color with a glossy appearance. The females might appear to be wingless at first glance but they have very short, nonfunctioning wings while males are capable of flying a few meters. They also have wider bodies than males. Oriental cockroaches tend to prefer dark moist areas and can be found around decaying organic matter and moisture (sewers, drains, damp basements, porches, etc.). Like most cockroaches, they are relatively elusive and might not be seen during the day unless there is a severe infestation.

Yellowjackets - Vespula squamosa

Yellowjackets can be identified by their distinctive markings, small size, and the appearance of their colonies. They fly in a rapid side to side pattern before landing and they sting repeatedly. These wasps can sometimes be misidentified as bees because of their similar size and color. Their venom is usually only dangerous to those who are allergic to them or who sustain a large number of stings at once. They build their nests in areas that are relatively secure or well protected ( inside trees, shribs, man-made structures, such as attics, awnings, sheds, hollow walls, under porches, eaves, etc.)

Paper Wasp - Polistes sp.

Paper wasps can grow up to an inch long and are called paper wasps because they use wood to construct their nests. They are often times misidentified as yellowjackets though they are larger in size and their patterns are different. Their nests have open combs containing cells to rear their brood and are anchored by a constricted stalk. At the base of the anchor they secrete a chemical to repel ants. These paper wasps tend to be less aggressive then yellowjackets and hornets and tend to attack when they or their nests are threatened. They are sometimes beneficial to gardners because they predate on flies, caterpillars, beetle larvae, and nectar.

Baldfaced Hornets - Dolichovespa maculata

Baldfaced hornets usually grow to about 1/2"-3/4" long and are black and white in color. They are primarily found in North America and create large football/turnip shaped paper nests constructed out of chewed wood and saliva. They are fiercely defensive of their nests and will sting repeatedly when threatened. During the winter the entire nest dies except for the fertilized queen who will lay dormant underground or in a hollowed out tree until spring. She then starts a new nest and a new colony. The previous nest remains abandoned. They mostly build their nests in trees and shrubs so they are more common in wooded areas. They will, on occasion, build their nests under roof overhangs, in attics, crawlspaces, and the hollow areas between walls.

Oriental Cockroach- Blata orientalis

Carpenter bees grow to about 1/2" - 1" in length. They are mostly round and resemble bumble bees, though normally larger. The surface of their abdomens are mostly bare and shiny, unlike bumble bees which are fuzzier with some yellow markings on their abdomens. These bees prefer to nest on the ground. The queen bees will create galleries by boring holes into wood, depositing one egg in each hole and filling it will a mass amount of pollen before sealing it up. Though they are wood boring insects they aren't considered a true structural pest because they don't spread through out and entire structure and prefer unpainted or unfinished wood.

Cicada Killer - Sphecius speciosus

These wasps can reach up to 3" in length! They are a rusty to black color with yellow band markings on their abdominal segments and rusty red head and thorax. These digger wasps are solitary insects. They don't live in colonies or rely on other members to raise their young or maintain a nest. They are called cicada killers because they capture cicadas in July - August, paralyze them, place them in cells located at the ends of tunnels they've dug in the ground with a single egg, and seal up the hole never to return again. The female cicada wasps are capable of stinging but normally won't unless handled or threatened.

Honey Bee - Apis mellifera

Honey bees are probably the most well known bee species. They are reddish brown and black colored and have orange-tinted yellow bands on the abdomen while the head, antennae, and legs are black. They usually aren't aggressive and normally don't attack people unless they feel threatened.

Silverfish - Ctenolepisma sp

Silverfish grow to about 1/2" - 1" in length, have an elongated, flattened appearance. They are characterized by their gray hue, metallic shine, and how fish-like their movements appear. They are fond of things high in carbohydrates and protein. They typically live for two years but can live up to 8. They can almost be found anywhere throughout North America, Australia, Europe, and Asia. They typically live in areas with a a good amount of moisture and can be found in basements, bathrooms, garages, attics, and small dark spaces. They can also find their way into your food storage areas and contaminate your food.

Black Widow Spider

Their are two North American species that are dangerous to humans: Black Widow and Brown Recluse. The female has a shiny black, globular abdomen with two yellow or red markings in a triangle shape. It looks like a hourglass. Males are smaller, lighter in color, with light streaks on the abdomen. The web is irregular, many times found along exterior foundations on slabs, under stones and rocks, behind shrubs .They usually don't into structures .They will bite if provoked. The bite feels like a sharp pain ,like a needle puncture. After 15 minutes to an hour there will be muscular cramps. Bites are rarely fatal, but you should seek medical attention.

Yellow Sac Spider - Chiracanthium inclusum

Yellow Sac spiders are light brown to tan and have a fiddle like mark on its back, though that mark can be found on other spiders as well. The yellow sac spider produces a necrotic venom that normally leaves a small irritating bump and normally less severe than the venom of a brown recluse or a hobo spider. Though their bites aren't normally severe, people tend to have varying reactions to their venom and it has been know to leave lesions or caused more severe reactions such as chills, fever, dizziness, vomiting, nausea, lack of appetite and sometimes shock. If bitten and you are experiencing any of these symptoms you should seek medical attention. The yellow sac spider isn't known for being aggressive and normally only bites if it feels threatened. They normally construct tunnels in the ceiling corners of rooms or in leaves, timbers, and logs outdoors.

Brown Widow Spider

The Brown Widow spider can vary in color from light tan to dark brown or almost black. They have variable black, white, yellow, brown, or orange markings on the backs of their abdomens. The variance in their colors sometimes make it difficult to recognize them. However, the underside of the abdomen has a characteristic hourglass marking on it that is orange or yellow. Though their venom is twice as powerful as the black widow spiders, they don't inject as much. They aren't typically aggressive and normally won't bite unless pressed against the skin.

Eastern Subterranean Termite - Reticulitermes flavipes

Termites are well known for the serious structural damage they can do to buildings, plantations forests, and crops. While their ability to recycle wood is important to some ecosystems, they can be a severe threat to your home. A mature colony can consist of hundreds to several million individual termites. A colony consists of nymphs, reproductive individuals of both genders, sometimes egg laying queens, soldiers, and workers. Winged termites can appear very similar to flying ants. You can tell the difference between the two by their different body structures. You can clearly distinguish three sections on an ants body (the head, the thorax, and the abdomen) by the thin pinched sections dividing each area. Termites, on the other hand, have broad bodies and no pinched waists. The wings of ants are divided into two pairs that are differently sized. Termites also have two pairs of wings but they are the same size.

American Dog Tick - Dermacentor variabilis

The American dog tick is oblong and has white markings on its dorsal shield. The abdomen is normally a dark brown color. Males are dark brown, marbled with white markings all over its body. These ticks are most active from February to April, and then from the end of August to November. The nymphs are active from July to September. The males don't transmit disease. The females and nymphal ticks feed on blood and can transmit diseases such as lyme disease. If you remove a deer tick within 24 hours, your chances of contracting lyme disease is significantly reduced. You should always check yourself for ticks after taking a walk in wooded areas, tall grass, or areas with a lot of underbrush. If a tick has attached itself to you, remove it and save it for identification and testing. Monitor the area for a target shaped rash or any kind of rash at all. Be aware that sometimes you might not get a rash even if infected with lyme disease, but if you contract Rocky Mountain Spotted fever you might notice the characteristic red, spotted rash up to 6 days or more later, though 10-15% of those who contract it might never develop a rash. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever can be fatal if not treated. They are carried by the American Dog Tick as well as the Rocky Mountain wood tick.

You should also stay alert to any changes in your health condition. If you're always tired, have headaches, stiff neck, swollen lymph nodes, fever and/or chills see a doctor immediately because you could have lyme disease. You might not display those initial symptoms but your condition normally progresses into fatigue, more skin rashes, pain, weakness, numbness of the arms and legs, loss of muscle control in the face, more headaches or fainting, poor memory and inability to concentrate, pink eye, and heart palpitations or other heart problems. If allowed to progress any further, your symptoms would worsen into partial paralysis in the face, neurological changes ( problems with memory, sleep, mood, and sometimes speaking), and chronic lyme arthritis.

Deer Tick (Blacklegged Tick) - Ixodes scapularis

Female deer ticks (see picture to the left) are tear drop shaped with a browning orange abdomen. The have solid black legs and dorsal shield. The males are smaller and mostly black or mottled black and mottled brown, dark brown and black colors. These ticks are more active during the months of January through April and end of October to December. The nymphs are active from May to July. These types of types are primarily responsible for spreading lyme disease in the northern United States. If you think you've been bitten by one that has been attached for at least 12 hours or more be sure to monitor your health condition. Check for rashes, make note of headaches, fatigue, or any other flu like symptoms no matter how minor. If you experience any muscular paralysis in your facial muscles see a doctor immediately. Keep the tick in a sealed jar filled with rubbing alcohol and take it with you to the doctor if you think it may have been carrying Lyme disease.

Lonestar Tick - Amblyomma americanum

The lonestar tick has a a more rounded shape than the other two ticks previously mentioned. The females are brown with a single white spot in the center of its back. The males are just brown without the white spot. The adults of this species are most active from April to June, with nymphs active from April to July. Though these ticks are more popularly found in the the southwest, there are pockets of them in New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island. These female ticks and the nymphs of this species can carry lyme disease so it is important to monitor your health conditions if you've been bitten by one that you suspect might have been attached to you for more than 12-48 hours. Try to keep the tick and bring it to your doctor for testing if you think it may have been carrying Lyme disease.

Cat Flea - Ctenocephalides felis

Cat fleas are the most abundant and widespread fleas on the globe. Though this fleas primary host is the domestic cat, dogs are an equal target. They are capable of maintaining their life cycles on other animals. Humans can be bitten but infestations don't occur. A few fleas adult dogs or cats don't really cause all that much harm unless the host is allergic to them. They have been responsible for transmitting parasites and infections to dogs, cats and humans, such as Bartonella, apedermatitis, and murine typhus. They can also transmit tapeworms when an infected flea is swallowed by pets or humans.

Oriental Rat Flea - Xenopsylla cheopis

This type of flea normally infests rodents, primarily rats. This is the flea that transmitted the bubonic plague and murine typhus by feeding on an infected rodent and then biting humans. Its body length is about 1/10" long with a structure that makes it easier for it to jump long distances. In addition to having carried the bubonic plague and murine typhus, it can also carry a number of other diseases and act as a host for tapeworms that can be transferred to humans.