Insects Identification Guide

8/13/2019 Insects Identification Guide

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THEINSECT

IDENTIFICATIONGUIDE


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Some can lift over 50 times their bodyweight. Others taste with their feet,

or have ears on their legs. It's the strange

and fascinating world of insects...creatures

that are undeniably vital to our daily lives.

Insects pollinate our crops, and supply us

with products like honey, silk and medicine.They also serve as food for fish and birds,

and are crucial for research on such topics

as heredity and pollution.

The O. Orkin Insect Zoo, located inside the

Smithsonian Institution's National Museum

of Natural History, will change the way you

view insects and their relatives. Over a

million visitors each year are discovering

their global ecological importance, and the

interdependent relationship between insects

and humans. You may not welcome insects

into your home, but life as we know itwouldn't exist without them.

Orkin Pest Control is proud to support the

O. Orkin Insect Zoo.

O . O R K I N

NATIONAL MUSEUM of NATURAL HISTORY

I N S E C T Z O O


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APPEARANCE:CATERPILLAR: Up to 2-3/4 incheslong; black wi th whi te andyel low bands.

BUTTERFLY: W ingspan 3-1/2 tofour i nches long; wi ngs brownish-orange; black to dark brown veins;two rows of orange and/orwhi te spots.

HABITS: Found primaril y in

meadows, roadsides and sandyareas where mi lkweeds grow.

D IET: Caterpi l lars feed onmi lkweed fol iage, fl ower budsand mi lky juice; but terfl ies feedon f lowers.

REPRODUCT ION: Females layeggs along migrati on northward;fu l ly grown caterpi l lar changes tobarrel -shaped, leaf -green pupa

wi th gold dots; process from egg tobut terfl y takes about four weeks.

OTHER INFORMATION:Butterfl ies are capable of fl ying2,000 mi les during southernmi grati on each autumn, oft enstopping in same rest spotsevery year.

MONARCHCATERPILLAR/BUTTERFLY

Danaus plexippus

Actual Size

Actual Size


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APPEARANCE: About 1 /4 inch long; lightgray with four lengthwise str ipes onthorax; large reddi sh compound eyes.

HABITS: May migrate up to 20 m i lesfrom bi rthplace, but most stay wi th inone or two mi les; 98% of fl ies caught i n

houses are house fl ies.D IET: Feed on a wide vari ety of foods, but preferl iquids containi ng sweet or decaying materi al ; larvae feedon moist food rich i n organi c matt er.

REPRODUCTION : Eggs laid singly, but in clusters of 75-150; female may lay over500 eggs in a l i fetime; eggs hatch i n 10-24 hours; ent i re l i fe cycle compl eted in lessthan seven days.

OTHER INFORMAT ION : Associated with a number of f i l th -related diseases.

HOUSE FLYMusca domestica

Actual Size

APPEARANCE: 1/4 inch long; shi ny black totan wi th yel lowish-whi te l ines; orange head;

wings have black F-shaped bands.

HABITS: Found primaril y in orchards and theedges of deciduous woods with nat ive hawthorns,

bl ueberry bushes or western snowberries.

D IET: Adul ts feed on leaves and f rui t;larvae feed on pulp of fru i t.

REPRODUCT ION : Eggs inserted singly in to frui tskin; ful ly grown larvae tunnel out, drop to the

ground and pupate in the soil .

OTHER INFORMAT ION: M ales performcourtshi p dances, waving their wi ngs wh i le

females watch.

APPLE MAGGOT FLYRhagoleti s pomonell a

Actual Size


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APPEARANCE: 1/2 inch long;blackish-brown w ith du l l edges

on sides and down middle;above head is rosy pink coveri ngwi th dul l yel low edges and bl ack

spot i n center.

HABITS: Nocturnal ; li ve in moist places

under debri s, bark or decaying matter onthe ground; on summer ni ght s, bli nk theiryel low l ight s to att ract mates.

D IET: Adul ts do not feed; larvae feed on insect l arvae,slugs and snai ls.

REPRODUCT ION : Eggs are lef t on damp soil ; larvaeoverwinter, then pupate in moist soi l .

OTHER INFORMAT ION : Female does not f ly.

PYRALIS FIREFLYPhotinus pyralis

Actual Size

APPEARANCE: Up to 5/8 inch long; reddish-brown

and black w i th paler, orange-yel low ri ngs onabdomen; two pai rs of w ings.

HABITS: Very social ; hi ve inhol low trees and in h ives kept bybeekeepers; pol l inate crops andproduce honey.

D IET: Adul ts drink nectarand eat honey.

REPRODUCTION : Queen lays eggsat i nt erval s, producing colonies of

60,000 to 80 ,000 members; l i fe spanis usual ly two to three years for thequeen; drones die after mat ing.

OTHER INFORMAT ION: W orkershave a stinger that is used whencolony i s threatened; members of hive passfood to one another mixed wi th sal iva to forma chemical bond.

HONEY BEEApi s melli fera

Actual Size


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APPEARANCE: Large, about one inch, resemblebumbl ebees; some species may have a

blue-black, green or purple metal l icsheen; no hai r on abdomen.

HABITS: Often burrow int o the exposed,unfi ni shed dry wood of bui ldings, telephonepoles, fence posts and bri dges; prefer soft er

woods for nesti ng; not socialinsects, al though individual s

may establ ish burrows close toeach other.

D IET: Pol len and nectar.

REPRODUCT ION: Complete onegenerat ion per year in most of theU.S.; mature from egg to adul t i n

84 to 99 days; female furnishes nestwi th bee bread, a m ixture of pollen

and regurgitated nectar,and lays an egg on top of i t.

OTHER INFORMAT ION : Males do not sti ng, but femal eshave a potent sti ng which they rarely use; make loud buzzing noise when fl ying.

Actual Size

CARPENTER BEEGenus Xyl ocopa

APPEARANCE: Vari ety of shapes and colors; can bedisti nguished f rom bees by thei r smooth , rather thanhai ry, bodies; 1/2 i nch to 3/4 inch long.

HABITS: Exhi bi t predatory and scavengingbehavi or; some species are soli tary, whi leothers l ive in colonies wh ich may numberthousands of indivi duals.

D IET: Primari ly protein such as spiders andsoft-bodied insects, and smal l animals.

REPRODUCTION : Social wasps begin a nestwi th one queen l aying al l eggs for colony;i f a queen dies, a worker can t ake overegg-laying function unt i l colonyproduces new queen.

OTHER INFORMAT ION:Very protect ive ofthei r nests; wi l l

defend againstinvaders wi thpainf ul sti ngs.

Actual Size

WASPSOrder Hymenoptera


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APPEARANCE: Most species of concern toman have yell ow and bl ack coloring; 7/16 to

5/8 inch long; appear to have hai ry bodies.HABITS: Li ve in coloni es of from 20,000 to80,000 individuals; wi ll leave humans alonei f not provoked.

D IET: Nectar and pol len.

REPRODUCT ION: Only one egg-layingqueen i n a hi ve; queen may l ive as long asfi ve years and l ay as many as 1500 to2000 eggs per day; worker females protecteggs and the young; drones only duty is to

mate wi th queen, af ter whi ch they die.OTHER INFORMAT ION:Sti ngs can be painful , but areharm less to most people.

BEEOrder Hymenoptera

Actual Size

APPEARANCE: About 1/ 8 to 1/4 inch long; brown todark brown wi th li ght stri pe down center; w ings

have dark brown scales.

HABITS: Often found near shal lowtemporary pools; larvae l ive inquiet bodies of water, ranging

from fl uid-fi l led leaves to stagnantponds and lakes.

D IET: M ales drink plant

juices; femal es feed on bl ood ofmammal s, including humans.

REPRODUCTION : Eggs are droppedin t emporary pools; larvae feed, pupat e and

emerge over an extended peri od.

OTHER INFORMAT ION : Populationincreases after summer rai ns; males do not bi te.

SUMMER MOSQUITOAedes atl ant icus

Actual Size


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.

APPEARANCE:About 1-1/ 4 incheslong; male has violetabdomen and blackhead and thorax;female is dark brownto black; clear wings.

HABITS: Found along slowstreams, shal low weedy lakes orcoves of l arge ri vers; al ight on

grasses and plant stems.D IET: Feed on smal l ,soft -bodi ed insects.

REPRODUCTION : Females dip abdomen i nto water to layeggs on underwater leaf ; when eggs are deposi ted, male l i f tsfemale from the water

OTHER INFORMAT ION : Oft en seen f lying in tandem over streams and ponds.

VIOLET TAIL DRAGONFLYArgia vi olacea

Actual Size

APPEARANCE: About 2-1 /2 inches long; green to tan; wi ngs extendbeyond abdominal ti p; large brownish compound eyes.

HABITS: Found primari ly in meadows, on foliage and f lowers.

D IET: A vari ety of i nsects, especial ly caterpi l lars, fl ies,but terf l ies, bees and moths.

REPRODUCTION: Females lay hundreds of eggs in l arge oval masses;nymphs are dispersed by wind or eat one another.

OTHER INFORMAT ION : Female often devours the male wh i le mati ng.

PRAYING MANTISMant is reli giosa

Actual Size


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.

APPEARANCE: The largest of thecommon cockroach species, about1-1 /2 inches long; reddish-brown wi ngswi th li ght markings on thorax.

HABITS: Very aggressive; prefer warm ,damp areas; more l ikely to be seen i n

dayt ime and outdoors than other species; f ly more readi ly than other species.

D IET: Scavengers; feed on a vari etyof foods; prefer decayi ngorgani c matter.

REPRODUCTION:Female needs tomate onl y once toproduce many eggcapsul es; eachcapsule cont ainsan average of 13eggs; nymphs molt

13 times, in about600 days, before reachingmaturi ty; can l ive up to 15 months.

OTHER INFORMATION:Have shown a markedattraction to alcohol ic beverages,especial ly beer; al so known as the water bug.

Actual Size

AMERICAN COCKROACHPeriplaneta ameri cana

APPEARANCE:Dark brown, up to1-1 /2 inches long.

HABITS: Prefer t o l iveoutdoors; populati ons are

relati vely immobilecompared to other

species.

D IET: Scavengers; normal lyfeed on plant material , but can

feed on a vari ety of foods.

REPRODUCTION : Egg capsul eshatch i n 24 to 70 days; each

contai ns an average of 20 eggs;femal es reach maturi ty i n 320 days

and produce an average of seven cap-sules; adul ts can l ive up to 200 days.OTHER INFORMATION: Particularly

numerous in southeastern U.S.;fl y towards li ghts at ni ght .

Actual Size

SMOKEY BROWNCOCKROACH

Peripl aneta f uli ginosa


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APPEARANCE: About 5/8 inch long;wings have two brownish-yellow bands.

HABITS: Nocturnal; can fly; may befound throughout any structure, butprefer dry, warm areas, high locations,

and inside furniture.DIET: Scavengers; eat a variety of foods,but prefer starches.

REPRODUCTION: Female carries egg capsule for 24 to36 hours, then attaches it underneath or on the side of aprotected surface; capsules contain an average of 18 eggs; nymphs reach maturity in anaverage of 161 days; adults live up to 10 months.

OTHER INFORMATION: Sometimes confused with German cockroach; frequentlytransported in furniture; not as dependent on moisture as other species.

Actual Size

BROWNBANDED COCKROACH

Supella longipalpa

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light to medium brown, with two darklongitudinal streaks on the thorax.

HABITS: Nocturnal; most common urbancockroach; often found around buildings;

can be found outdoors during warm months.

DIET: General feeder; particularlyattracted to fermented food.

REPRODUCTION: Females produce one eggcapsule every 20 to 25 days; each capsulecontains from 18 to 48 eggs; newly born

become adults in as little as 36 days;adults can live up to one year.

OTHER INFORMATION:Often found aboard ships;

widest distribution of all roaches in U.S.

Actual Size

GERMAN COCKROACH

Blattella germanica

APPEARANCE: Dark brown, about one inch long.HABITS: Common outdoors; tend to live nearthe ground and in warm, damp areas; most oftenfound indoors in high moisture areas, particularlybasements and ground-floor storage areas.

DIET: Scavengers; often eat decayingorganic matter; prefer starches ifavailable.

REPRODUCTION: Egg capsulescontain 16 eggs; female will

produce an average ofeight capsules;nymphs go throughseven molts before becoming adult, inabout a year; adults can live up to180 days.

OTHER INFORMATION:also known as water bugs or black beetles; more sluggish thanother species; give off distinctive unpleasant odor.

Actual Size

ORIENTAL COCKROACH

Blatta orientalis

APPEARANCE: About 5/8 inches long;


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the largest ants,

APPEARANCE: Among

from 1/4 to 3/8 i nchlong; most common speciesis black, but some have red-dish or yel lowish coloration;

workers have large mandibles.

HABITS: Normal ly nest i n dead or water-damaged

porti ons of standing trees, stumps or l ogs, orburrow under fal len logs or stones; nests lookl ike hol low gal leries in wood; may move in tobui ldings in search of food; foraging ants wi l l

travel up to 100 yards from nest t o look for food.

D IET: Do not eat wood; feed on a vari ety of bothplant and animal food; prefer sweets and meats; also feed

on other insects.

REPRODUCT ION: Queen lays 15 t o 20 eggs the fi rst year, andup t o 30 eggs the second year; eggs complete their l i fe cycle in about 60

days; worker an ts can l ive up to seven years, whi le a queen may l ive up to 25 years.OTHER INFORMAT ION : Holl ow gal leries in nests are so smooth , they appear to

be sandpapered; colonies can contain up to 3,000 workers, but usual ly have only oneegg-laying queen per colony.

Actual Size

CARPENTER ANTGenus Camponotus

APPEARANCE: Dark reddish-brown to black,1/10 inch l ong; antennae have 12 segments.

HABITS: Nests found i n a great var iety of si tuati ons,both indoors and outdoors; nests are usual ly shal lowand found beneath a stone or behi nd a board or wal l ;

travel i n t rai ls; forage day and ni ght .D IET: Honeydew, in the wi ld; i nside, prefer sweet i tems.

REPRODUCTION : Each female in the nest lays only oneegg a day; young reach adul thood in an average of 24

days; workers and females l ive for several years.

OTHER INFORMATION : W hen crushed, give off veryunpleasant odor; colonies are very l arge, but can be

driven away by invading Argent ine ants.

ODOROUS HOUSE ANTTapinoma sessil e

Actual Size

APPEARANCE: Reddish, about 1 /4 inch l ong.

HABITS: Nests in mounds of one to two feet indiameter, and about 1-1/2 f eet h igh; l arge coloniescan have up to 250 ,000 workers; very active

and aggressive; w il l sti ng any int ruding animalrepeatedly.

D IET: Omni vorous; known to eat meats, greasyand sweet material s.

REPRODUCTION : Total time from egg toadul t averages 30 days; workers li ve up to180 days; queens l ive two to six years.

OTHER INFORMAT ION: Has been known toremove rubber insulat ion from telephone wi res;sti ng is painf ul , and can ki ll young wi ldl if e

and domesti c animals.

FIRE ANTGenus Solenopsis

Actual Size


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APPEARANCE: From l ight to dark brown,about 1/10 i nch long; antenna has 12 segments.

HABITS: Readi ly adaptable and can nest i n a greatvari ety of sit uat ions; colonies are massive, and may

contain hundreds of queens; nests are usual ly l ocated inmoist soil , next to or under bui ldings, along sidewal ks or beneath

boards; travel in t rai ls; forage day and n ight .

D IET: Eat a wide variety of foods, parti cularly sweets.

REPRODUCTION : Eggs are wh i te, l aid i n summer;larvae emerge af ter about 28 days; adul t stage reached i n

about 74 days.

OTHER INFORMATION:Have no important natural enemy in t he Uni ted States.

ARGENTINE ANTIr idomyrmex humil is

Actual Size

APPEARANCE: Very smal l ; li ght yel low to red, wi thblack marki ngs on abdomen; about 1 /16 inch long.

HABITS: Require a warm temperature to survive; w i l l

nest i n any wel l -protected or hi dden area; nests are verydi ff i cul t to fi nd because ants stray far from them, usual lyover establ ished t rai ls.

D IET: Feed on a di verse array of material , includi ng sugars,greasy foods and proteins; wi l l also eat dead insects.

REPRODUCTION : Egg to adul t in about 45 days; femalesl ive up to 39 weeks and lay about 400 eggs; workers onl yl ive up to 10 weeks.

OTHER INFORMAT ION: Mature forms have wi ngs, but do not f ly;very large colonies, wi th up to several mi l l ion workers and thousands of queens; when thecolony i s stressed, i t spli ts and scatt ers in to sub-colonies in a process known as buddi ng".

PHAROAH ANTMonomorium pharaonis

Actual Size

APPEARANCE: Li ght brown to black,appendages l ight er than the rest of the body; about1/10 inch long; parallel l ines on head and thorax;

antennae have 12 segment s.

HABITS: Sometimes ent ers bui ldings foraging for food;nests are outdoors under stones, along curbing or in

cracks of pavement ; can nest i ndoors in wal ls and under f loors.

D IET: Eat a variety of foods; prefer sugarsbut requi re protein for reproduction.

REPRODUCTION: Queen produces five to 20 eggs per day; brooddevelops in about 40 days; young go th rough three larval stages.

OTHER INFORMATION : Slow-moving; often l ive in nests of l arger ant s,where they feed on the larvae of the host .

PAVEMENT ANTTetramorium caespit um

Actual Size

APPEARANCE: One of the smal lest household ants,about 1/32 to 1/16 i nch long; antennae have 10segment s; range in color from yel lowi sh to brown.

HABITS: Nests occur in a great variety of locat ionsoutside the home, especial ly under rocks; may nestindoors in cracks and cupboards.

D IET: Feed on immature forms of other ant s and insects; also at tracted togreasy or h igh protein foods such as cheese and an imal mat ter.

REPRODUCT ION: Queens lay an average of 105 eggs, whi chincubate for 16 to 28 days; larval stage may last 21 days insummer, but can last through the wi nter.

OTHER INFORMAT ION : So smal l they are di ff i cul t to detect.

THIEF ANT

Solenopsis molesta

Actual Size


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APPEARANCE: Reddi sh-brown to black,about 1/8 to 1/ 4 inch; elongated and slender.

HABITS: Females bore int o wood and create tunnels forlayi ng eggs; feeds on both softwoods and hardwoods.

D IET: Usual ly new wood, less than 10 years old.

REPRODUCT ION: Eggs are laid inside tunnels;larvae complete thei r development usual ly inabout one year, but have been known to takeup to f ive.

OTHER INFORMAT ION:Often found i n oak f i rewood,and in f urnit ure.

BOSTRICHIDPOWDERPOST BEETLE

Famil y Bostri chidae

Actual Size

e smal l , slender andfl attened, reddish-brown to black; from 1/8 i nch to

1/4 i nch; short antennae; larvae are usual ly less than1/4 inch long, cream colored and sl ight ly C-shaped.

HABITS: Attack t he sapwood of hardwoods,especial ly oak, hi ckory and ash; create smal l , round holes

wh ich appear in hardwood floors, furn i ture,molding and fi xtures.

D IET: Starch, sugar and protein in the sapwoodof hardwoods; prefer moisture

content of between10 and 20 percent .

REPRODUCTION : L i fe cycleaverages one year, w i th t hemajority of t im e spent in

the destructi ve larval stage;females lay an average of

20 to 50 eggs.

OTHER INFORMAT ION : Most commonof the wood-bori ng beet les in the U.S;

larvae reduce timber to a mass of very f ine,powder-l ike material .

Actual Size

POWDER POST BEETLEFamily Lyctidae

APPEARANCE: Adul ts ar


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APPEARANCE:adul ts are blackto brown ish-black, about5/8 to one inchlong; sli ght lyfl attened; wingcovers areusual ly completelyblack, but may havedistinct whi te markings.

HABITS: Larval stage feeds on

seasoned t imber for two to 10years before becoming an adu l tbeetle; adul t emerges from infestedwood, leaving 1/4 inch oval exi t hole,and mates, li ving only 10 to 15 days.

D IET: Larval stage feeds on wood w i th moisture con-tnt of between 10 and 20 percent ; prefers softwoods.

REPRODUCTION: Li fe cycle averages three to fi ve years,but can take as long as 12 years, dependi ng on envi ronmental and nut ri ti onalcondi ti ons, wi th the majori ty of t ime spent in the destructi ve larval stage.

OTHER INFORMAT ION : Contrary to i ts name, i t occurs mostl y in houses lessthan 10 years old.

OLD HOUSE BORERHylotrupes bajul us

Actual Size

APPEARANCE: Dark brown toblackish-brown, about 1 /8 t o1/4 i nch; range in shape fromslender and elongated to oval.

HABITS: Larvae l ive in and createtunnels in hardwoods and softwoods,

usual ly more than 10 years old; create smal l ,round holes of 1/16 to 1/8 i nch diameter, wh ich

appear especial ly in structural timbers.

D IET: Larvae feed on both

hardwoods and softwoods.REPRODUCT ION : L i fe cycle averages two to three

years, wi th the majori ty of t ime spent in the destructi velarval stage; females lay about 50 eggs.

OTHER INFORMAT ION : Unl ike termit es,some anobii ds are able to digest wood without the aid

of protozoa, and can l ive on a diet of cel lul ose.

ANOBIIDPOWDERPOST BEETLE

Fami ly Anobiidae

Actual Size


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APPEARANCE: Flat tened, oblong and reddish-brown ;about 1/7 i nch long; larvae are 1/4 i nch long and arewh it e to yell ow.

HABITS: Nest in stored grain and grain products;

smal l size enables them to work themselvesint o many sealed containers.

D IET: Feed on a variety of foods, but most commonlyfl our and cereal products.

REPRODUCTION : Females lay an average of300 to 400 eggs; l i fe cycle usual ly takesabout seven weeks, but may last up to th reemonths; four or f ive generat ions per year.

OTHER INFORMAT ION: Att racted to li ght , but quicklyrun for cover when disturbed; adul ts may l ive as long as th ree

years; impart a di sagreeable odor and taste when found i n fl our.

Actual Size

FLOUR BEETLEOrder Coleoptera

APPEARANCE: Smal l , rounded, gray to blackish,wi th a varied patt ern of whi ti sh and orange scales on

the back; shape resembles the ladybug;about 1/5 i nch long.

HABITS: Adul ts oft en i nhabi t f lowerbeds; can enterthe home when cut fl owers are brought in; out side,

feeds on poll en and nectar.D IET: Feed on kerat in-based foods; eat a var iety of

dead animal materials, fur, hi des, feathers, si lksand woolen i tems.

REPRODUCT ION: Female lays 30 to 100 eggs,wh ich hatch i n 10 t o 18 days; larval stage lasts

60 -325 days; adult s li ve 20 to 60 days.

OTHER INFORMATION: These beet les have a completemetamorphosis, wi th the larvae being the only stage that causes

damage to fabri cs; some species have hair tu ft s that can be irri tati ng to the skin, or i f

breathed int o the nose or lungs.

CARPET BEETLEOrder Coleoptera

Actual Size

APPEARANCE: Up to 3/8 inch long; round body; brightred or yel low, w i th black, red, whi te or yel low spots.

HABITS: Found in meadows, fi elds, gardens and f orests.

D IET: Feed primari ly on aphids and other smal l insects.

REPRODUCT ION: Clusters of bright , yel low eggs areatt ached to fol iage near food supply; female may lay up to500 eggs duri ng a li fetime; l i fe span of a few months.

OTHER INFORMATION: Have been used to cont rolinsects whi ch eat frui t crops; seek warm th ofbuil dings in autumn.

LADYBUGFamil y Coccinell idae

Actual Size


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APPEARANCE: Four castes of a termi tecolony: 1. worker: approximately 1/4 i nch long,

l ight colored, w ingless; 2. soldier: elongated headwi th mandi bles; 3. supplementary reproducti ves:

wi ngless or very short, non-functi onal wi ngs;l ight colored; 4. primary reproductives: wi nged,

and darker than other members; caste mostoft en seen by homeowners.

HABITS: Li ve in coloni es underground; able to reach foodabove the level of the ground by bui lding mud tubes;

dependent on moisture for survival .

D IET: W ood and other cel lulose material ; harbor one-cel led

organisms in their di gesti ve tracts to help them digest cel lul ose.REPRODUCT ION: D iff erent rates of growth f rom egg stage to adul t depend on

individual species; one queen per colony, whi ch can lay tens ofthousands of eggs in her l i fetime; most eggs are laid bysupplementary reproductives in an establ ished colony.

OTHER INFORMAT ION: Colonies can contain up to1,000 ,000 members; termi tes are primi ti ve insectsclosely related to cockroaches; i n nature, term ites

help convert dead wood to humus(the organic layer of the soil ).

Soldier

Worker

Actual Size

SUBTERRANEAN TERMITEOrder Isoptera

APPEARANCE: Larger thansubt erranean term ites, up to1/2 inch long; no workercaste in the colony.

HABITS: Create colonies inwood, wi th no connecti on to theground necessary; often found i natt ic wood; need very l i tt le moisture.

D IET: W ood and occasional ly other cel lul ose material .

REPRODUCTION: Nymphs pass through seven stages beforereachi ng adul thood; sexual forms eventual ly swarm to formnew colony.

OTHER INFORMAT ION: W ood damage is dif ferentthan t hat of other term i tes; these termi tes cutacross the grain of the wood, excavat ing largechambers whi ch are connected by smal l tunnels;colonies may contai n up to 2700 members.

Soldier

Supplementary

Reproductive

DRYWOOD TERMITEGenera Kal otermes and Incisitermes

Actual Size


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APPEARANCE: 1/2 to1-1 /4 inches long; black.

HABITS: Found in pastures, meadows,lawns, occasional ly i ndoors.

D IET: Eat alm ost anyth ing but areparti al to fi eld crops,

especial ly alf al fa, wheat,oats, rye; wi l l also

feed on texti les of cotton,li nen, wool and sil k.

REPRODUCTION:

Usual ly one generati on peryear, general ly hatch i n M ay,become adul ts in Jul y andAugust, mate, then di e in

September.

OTHER INFORMAT ION:Occasional ly break outin massive numbers,

wi th swarms coveringmany square mi les.

FIELD CRICKETGenus Gryll us

Actual Size

APPEARANCE: 3/4 to 1 inch long, l ight yell owish-brown,wi th th ree darker brown bands on the head.

HABITS: Nocturnal ; li ve outdoors, but may be foundindoors in warm areas, particularl y the ki tchen,basement , f i replace, or i n cracks; make adisti nctive chi rping sound.

D IET: Eat or drink almost anyth ingthat i s avai lable, especial ly crumbsand food scraps.

REPRODUCTION : Eggs deposi tedsingly i n crevices and behi ndbaseboards; 40 t o 170 eggs

lai d at one stage; egg stagelasts eight to 12 weeks.

OTHER INFORMATION:May bi te when captured.

HOUSE CRICKETAcheta domesticus

Actual Size


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APPEARANCE: Light tan to dark brown;

1/2 to 1-1/2 inches long; humpbacked appearance.HABITS: Found in cool , damp areas, such as underlogs or stones, and in crawl spaces, basement s andatt ics; nocturnal.

D IET: W il l eat just about anythi ng; they have been knownto f eed on clothes and l ace curtains.

REPRODUCT ION : Females lay eggs in spring, wh ich hatch aroundApri l ; there is only one generat ion per year.

OTHER INFORMAT ION : Unl ike other crickets, they do not chi rp; theybecome immobil e in the presence of strong l ight .

Actual SizeCAMEL CRICKETTachycines asynamorous

APPEARANCE: About 1-3/8 inches long;greeni sh-yellow to dark greeni sh-brown with yel low

midl ine stri pe; forewi ngs blackish-yel low.HABITS: Found primaril y in tal l grass

and open sandy woods.

D IET: Grasses.

REPRODUCT ION: Female thrusts mass ofabout 25 eggs one inch or more int o soil ; nymphs emerge in

about a week; they hatch when i t rai ns.

OTHER INFORMATION : Cal led bird grasshoppersbecause they can f ly rapi dly over great distances.

Actual Size

ALUTACEA BIRDGRASSHOPPERSchistocerca al ut acea

APPEARANCE: Colorless to gray or light brown, ranging from 1/25 to 1/12 inch long.

HABITS: Prefer to li ve in damp, warm areas; can be found outdoors in grassor leaves, and in areas where molds grow.

D IET: M icroscopic molds and starchy materials such aspaste and glues of book bindings and wal lpaper.

REPRODUCT ION: Single female producesbetween 120 to 456 offspring; l i fetime averages24 to 110 days.

OTHER INFORMATION: Over 100 species in the U.S.,wi th onl y a few species found i ndoors; may becomeabundant and cause damage to books.

Actual Size

BOOKLICEFami ly Psocidae


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APPEARANCE: Adul ts have wingspread of5/8 i nch; wi ngs are pale gray, wi th outer

porti on of forewi ng reddish-brown ; larvae are about1/2 inch l ong, wi th dirty whi te color.

HABITS: Adults fl y main ly at night.

D IET: Larvae feed on all kinds of grains, fl ours, and dried frui t.

REPRODUCT ION: Females lay between 200 t o 400 eggs inspri ng; complete l i fe cycle ranges from four to six weeks.

OTHER INFORMAT ION : Larvae and adul ts are often m istaken for clothes moths;adul ts l ive only one or two weeks; larvae spin whi te, si lken cocoons where they pupate,

and sometimes leave webbing behi nd.

INDIAN MEAL MOTHPlodia int erpunctell a

Actual Size

APPEARANCE: Larvae areshiny, whit e worms about 1/2 inchlong; adul ts have nar row fringed wi ngs,are yel lowish-brown and also about1/2 inch l ong.

HABITS: Prefer darkness; can di sappear qui ckly i f disturbed.

D IET: W ool and other fabri cs, fur ; other protein-based materials.

REPRODUCTION : Adul t f emales lay up to 200 eggs; larvae reach maturi ty i n35 days to 2-1 /2 years; adul ts li ve 15-30 days.

OTHER INFORMAT ION : Onl y the larvae feed and are capable ofdamaging material it ems.

CLOTHES MOTHOrder Lepidoptera

Actual Size

Actual Size

APPEARANCE: Flatt ened, w i thone pair of l egs on most of thei r

segments; segments number from10 to 100; one to 1-1/2 inches long;

vari ous colors.

HABITS: Usual ly l ive outdoors beneath dampaccumul at ions of l eaves, stones, boards, etc;

occasional ly fi nd t heir way into homes, where theyhi de in moist basement s, damp closets and bathrooms;

when disturbed, they run swi ft ly

D IET: Insects and spiders.

LIFE SPAN : Some species li ve as long as five to six years.

OTHER INFORMAT ION : Large jaws can bi te humans,but the bi te is seldom worse than a bee sti ng.

CENTIPEDEClass Chil opoda


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segmented, with a pair of legs per segment.

HABITS: Nocturnal; normally live outdoorsunder objects located on damp soil;

hordes will crawl into homes.

DIET: Damp and decaying woodand plant matter.

REPRODUCTION: Eggs aredeposited in the soil; most speciesreach sexual maturity in the second year,

and live several years after that.

OTHER INFORMATION: There are occasions whenthousands of millipedes will populate an area,

sometimes carpeting the ground with their bodies.

Actual Size

MILLIPEDE

Class Diplopoda

APPEARANCE: Yellowish to brown, with a dark brownviolin-shaped dorsal marking; 5/8 to 1/2 inch long.

HABITS: Can be found outside under rocks, leaves,debris, bark, woodpiles, utility boxes; found inside instorage areas such as closets, attics, bedrooms; usuallyfound close to the ground.

DIET: Cockroaches, crickets and other soft-bodied insects.

REPRODUCTION: Mating occurs from Feb. to Oct.; 40 to 50eggs are deposited in off-white, round silken cases; lifetimeaverages from one to two years.

OTHER INFORMATION: Bites when disturbed;

bites can cause a disfiguring scar.

BROWN RECLUSE SPIDER

Loxosceles reclusa

Actual Size

Actual Size

APPEARANCE: From 1/8 to 1/2inch long; yellowish to greenish-

brown or reddish-brown;four pairs of long, thin legs.

HABITS: Found in open areas onfoliage and tree trunks, or on shady walls outside buildings.

DIET: Small insects and decaying organic matter; plant juices.REPRODUCTION: Females deposit eggs into soil individually; eggs

overwinter and hatch in the spring; one generation a year.

OTHER INFORMATION: Legs break off easily andcannot be regenerated; if disturbed, they furiously wave second

pair of legs in the air.

DADDY-LONG-LEGS

Family Phalangiidae

APPEARANCE: Female is 1/2 inch long;shiny black, with hourglass-shaped red markon underside of abdomen.

HABITS: Can be found almost anywhere, indoorsor out; prefer to build their nests close to the ground.

DIET: Insects trapped in web made by female.

REPRODUCTION: Contrary to popular belief, female is usuallyunsuccessful in any attempt to eat male after mating; 300 to 400eggs are laid in silken cocoon, hatch in about ten days.

OTHER INFORMATION: Black widows are not aggressive,and will not bite unless provoked; bites are poisonous,but rarely fatal; if bitten, seek medical attention.

BLACK WIDOW SPIDER

Genus Latrodectus

Actual Size

APPEARANCE: Brownish, one to 1-1/2 inches long;


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APPEARANCE: 5/8 i nch long, dark reddish-brown,wi th yel low-brown legs; l arge forceps (cerci) on t he end

of the abdomen, whi ch pose no threat to humans.HABITS: Found al l over homes, parti cul arly in cracks andcrevices near or on the ground; active primari ly at night .

D IET: Scavengers; w i l l eat just about anyth ing.

REPRODUCTION : Up to 60 eggs are laid in burrows in theground and guarded by the female; hatch i n the spring.

OTHER INFORMATION : Many species have a gland whi chsecretes a foul -smel l ing, yel lowi sh-brown l iquid when threatened.

Actual Size

EARWIG

Order Dermaptera

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APPEARANCE: Not morethan 3/4 inch l ong; thorax

composed of seven hardoverlapping plates wi th seven pairs of

legs; only pi l lbugs are able to rol lup into a ball .

HABITS: Prefer moist locat ions; found under objects on dampground; mostl y nocturnal ; sometimes found in basements

and ground levels of structures.

D IET: Decaying vegetable mat ter.REPRODUCT ION : Female gives bi rth to between 24 and 28 young per brood; usual ly

one to three generat ions a year; may l ive as long as two years.

OTHER INFORMAT ION : Pil lbugs and related sowbugs are the only crustaceans thathave become completely adapted to li ving thei r whole l i fe on land.

PILLBUG/SOWBUGOrder Isopoda

Actual Size


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APPEARANCE: About 1/ 4 i nch-1/2 i nch long,somewhat carrot-shaped f rom above;gray or si lver-colored; three f i lament s

ext end from rear.

HABITS: Nocturnal; moveswi ft ly, can jump; found wherethere is excessive humidi ty; ar eat tracted to books, wal lpaperand other paper products that

have a hi gh starch cont ent .

D IET: Prefer starch, paste,glue; paper products of al l

ki nds; starched text i les.

REPRODUCTION:Two to th ree month reproducti ve cycle; lay

about 50 eggs per batch; l ive two to 2-1 /2 years.

OTHER INFORMAT ION : Thought to belong to one of the most prim it iveexi sti ng insect orders, more than 400 mi l l ion years old.

Actual Size

SILVERFISHOrder Thysanura

APPEARANCE: Appearance di f fers by species, but al ladul ts are very smal l , roundi sh, w i th eight legs (larvaeor seed t icks have six l egs); 1/8 to 1/2 inch l ong.

HABITS: Li ve on the bodies of mammals,bi rds and repti les.

D IET: Blood; al l species can swel l to a considerabl esize af ter feeding.

REPRODUCTION: Mati ng usual ly occurs whi le adult ti cksare on the host animal ; femal e hard t icks feed onl y once,and lay one large batch of up to 10,000 eggs; female softt ick w i l l feed several times and lay 20-50 eggs after eachmeal ; eggs hatch in 19 to 60 days.

OTHER INFORMAT ION : Ti cks are known carriers of manyserious diseases, includi ng encephal i ti s, t ick paralysis, typhus andLyme disease; adul ts can l ive over 500 days wi thout a meal .

TICKOrder Acarina

Actual Size

APPEARANCE: Black to brownish-bl ack, about 1/12 t o1/16 inches long; six l egs, wi th many bri stl es on body

and legs; f lat tened body.

HABITS: Found on cats and dogs year-round,but most common during warm and humi d weather;r

eadi ly att ack and feed on humans; can jump as muchas 7/8 i nch verti call y, and 14 to 16 inches horizontal ly.

D IET: Blood.REPRODUCT ION : Female can lay about 25 eggs a day, and

up to 800 eggs dur ing her l i fetime; fl eas undergo compl etemetamorphosis, usual ly in 14 to 90 days.

OTHER INFORMAT ION : Carri er of many di seases; adul tscan l ive one to two months without feeding.

Actual Size

FLEAOrder Siphonapt era


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APPEARANCE: Range in size from 1-1/ 2 tothree inches long; eight l egs, a pai r of l arge pinchers

and a pair of smal l pinchers near the mouth;tai l possesses a stinger.

HABITS: Most acti ve at n ight ; during the day, theyhi de under bark, l ogs or stones; i n houses, they hide in

closets, shoes and folded clothes.

D IET: Smal l spiders and soft -bodied insects; wi l l eat

other scorpions.REPRODUCTION: Females produce an average of 32

young; young reach maturi ty i n three to four years.

OTHER INFORMAT ION : Common in southern states;most species del iver a sti ng no more harmfu l than a

bees; very poor eyesight; use pinchers as feelers.

Actual Size

SCORPIONOrder Scorpion ida

APPEARANCE: Up to 5-7 /8 inches long; almost cyli ndri cal body;nymphs are green, becoming a tw ig-li ke brown at maturi ty.

HABITS: W oods, forests and grasslands.

D IET: Foli age of grasses and woody plant s,especial ly grapevines,oaks and hazelnuts.

REPRODUCTION:Females lay eggsindi vidual ly; eggs overwi nterand hatch i n spring; onegenerat ion a year.

OTHER INFORMAT ION : Have theabi l i ty to regenerate lost legs; soclosely resemble leaf less tw igs, t heyare general ly overl ooked.

WALKINGSTICKFamil y Phasmidae

Shown Approx. 2/ 3 Size


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