Other Common Household Pests
House Fly
More than a nuisance, house flies can carry over 100 pathogens, including typhoid, cholera, salmonella, tuberculosis. House flies feed on a variety and high volume of foods, causing constant defecation which can contain the diseases. They are active only in the daytime, resting at night in the corners of rooms, ceiling hangings and other quiet places.
Fruit Flies
Fruit flies can be a nuisance all year ’round, but they become especially active – and plentiful – during the late summer and fall when fruits and vegetables reach maturity and are picked. In addition to tomatoes, melons and squash, fruit flies are also attracted to rotting bananas, potatoes, onions and other non refrigerated produce. Females lay up to 500 eggs, and the larvae feed on the yeasts in the fruit.
Phorid Flies
Phorid flies, also known as humpbacked flies, are small and resemble fruit flies. When disturbed, phorid flies typically run across surfaces instead of flying. Phorid flies are common in home kitchens and pantries as well as trash cans, dumpsters – wherever moist organic matter gathers. Because these flies frequent unsanitary conditions, they are a potential health concern.
Indian Meal Moth
The Indian meal moth is the number one pantry pest. It infests stored grains, fruits, dried nuts, powdered milk, vegetables and, particularly, dried pet foods by flying at night and laying eggs on these foods. The moths typically are introduced to homes unsuspectingly, through foods already infested in the pest. Their life cycle is approximately six week long.
Silverfish
Silverfish live in cracks and voids and are commonly found in larger numbers in attics, basements, and crawl spaces. Homes with cedar shake roofs seem to experience more serious infestations of silverfish. This may be due to the additional molds that form on this type of shingle. Silverfish will travel long distances to locate a food source. Once a good source of food is located, they will stay in that same area. Inside, silverfish will be seen in kitchens, bathrooms, and other rooms.
BoxElder Bug
BoxElder Bugs have discovered that heated buildings are ideal for surviving the cold of winter. The warmth attracts these insects to buildings where they crawl inside cracks and stay there for the winter. During warm winter days, some insects “wake up” and end up on the inside of the building. Boxelder bugs feed on maple and boxelder trees and usually infest buildings where these types of trees are nearby.
