Mound-building Ants

General Info

  •     Mounds are built by worker ants who excavate soil to build the colony
  •     Most species do not sting or directly harm humans or pets

Where They Nest

  • Many ants other than fire ants build their colonies under dirt mounds
  •  These mounds are located in lawns, mulch areas, and along sidewalks, patios, decks, and the foundation

What They Want From You

  •     Food, food spills, and moisture (found in the sink, shower, leaky pipes, spills, etc.)

Why They’re A Problem

  • Their mounds can be unsightly in your landscape and they often kill the surrounding grass
  • Mound-building ants that you see outside may eventually come inside in search of food and water

Tips & Tricks

  • Remove debris (wood, rocks, stones) close to the foundation of your home where ants may build a colony
  • Caulk any points where ants enter into wall voids, cracks, and crevices including entry points from the outside

Outdoor Filth Flies

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General Info

  •  Also known as House Fly, Blow Fly, Green Bottle Fly, Blue Bottle Fly, Flesh Fly
  •  Filth breeding flies are scavengers attracted to moist organic matter to both lay their eggs and take a meal

Where They Breed

  •     Fly larvae or “maggots” breed in many different outdoor areas, from composting plant material to manure, garbage, and decaying animal carcasses

What They Want From You

  •     These flies are attracted to food odors and the offer of a free meal

Why They’re A Problem

  •     As they feed, these flies can pick up germs and filth on their bodies and then redeposit them wherever they land
  •     Indoors, they are a nuisance as they hover around food, particularly in the kitchen and living room

Tips & Tricks

  •     Tightly cover garbage cans and waste receptacles and seal garbage bags
  •     Take out indoor garbage regularly
  •     Do not leave doors and windows open to keep flies from entering
  •     Inspect screens for holes and loose edges that may allow flies to enter
  •     Store food in sealed containers and keep fruit refrigerated
  •     Remove all moist organic matter where flies are breeding, particularly in areas close to the outside of the home

Small Roaches

General Info

  •     Also known as German roaches
  •     German roaches are 1/4” to 1/2” long and generally hide in the daytime
  •     After dark, roaches come out to mate and forage for food
  •     German roaches can be very tough to control because they reproduce so quickly

Where They Hide

  •     German roaches always live indoors, usually invading the kitchen, pantry, and bathroom
  •     They like to hide in cracks, crevices, or other protected areas that are suitably warm and humid during the daytime hours

What They Want From You

  •     Food, water, warmth
  •     German roaches are especially attracted to foods that have sugar, starch, or grease, but will feed on almost anything

Why They’re A Problem

  •     Some German roaches can pick-up, carry and spread harmful bacteria, such as Salmonella, to other surfaces that they walk across
  •     They deposit their feces in cupboards, sinks, and on countertops
  •     They are a source of allergies and asthma in children (make sure to sweep up and remove dead cockroaches and their feces to decrease this impact)

Tips & Tricks

Eliminate their food and water sources and hiding places:

  •     Remove food spills and exposed food, especially near appliances
  •     Store food in sealed containers
  •     Don’t leave dirty dishes in the sink
  •     Take out the garbage regularly and tie the bag tightly
  •     Toss out old boxes and newspapers that serve as good hiding places
  •     Clean and vacuum regularly behind ovens, microwaves, toasters, and refrigerators
  •     Keep food out of bedrooms and living rooms
  •     Keep storage areas dry

Seal up points of access to keep them out:

  •     Caulk cracks and crevices where roaches can hide
  •     Seal areas where they can enter your apartment from neighboring units

Avoid common mistakes during treatment

  •     When using baits or gel, be sure you do not place them on areas that have been sprayed with an aerosol or liquid insecticide.  Roaches traveling over sprayed areas will die before they have a chance to bring the bait back to the nest.
  •     Never spray the bait or gel with an aerosol or liquid insecticide – cockroaches will not eat it
  •     When using baits or gels, be sure to remove competing food and water sources so the roaches are forced to go to the bait
  •     Replace baits at intervals prescribed on the label or when they are completely eaten
  •     The more baits you can place and the closer you place them to where the roaches hide during the day, the better your control will be

Large Roaches

General Info

  •     Also known as American roaches or Palmetto Bug, including Australian, Brown, and Smoky Brown roaches
  •     Adult roaches are up to 1 inch long and generally rest in the daytime
  •     After dark, they come out of hiding to mate and forage for food
  •     American roaches can fly but are most often seen running quickly in and out of homes, storage areas, and garages

Where They Hide

In Southern homes with yards:

  •     In Southern states American roaches live outdoors
  •     They are often found around the foundation of the home, near patios and porches, or under mulches, shrubs, and other plant material
  •     Once inside, American roaches can be found hiding in dark, humid areas like laundry rooms, utility rooms, basements, garages and crawl spaces

In Northern homes and apartments:

  •     American cockroaches can be found outdoors only in semi-warm areas like sewer systems and steam tunnels
  •     Indoors you can find them in storage areas, building basements, and garbage collection areas

What They Want From You

  •     American roaches will treat your home or apartment as an all-inclusive resort; they’ll invite themselves over for food, water, and shelter, especially during very cold or hot weather
  •     American roaches are attracted to foods with sugar, starch, or grease, but will feed on nearly anything including pet food

Why They’re A Problem

  •     Some American roaches can pick-up, carry, and spread harmful bacteria, such as Salmonella, to other surfaces that they walk across
  •     Many people are scared or repulsed by roaches due to their unsightly appearance and smell

Tips & Tricks

Eliminate their food and water sources and hiding places:

  •     Remove food spills and exposed food, especially near appliances
  •     Store food in sealed containers
  •     Don’t leave dirty dishes in the sink
  •     Take out the garbage regularly and tie it closed tightly
  •     Toss out old boxes and newspapers that serve as good hiding places and hard places to treat
  •     Clean and vacuum regularly, especially behind ovens, microwaves, toasters, and refrigerators
  •     Keep food out of bedrooms and living rooms
  •     Keep basements and storage areas dry

Seal up entryways and point of access to keep them out of the home or apartment:

  •     Caulk cracks and crevices where roaches can enter from the outside or neighboring units
  •     Do not store items like firewood or other debris near the home, which provides areas for outdoor roaches to hide and breed
  •     Identify and repair indoor water leaks that provide moisture and high humidity that these roaches prefer to live in.

Avoid common mistakes during treatment:

  •     When using baits or gel, be sure you do not place them on areas that have been sprayed with an aerosol or liquid insecticide – roaches traveling over sprayed areas will die before they have a chance to bring the bait back to the nest
  •     Never spray the bait or gel with an aerosol or liquid insecticide – cockroaches will not eat it
  •     When using baits or gels, be sure to remove competing food and water sources so the pests are forced to eat the bait
  •     Replace baits at intervals prescribed on the label or when they are completely eaten
  •     The more baits you can place and the closer you place them to where the roaches hide during the day, the better your control will be
  •     Remember to place baits around the access points of the home (entrances, openings, soffits, under steps, the garage) to intercept the roaches as they travel to and from the home