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Carpenter Ant
The Carpenter Ant gets its name from its destructive nesting behavior. Carpenter Ants DO NOT eat wood, but will hollow out galleries in pieces of wood for the sole purpose of nesting. A colony can have up to 100,000 workers, which can make an infestation difficult to control. Carpenter Ants vary in size and color, but are generally black or a combination of red and black. Workers are approximately 1/8-1/2” in length. Queens are approximately ½-5/8” in length.
Cockroach
The German Cockroach is by far the most common of the cockroaches. The German Cockroach has been implicated in outbreaks of illness, the transmission of a variety of pathogens and allergic reactions in people. The adult German Cockroach is approximately ½-5/8” long. Its coloration is light brown to tan except for two dark brown longitudinal stripes on its back. The female is broader than the male and may often be seen carrying or dragging an egg capsule behind it.
TERMITES
There are many different kinds of Termites throughout the world. We in the greater Puget Sound deal with two primary species of Termites, the Dampwood Termite and the Western Subterranean Termite. Both types of Termites can have a severe impact on the integrity of a structure. Termites feed on cellulose debris (wood).
As their name implies, Dampwood Termites make their colonies in damp decaying wood. Dampwood Termites are almost always larger then Western Subterranean Termites. A Dampwood nymph can be up to 3/4” in length and a Dampwood swarmer 1” in length including the wings.
The Western Subterranean Termite will usually nest in the ground below the frost line and above the water table. These Termites will travel from their nest into a structure to locate their food source (wood/cellulose debris). A subterranean swarmer is approximately 3/8” long and black in color.
BED BUGS
The past few years has seen a major resurgence of the Bed Bug throughout the United States. Bed Bugs got their name from the close association with human sleeping areas, where they often seek refuge during the day. Bed Bugs come out at night to locate a human blood meal. They feed primarily on human blood, but will also attack other mammals and birds. An adult Bed Bug is approximately 3/16” long, oval shaped and flat. They are a light brown to reddish brown in color (After blood meal).
Odorous House Ant-AKA Sugar Ant
The Odorous House Ant is one of the most common nuisance pests in the Pacific Northwest. Fortunately, the Odorous House Ant will not cause structural damage to your home or office. This ant was given its name from the strong odor given off when crushed. An Odorous House Ant is approximately 1/16-1/8” in length and generally dark brown to black in color.
RATS
Rats are extremely destructive and can compromise the integrity of a structure. In addition to compromising a structure’s integrity, rodents are the leading cause of electrical fires in homes and businesses. Rats are also responsible for the transmission of over 70 diseases. The Pacific Northwest deals with two primary types of rats, the Roof Rat and the Norway Rat. An adult Roof Rat has a combined head and body length of approximately 6-8”, a tail length of 7-10” and a body weight of 5-9 oz. The Norway Rat, the larger of the two, has a combined head and body length of 7-9.5”, a tail length of 6-8” and a usual weight of 7-18 oz.
MICE
The House Mouse is the most commonly encountered and has the largest economical impact of all the rodents in the Pacific Northwest. In addition to being a nuisance pest, the House Mouse damages materials by gnawing, contaminates stored food items and carries many diseases. An adult House Mouse has a combined head and body length of 2.5-3.5”, a tail length of 2 ¾-4” and an average weight of 1/2-1 oz.
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