Economy Exterminators - Common Pests in North Carolina

Learn about the identification, habits and biology of many of the most common pests, insects and occasional invaders facing residents of North Carolina.

Use this convenient tool to identify the pest you're dealing with and learn about "do it yourself" ways to reduce the conditions that harbor and attract these common pests.

When a professional pest management solution becomes necessary, read about the benefits of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) solution, such as Economy Exterminators' Pest Prevention Plus Program.

Odorous Ants Odorous Ants HOW TO IDENTIFY: Odorous Ants will usually be seen in large numbers - brownish-black in color. Workers are 1/12 to 1/8 inches long. They are sometimes confused with the Argentine Ants. One way to tell them apart is that the single node on the pedicel (the connector between the thorax and abdomen) is not visible from above, being hidden by the abdomen. However, they are most easily identified by the coconut odor given off when the ant is crushed. WHEN IN DOUBT, EXAMINE THIS ANT UNDER A MICROSCOPE OR OTHER MAGNIFIYING APPARATUS TO IDENTIFY. Read about do it yourself ways to reduce the conditions that harbor and attract Odorous Ants, and learn more about Economy Exterminators comprehensive, professional Pest Prevention Plus program.	Fire Ants Fire Ants HOW TO IDENTIFY: Fire Ants are native to Brazil and presents a serious pest problem from the southern United States to Virginia. This ant gets its name from its ability to inflict painful bites and stings. Fire Ants vary in size from 1/16 to1/4 inches long. They have a reddish-brown head and thorax with a black abdomen. The pedicel or "waist" of the imported fire ant consists of 2 segments. Their preferred nesting sites are areas where soil has been excavated. Mounds are built of soil and are seldom larger than 18 inches in diameter. When a mound is disturbed, the ants emerge aggressively to bite and sting the intruder. A white pustule usually appears the next day at the site of the sting. The sting that they inflict can be of serious concern since about 2% of the population of the US is at risk of anaphylactic shock. This species is steadily moving northward. Read about do it yourself ways to reduce the conditions that harbor and attract Fire Ants, and learn more about Economy Exterminators comprehensive, professional Pest Prevention Plus program.	Argentine Ants Argentine Ants HOW TO IDENTIFY: Argentine Ants will usually be in large numbers, light to dark brown in color. The workers are 1/12 to 1/8 inches long; queens are much larger - 1/6 to 1/4 inches long. This insect is native to Argentina and most probably was transported by ships to New Orleans in the 19th century. One needs a microscope to correctly identify this insect. Read about do it yourself ways to reduce the conditions that harbor and attract Argentine Ants, and learn more about Economy Exterminators comprehensive, professional Pest Prevention Plus program.	Black Carpenter Ants Black Carpenter Ants HOW TO IDENTIFY: Carpenter Ants will usually be in large numbers, the color is brownish-black, workers are 1/8 to 1/2 inches long but vary greatly in size. They come in several color forms. Some are completely black, some are reddish, and some are a combination of red and black. They are some of the largest of the ants that we have in this area. Read about do it yourself ways to reduce the conditions that harbor and attract Carpenter Ants, and learn more about Economy Exterminators comprehensive, professional Pest Prevention Plus program.
Smokybrown Cockroaches Smokybrown Cockroaches HOW TO IDENTIFY: What does a Smokybrown Cockroach look like; is it as large as your thumb and dark mahogany, almost black? If so, this is a Smokybrown Roach. Read about do it yourself ways to reduce the conditions that harbor and attract Smokybrown Cockroaches, and learn more about Economy Exterminators comprehensive, professional Pest Prevention Plus program.	German Cockroaches German Cockroaches HOW TO IDENTIFY: What do German Cockroaches look like and where do you see them? Usually found in the kitchen area, it is small, 1/2 inch to 5/8 inches in length, and medium yellowish-brown. German roaches can be distinguished from other roaches by two dark parallel stripes on the anterior, dorsal portion (pronotum) (of the thorax) (THE HEAD). Read about do it yourself ways to reduce the conditions that harbor and attract German Cockroaches, and learn more about Economy Exterminators comprehensive, professional Pest Prevention Plus program.	American Cockroaches American Cockroaches HOW TO IDENTIFY: What does an American Cockroach look like? Is it as large as my thumb? The American Roach also known as a water bug and/or the palmetto bug is the largest of the roaches (up to 1.5 inches) and reddish-brown, with a pale brown or yellow border on the upper surface of the pronotum (which coversthe head). Both male and females have full wings. This roach can fly and it crawls very fast. If the pest looks like this, it is an American Roach. (If it is not the size of your thumb and it is reddish brown to black, it is a female Wood Roach. If it is dark mahogany and the size of your thumb, then it is a Smoky Brown Roach). Read about do it yourself ways to reduce the conditions that harbor and attract American Cockroaches, and learn more about Economy Exterminators comprehensive, professional Pest Prevention Plus program.	Wood Cockroaches Wood Cockroaches HOW TO IDENTIFY: What does a Wood Cockroach look like; is the roach as large as my index finger? Is it reddish at the head and almost black behind and without wings (female) and the male is light brown, a good flyer with wings longer than its body, and attracted to lights at night? Read about do it yourself ways to reduce the conditions that harbor and attract Wood Cockroaches, and learn more about Economy Exterminators comprehensive, professional Pest Prevention Plus program.
Termites Termites HOW TO IDENTIFY: The most common termite colony that we have in this area of North Carolina is the eastern subterranean termite colony (although a few Formosan termite colonies have been identified in North Carolina). A termite colony consists of the primary reproductives (also know as swarmers or winged reproductives) - the queen, workers, soldiers and supplementary reproductives. What most homeowners usually see first are these swarmers. Termite swarmers (winged reproductives) bodies are about 3/8" long and black to dark brown. Their bodies are shaped with no apparent distinct body parts and a thick waist that gives it a shape of your finger. Swarmers have 4 equal wings that are translucent or milky color with no apparent veins and extend beyond the abdomen. Sometimes the homeowner will only see the discarded wings in great numbers and no insects. The termite has straight antennae. Swarmers usually emerge from an infested tree stump or log or they can swarm inside a home or structure. They can swarm by the hundreds or thousands. This swarm happens usually from March to June but can also happen in autumn. The only purpose of the swarmers is to reproduce and start new colonies; it does no damage but can be frightening to homeowners when they see hundreds or thousands. Read about do it yourself ways to reduce the conditions that harbor and attract Termites, and learn more about Economy Exterminators comprehensive, professional Pest Prevention Plus program.	Paper Wasps Paper Wasps HOW TO IDENTIFY: Yellow Jackets, Honey Bees, Hornets and Wasps instill fear in many people. In the residential setting, the Paper Wasp is one of the most feared. This comes from its burning sting. The Paper Wasp is slightly longer than the Yellow Jacket - 5/8 to 3/4 inches long. Their nests are made of paper and are dusty brown to gray in color with up to 250 cells. The cells are pointed downward and are easily visible as the wasps work the nest. The nest is comprised of one open tier with its cells exposed, and secured about 1/2" from an overhang or deck rail, etc. The paper top serves as a covering and it is umbrella shaped. The wasp nests are usually first seen in the spring with one queen that starts building the nest. Read about do it yourself ways to reduce the conditions that harbor and attract Paper Wasps, and learn more about Economy Exterminators comprehensive, professional Pest Prevention Plus program.	Yellow Jackets Yellow Jackets HOW TO IDENTIFY: Yellow Jackets, Honey Bees, Wasps and Hornets instill fear in many people. The Yellow Jacket is one of the most feared. This comes from its burning sting. The Yellow Jacket is 3/8 to 5/8 inches long and the queens are about 25% larger and longer. There are 16 different species in the United States. The worker's abdominal color variations are specific to each species and several specimens may be necessary to give specific identification. Read about do it yourself ways to reduce the conditions that harbor and attract Yellow Jackets, and learn more about Economy Exterminators comprehensive, professional Pest Prevention Plus program.	House Mouse House Mouse HOW TO IDENTIFY: The house mouse is a small, gray, 4-legged, short-haired animal. As an adult, it is 2.5 to almost 4 inches long; from the nose to the tip of its tail approximately 7 inches long and weighs about 1 ounce. Since the house mouse is nocturnal and active at night, you actually may not see the mouse. The first indications will be mouse dropping on the counter, in lower kitchen cabinets, storage rooms, garages, etc. The mouse droppings are 1/4 to 3/8 inches long, rod-shaped with pointed ends, and black in color. An adult house mouse can produce up to 50 droppings a day. Read about do it yourself ways to reduce the conditions that harbor and attract House Mice, and learn more about Economy Exterminators comprehensive, professional Pest Prevention Plus program.
Black Widow Spiders Black Widow Spiders HOW TO IDENTIFY: Spiders instill fear in many people and the Black Widow is one of the most feared. This comes from its venomous bite (females not males). All spiders are non-insect arthropods. They have 2 body parts and 8 legs. Insects have 6 legs. Spiders are hunters of insects and other arthropods that are caught in their webs or have been captured. A female black widow spider body is about 1/2 inch in length; overall about 1 1/2 inches. Color varies from glossy black to dark brown (most are black with the red hour glass on the underside). They have 2 distinctive, connected triangles that are the bright red in color and resemble an hour glass. Males are about half the size of the females. Males are a lighter color with a row of red spots with white lines radiating outward from the center. Read about do it yourself ways to reduce the conditions that harbor and attract Black Widow Spiders, and learn more about Economy Exterminators comprehensive, professional Pest Prevention Plus program.	Silverfish Silverfish HOW TO IDENTIFY: The adult size of silverfish is about 1/2 to 3/4 inches long and about 1/8" wide at the head tapering to the rear. The three long, slender appendages that are found at the rear of the body gives rise to its other common name of "Bristle tails". They are silver to gun-metal color and one species has 4 dark lines running its entire body. One would find silverfish in attics, closets, and sometimes in bathtubs or sinks where they fall from the ceiling, electrical and plumbing fixtures into the tubs and sinks and cannot climb out. Read about do it yourself ways to reduce the conditions that harbor and attract Silverfish, and learn more about Economy Exterminators comprehensive, professional Pest Prevention Plus program.	Bed Bugs Bed Bugs It is important to recognize the signs of a bed bug infestation. The bed bug gets its name from its close association with humans and their beds. Bed bugs were introduced to the US by the early colonists. It was thought after World War II that the bed bugs were eradicated in the US. In recent years, the numbers of incidents of people being bitten by bed bugs has increased exponentially. HOW TO IDENTIFY: Bed bugs are small, oval, wingless insects that reach about 1/4 inch in length. They have flat bodies, are reddish-brown in color. Bed bugs feed by sucking blood from people or animals. They do not develop wings and cannot fly. Fortunately, they are not known to carry any diseases. Read about do it yourself ways to reduce the conditions that harbor and attract Bed Bugs, and learn more about Economy Exterminators comprehensive, professional Pest Prevention Plus program.	House Spiders House Spiders House Spiders can be found in or around every structure. In North Carolina the House Spider is active every month of the year. All cobwebs are made by spiders. HOW TO IDENTIFY: Spiders instill fear in many people. Spiders are non-insect arthropods. They have 2 body parts and 8 legs. Insects have 6 legs. Spiders are hunters of insects and other arthropods that are caught in their webs. A house spider is the most common spider found in or around every structure. A female house spider is 3/16 to 3/8 inches in length. Color can vary - molted colors are yellowish brown to dirty gray with some dark spots. Males are a bit smaller. All spiders produce silk threads which are used for its web, egg sacs, to catch its prey, hold its prey, to make protective areas and/or ballooning also known as dynamic kiting. This silk hardens upon contact with the air. Spiders are master weavers. Here is an interesting fact: a thread of spider silk long enough to go around the world would weigh 16 ounces. Read about do it yourself ways to reduce the conditions that harbor and attract House Spiders, and learn more about Economy Exterminators comprehensive, professional Pest Prevention Plus program.
Lady Bugs Lady Bugs HOW TO IDENTIFY: The Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle adults are small to moderate in size - about 7/32 to 1/4 of an inch long, oval and can be red, yellow, orange, or black in color. North American populations range in color from yellow-orange to bright red-orange, with or without black spots. Their antennae are very short and usually not noticeable. The Multicolored Asian Lady beetle has a pronotum (found just behind the head)that is ivory with black markings that look like a "W" or "M" when viewed from the front or the back. The beetle has a chemical defense to discourage predators. This foul-smelling chemical is also present in their hemolymph (blood) and the beetles will "reflex bleed" when agitated, releasing hemolymph through the joints on their legs. This discharge will cause staining. They are found throughout much of the eastern U.S. Read about do it yourself ways to reduce the conditions that harbor and attract Lady Bugs, and learn more about Economy Exterminators comprehensive, professional Pest Prevention Plus program.	House Crickets House Crickets HOW TO IDENTIFY: House Crickets in the adult size are 3/4 to 7/8 inches long. They are yellowish- brown with 3 dark bands that cross their head from eye to eye. Their legs resemble those of a grasshopper in that that they use them to propel themselves. They are fully winged and can fly but mostly crawl or hop. They prefer the outdoors until their population gets too large. Read about do it yourself ways to reduce the conditions that harbor and attract House Crickets, and learn more about Economy Exterminators comprehensive, professional Pest Prevention Plus program.	Camel Crickets Camel Crickets HOW TO IDENTIFY: Adult Camel Crickets are 1/2 to 1-1/2 inches long; entire body and antennae can be 4 inches. They are brownish to grayish in color and have a humpback appearance. They have two long, back legs and 2 very long antennae. Their legs resemble grasshopper's legs in that they use them to propel themselves. They are wingless. The young can look almost translucent. Read about do it yourself ways to reduce the conditions that harbor and attract Camel Crickets, and learn more about Economy Exterminators comprehensive, professional Pest Prevention Plus program.