Economy Exterminators provides Pest Management Services in North Carolina including the Cary, Apex & Triangle Areas, as well as Charlotte and Wilmington.
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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.


Fire AntsFire Ants
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.

American CockroachesAmerican Cockroaches
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.

TermitesTermites
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 WaspsPaper Wasps
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.

House MouseHouse Mouse
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 SpidersBlack Widow Spiders
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.

Bed BugsBed Bugs
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 SpidersHouse Spiders
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 BugsLady Bugs
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.

 
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