HENV-401:Managing Insects and Spiders in the Home
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COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND ENVIRONMENT, LEXINGTON, KY, 40546 HENV 401 Home & Environment Managing Insects and Spiders in the Home Blake Newton, Ric Bessin, Mike Potter, and Lee Townsend, Entomology any species of insects and spiders make their homes in Kentucky. Some- Mtimes, they wander into our homes as well. Luckily, most of these creatures are not harmful to people or to property, so there is little need to worry about them. However, a few can damage our homes, eat our food, or even deliver dangerous bites. This guide is designed to help you tell the “bad” bugs from the In this Publication harmless ones and to show you a few basic steps that you can take to detect the • Bed Bugs most common indoor pests and to prevent problems before they happen. • Wood-Destroying Pests This guide is only an introduction. For Bed bugs are small, flat, reddish- • Ants more detailed information, follow the brown insects that emerge, mostly at • Pantry Pests links in the text that lead to the Uni- night, to feed on human and animal • Fabric Pests versity of Kentucky’s collection of en- blood. During the day, they hide in the tomology factsheets (ENTfacts). If you seams of mattresses, behind head- • Cockroaches cannot access these files on computer, boards, between bed slats, and other • Fleas your county Extension office can print locations that are adjacent to sleeping • Ladybugs a free copy for you. areas. They are also sometimes found • Crickets where people commonly sit and rest, like couches or armchairs. Household- • Flies Bed Bugs ers can work to prevent bed bug infes- Although bed bugs were practically • Silverfish tations by taking care while traveling eliminated from the United States in • Spiders and when bringing secondhand items the 1940s and ’50s, they are making such as clothing, suitcases, or furniture • Centipedes and Millipedes a comeback today. Populations are into their homes. • General Indoor Pest Control Tips now common in Kentucky, especially in multi-unit structures such as hotels, Diligence can be useful in prevent- apartment buildings, dormitories, and ing infestations, but bed bugs and other buildings where many people come and go. Bed bug infestations are not related to filth or unsanitary conditions; they will infest the most expensive resorts and luxury homes. While bed bugs have not been impli- cated in the transmission of disease, infestations must be taken seriously. Bed bugs can cause painful bites, and their presence can bring stress and significant expense to a household. Bed Bug (Gary Alpert, Harvard University, Bugwood.org) Agriculture and Natural Resources • Family and Consumer Sciences • 4-H Youth Development • Community and Economic Development EXTENSION their eggs are very small and can be overlooked. Once bed bugs have established inside a home, control will only be effective with the help of a professional. Multiple treatments are often required. If you find insects in a bedroom and are not sure if they are bed bugs, bring them to your county Termite swarmers (Gary Alpert, Harvard University, Extension office for confirmation. If Bugwood.org) Harvestman, a.k.a “daddy longlegs” (David you have bed bugs, contact a pest Cappaert, Michigan State University, Bugwood.org) control professional to get the elimi- They do most of their damage under- nation process started. ground, behind walls, and in other Common Myths For detailed travel tips and other in- places that are hidden from view. • Daddy longlegs are danger- formation for bed bug detection and Many times a householder will not ous. There are several creatures prevention, see: become aware of a termite infestation referred to as “daddy” or “grand- until they see “swarmers.” Swarmers daddy” longlegs. Sometimes, Bed Bugshttp://www.ca.uky.edu/en- are the winged stage of a termite. this name is used for the round- tomology/entfacts/ef636.asp They leave the colony during spring to bodied, long-legged creatures look for new nesting sites and often called “harvestmen.” The name Wood-Destroying Pests enter the living spaces of homes as is also sometimes used for cellar spiders. This statement is not true Several Kentucky insects can damage they move out and away from the about either type of creature; they the wood in our homes. Creatures hidden wood that they have been are both harmless. (Harvestmen like powderpost beetles bore holes in infesting. The presence of swarmers are not common inside homes, wooden floors and furniture. Car- doesn’t mean that the termites are but cellar spiders are.) You can penter ants sometimes colonize the gone, though. It means that there are read more about this myth at the wooden support structures of a home. lots more, still hiding and feeding. University of California website: It is the subterranean termite, though, The good news about termites is that http://spiders.ucr.edu/daddylong- that has the best potential to cause legs.html. they do their damage very slowly. major economic damage to a home, If you see swarmers in your home, • Paper mites will bite people. barn, or other wooden structure. Sometimes people who work it is a good idea to take action, but it doesn’t mean that your home is in urban office structures are Termites stricken with small, bitelike le- ruined. It can take termites many sions. These “bites” are sometimes Most termites in Kentucky live in years to cause serious structural dam- blamed on “paper mites.” Howev- forests. There they perform a valuable age. If you suspect that your home er, there are no such things as pa- service—turning dead trees back into is infested with termites, call a pest per mites. Usually these wounds soil. They become pests when they control professional. Modern termite- are caused by some factor other discover and begin feeding on our control techniques are very effective than insects or insect relatives, homes. Termites are especially drawn at eliminating problems and can even such as seasonal dermatitis or to moist areas around buildings— prevent future termite infestations. other underlying conditions. For such as from leaky faucets, dampness, For more detailed information about more information, see “Invisible and poor drainage. Unfortunately, ter- Itches” http://www.ca.uky.edu/en- termite detection and control, see UK mites can be very difficult to detect. tomology/entfacts/ent58.asp. Entomology’s factsheets: • Bugs mean that a home is dirty. Protecting Your Home against Although sanitation is mentioned Termites http://www.ca.uky.edu/ often in this document, the pres- entomology/entfacts/ef605.asp ence of insects or spiders does not indicate that a home is dirty Termite Control: Answers for or unkempt. Insects and spiders Homeowners http://www.ca.uky.edu/ can (and will) show up in any entomology/entfacts/ef604.asp building, no matter what the Other wood-infesting insects will conditions. sometimes damage buildings in Termite Workers and Soldiers (Gary Alpert, Harvard University, Bugwood.org) Kentucky. Carpenter ants sometimes 2 hollow out wood for nesting but sealed containers that contain dry rarely cause major structural dam- food items, such as bags of crackers, age. Powderpost beetles are primarily boxes of cereal, bags of flour or meal, pests of new homes, wood flooring, bags of pet food, open containers of and furniture. Likewise, they rarely spices or teas, or any other dry organic cause major damage, but it is a good item, such as bird seed or dried floral idea for householders to be aware of decorations. Look for tiny worms, them. For more information on wood- webbing, holes, and little piles of dust. destroying pests, see: Odorous house ant, a common “kitchen ant” (Joseph All of these can indicate the presence Berger, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org) Carpenter Ants http://www.ca.uky. of pests. If you find one infested item, edu/entomology/entfacts/ef603.asp it is possible that other nearby items Pantry Pests are infested as well, so it is a good idea Powderpost Beetles http://www. Several beetles, moths, and mites to inspect all dried foods in a pantry. ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ can infest whole grains or pro- Dispose of all infested items and also ef616.asp cessed foods. Usually, the first sign thoroughly vacuum the area, includ- of a problem is the appearance of ing nearby cracks and crevices and the Ants small beetles, moths, or caterpillars. shelves where the foods were stored. Most ant species are not harmful to Flour beetles, rice weevils, drugstore After treatment, you can work to humans, pets, or to food or posses- beetles, Angoumois grain moth, and prevent future infestations by main- sions, and—unlike carpenter ants, Indian meal moth are among a host taining good sanitation and by storing mentioned above—they do not of small insects that commonly infest foods in sealed containers. Food prod- destroy wood. However, several spe- pantry supplies, pet food, or other ucts that are purchased in cardboard cies commonly invade homes. All ants stored items such as cereal, flour, rice, boxes or bags can be stored in plastic look similar; if you are not sure wheth- beans, nuts, spices and dried fruit. or glass containers that can be sealed er an ant is a carpenter ant, consult Luckily, these pests are not harmful to tightly. Decorative floral arrangements your county Extension office for iden- humans, and a few simple techniques and bird feed may be treated with tification. If you see trails of ants in a can be used to control and prevent all heat (155°F for about 20 minutes with kitchen, they are usually members of a of these different species. the oven door propped open) or in a colony that exists close to your home.