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Pest Identification Page

Welcome to Pest Control System of NY’s pest identification page.  Different pests require different control measures and methods, so it is extremely important to correctly identify each pest so we know how to best serve our customers.  Here you can browse images of various pests that commonly infest homes and commercial properties, as well as their habits and some control methods.

BEDBUGS    ROACHES   TERMITES    RATS    MICE   ANTS  OTHER PESTS

BEDBUGS                                               
Bedbugs nesting on a mattress 

Bedbugs have become one of the most significant pests in New York City and cities all over the United States after being held under control for many years. They are also very difficult to eliminate, as well as very costly to do so.

DESCRIPTION:

• Body is broadly oval shaped
• Body is flattened when not fed
• Wingless
• 4 antenna segments
• Adult is¼ inch long (6mm)
• Color:-unfed nymph is straw colored
• -engorged nymph is crimson
• -unfed adult can bevarious shades of brown
• -engorged adult is a darker, reddish brown

FEEDING HABITS:

• Both adults and nymphs suck blood; humans are preferred
• Feed MAINLY at night
• Travel up to 20 feet, but will travel further if necessary
• Feeding bedbugs do not transmit diseases
• Can go many months between feedings

CONTROL MEASURES:

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO TREAT A BEDBUG INFESTATION YOURSELF! Always have a professional pest control technician provide this type of service. Technicians here at Pest Control Systems of NY have been highly trained to provide a thorough and professional bedbug service.

However, there are some proactive steps you can take to help yourself with a bedbug infestation.

• Vacuumthe entire infested area, and the adjacent areas
• Seal orcaulk any cracks or crevices in the apartment especially those near the baseboards, moldings, pipes, wire lines, etc.
• Repairholes and other damage in walls
• Re-glue any peeled wall paper, repair paint or anything else that may provide hiding places for bedbugs
• Damage or destroy any furniture that will be discarded so they can not be reused.

BEDBUGS    ROACHES   TERMITES    RATS    MICE   ANTS  OTHER PESTS

COCKROACHES

Cockroaches, or simply “roaches”, are one of the most common pests that infest both homes and businesses over the world. Many people tend to believe that roaches tend to be a big problem in the summer, but that they “go away” during the winter. This is not true. Residences and commercial locations are perfect places for roaches to inhabit and thrive all year round. Two of the more common species of roaches are the German cockroach and the American cockroach.

 DESCRIPTION:

FEEDING HABITS:

Cockroaches are omnivores, like us. For the most part they will eat anything organic. Mostly they eat dead or immobile things. They will eat anything from left over food to the glue off the back of postage stamps and the glue bindings off the backs of books, since traditional glue being derived from animal protein.

CONTROL MEASURES:

      American roaches can move from one building to the next during the summer, entering through cracks in foundations, around loose-fitting doors or windows, and along water and gas pipes. Seal openings with putty or plastic wood. Inspect sacks, cartons and boxes, etc., brought into the home and destroy any roaches. Sanitation is critical in roach control.

Like with American roaches, sanitation is paramount to prevent an infestation of German roaches. Clean areas beneath cabinets, sinks, stoves, refrigerators, etc. as well as cupboards, pantry shelves and food storage bins regularly. Clean up spilled foods and liquids. Avoid leaving scraps of food on unwashed dishes and countertops overnight. Keep food in tightly sealed containers, rinse cans and bottles before putting in the trash. Leftover pet food should not remain in the feeding dish overnight.

BEDBUGS    ROACHES   TERMITES    RATS    MICE   ANTS  OTHER PESTS

TERMITES
Subterranean termites are the most common and economically important wood-destroying organisms in the United States. Subterranean termites are closely associated with the soil habitat where they excavate a network of tunnels through the soil to reach water and food. These termites need moisture to survive.  The most frequently seen subterranean termites are the workers, soldiers, and the reproductives.

DESCRIPTION:

Worker termites are white and soft bodied. Their responsibility is to find food for the rest of the colony. They form shelter tubes, or mud tubes, over the surface of foundation walls to travel back and forth from the nest to the infested wood. These tubes are also used to keep them moist, and as protection against ants.

Soldiers resemble worker termites, except that they have enlarged brownish heads and strong, well-developed jaws. Soldiers defend the colony from invaders, primarily ants.

Reproductives (also called swarmers) can be winged,primary reproductives called alates or swarmers or wingless, secondary reproductives. Winged reproductives have 1/4 to 3/8 inch long pale yellow-brown to black bodies and bear four wings of equal size that may be smoky gray to brown and have few wing veins.  Reproductive termites are the ones most often confused with flying ants. However, they have 3 main differences

• The Antenna
• The Waist
• The Bodyshape

Here is a picture comparison between winged termites and winged ants:

FEEDING HABITS:

Subterranean termites feed on materials that contain cellulose, primarily dead wood and wood by-products. Only the worker termite caste can digest timber by the use of symbiotic protozoa in their gut. Worker termites feed their partly digested semi-liquid food, regurgitated from their mouth or passing from their anus, to the other termites, a process known as trophallaxis

CONTROL MEASURES:

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO TREAT A TERMITE INFESTATION YOURSELF. To successfully treat a termite infestation, you would need highly trained and certified professionals, like those at Pest Control System of NY. However, there are some proactive steps you can take to help yourself with a bedbug infestation:

• The best time to provide subterranean termite protection to a structure is during the planning and construction stages.
• Roots,stumps, and other wood debris should always be removed before construction is started.
• Woodshould not be buried under porches or steps. Scraps of lumber should be properly disposed of.
• All foundations should be made as impermeable as possible by properly reinforcing concrete
• Ventilation openings in foundation walls beneath buildings buildings with crawl spaces should be large enough to prevent dead air pockets, and minimize moisture.

BEDBUGS    ROACHES   TERMITES    RATS    MICE   ANTS  OTHER PESTS

RATS

The rat that is most common to New York City and to neighboring states is the Norway rat. The key to controlling the population at any site is SANITATION. When it comes to rats, SANITATION IS PEST CONTROL. The Norway rat, also called the brown rat or sewer rat, is a destructive pest found in urban and suburban neighborhoods. These rodents eat and contaminate food, damage buildings and other property by their gnawing and burrowing, and may spread diseases that affect people and pets.

DESCRIPTION:

• Husky, weigh about 11 ounces
• Brownish to grey
• 13 to 18 inches long including the 6 to 8 1/2 inch tail

FEEDING HABITS:

Rats will eat nearly any type of food, but they prefer high-quality foods such as meat and fresh grain. Rats require 1/2 to 1 fluid ounce of water daily when feeding on dry food. The less food available to rats, the more likely they are to eat poison bait left by pest control technicians.

CONTROL MEASURES:

SANITATION IS PEST CONTROL. Poor sanitation and the presence of garbage help rats to survive in residential areas. Good sanitation will effectively limit the number of rats that can survive in and around the home. This involves good housekeeping, proper storage and handling of food materials and refuse, and elimination of rodent shelter. Good sanitary practices will not eliminate rats under all conditions, but will make the environment less suitable for them to thrive.

BEDBUGS    ROACHES   TERMITES    RATS    MICE   ANTS  OTHER PESTS

MICE

Mice can be harmful pests, damaging and eating stored foods and spreading diseases through their parasites and feces. Limiting the amount of food source for mice is essential in their control. Mice are timid, social, and territorial. They are usually active in the night time.

DESCRIPTION:

• Mice range in size from 5 to 7 inches (13to 18 cm) long (including a long tail
• They weigh from 1/4 to 2 ounces
• Color ranges from white to brown to gray

FEEDING HABITS:

Mice will eat just about anything including fruits, grasses, insects, nuts, cheese, sunflower seeds, berries, wheat grains, peanut butter, and bread.  They need about 3 grams of food each day, and only some water. Mice can get enough moisture from the food they eat daily.

CONTROL MEASURES:

SANITATION IS PEST CONTROL. Poor sanitation and the presence of garbage help mice to survive in residential areas. Good sanitation will effectively limit the number of mice that can survive in and around the home. This involves good housekeeping, proper storage and handling of food materials and refuse, and elimination of rodent shelter. Good sanitary practices will not eliminate mice under all conditions, but will make the environment less suitable for them to thrive.

BEDBUGS    ROACHES   TERMITES    RATS    MICE   ANTS  OTHER PESTS

ANTS

It is very important to have accurate ant identification in order to determine the best method of control if needed. Ants communicate with each other through chemicals called pheromones. Like other insects, ants smell with their long and thin antennae that are fairly mobile. The antennae have a distinct elbow joint after an elongated first segment. Since ants spend their life in contact with the ground, the soil surface makes a good place to leave a pheromone trail that can be followed by other ants.

DESCRIPTION:

There are several kinds of ants that may occur in and around the home ranging in size from about 1/32 to 3/4 inch long and colored yellowish, light brown, reddish-brown, brownish-black or jet black. Ants, as all insects, have three body parts, head, thorax, and abdomen. Most are wingless, but the homeowner sometimes may confuse swarming, winged ants with swarming, winged termites, causing alarm.

Here is a picture comparison between winged ants and winged termites:

CONTROL MEASURES:

It is important to understand some very important facts when dealing with ants:

• They will invade any structure once a food supply or nest site has been found
• Once they have chosen a structure for nesting or food, simply spraying will not provide control.  In fact, many times spraying inside will only cause the problem to get worse 
• Once you obtain control, it is suggested that you continue inside and outside treatments from time to time to insure they do not reinfest the home.

BEDBUGS    ROACHES   TERMITES    RATS    MICE   ANTS  OTHER PESTS

OTHER PESTS

Many times, people see a pest and naturally try to handle the situation themselves. Often times it is a simple solution to a simple problem. However, please be advised that not every situation is easily solved with over the counter products. It is always advised to come to our office to get a free consultation and free insect identification.