Specialized Pest
Common Pests
Brown Recluse
The loxosceles recluse, also known as the violin spider, is a small-sized arachnid of approximately 7-12 mm long. The color of the brown recluse spider is normally brown. Its body shows a cephalothorax with a dark brown violin-shape; the legs are light brown and the oval-shaped abdomen is dark brown, yellow, or greenish yellow. The most important characteristic is the presence of 3 pairs of eyes in the cephalothorax. Should you believe that these spiders are present in your home, IT IS CRITICAL that proper identification be established prior to treatment.
Bed Bug
Sleep Tight! Don't let the bed bugs bite! Unfortunately, bed bugs are real and spreading rapidly! How do they get into your home? They are traveling on us. We are their carriers. We pick them up anywhere. Bed bug adults are approximately 3/16" and are reddish brown in color. They are wingless and can typically be seen with the human eye. It is much more difficult to see the immature states as well as the eggs. They can hide in many different areas including but not limited to headboards, baseboards, screw holes, and many tight confined places. It is very important to have an All Things Exterminators, Inc. thorough inspection performed to determine the level of infestation.
Black Widow
The body of an adult black widow is about 1/2" long. The female black widow is normally shiny black, with a red hourglass marking on the underside of its abdomen. The markings can vary in color from red to yellow to white. The hourglass may be visible or you may see dots. The bite of a black widow is toxic and can cause harm. Should you believe that you have been bitten by a black widow, you should seek medical attention! A proper inspection by All Things Exterminators, Inc. will help determine what type of spiders are in/around your home.
Carpenter Ant
Worker carpenter ants from a single colony range in size from 1/4" up to a large 1/2". Carpenter Ant Queens are as large as 3/4". Foraging ants can be active in many locations. During warmer days a number of winged ants may swarm inside, and they are usually mistaken for termites. Typically, this is a 3-year-old nest with more than 3000 workers. When termites swarm, they drop their wings immediately while carpenter ants retain their wings as they look for a new nest site. Most times this ant will be found around rotted wood. These ants can cause large amounts of damage to structures. It is important to have a thorough inspection from All Things Exterminators, Inc. to determine colony locations.
Carpenter Bee
They are solitary bees which burrow inside wood materials such as wood patios, decks, rails, eaves, and other wood products. One of the tell-tale signs of their invasion is the sawdust piles they leave behind. They can be up to 1" in size. They are shiny with a mostly hairless abdomen. The males are relatively harmless, while the females have stingers. They can easily be mistaken for bumble bees. Since they are a wood-destroying insect, it is very important that All Things Exterminators, Inc. perform a thorough inspection if you suspect these insects!
Mosquito
They are insects that belong to the order Diptera. There are over 2500 different species throughout the world. They have 2 wings and a long, piercing, sucking proboscis which they use to pierce skin. While the males are not suited to pierce, the female is very capable and feeds primarily on human and animal blood. They are known to transmit many forms of disease such as malaria, yellow fever, and others. There are many contributing factors to mosquitoes, and it is important to have a thorough inspection to eliminate these factors.
Fire Ant
One of the first signs you will see is a mound of soil! This can usually occur days after a heavy rain. However, there won't be an opening in the top of the tunnel because they use underground tunnels to enter and exit. These mounds can reach up to 18 inches in height. Fire ants are typically 1/8 of an inch long. They are very aggressive ants. Hundreds can attack at any given time ~ stinging their victim. Should you believe that you have fire ants, IT IS IMPORTANT you do not disturb the colony. With the right inspection from All Things Exterminators, Inc. we can identify the insect and offer the right solutions.
Rat
Has an average body weight between 10 oz to well over a pound. The body is heavy and usually between 7" and 10". It has a long head, blunt nose, and a tail usually about 6 inches long. The ears are small and color is brown to black on the back and sides, and gray to yellow on the belly. Their droppings are blunt and have an average length of 3/4 inch. The rat will eat about 1 oz of food per day. They produce anywhere from 30 to 180 droppings. They can produce 6-18 pups in a litter with 3-7 litters per year. Adults can live about 18 months. There are many signs that can be discovered with a proper inspection.
Mice
The house mouse can weigh from 1/2 to 3/4 of an ounce. The average body length can be from 2.5" to 3.5". They have a 3 to 4-inch long tail, large ears, and they are typically gray on their back and lighter gray on the belly. Their droppings are pointed and average about 1/4" in length. The house mouse can eat 1/10th an ounce of food per day and drink 1/20th an ounce of water. They produce around 50 droppings per day. They can produce 6 young in a litter and 8 litters per year. Adults can live about 15-18 months. They are very curious creatures and can forage 50 feet from their nest. There are many signs that can be discovered with a proper inspection.
Cockroach
There are different types of roaches that can invade your home. Some of these roaches include American, Oriental, German, and Brown Banded. Each cockroach has distinguishing characteristics which separate it from the others. The nesting sites for each vary, as do their methods of entry. The most common roach is the German Cockroach. Typically, it can be found in kitchens and bathrooms where water sources exist. The female German Cockroach can produce 30 to 50 eggs at a time. Proper identification is key in performing the right type of treatment to control these pests. That is why it is important to have a thorough inspection performed by All Things Exterminators, Inc.!
Termites
Subterranean Termites have a broad waist, straight antennae, and a pair of equal length wings. They have a caste system comprising of kings, queens, workers, soldiers, supplementary reproductives, nymphs, and eggs. Their tunnels are built out of mud, which enable them to travel to their food source. Their food source is cellulose found in wood products. They work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year to reach their target. They can easily be mistaken for ants so it is very important to have a thorough inspection to reveal any evidence of a termite invasion.
Tick
There are many types of ticks. The most common tick is the American Dog Tick (Dermacentor variabilis). This is the most frequently encountered tick and is also sometimes known as a wood tick. The adult American Dog Tick can feed on humans and medium to large mammals. Males and females who have not fed are reddish-brown and about 3/16-inch long. Females have a large silver-colored spot behind the head and after feeding, they can become 1-inch long. Males have fine silver lines on the back and typically do not change size after feeding. In Tennessee, the adults are most active in April, May, and June. The American dog tick can transmit Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, tularemia, and possibly ehrlichiosis to humans.
Flea
Fleas are reddish-brown to black in color and can be seen with the human eye. They can range between 1/16" to 1/8". They are wingless insects with flattened bodies. They have tube-like mouthparts used to pierce the skin of their prey. These insects can be found on mammals where they will be extracting a blood meal. Fleas have long legs for jumping and are able to jump up to 7 inches vertically. Fleas can be found nesting in many areas, so it is important to have a thorough inspection to determine point of origin.
Cricket
Field Crickets are typically 15-25 millimeters in size, depending on the species, and can be black, red, or brown in color. While both males and females have similar basic body plans, each has its own distinguishing features.
Centipede
American Centipedes can range in size from 1/8" to 6 inches. They are worm-like and usually yellowish to dark brown in color, sometimes with darker stripes or markings. They have one pair of legs per body segment, ranging from 15 to 177 pairs. They can be found both indoors and outdoors.
Pill Bug
These bugs get their name from rolling into a ball when bothered. They do this to protect their soft underside. Pill bugs are about 0.6 inch long.
Millipedes
American Centipedes can range in size from 1/8" to 6 inches. They are worm-like and usually yellowish to dark brown in color, sometimes with darker stripes or markings. They have one pair of legs per body segment, ranging from 15 to 177 pairs. They can be found both indoors and outdoors.
Silverfish
These guys grow up to 1 inch long. They have long, slender silvery bodies that are flattened. They are wingless and have 3 filaments extending from the abdomen. Their abdomens taper at the end, giving them a fish-like appearance. They are often found indoors in damp areas. Silverfish are agile runners and can outrun most of their predators (including wandering spiders and centipedes). However, such running is only possible on horizontal surfaces, as they lack any additional appendages and, therefore, are not fast enough to climb walls at the same speed. They also fear the light.
Earwig
Known as pincher bugs, Earwigs have slender flattened bodies, bead-like antennae, and are easily recognized by the pair of large pinchers on the tip of the abdomen. Typically, since they are sensitive to heat and dryness, you will find them in cool, dark places. However, at nighttime, when temperatures are right, it is possible to see them active.
Paper Wasp
Averaging 3/4" to 1 1/2" long, they are yellow and black. Their nests are made of grayish brown papery material. Paper wasp nests are relatively small, containing 4 to 30 wasps per nest. Paper Wasps attack when aggravated and have a painful sting. They can also sting multiple times and do not lose their stinger. They are typically found outside but can be found indoors as well.