Silverfish

Characteristics
Size: Between ½-inch and 1 inch in length
Color: Typically a shiny gray or silver

Introduction
They have three appendages protruding from the rear of the abdomen.

Behavior
Silverfish feed on organic matter. This includes fabrics, paper, and book bindings. They prefer to be in high locations, especially where the ceiling meets the wall.

Habitat
Silverfish will be found in cracks and crevices. They require food and moisture, which mean they are often found around kitchens and bathrooms. However, they ware also found in the garage. Not uncommon in new homes, many times they will be brought in on the drywall.

Tips for Control
The best tip for identifying silverfish in the home is to look up. They are often up where the ceiling meets the wall. To control nesting sites, a crack and crevice treatment is a must. Especially cracks around plumbing, under sinks, and in bathrooms.

Earwig

Characteristics
Size: About 1 inch long
Color: Dark brown

Introduction
Earwigs are distinguished by their forceps-like appendages that protrude from the rear of the abdomen.

Behavior
Earwigs are omnivores; they hung and eat other insects.

Habitat
There are two main places where earwigs prefer to live; under objects that trap moisture between the soil, and in the cracks and crevices of structures.

Tips for Control
When you are treating for earwigs, you must locate the source of the problem. Finding the source is sometimes difficult. Rake mulch away from the foundation of structures anywhere from 12-24 inches.

House Cricket

Characteristics
Size: No larger than 1-1/2 inches in length
Color: Generally black or brown

Introduction
Crickets are usually easy to spot. They are not uncommon, so most people are familiar with their appearance. They have two long legs on the rear of the abdomen used for jumping.

Behavior
Cricket are attracted to bright lights. They will swarm mid-to-late summer. Many times they will come by the dozens and often even the hundred to structures because of the lights.

Habitat
Crickets that live near buildings will locate themselves under mulch, lumber, firewood, debris, boards, and heavy vegetations.

Tips for Control
• To help control crickets, eliminate as many harborages as possible:
• Store firewood away from the home and off the ground.
• Remove leaf littler and any debris that could provide shelter.
• Rake back mulch areas and grown cover, at least 12-24 inches away from the foundation of the structure.
• Yellow lights or bug lights will help so that fewer crickets are attracted to the structure.
• All cracks in the structure need to be sealed.

Ticks

Appearance
Appearance differs by species, but all adults are very small, round, with either legs (larvae or seed ticks have six legs); 1/8 to
1/2-inch long.

Habitat
Live on the bodies of mammal, birds and reptiles.

Diet
Blood; all species can swell to a considerable size after feeding.

Reproduction
Mating usually occurs while adults ticks are on the host animal; female hard ticks feed only once and lay one large batch of up to 10,000 eggs; female soft ticks will feed several times and lay 20-50 eggs after each meal. Eggs are hatched in 19-60 days.

Other Information
Ticks are known carriers of many serious diseases, including encephalitis, tick paralysis, typhus and Lyme disease; adults can live over 500 days without a meal.