OCCASIONAL INVADER IDENTIFICATION & PREVENTION

What are occasional invaders?

Some of the most common species of occasional invaders found living throughout our area of Greater Baltimore include the following:

Beetles (Coleoptera)
Beetles come in a variety of shapes and sizes. They have well-developed antennae and chewing mouthparts, as well as shell-like front wings that cover their back wings. Most species also have a well-defined line running down their backs where their front wings meet. Beetles, depending on their species, feed on a variety of things including fabrics, plants, other insects, stored grains, and wood.

Centipedes (Chilopoda)
Centipedes are a predatory species that feed on insects and spiders. They have long, flat, segmented bodies that range in color from yellowish-gray to darkish-brown. Centipedes have one pair of legs per body segment; the first pair of their limbs (maxillipeds) ends in sharp claws and contains venom glands used to capture and paralyze prey.

Fleas (Siphonaptera)
Fleas feed solely on the blood of mammals. Adult fleas are very small in size, growing to about 1/12 to 1/6 of an inch. They have hard, flattened bodies that are dark brown in color and very difficult to squish. Fleas have six legs; they are wingless and incapable of flight, but their long, powerful hind legs allow them to jump great distances.

Millipedes (Diplopoda)
Millipedes look very similar to worms but can have anywhere from 30 to 90 pairs of legs. They are dark brown in color and approximately 3/4 to 1 inch long. When threatened, millipedes will curl up into tight balls. These occasional invaders are scavengers that have high moisture needs and cannot survive in dry environments.

Mosquitoes (Culicidae)
Adult mosquitoes have narrow, oval-shaped bodies with long legs, a single pair of wings, and long, piercing mouthparts called proboscises that they use for sucking up liquids. Their bodies are black or gray and covered with iridescent scales that can be blue, green, silver, or white in color. Both male and female mosquitoes feed on the nectar of flowers as their main food source; only females feed on the blood of humans and animals, as they require the protein in blood to produce their eggs.

Silverfish (Lepisma saccharina)
Silverfish have brown, teardrop-shaped bodies that are covered in gray scales. They are wingless and can grow to about 3/4 of an inch in length. They also have three distinct, bristle-like appendages protruding from the back of their bodies. Silverfish move from place to place in a wriggling, fish-like manner.

Stink bugs (Halyomorpha halys)
Stink bugs are agricultural pests that typically invade homes in large numbers during the fall. Stink bugs are as wide as they are long; they have mottled, brown or tan bodies with copper or metallic blue-colored patches on their heads. As their name suggests, these insects release a very foul-smelling liquid when threatened or squished.

Ticks (Ixodida)
Like fleas, ticks are external parasitic pests that feed solely on blood. Ticks are a type of arachnid and adults have eight legs. These pests have wingless, oval-shaped bodies that swell and grow in size after consuming a blood meal, though their exact size and color pattern is species dependent.

Are occasional invaders dangerous?

Why do I have an occasional invader problem?

Fleas and ticks can be introduced into your home or business on people or pets that have come into contact with them while spending time outdoors. Mosquitoes often will find their way inside accidentally while foraging for food and can become a huge problem on any property with standing water on which they can lay their eggs.

Where will I find occasional invaders?

How do I get rid of occasional invaders?

How can I prevent occasional invaders in the future?

In addition to our home pest control and commercial pest control services, protect your property from pests with the following prevention tips:

Exterior tips

• Seal any cracks or gaps in the foundation, exterior walls, or the roofline of your property.

• Cut back overgrown vegetation away from the exterior of your home or business.

• Place weather stripping around exterior doors and windows.

• Place door sweeps on exterior doors.

• Fix low-lying areas on your property that can collect water.

• Store containers that can collect water upside-down when not in use.

• Leave a barrier of rock or crushed stone between any grass or mulch and the foundation of your property

Interior tips

• Store clothes and other fabrics in plastic containers with locking lids rather than in cardboard boxes.

• Inside, keep storage areas free form clutter.

• Use dehumidifiers to reduce moisture levels in your home or business.

• Under the guidance of their veterinarian, place pets on a year-round flea and tick preventative program 

Matt B.

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