Head Lice (Pediculosis humanus capitis)
The head louse is a wingless parasitic insect that feeds on human blood. On humans, they are typically found on the scalp or eyebrows. Head lice also infest other mammalian animals, and birds. Head lice infestation is a major public health issue in children. This problem can generally be spread in schools, offices, or daycare centers by direct human to human contact.

General Biology
Pediculosis humanus capitis are egg laying insects that lay eggs on the hairshaft near the scalp. Once they hatch, they feed on blood, reproduce and spend their entire life on their host. Newly hatched nymphs will molt three times before reaching the sexually-mature adult stage. All stages of the louse are blood feeders and can feed up to four times a day.

CONTROL OPTIONS?
6-12 million people are treated annually for head lice in the US. Chemical treatments, natural products, combs, shaving, hot air, and silicone-based lotions are typical control methods for head lice. Lice on the hair and body are usually treated with medicated shampoos or cream rinses.
Natroba (active ingredient: Spinosad) has been recently approved for control of Head Lice. Follow this link for more information.
http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm240302.htm#.Tmb2LjgVRr4.email

Golden Silk Spider (Nephila clavipes)

The Golden Silk Spider, Nephila clavipes (Linnaeus), is a large, greenish yellow to orange and brown spider with a white to silver cephalothorax, and tufts of hair, on legs, which may span nearly 5 inches. They are also known as Banana spiders because of the shape of a body (abdomen), which may be 1.5-2 inches long. People, from hikers to homeowners, in Florida and the southeastern U.S., are very familiar with the large golden webs of this spider. Typical prey consists of flying insects like moths, beetles and bees.

General Biology
Nephila clavipes is the only species of the genus, and the largest non Tarantula spider found occurring in the Western Hemisphere. It is found throughout Florida, as far north as North Carolina, south through the Gulf States, and Argentina in South America.
Golden Silk spiders produce one generation per year in North America. Adult males are present from July to September, with the majority of females maturing in August and found late into the fall, when they produce at least two large egg sacs consisting of several hundred eggs in a basket of curly yellow silk. More egg sacs may be produced in warmer climates.
The webs of these spiders are finely meshed and 1-2 meters in diameter. They are often strung between trees and shrubs or eave lines and windows, resulting in disturbing encounters between spider and unwary human. Fortunately, they bite only when held, squeezed or otherwise threatened, and the bite generally produces localized pain with slight redness. The net result is less severe than a bee sting and symptoms generally disappear in a couple of days.

Control Options
Golden Silk spiders are generally harmless and non-invasive. They can be relocated by using a broom to place the spider in a tree or shrub away from the home or walkway. Webs are not torn down and replaced periodically by the spider, so relocation is an effective, chemical free control method. If chemicals are preferred, be sure to use a chemical labeled for spider control.
ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW THE LABEL DIRECTIONS FIRST.

House Fly (Musca domestica)

The house fly is known pest of both homes and farms. Not only are house flies a nuisance, but they can also transport disease-causing organisms. Excessive fly populations are not only an irritant to farm workers but, when there are nearby human habitations, a public health problem could occur. The pathogens commonly transmitted by house flies are Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter, Escherichia, Enterococcus, Chlamydia, and many other species that cause illness. These flies are most commonly linked to outbreaks of diarrhea and shigellosis, but also are implicated in transmission of food poisoning, typhoid fever, dysentery, tuberculosis, anthrax, ophthalmia, and parasitic worms.

General Biology
Adult flies usually live up to 20-25 days, but can live over a month. The house fly has a complete metamorphosis with distinct egg, larva or maggot, pupal and adult stages. Houseflies feed on feces, open sores, sputum, and moist decaying organic matter such as spoiled food, eggs and flesh. Houseflies can take in only liquid foods. They spit out saliva on solid foods to predigest it, and then suck it back in. They also regurgitate partly digested matter and pass it again to the abdomen.

Control
Sanitation, use of traps, and insecticides are common methods to control house flies. An integrated pest management program can be put in place for commercial and residential areas where house flies pose as a continual problem.

Indian Meal Moth (Plodia interpunctella)

The Indian meal moth (Plodia interpunctella) is the most common household moth that can reproduce in many homes. It develops as a pest of various foods commonly found in pantries. The caterpillars or larvae can seriously damage susceptible food items and the adult moths can become annoying as they fly through the home. They are a common grain-feeding pest found around the world, feeding on cereals and similar products.

General Biology
All stages of the Indian meal moth may be found in homes. The adult is a small moth, about 3/8 inch long with a wing span of about 5/8 inch. The overall body color is generally dirty gray but the tip half of the wing is rusty brown or nearly bronze. The moth larvae are off-white with brown heads. The entire life cycle of this species may take 30 to 300 days. Female moths lay between 60 and 400 eggs on a food surface, which are ordinarily smaller than 0.5 mm and not sticky. The eggs hatch in 2 to 14 days. The larval stage lasts from 2 to 41 weeks, depending on the temperature, which makes this insect very problematic in homes. The adults emerge, mate and lay eggs. Since the moths do not feed they usually survive little more than a week. During this time the female may deposit over 200 eggs, laid either directly on food or in crevices adjacent to the stored foods on which they feed.

Control
The first step is to identify all sources of infestation. The presence of some webbing is usually the most effective way to determine which items are infested. After larvae or moths have been found, it is important to throw out all food sources that are not in very tightly sealed containers. The moths are able to get into surprisingly tight spots, including sealed bags and Tupperware containers. Nontoxic traps are also available to inhibit the development of adult moths and precipitate their destruction. Moths often do not even need a lure, as common glue traps sometimes work well to reduce the number of adults.

Springtails (Collembola)

Springtails are tiny, wingless insects in the Order Collembola. They develop large numbers in moist soil, mulch and decaying leaves, and can be found in homes with high humidity, mold, and other favorable conditions. Homeowners may discover large numbers of these insects on patios, in swimming pools, or areas near exterior doors. They are beneficial to soil because they feed on decaying, damp vegetation, returning nutrients to the soil in a form used by plants.

General Biology
Springtails vary in length from a quarter millimeter to 6 millimeters, though normally they are about 1 millimeter long. They are wingless in all stages, and the young though smaller, look like adults. They have colors ranging from white to yellow, or shades of gray. They have a forked appendage, resembling a lever, called the furcula. The furcula is attached to the tip of the abdomen, and is held to the abdomen when the insect is at rest. When disturbed, the furcula is released, striking the ground, causing the insect to spring into the air. They can spring about 4 inches into the air. The common name, springtail comes from this ability.

The Order Collembola has two suborders, best identified by body shape. One appears long and narrow, while the other is more rounded. There are seven families including 650 species in North America. There have been 3600 species discovered worldwide, and they are found from the Arctic to the tropics.

WHY ARE THEY A PROBLEM?
Springtails are probably best described as occasional invaders under most conditions, though they can become pests due to their large numbers. They are harmless and do not bite, sting or transmit diseases. They are attracted to lights and may come inside in large numbers when the weather is dry or after heavy rain. People with potted plants may unwittingly bring springtails into their home and support indoor breeding with well watered plants. Leaks and moist environments in or near homes provide breeding areas which contribute to interior invasions.

CONTROL OPTIONS
Springtails really require no chemical insecticides to control them inside. They can be killed with a mist of dishwashing soap in water. Mix to about 1% soap solution. Let potted plants dry out a bit before bringing inside and avoid overwatering once inside. Be sure to caulk, seal and weatherstrip the home to prevent entry from outside. If chemicals are chosen, spot treatment and crack and crevice treatment can be made with properly labeled insecticides.

Outdoor population control starts with removal of breeding sites and moisture control. Don’t allow mulch to become too deep. Keep compost piles, decaying leaves and vegetation, away from the house. Allow the soil to dry between watering and keep the soil from becoming too acidic to help reduce populations near the house. Soapy water or insecticidal soap can be used to treat living areas such as soil or mulch. If broadcast or barrier treatment with insecticide is chosen, read and follow the label instructions carefully.

European Hornet (Vespa crabo)

The European Hornet is the largest European eusocial wasp. Females have stingers which can be very harmful. This species is not particularly aggressive except when defending the nest, and care must be taken when in its proximity, as the stings are quite painful. As with most stinging insects, European hornets will sting in self-defense when grabbed or stepped on. European hornets are often mischaracterized as very aggressive and dangerous, and are greatly feared by some people. Some people believe that “three stings from the European hornet can kill an adult human, and that seven can kill a horse”. These are common myths – a sting from a European hornet isn’t any more dangerous than any other wasp sting, and European hornets are less aggressive than other wasps.

General Biology
European hornets are attracted to lights at night, but are not attracted to human foods and food wastes. However, they can totally destroy fruits, such as apples, while the fruit is still on the tree. The queen measures 25 to 50 mm long; males and workers are smaller. European hornets rarely build nests that are free hanging or in unprotected areas. Frequently, the nest is built at the cavity opening, rather than deep within. As winter approaches, the workers die off. The future queens abandon the nest and seek out shelter in protected places, such as under loose bark, in rotting stumps, and hollow.

Control
Control is best achieved by applying a pesticide directly into the nest at dusk. Use any aerosol “Wasp & Hornet” spray that propels the insecticide about 10-15 feet. Direct the spray into the nest opening for 5-10 seconds, then move quickly away from the area to avoid any of the wasps that may emerge from the nest. We advise the use of professional pest control services when controlling a hornet nest.

Flea (Siphonaptera)

Fleas are wingless insects whose mouthparts are adapted for piercing skin and sucking blood. Fleas prefer to live on dogs and cats, but may also be found on humans and other available warm-blooded animals. Pet owners may not be bothered by fleas until their pet is gone for a lengthy period of time, and the fleas must find another place to go. This is when they begin to bite humans. Bites frequently occur around the waist, ankles, armpits, and in the bend of the elbows and knees.

LIFE CYCLE AND DESCRIPTION
Fleas are small, agile, usually dark colored, wingless insects with tube-like mouth-parts adapted to feeding on the blood of their hosts. Their bodies are laterally compressed, permitting easy movement through the hairs or feathers on the host’s body. Fleas have long legs which are adapted for jumping long distances. They can jump up to 200 times their own body weight. The flea life cycle begins when the female lays her eggs after feeding. Adult fleas must feed on blood before they can become capable of reproduction. Once laid, the eggs take around two days to two weeks to hatch. Flea larvae emerge from the eggs to feed on any available organic material such as dead insects, feces, and vegetable matter. They are blind and avoid sunlight, keeping to dark places like sand, cracks and crevices, and bedding. Once the flea reaches adulthood its primary goal is to find blood.

DISEASES AND CONTROL
Adult fleas are not only a nuisance to humans and their pets, but can cause medical problems and act as a vector for several diseases including flea allergy dermatitis (FAD), tapeworms, secondary skin irritations and, in extreme cases, anemia. They can also cause bubonic plague between rodents and humans by carrying Yersinia pestis bacteria, Murine typhus (endemic typhus) fever, and in some cases Hymenolepiasis (tapeworm) can also be transmitted by fleas. Flea control is best achieved with a simultaneous, coordinated effort involving strict sanitation, pet treatment and premise treatment (both indoors & outdoors).

American Roach (Periplaneta americana)

American Roaches is the largest species of common cockroach. They are usually particularly located in the southern United States and are referred to as Palmetto bugs or Waterbugs. The American cockroach is distinctive because they are reddish brown in color and they have a yellow band or edge on their body behind their head. This roach is the only type that has the yellow band behind their neck and also has the yellow band behind their head. The American roach is typically seen in damp areas, but can be seen anywhere that there is access to water. This type of roach is often seen around the perimeter of houses, sewers, basements, crawl spaces, porches, and even in your kitchen cabinets.

LIFE CYCLE AND FEEDING
American roaches have a quite rapid and impressive lifestyle. Females will produce egg cases and then carry them around on the tip of their abdomen for a few days. After at least two days have passed, the female will then hide the egg case, which is about 3/8 inch long, brown, and rectangular in shape. The cockroaches will not hatch for another 6 to 8 weeks after the female has hidden the egg case with care. Adults will take up to a year to mature, and females can produce up to 150 baby cockroaches during their life. Because the American roach is an omnivore, it can survive just about anywhere and will feed on just about anything. The American cockroach is a scavenger that feeds on decaying organic matter and a variety of other foods. It is particularly fond of fermenting foods.

CONTROL
In large populations, treating outside around doors, windows, pipe openings, and dryer vents can decrease continual invaders from entering your home. Applying insecticides on the inside on the baseboards near the entry points also helps American roach populations. On the inside-apply around the plumbing under the sinks and washer and dryer connections. You don’t have to treat all the interior baseboards, just the corners and baseboards inside the garage and basement areas. It is very helpful to eliminate food materials as much as possible as well as harborage areas to reduce the population.

Mosquito (Culicidae)

Mosquitoes have been one of the most significant pests in the history of humankind. Their importance as medical pests continues today, particularly as vectors of organisms that cause infectious diseases affecting millions of people per year. There are about 3,500 species of mosquitoes found throughout the world. In some species, female mosquitoes feed on humans, making them responsible for passing the diseases they vector. They are found in many different environments, from the Arctic to subtropical and tropical regions.

LIFE CYCLE AND DESCRIPTION
Adult mosquitoes are distinguished by their long proboscis…think of a tiny hypodermic needle drawing your blood, and scales along the wings veins. Though females must feed on blood to produce viable eggs, they also feed on nectar, and are responsible for transmitting diseases. The males feed on nectar and other plant exudates. Like butterflies, mosquitoes undergo a complete metamorphosis, consisting of an egg, larva, pupa, and adult stage. All mosquitoes must have water to complete their life cycle. The type of water in which the mosquito larvae are found, can be an aid in the identification of the species. Adult mosquitoes have very distinct preferences for the types of water formations in which to lay eggs. Some lay eggs in containers such as tree holes, old tires, bottles, clogged gutters, and flower pot bottoms which periodically hold water. Container breeders are the most common nuisance around most homes. Others prefer semi permanent formations, like tide water pools in salt marshes, sewage effluent ponds, stagnating tributary overflows, and floodplains. Temporary sources include irrigated pastures, rainwater and snow ponds, etc. Each species therefore has unique environmental requirements for the maintenance of its life cycle.

DISEASES AND CONTROL
Mosquitoes act as vectors of several very important human diseases like MALARIA, Yellow Fever, Dengue Fever, Filariasis, West Nile Virus and Encephalitis. All these diseases, if not treated can result in death. Control measures against mosquitoes may be aimed at the larvae or at the adults. Control methods may involve the elimination or modification of larval habitat, or treatment of the habitat with insecticides. Control of adults may include insecticides, or preventive techniques. Neighborhoods are occasionally sprayed to prevent disease and nuisance caused by large mosquito numbers.

Bedbugs (Cimex)

Bedbugs are small, elusive, and parasitic insects of the family Cimicidae. They live strictly by feeding on the blood of humans and other warm-blooded animals. The name ‘bed bug’ is derived from the insect’s preferred habitat infesting houses and especially beds or other common areas where people may sleep. Bedbugs, though not strictly nocturnal, are mainly active at night and are capable of feeding unnoticed on their hosts.

WHAT DO THEY LOOK LIKE AND WHERE ARE THEY FOUND?
Adult bedbugs are reddish-brown, flattened, oval, and wingless. Bedbugs have microscopic hairs that give them a banded appearance. A common misconception is that they are not visible to the naked eye. Adults grow to 4 to 5 mm in length and 1.5 to 3 mm wide. Newly hatched nymphs, which are as small as 1.5 mm, are translucent, lighter in color and become browner as they molt and reach maturity. Adult females can deposit one to five eggs a day, and may lay 200 to 500 eggs in a lifetime. Under normal room temperatures and with an adequate food supply, bed bugs can live over 300 days. Bed bugs can live in any area of the home and can reside in tiny cracks in furniture as well as on textiles and upholstered furniture. They tend to be most common in areas where people sleep and generally concentrate in beds, including mattresses, box springs, and bed frames. Other sites where bed bugs often reside include curtains, the corners inside dressers and other furniture, cracks in wallpaper (particularly near the bed), and inside the spaces of wicker furniture. Since bed bugs can live for months without feeding, they can also be found in vacant homes.

DISEASES AND CONTROL
Bedbugs seem to possess all of the necessary prerequisites for being capable of passing diseases from one host to another, but there have been no known cases of bed bugs passing disease from host to host. There are at least twenty-seven known pathogens that are capable of living inside a bed bug or on its mouthparts. Extensive testing in laboratory settings concludes that bed bugs are unlikely to pass disease from one person to another. Therefore bedbugs are less dangerous than some more common insects such as the flea. Controlling a bed bug infestation is a difficult task that requires removal or treatment of all infested material and follow-up monitoring to ensure the infestation has been eliminated and does not return. Management will require employing several nonchemical methods such as vacuuming, washing bedding at a high temperature, using steam or heat treatment, and sealing up hiding places. Insecticides may be required to eliminate serious infestations. Make sure to call a pest control professional due to the increasing difficulty of eliminating a population of bedbugs.

Drywood Termite (Kalotermitidae)

Drywood termites are primarily found in warm coastal regions. Their range includes the southern tier of states, from North Carolina through the Gulf Coast and Texas, into the coastal areas of California and Hawaii. Though the species vary, they generally infest dry, sound wood, producing damage and fecal pellets unique to this insect. Fecal pellets, discarded wings, or swarmers/alates (winged reproductives) may be the first signs of infestation a homeowner notices. Swarmers are about 7/16th of an inch long, including the wings, and vary in color from a dark brown to yellowish tan. Size varies with species.

GENERAL BIOLOGY
Like ants, drywood termites are social insects that live in colonies consisting of offspring from an original pair (male and queen) of reproductive swarmers. There are three distinct stages of growth; egg, immature (not a true worker caste) and adults. Drywood colonies are comparatively small (a few thousand termites), develop slowly, and can be widespread throughout a structure. They do not need contact with the soil, do not build mud tubes, and can infest individual pieces of furniture. Drywood termites produce uniquely shaped pellets which may be thrown out through kick holes. Pellets may form conical piles on surfaces below the kick holes, and are usually the first indirect evidence of an infestation. They eat both spring and summer growth wood, often leaving the wood hollow below a thin veneer. Subterranean termites feed primarily on the soft spring growth, leaving the appearance of the pages of a book.

INFESTATION AND CONTROL METHODS
Colonies are established in areas inaccessible to people, like the roof and eaves, behind drywall and siding, inside walls, and in attics and crawlspaces. They need no outside source of moisture or soil contact to survive. Any home with wood components is vulnerable for a drywood termite infestation, whether it is new, old, wood-framed, concrete block or brick. Infested, antique or used furniture, acquired from any source can act as a Trojan Horse in a new home. There are a variety of control options that can reduce your chance for a drywood termite infestation or even to eliminate the problem. Reduce the potential for drywood termite infestations by eliminating infested wood sources near the structure. Sealing and caulking the wood to prevent termite entry or even removing infested wood if it can be located helps to reduce the potential for infestation. One of the most reliable control methods for this problem is fumigation. If done properly, this method can kill 100% of the colony.

Drywood Termite (Kalotermitidae)

Drywood termites are primarily found in warm coastal regions. Their range includes the southern tier of states, from North Carolina through the Gulf Coast and Texas, into the coastal areas of California and Hawaii. Though the species vary, they generally infest dry, sound wood, producing damage and fecal pellets unique to this insect. Fecal pellets, discarded wings, or swarmers/alates (winged reproductives) may be the first signs of infestation a homeowner notices. Swarmers are about 7/16th of an inch long, including the wings, and vary in color from a dark brown to yellowish tan. Size varies with species.

GENERAL BIOLOGY
Like ants, drywood termites are social insects that live in colonies consisting of offspring from an original pair (male and queen) of reproductive swarmers. There are three distinct stages of growth; egg, immature (not a true worker caste) and adults. Drywood colonies are comparatively small (a few thousand termites), develop slowly, and can be widespread throughout a structure. They do not need contact with the soil, do not build mud tubes, and can infest individual pieces of furniture. Drywood termites produce uniquely shaped pellets which may be thrown out through kick holes. Pellets may form conical piles on surfaces below the kick holes, and are usually the first indirect evidence of an infestation. They eat both spring and summer growth wood, often leaving the wood hollow below a thin veneer. Subterranean termites feed primarily on the soft spring growth, leaving the appearance of the pages of a book.

INFESTATION AND CONTROL METHODS
Colonies are established in areas inaccessible to people, like the roof and eaves, behind drywall and siding, inside walls, and in attics and crawlspaces. They need no outside source of moisture or soil contact to survive. Any home with wood components is vulnerable for a drywood termite infestation, whether it is new, old, wood-framed, concrete block or brick. Infested, antique or used furniture, acquired from any source can act as a Trojan Horse in a new home. There are a variety of control options that can reduce your chance for a drywood termite infestation or even to eliminate the problem. Reduce the potential for drywood termite infestations by eliminating infested wood sources near the structure. Sealing and caulking the wood to prevent termite entry or even removing infested wood if it can be located helps to reduce the potential for infestation. One of the most reliable control methods for this problem is fumigation. If done properly, this method can kill 100% of the colony.