Focus on the Home:
Pest Management
Termite Image Citation: Pest and Diseases Image Library, Bugwood.org
When it comes to insects and
spiders, Kentucky is one of the
safest places on earth!
Image Citation: 2013 Microsoft Corporation
Objectives
• Be aware of “bad bugs” vs. harmless bugs
• Learn basic steps to detect indoor pest problems
before they happen
Please Note: This program focuses on
indoor insect pests. For information on
mammals, birds, snakes, and other
creatures that may infest your home
contact your local Extension Office.
Wolf Spider Image Citation: B. Newton, University of KY
ENT FACT: Wolf spiders often wander into
homes. Because they are brown in color,
wolf spiders are often mistaken for brown
recluses. Like most Kentucky spiders, the
bites of wolf spiders are harmless except
to allergic individuals.
Bed Bugs
• Increasingly common, especially in multi-unit
structures (hotels, apartments, dorms)
• Not related to economic conditions
• Don’t transmit diseases
• Can cause painful, itchy bites
Image Citation: Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org
Bed Bugs
•
•
•
•
Small, reddish brown insects
Emerge mostly at night
Feed on human and animal blood
During the day they hide where humans sleep and
commonly sit and rest (mattresses, couches, etc.)
Image Citation: Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org
Bed Bug Defense
• Check beds when traveling
• Clean and dry clothing after traveling
• Examine second-hand furniture and clothing
before bringing them into your home
Travel Tip: To help guard against
bed bugs while traveling, take a
moment to inspect beds. A small
flashlight is useful for dimly-lit
areas.
Image Citation: M. Potter, University of KY
Bed Bug Management
HEALTH
•Contact a pest control professional
•Heat treatments are costly but can work
very well
•In multi-units: make
sure the whole
structure is inspected
and treated
Image Citation: M. Potter, University of KY
HEALTHTermites
•Look for “swarmers” in spring, early summer
•Contact pest control agency
Image Citation: Gary Alpert, Harvard University, Bugwood.org
Powderpost Beetles
• Primarily pests of new homes and new
furniture
• Rarely cause major damage
• Good to be aware of them
Image Citation: Pest and Diseases Image Library, Bugwood.org
Carpenter Ants
• Cause damage similar to termite
• Work slower than termite and rarely cause major
structural damage
• Prefer moist, damp wood
• Contact pest control company
Image Citation: Clemson University - USDA
Cooperative Extension Slide Series, Bugwood.org
Pantry Pests
• Examples: grain moths, flour beetles, rice weevils
• Infest whole grains, processed foods, pet food, bird seed,
decorative items (Indian corn, dried flower
arrangements)
Image Citation: Clemson University - USDA Cooperative Extension
Slide Series, Bugwood.org
Image Citation: 2013 Microsoft Corporation
Control of ALL Pantry Pests
•
•
•
•
•
Conduct a thorough search
Dispose of all infested items
Remove spilled dry goods (even a little bit!)
Seal open bags
Thoroughly clean and vacuum
After treatment, good sanitation and proper
storage are keys to preventing future problems.
Fabric Pests
•
•
•
•
Examples include clothes moths and carpet beetles
Feed on wool sweaters, rugs, taxidermy, feathers
Controlled in same way as pantry pests
Find the infested item, dispose of it, or eliminate the
infestation using cold or heat
Image Citation: University of Georgia Archive, University of
Georgia, Bugwood.org
Image Citation: Clemson University - USDA Cooperative
Extension Slide Series, Bugwood.org
Cockroaches
• There are many different kinds of roaches. The occasional
wood cockroach is nothing to worry about.
American Cockroach
Image Citation: Daniel R. Suiter, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org
vs.
Wood Cockroach
Image Citation: Johnny N. Dell, Bugwood.org
Cockroaches
• German and American cockroaches can spread disease
and aggravate respiratory illnesses
• If you see multiple cockroaches:
• Remove all food sources
• Eliminate roaches using bait
stations or pastes (read all
label instructions)
• If over-the-counter methods
fail or aren’t desirable
contact a pest control
professional
Image Citation: Clemson University - USDA
Cooperative Extension Slide Series, Bugwood.org
Fleas
• Don’t spread diseases to humans, but can transmit
diseases dangerous to pets
• Manage fleas by using a pet-centered flea control
• Use products all year round
• Contact vet for best options
Image Citation: A. Osborne,
University of KY
Ladybugs
• Beneficial to humans – feed on
many garden and crop pests
• In fall can become a pest in our
homes when looking for place to
spend winter
• Can stain carpets and clothing,
and produce foul odor
• Remove ladybugs that get
indoors by hand or vacuum
• Seal cracks and crevices
Image Citation: M. Potter, University of KY
Crickets
•Often found in unfinished
basements, garages, and
other
cool, humid indoor locations.
•Not harmful to humans.
•They do not infest food
or damage possessions.
•Control is not necessary.
•Numbers can be reduced by sealing cracks and
crevices and by reducing moisture.
Image Citation: Clemson University - USDA Cooperative
Extension Slide Series, Bugwood.org
Flies
• Pomace flies (often called “fruit flies”) – remove ripe
fruit
• Moth flies (often called “drain flies”) – unclog drains
• Fungus gnats – breed in damp soil of house plants
• Harmless to people
Image Citation: 2013 Microsoft Corporation
Silverfish
•Silverfish are not really fish but insects.
•Feed on items, such as wallpaper paste, bookbindings, and other glue- or starch-like materials, as
well as, dried foods (just like the pantry pests).
•Silverfish are not harmful to humans.
Image Citation: Clemson University - USDA Cooperative
Extension Slide Series, Bugwood.org
Silverfish
•Rarely cause significant damage to property, although they are
sometimes a threat to antique books, historic wallpaper, carpet,
tapestries, and other collectibles that are made of paper, glue, or
other organic materials.
•In situations where those types of items are kept, it is best to
consult a pest control professional.
•In most other cases, control is not necessary.
Image Citation: Clemson University - USDA Cooperative
Extension Slide Series, Bugwood.org
Spiders
• Non-dangerous spiders are very common in homes
(grass spiders, wolf spiders, cellar spiders, and house
spiders)
Grass Spider
Cellar Spider
Image Citation: B. Newton, University of KY
Black Widow Spiders
•Common in garages, sheds,
piles of rocks and wood
•Do not wander from webs
•Won’t bite unless touched
•Causes pain, increased
heart-rate
•Rarely fatal, but hospital
attention is a must
•Contact Pest Control
Professional
Image Citation:James O. Howell, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org
Brown Recluse Spiders
•More common in West KY
•Found in basements, attics, abandoned buildings
•Skin infections are often misdiagnosed as brown
recluse bites
•Very timid spiders
Image Citation: Eddie McGriff, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org
Centipedes and Millipedes
•Not insects, but closely related to insects.
•Both are long-bodied with dozens of legs, and so they look very
similar, but their behavior is very different.
•Both can be very common inside homes; neither is cause for
concern.
House Centipede Image Citation: Gary Alpert,
Harvard University, Bugwood.org
Millipede Image Citation: Whitney Cranshaw,
Colorado State University, Bugwood.org
Centipedes
•Has 14 pairs of very long legs and it is sometimes seen at night
as it races across floors and walls in search of prey.
•Although their presence can be startling, they are harmless, and
can actually help reduce the numbers of other pests, including
roaches and ants.
House Centipede Image Citation: Gary Alpert,
Harvard University, Bugwood.org
Millipedes
•Usually seen in the fall and spring
•Looking for a place to spend the winter
•Harmless, although they will sometimes scavenge for food in
places that are close to the floor, like houseplants, spilled food,
and even litter boxes.
•Do not harm people or pets, and they rarely cause significant
damage to food or other possessions.
Millipede Image Citation: Whitney Cranshaw,
Colorado State University, Bugwood.org
General Pest Control Tips
• Sanitation
• Remove and clean up spilled food
• Dispose of garbage quickly
• Vacuum frequently
• Take care when bringing home used clothing and
furniture
• Seal cracks and crevices
• Keep doors and windows closed
• Fix leaky faucets
• Watch for water damage in bathrooms and kitchens
Insect Identification Service
If you find a pest in your home and you are not sure
what it is, bring it to your local County Extension
Office. Many times, they will be able to identify it for
you right away. If not, they will send it to the
Department of Entomology at the University of
Kentucky. Along with identification, the county
Extension office can help you with control options. This
identification service is free.
For additional information visit Kentucky ENTfacts:
http://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/dept/entfacts.asp
Female Jumping Spider
Image Citation: B. Newton, University of KY
This PowerPoint presentation was prepared by Blake Newton, 4-H/Youth Development Specialist, Department
of Entomology, and Ashley Osborne, Environmental and Natural Resource Issues. March 2013.
Blake Newton, M.S., 4-H/Youth Development Specialist
Ashley Osborne, M.S., Extension Associate for Environmental and Natural Resource Issues