Black Widows: Shiny, black body with red markings on its underside. Hides in firewood, garages and under furniture. The most poisonous spider in North America. Its painful bite is dangerous to children and the elderly.

Brown Recluse: Found in dark areas, including closets and clothing. Light brown with a darker brown violin-shaped marking on its back. Its bite can result in a painful ulcerous sore, requiring medical attention.

House Spider: Brown or tan in color. Common in garages and the corners of most homes. Wherever other insects are abundant, this web-building spider is likely to be present.

Clothes Moth: Cream in color. Depending on species, its larvae leave strands of silk on fabrics it infests. Feeds on woolens, furs, skin, carpets and food products.

Indian Meal Moth: The most common type of moth. The outer half of its wings are copper colored, while the rest of the wings and body are cream in color. The larvae eat food products.

Cluster Fly: Black in color. Clumsy, slow flier. Is a parasite of the earthworm. Can contaminate whatever it comes in contact with.

Flea: Varies in color from brown to black. Can infest clothing and furniture. Feeds on the blood of dogs, cats, birds or humans.

Tick: Dark or reddish-brown parasite with eight legs. Feeds on the blood of dogs, cats, birds or humans and carries diseases such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Lyme disease and typhus. Can cause serious infections.

Silverfish: Common pest with long antennae and shiny silver scales. Feeds on anything that contains cellulose, starches or vegetable-based material. Causes damage to foods, paper, books, wallpaper and fabrics.

Earwig: A serious garden pest as well as an annoying household pest. Feeds on vegetation, but does little damage indoors. Has a forceps-like tail appendage.

Cricket: Found in any dark, damp or warm area of the home. Mostly active at night and eats almost anything it can chew, from rugs to drapes.

Scorpion: Feeds primarily on insects. Only one species found in the country(primarily in Arizona and southern California) is dangerous. Small children and the elderly are at risk of a fatal sting from this species.

Powder Post: Reddish-brown to black in color. Damages wood products. Enters the home by flying in or being carried in with firewood. Piles of dust or small holes in wood are signs of its presence.

Carpet beetle: Tan in color and covered in scales. Can cause irreparable damage to personal belongings. Feeds on almost any item made of natural fibers, particularly wool and cashmere.

Flour beetle: Reddish-brown in color. Feeds on stored food products such as flour, birdseed, cereals, dog food, spices and nuts.

House Ant: Varies in shape, size and color (black, brown, yellow or red). Nests in soil, wood, under concrete areas or in walls and cabinets. To effectively control them, nests must be eliminated.

Fire Ant: Reddish-brown in color, often found nesting in soil outdoors. Attracted to liquid food sources, such as soft drinks. Sting can pose a serious health threat.

Carpenter Ant: Either solid black or black and red in color. Nests in damp locations and prefers to excavate wood that has been penetrated by termites, beetles or fungi. Scavenges homes for food crumbs and insects.

Pavement Ant: Nests in soil next to beneath slabs, sidewalks, patios and driveways. Piles of displaced soil next to and on top of pavement indicate their presence. Can infest food products.

Flying Ant: Winged reproducer similar to a termite swarmer. Identified by two sets of different sized wings, a pinched waist and elbow-shaped antennae.

German: The most common and most difficult type of roach to control. Light brown with two dark stripes down its back. Found in kitchens and bathrooms. Contaminates food, causes stains, creates odors and carries disease.

American: The largest common household roach found in the U.S. Reddish-brown in color. Also called a “Palmetto bug,” it can be found anywhere in a home. Contaminates food; carries disease; damages book bindings, fabrics, wall-paper. Active at night.

Oriental: Black or brown roach that seeks out dark, damp places such as basements. More common in the North. Similar to the American roach in foods eaten and items damaged. It also creates a very persistent odor.

Brown Banded: Known as the “furniture roach.” Recognized by the light and dark bands across its back. Prefers a warm habitat. Damages fabrics, books and wallpaper. Often found in electrical appliances and light switches.

House Mouse: Usually gray in color. Can fit through a crack or hole ¼” or larger. Reproduces quickly. Can survive without drinking water daily.

Rat: One of the most sophisticated pests. Color can vary from gray to brown to black. Are excellent climbers and reproduce quickly.

Swarmer: Winged termites that reproduce. Black to brown in color with four wings of equal size, a broad waist and straight antennae. Flies from the colony to mate and start new infestations.

Soldier: Has a specialized head that is used for fighting. Sole function is to protect the colony from other insect enemies.

Worker: Pale, white insect that does damage to structures. Feeds on wood or almost any product containing cellulose. Builds earthen tubes from the soil to the wood supply.

Queen: Ensures a growing termite population through egg production. Rarely seen.