Occasional and Seasonal Pests
Below are pictures and descriptions of the most common pantry pests we bring into our homes or office. Click any picture to enlarge. You’ll find a DO-IT-YOURSELF self help section at the end of each description.

Cricket
Crickets are very common outside our homes and offices. Adults can range up to 1″ in length. However, occasionally they enter through door ways and garages. DO-IT-YOURSELF: This pest will not survive inside. A good pyrethroid perimeter treatment should be sufficient to keep them out.

Field Cricket
Field crickets are very common outside our homes and offices. The adult can grow to about 1″ in length. However, they occasional enter through door openings and garages. DO-IT-YOURSELF: Since this pest is an outsider, a good pyrethroid perimeter treatment is sufficient to keep them out.

House Cricket
House crickets are very common outside our homes and offices. They grow to about 1″ in length. However, occasionally they enter through doorways and garages. DO-IT-YOURSELF: Since this pest only enters occasionally, a good pyrethroid perimeter treatment should be sufficient to keep them out.

European Earwig
Earwigs are a very common lawn pest that occasionally enter our homes and offices. They grow as large as 1.25″ in length. They live in mulch beds and just below ground. However, this pest does enter during heavy rains in an attempt to survive. DO-IT-YOURSELF: Since this pest enters only by accident from the outside, a good pyrethroid exterior treatment at the foundation should be sufficient to keep them out.

Firebrat
The Firebrat is closely related to the Silverfish. They grow to about 1″ in length. They feed on carbohydrates, starches and paper. They are very common in an out of our homes and offices and are most abundant in stored papers. DO-IT-YOURSELF: Reduce the amount of stored papers and boxes. Crack and crevice with boric acid in the areas of sighting, especially if their is water nearby. If the attic is near the sighting area, a pyrethroid based fogger in the attic will help reduce the population.

Golden Raintree Bug
The Golden Raintree bug is in the Boxelder family of bugs. They’ve earned their name by burying their eggs in the bark of the Golden Rain Tree. Locally, we see them mostly around Elm trees. They emerge twice a year by the thousands. They do not bite or sting and are just a nuisance. They only rarely enter and only by accident. DO-IT-YOURSELF: They are harmless. But if you feel you must get rid of them, twice a year, treat the affected area with a pyrethroid liquid treatment.

Millipedes
Millipedes gained their name by the number of legs. They don’t have a million, but they do have many. The local species grows to about 1″ long and are gray to brown in color. They are very common in some areas while other areas don’t get any. They enter twice a year through any crevice as they move like a bulldozer through our homes. They need a very wet environment. Once in, they’ll curl up and die. DO-IT-YOURSELF: This pest will not live inside, but if you must, apply a good pyrethroid periemter treatment to the foundation area and out atleast 10′. Repeat as needed.

Silverfish
The Silverfish is a very common pest in and out of our homes. They grow to over 1″ in length. They feed on carbohydrates, starches and most commonly known for feeding on paper. They do not bite or sting. DO-IT-YOURSELF: Reduce stored paper, crack and crevice in the areas of sightings with boric acid. If the attic is near the sightings, use a pyrethroid fogger to flush any from the area.