Pests Archive | Page 7 of 13 | Delta Pest Control Inc. - Pest Control and Exterminator Services

Gray Squirrel

Gray Squirrels in Arkansas

Gray squirrels are small to medium-sized rodents with bushy tails that are commonly found outdoors, climbing trees and foraging for food. Also known as tree squirrels, they get their common name from the fact that they are found in wooded and urban areas, nesting in trees to avoid predators. Gray squirrels eat a range of foods consuming roughly one and a half pounds of nuts and seeds a week. They also consume tree bark, tree buds, berries, and some types of fungi found in the forests.

Gray Squirrel Habitat

Squirrels utilize two types of nests: tree cavity dens and leaf nests called dreys. Leaf nests are usually used during summer and are found in the top fork of a tree or in the crotch of a limb. The number of active nests per squirrel is thought to be about three, depending on the density of squirrels in the area. Most squirrels are capable of constructing a nest in one day. If they have access, they will build nests in attics or structures. Once inside, these rodents will gnaw on electrical wiring in walls and attics causing shorts and possibly even fires.

Gray Squirrel Behaviors, Threats, or Dangers

Squirrels do not hibernate and use their nests for resting and shelter, especially during the cold winter months. If you notice a squirrel’s nest on your property, do not attempt to remove it yourself. Squirrels may bite or attack if provoked, especially if their young are present. Squirrels may carry bacterial diseases that can be spread to humans through bites or by coming into contact with their feces. Signs of a gray squirrel infestation include noises in attics, chimneys, walls, or vents. Holes on siding, damaged bird feeders, and chewed wires and insulation are evidence of squirrel nests in the attic. If you are having an issue with gray squirrels, it is best to consult a professional wildlife control company for removal.

Fox Squirrel

Fox Squirrels in Arkansas

Fox squirrels are found throughout the eastern and central United States and have also been introduced into cities in the western U.S. Fox squirrels spend most of their time in trees during the day, foraging for food. These squirrels are omnivores, eating everything from plant matter to insects and birds. Like other tree squirrels, fox squirrels will enter homes, building nests in attics, walls, chimneys, rooflines, and inside garages. Fox squirrels carry diseases such as tularemia and ringworm that are transmissible to people.

Fox Squirrel Habitat

Fox squirrels prefer open, savannah-like habitats, where trees are widely spaced and the understory is open. Fox squirrels need large trees with cavities or holes in them for building nests to raise their young. They are most common in oak-hickory forests but are also found in live oak, mangrove swamps, and pine forests. Because of this habitat preference, fox squirrels do well in urban and suburban settings. These pests will enter homes and attics, causing damage to wiring, gardens, and lawns.

Fox Squirrel Behaviors, Threats, or Dangers

Fox squirrels sometimes cause damage around homes and gardens, where they feed on immature and mature nuts, fruit, and a variety of other plants. During the fall, squirrels dig holes in gardens or in turf where they bury nuts or other seeds. This storing of food, which they may or may not ever retrieve, raises havoc in the garden and tears up a well-groomed lawn. Squirrels sometimes gnaw on telephone cables and may chew their way into wooden buildings or invade attics through gaps or broken vent screens. They also have a tendency to strip bark to feed on the juicy inner bark layer (cambium), causing injury to trees. If you are having an issue with fox squirrels, it is best to consult a professional wildlife control company for removal.

Armadillo

Armadillos in Arkansas

Approximately 20 species of armadillo exist, but the nine-banded armadillo is the only one found in the United States. Armadillo means “little armored one” in Spanish and refers to the presence of bony, armor-like plates covering their body. When startled or scared, these armadillos can jump 4 to 5 feet high in the air. Found throughout the southeastern United States, these digging and burrowing mammals are a nuisance to homeowners as they destroy the landscape in their pursuit of food and shelter.

Armadillo Habitat

In the wild, armadillos prefer warm, wet climates and can be found in forest and scrub-brush areas in tropical and temperate regions. Armadillos are omnivores and prefer to construct their underground burrows in forests where they forage in forest litter for plants and small invertebrates. Armadillos construct their own burrows or use the burrow of another armadillo, tortoise, or naturally occurring holes. They do not hibernate and can not tolerate high temperatures above 85 degrees F. Their abandoned burrows are utilized by other animals, such as pine snakes, rabbits, opossums, striped skunks, burrowing owls, and snakes.

Armadillo Behaviors, Threats, or Dangers

In their quest for shelter and insects, armadillos destroy lawns and gardens in the process and are considered destructive animals. Armadillos are powerful diggers and will burrow under plants in landscape, foundations, and driveways. They are capable of destabilizing tree root systems and building foundations with their tunnels. Additionally, armadillos have been known to be carriers of mycobacterium leprae, which causes leprosy. They can also carry tapeworms and salmonella in their feces. If you have an issue with armadillos, it is recommended to contact a wildlife control professional.

Pillbug

Pillbugs in Arkansas

As one of the only crustaceans adapted to live on land, pillbugs are common throughout the United States. Pillbugs and sowbugs are similar-looking pests that are more closely related to shrimp and crayfish than to insects. Often known as roly-polies, pillbugs are able to roll up into a tight ball when disturbed or threatened. They are easily recognized by their back, which is made up of seven hard individual plates. Since pillbugs require moisture, they do not survive indoors for more than a few days unless there are very moist or damp conditions.

Pillbug Habitat

Pillbugs thrive in moist environments and can be found outdoors under mulch, fallen leaves, and rocks. Pillbugs are nocturnal and require humid conditions during the day. These crustaceans are generally found in moist soil along with sowbugs, millipedes, and earthworms. Pillbugs may leave their natural habitats at night and crawl about over sidewalks, patios, and foundations. They can become a nuisance as they often invade crawl spaces, damp basements, and first floors of structures at ground level.

Pillbug Behaviors, Threats, or Dangers

Pillbugs do not bite or sting and are not known to pose any threats to humans. They do not contaminate food or spread diseases. Pillbugs are mainly a nuisance pest, especially when they venture indoors. They are capable of feeding on tender plant tissue and occasionally cause considerable damage to garden transplants and seedlings. Pillbugs typically enter buildings through door thresholds, especially homes with sliding glass doors on the ground level. Seeing a pillbug in the home usually means that there is a large population outdoors.

If you have a pillbug problem in your Arkansas property, contact your local exterminators.

Millipede

Millipedes in Arkansas

Millipedes, sometimes called “thousand leggers”, are household pests. These creatures normally live outdoors where they feed on damp and decaying wood and vegetable matter, as well as tender roots and green leaves on the ground. Many millipede species protect themselves by means of glands that secrete an unpleasant odor. Millipedes are found in every U.S. state, including Alaska and Hawaii, as well as in Puerto Rico.

Millipede Habitat

In nature, millipedes are scavengers and feed mainly on decaying organic matter. They occasionally feed on young plants but the damage inflicted is seldom significant. Millipedes have high moisture requirements and tend to remain hidden under objects during the day. Millipedes often leave their natural habitats at night and crawl about over sidewalks, patios, and foundations. At certain times of the year, especially during autumn, they may migrate into buildings in great numbers.

Millipede Behaviors, Threats, or Dangers

While millipedes sometimes enter structures in large numbers, they do not bite, sting, or transmit diseases, nor do they infest food, clothing, or wood. Millipedes are simply a nuisance by their presence, often invading crawl spaces, damp basements, and first floors of structures at ground level. Frequent sightings of these pests indoors usually mean that there are large numbers breeding on the outside in the lawn, or beneath mulch, leaf litter, or debris close to the foundation. Because of their moisture requirement, millipedes do not survive indoors for more than a few days unless there are very moist or damp conditions.

If you are dealing with excess millipedes in your Arkansas property, contact your local exterminators.

Brown-Banded Cockroach

Brown-Banded Cockroaches in Arkansas

The name “brown-banded cockroach” comes from the pronounced bands of color across the wings of adults and bodies of nymphs. In North America, the brown-banded cockroach is thought to be present in most states and lives in buildings that maintain relatively high temperatures. This cockroach is similar to the German cockroach with its small size and body shape but can be distinguished by its lack of two dark stripes.

Both brown-banded and German cockroaches are obligatory domestic roaches, which means they do not live outside and rely solely on conditions created in our homes and buildings for survival. The brown-banded cockroach is sometimes referred to as the “furniture cockroach” because it is distributed evenly throughout households, including non-food locations, such as bedrooms, under chairs and tables, and behind pictures and other objects on walls.

Brown-Banded Cockroach Habitat

Brown-banded cockroaches prefer warmth and tend to be found up and away from the floor in closets or in heat-generating appliances. Brown-banded cockroaches are good climbers and can be active at night and during the day. Females seek out warm, dark places where they can attach their yellowish-brown egg capsules, and prefer walls, ceilings, tables, bedding, or furniture. Brown-banded cockroaches feed on a variety of materials including human food, starches, dyes, glue, books, stamps, and clothing.

Brown-Banded Cockroach Behaviors, Threats, or Dangers

Brown-banded cockroaches are not aggressive and do not bite. These roaches reproduce at an alarming rate and one female can produce up to 600 young in her lifetime. Brown-banded cockroaches are known to spread at least 33 different kinds of bacteria, making them a concern for any homeowner. Foraging cockroaches can be vectors of disease, depositing germs or bacteria in areas they inhabit and causing asthma attacks in some people sensitive to cockroach allergens. E. coli and Salmonella are both commonly spread by brown-banded cockroaches and can cause gastroenteritis and diarrhea.

If you suspect a brown-banded cockroach infestation, contact a professional cockroach exterminator for help.

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