Pests Archive | Page 9 of 13 | Delta Pest Control Inc. - Pest Control and Exterminator Services

Clothes Moth

Clothes Moths in Arkansas

Clothes moths are fabric pests and are among the few animals that can digest keratin, the fibrous protein found in animal hide, hair, feathers, and horns. There are two different types of clothes moths in North America — the webbing clothes moth and the casemaking clothes moth. The larva is the damaging stage of the clothes moth and both species feed exclusively on animal fibers, especially wool, fur, silk, feathers, felt, and leather. Serious infestations of clothes moths can develop undetected in dwellings, causing irreparable harm to clothing and decorative items.

Clothes Moth Habitat

Unlike some other types of moths, clothes moths are seldom seen because they avoid light. They prefer dark, undisturbed areas such as closets, basements, and attics. Indoors, clothes moth larvae are frequently noted on woolen clothes, carpets, upholstered furniture, and old wool rug remnants in the attic. Lint from wool rugs and pet hair behind baseboards and in flooring cracks all serve to invite moth infestations. A favorite egg-laying site is a carpet under the rear legs of a sofa, a spot rarely reached by a vacuum cleaner. Adult moths do not eat fabric, but their presence means that eggs will be laid soon, producing fabric-eating larvae.

Clothes Moth Behaviors, Threats, or Dangers

Articles commonly damaged and destroyed by clothes moths include sweaters, scarves, coats, blankets, rugs, down pillows and comforters, upholstery, toys, decorative items, and taxidermy mounts. The larvae prefer to feed in dark, undisturbed areas such as closets, chests, and boxes where woolens and furs are stored for long periods. Clothing and blankets in regular use are seldom infested, nor are rugs that get a normal amount of traffic, or are routinely vacuumed. Edges and undersides of rugs or sections beneath furniture are more likely to be attacked. If you suspect a clothes moth infestation, it is recommended to contact a pest control professional.

House Cricket

House Crickets in Arkansas

The house cricket was introduced into Canada and the United States in the 18th century and attracted the attention of early writers by its serenades and whimsical habit of chewing on clothes. House crickets are nocturnal and omnivorous, feeding readily on various foods, and are particularly attracted to liquids, especially fermented beverages such as beer or sweetened vinegar. House crickets are drawn to warm moist environments, seeking food and shelter within homes and structures as temperatures cool down in the fall.

House Cricket Habitat

During warm weather, the house cricket lives outdoors in piles of debris, rocks, firewood, and lumber. They may also be seen in compost bins and garbage dumps during the winter, as well as in houses, sheds, and other shelters. With the coming of cold weather, the house cricket enters homes and is active in warm areas of the house. House crickets are nocturnal and usually first make themselves evident at dusk when they begin to seek food in homes. Homeowners may also be alerted to their presence by the familiar chirping sounds made by males. When attracting females, males rub their front wings together causing a chirping sound.

House Cricket Behaviors, Threats, or Dangers

House crickets do not bite or spread disease, however, they can become a nuisance if they gain entry into a home, damaging clothing, carpets, and areas covered in fabric. Because these crickets are attracted to warmth, they are often present in the vicinity of the fireplace, kitchen, furnace, water heater, and basement. They conceal themselves in cracks, behind baseboards, and may burrow into the mortar of walls. The house cricket is especially destructive to silk and woolens.

If you have a house cricket infestation in your Arkansas property, contact your local pest control experts.

House Finch

House Finches in Arkansas

House finches breed between March and August. A breeding pair may have as many as six clutches of eggs in one summer, but usually only have three. Females build a shallow, cup-shaped nest in shrubs, eaves, tree cavities, buildings, hanging plants, and tree branches. Both parents tend to the young which will leave the nest in 12-19 days. The male continues to feed the fledglings for two weeks while the female builds a new nest and begins raising the next brood. After they become independent, young house finches form large flocks that will be able to breed the following spring.

House Finch Habitat

House finches live near settled habitats, such as city parks, urban centers, residential backyards, farms, and forests. Outgoing and social, house finches are found in noisy groups that are hard to miss if present. They can be seen feeding on the ground, at bird feeders, or perching high in nearby trees.

House Finch Behaviors, Threats, or Dangers

House finches prefer to live outdoors but are known to build nests in chimneys, attics, garages, and dryer vents which offer exceptional conditions for nesting. These birds love seeds and fruit and when foraging for food, they can cause significant damage to fruit trees and shrubs in your yard. They also can create quite a mess in the form of droppings and nesting debris scattered on your property. Most house finch damage is the result of their food-seeking behaviors as they peck at ripening fruit and eat the seeds of various plants. They also love to eat budding blossoms and flowers which can be quite frustrating to gardeners.

House finches are protected by the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act as migratory, non-game birds. Prevention and exclusion are the primary actions homeowners can take to deter house finches from nesting on their property. Contact your local bird removal experts for more information.

Field Ant

Field Ants in Arkansas

Field ants get their name for their preference of nesting out in the open and are found throughout the Arkansas area. Constructing large mounds in lawns, playgrounds, and parks, field ants nest in close proximity to humans. With mounds reaching up to three or four feet wide and up to two feet tall, they can affect grass growth and landscapes. Not known for entering homes, most field ants cause issues for homeowners when they nest near masonry walls and concrete sidewalks, destroying the appearance of lawns and can make mowing difficult.

Field Ant Habitat

Sometimes referred to as “thatching” or “mound” ants, field ants nest in soil or decayed logs. Nests are composed of small twigs, grass stems, leaves, or pine needles. Shrubs, rocks, trees, sidewalks, fences, and foundations of structures are all popular locations for nesting sites. Unlike most ant pests, field ants do not forage indoors for food. They feed exclusively on outdoor food resources, such as live and dead insects and the honeydew produced by aphids.

Field Ant Behaviors, Threats, or Dangers

If field ant nests are disturbed or stood upon, ants will swarm out of the nest, attacking and biting the intruder. Their bite is usually painful, with some species spraying formic acid into the wound, which stings. Field ant bites do not have any long-term consequences, and after a short period of time, the painful sensation subsides. The large mounds that field ants build can ruin the look of lawns, making lawn mowing difficult, and interfere with the growth of garden plants and woody ornamentals. If a field ant infestation is suspected, it is best to consult a professional ant exterminator.

Argentine Ant

Argentine Ants in Arkansas

Argentine ants are major household and garden pests in Arkansas. When searching for food, they leave pheromone trails everywhere they go, instead of just from nest to food source. This habit ensures they never visit the same area twice. Workers from different colonies are cooperative toward each other, allowing them to form large super-colonies. Argentine ant colonies can become so large that they can take over whole city blocks! They are ranked among the most stubborn home-infesting pests, contaminating and spreading bacteria wherever they forage.

Argentine Ant Habitats

Argentine ants prefer to nest under sun-baked soil and may even clean the nest area of vegetation in order to warm their nests. However, they also need water. Drip irrigation lines provide a perfect source of water and can serve as superhighways for ants to form new colonies. Setting up quarters anywhere close to food, Argentine ants nest in the ground, concrete wall cracks, and at the base of trees. When the weather gets too dry or too wet, these ants invade homes through cracks and crevices and are found near water pipes, sinks, and potted plants. Once inside, they forage for food, feeding on meat, eggs, oils, fats, and sweet items like fruit.

Argentine Ant Behaviors, Threats, or Dangers

Although they don’t pose any serious health threats, the sheer population size of an Argentine ant colony is enough to cause chaos in any household. Because they need water to survive, bare dirt borders near irrigation ditches can be chronically infested with ants. Most ants only deposit pheromone trails on their way back to the nest from the food source. However, Argentine ants leave behind pheromone trails to and from a food resource. Because colony size increases quickly, they can rapidly form interconnecting colonies that can lead to a massive infestation. If an Argentine ant infestation is suspected, it is best to contact a professional ant exterminator.

Brown Recluse Spider

Brown Recluse Spiders in Arkansas

The most common North American recluse spider is the brown recluse, also referred to as the ‘violin’ or ‘fiddleback’ spider because of the violin-shaped marking on its dorsum. Found throughout Arkansas, brown recluse spiders are rare outside their native range. In general, these spiders are widely over-reported and less common than perceived. Brown recluse spiders are venomous, but bites do not always result in large, necrotic lesions where surrounding tissue dies. Often, the bite goes unnoticed and only results in a pimple-like swelling.

Brown Recluse Spider Habitat

As their name implies, brown recluse spiders are reclusive. In nature, recluses are found in cracks and crevices in and under rocks or the loose bark of dead trees. Recluse spiders prefer to squeeze themselves into tight spaces and are found more commonly on rough surfaces such as paper, wood, and cardboard rather than smooth surfaces such as ceramic and metal. Recluses benefit from human-altered environments, where they are readily found under trash cans, plywood, tarps, rubber tires, and storage boxes.

Brown Recluse Spider Behaviors, Threats, or Dangers

The venom component of all recluse spiders is capable of causing necrotic skin damage. Fortunately, brown recluse spider bites are rare and only occur when the spider feels directly threatened. Of medical concern is that the brown recluse seeks refuge inside shoes, underneath clothes left on the floor, in gardening clothes, or gloves left in the garage. Although brown recluse spider bites are rare, the venom can sometimes cause serious wounds and infestations should be taken seriously. If you or someone you know may have experienced a brown recluse bite, it is important to always seek medical attention

If you are dealing with brown recluse spider problems on your Arkansas property, contact your local spider exterminators.

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