How to Identify the Pest in Your Home

Narrow down the pest and count the number of legs. Provided your pest isn't a mammal, such as a rat or a mouse, you can count the legs to determine (or rule out) which type invader is inside your home. Common pest leg counts include:

• Six legs. Insects have six legs. According to the National Park Service, entomologists believe there are up to 10 million species of insects. These are divided into 32 groups or orders. Beetles, ants, and bees are common insect pests.
• Eight legs. Arachnids have eight legs. Spiders, ticks, and mites are pests that fall into this group.
• Many legs. Centipedes and millipedes have anywhere from less than 20 to hundreds of legs, depending on the species.

Some pests may move too quickly or have too many legs to count. If you can't count the legs, you'll need to look for other identifiers to determine which invader is in your home.

Legs aren't the only appearance-related identification factor. To better understand what type of pest you need to control, look for characteristics such as:

• Color. Some pests have a distinctive color. A bed bug typically has a rusty brown or red-brown color, ants range from red to black and brown, and bees may have yellow or black hues. It's also possible for pests to change color after feeding or during different life stages.
• Markings. Along with color, a pest may have stripes, dots, or other markings that separate one species from another.
• Antennae. Does the pest have antennae? If they do, how many antennae do you see? Insects have two antennae. But arachnids have none.
• Body segments. Insects have three segments — the head, thorax, and abdomen.
• Shape. From ovals and circles to tube-like forms, pests come in a variety of shapes.

To identify the pest based on appearance, compare what you see to a photo of the insect, arachnid, or other invader. Look for photos online from reputable sources, such as the National Pest Management Association or a university's entomology department.

Leg counts and appearance can help you to identify some pests. But it's also possible you could confuse one type of invader with a similar looking insect or arachnid. Smaller spiders may look like ticks and different species of ants may seem almost identical.

If you can't accurately identify your home's invader, a pest control professional can. A contractor can:

• Collect the pest. If the pest is too fast, hides when it sees a human, or has a nest deep within the walls of your home, you may not have the chance to identify it by eye. The exterminator can catch and collect the pest to get a better look at it.
• Inspect your home. The few pests you may see in the open aren't the only invaders. The pest control professional can inspect your home, find the source of the pest, and determine the type of invasion.
• Recommend a treatment plan. After the pest control expert positively identifies the invader, they can create a treatment plan. This may include extermination, removal, or repeat services.

Even though it may seem easier (and more cost effective) to identify and treat pests yourself, a DIY approach may create more problems than solutions. If you wrongly identify the pest or use the incorrect type of treatment, you may fail to contain the pest or create a safety risk.

Do you need help to control a pest problem? Contact E & R Exterminating Company, Inc. for more information.