Jamestown Vector Control Department

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Common Mosquitos

Other pests:

Common Household Pests

Stored Grain Insects

Stinging and Biting Pests

1.  ORIENTAL COCKROACH - Black or dark brown.  Traces of wings on females, short wings on males.  Adult females 1 to 1 1/4 inch long, males a little shorter.  Live in damp basements and sewers.

2.  AMERICAN COCKROACH - REddish brown to dark brown.  Adults 1 1/2 to 2 inches long.  Development same as for oriental cockroach.

3.  GERMAN COCKROACH - Light brown.  Black stripes run lengthwise on back.  Adults 5/8 inch long.  Most common cockroach, develops and lives in kitchens and bathrooms.

4.  BROWN-BANDED COCKROACH - Light brown.  Mottled, reddish-brown wings on female, lighter wings on male.  Adults 1/2 inch long.  Develop and live all over the building.

    *Most cockroach problems in North Dakota start when people bring infested grocery boxes, potato sacks, etc. into the home.  Closely examine such containers before you use them for storage.

5.  HOUSE FLY -  House flies are generally black, about 1/4 inch long.   They perfer to breed in manure, can develop in any moist, warm, fermenting organic matter.  Larvae are white, legless, and taper from front to rear. 

6.  BLACK CARPET BEETLE - Adults are dull black, elliptical in shape, about 1/8 inch long.  Larvae are carrot-shaped, golden to chocolate brown, and have a tuft of long brown hairs at the tail end.  Fabrics subject to damage by carpet beetles include clothing, rugs, curtains, furniture padding, etc.

7.  WEBBING CLOTHES MOTH - Clothes moths feed mainly on fabrics left undisturbed or in dark places.  Damaged fabrics will have holes eaten through them by small, white caterpillars.  Silken cases or threads will also be present.  Adult moths are 1/2 inch long, buff-colored, and they do not feed. 

8.  SILVERFISH - Infested articles such as book bindings, papers, boxes, wall paper and starched clothing will have the surface eaten off in irregular patches by wingless insects ranging in size from 1/4 to 1/2 inch.  They are silvery gray, and the body tapers from head to tail with two long antennae on the head and three similar filaments at the rear end. 

9.  FLEA - Fleas are small insects not more than 1/16 inch long.  They are tannish-brown in color, extremely thin from side to side, and are active jumpers.   Their only food is blood.  Fleas are a particular problem on dogs and cats that are allowed to roam at large and mingle with other dogs and cats.

10.  BROWN DOG TICK - Ticks infest both man and animals.  Their usual method of attachment is to lie in wait  on a low shrub or weed.  When a person or animal passes by, the resting tick brushes off on the animal's haircoat or man's pant leg and immediately searches for a place to sink its bloodsucking mouthparts.

11.  PAVEMENT ANT - Ants often invade the home, get into many types of food, and crawl about on kitchen counters and shelves.

12.  SUBTERRANEAN TERMITE - Termites are seldom a problem in North Dakota.   If termites are suspected of causing damage, collect a few specimens and send them to NDSU Extension Service Entomologist for identification and control recommendation.

13.  POWDER POST BEETLES - Wooden structures infested with powder post beetles will be perforated with many small "shot holes" caused by adult beetles that have come out.  If there is a heavy infestation, the interior will be reduced to fine, packed powder.  Adults of most species are small, ranging from 1/12 to 1/5 inch in length.

14.  CARPENTER ANT - These large, black ants, measuring up to 1/2 inch long, build their nests in hollow trees, logs telephone poles, porch pillars, window sillls and other timber used in homes.  Their trademark is a small pile  of coarse sawdust beneath their nesting site. 

15.  BOXELDER BUG - Mainly red when young, these insects change to black with red marking when full grown.  In summer boxelder bugs feed on the leaves of boxelder trees, but in the fall they seek shelter crawling into cracks around doors and windows.

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