American cockroaches are active throughout the year but they do not tolerate cold temperatures well. In homes they live in basements and sewers which is the source of their access to the indoors. They are also found in crawl spaces, cracks and crevices of porches, and foundations. When disturbed the American cockroaches run rapidly and may fly. They feed on a wide variety of plant and animal material.

Bed bugs are small, wingless, and feed exclusively on the blood of mammals. They gravitate to areas where people sleep hiding near beds and futons and then feed on their sleeping hosts by painlessly extracting a few drops of blood at a time. The feeding process injects a miniscule amount of bed bug saliva into the skin which can result in allergic reactions.

The body of the brown recluse spider features a black line that looks like a violin which has earned it the nicknames: fiddleback spider, brown fiddler, and violin spider. The spider is venomous and it’s bite can cause severe skin lesions, severe systemic symptoms, and death. True to its name the brown recluse isn’t aggressive and usually bites only when touched or tangled up in clothes, bath towels, or bedding.

Fleas will feed on any blood host available including humans. People sensitive to flea bites will develop large itchy welts at the bite sites. The fleas serve as hosts for tapeworms that infect cats, dogs, and humans. Flea larvae will feed on organic debris in pet bedding, furniture, and carpeting.

The eastern subterranean termite is the most common North American termite. They feed on cellulose material such as wood, paper, and cotton. A mature colony can range from 20,000 to five million workers with the queen adding up to 10,000 eggs per year to the total. Eastern subterranean termites can cause severe structural damage to homes and buildings.

Fruit flies can be a nuisance all year but they become especially active and plentiful during the late summer and into the fall when fruits and vegetables reach maturity and are picked. In addition to tomatoes, melons, and squash fruit flies are also attracted to rotting bananas, potatoes, onions, and other unrefrigerated produce. Females lay up to 500 eggs and the larvae feed on the yeasts in the fruit. Fruit flies are a major nuisance in bars and restaurants.

The German cockroach is one of the most common and prevalent cockroaches in the world and prove to be significant year-round pests that contaminate food, spread disease, and cause allergies. It is a scavenging omnivore that prefers starch, sugary foods, grease, and meats. Being a nocturnal insect they emerge at night to search for food and water.

The Indian meal moth is the number one pantry pest. It infests stored grains, fruits, dried nuts, powdered milk, vegetables, and particularly dried pet foods by laying eggs on these foods. The moths typically are introduced to homes unsuspectingly through foods that are already infested. Their life cycle is approximately six weeks long.

After humans mice are one of the most successful and resourceful mammals. Mice can fit through an opening 1/4 of an inch or about the width of a pencil. Mice will make their nests in many areas in and around the home especially in stacked firewood, stones, bricks, and piles of leaves. Mice can contaminate food, spread disease, and cause allergies.

The Norway rat also known as a brown rat or a common rat will consume almost anything. They can grow as long as ten inches with a tail the same length. They are usually active at night and are good swimmers both on the surface and underwater but are poor climbers. They burrow and often excavate extensive systems. Rats damage property, spread disease, and can bite.

The oriental cockroach grows to a size of 1.25″ in length and has a one-year lifespan during which the female can produce 150 offspring. Males have wings and will either run quickly or fly when disturbed unlike females that lack wings and only run. Oriental cockroaches cannot climb smooth surfaces. They remain indoors year-round usually in cooler areas such as basements and crawl spaces.

Carpenter bees typically nest in wood, excavating tunnels in structures such as wooden beams, siding, or fencing. Some species may also utilize other materials like bamboo or dried plant stems. A single nest can house several generations of bees, with each female creating her own brood chamber. During the warmer months, a nest can grow to accommodate up to several hundred bees. Carpenter bees are often recognized for their robust, black bodies with distinctive pale or yellow markings, resembling bumblebees but lacking dense hair.

Carpenter ants commonly establish their nests in moist or decaying wood, though they can also infest wall voids and insulation. These nests can expand over time, accommodating a colony that may include thousands of worker ants. During peak activity in the summer, a colony's population can rapidly increase. Carpenter ants are typically black or reddish in color, varying in size from small workers to larger reproductive individuals.

Normally nests are in the soil but some species will use bushes, wall voids, and attics. The nest size may grow up to 15,000 workers during the summer. Yellow jacket is the common name in North America for predatory wasps. Members of these genera are known simply as “wasps”. Most of these are black and yellow some are black and white.

Typically, bald-faced hornet nests are found in trees or shrubs, though some species may also build nests in wall voids or attics. These nests can expand to accommodate up to 15,000 workers during the summer months. In North America, bald-faced hornets are a common type of predatory wasp, distinguished by their striking black and white coloration. Unlike many wasps that are black and yellow, bald-faced hornets are known for their distinctive black and white markings.