Identify What’s Bugging You!
Use our pictures and descriptions below to identify the pest that’s bugging you, and then call Cayce Exterminating at 803-796-BUGS! By identifying the bug before we send out our pest control crew, we can give you a better price estimate and prepare our pest control experts.
Household Pests
Silverfish
Clemson Univ./USDA CES, insectimages.org
Silvery to gun metal, 1/2 to 3/4 inch, normally hide during the day and can infest any area or structure.
Earwig
University of Nebraska, Dept. of Entomology, Jim Kalisch
Pale brown, reddish brown to black, 1/4 to 1 inch, active at night, hide in moist, shady areas.
American Cockroach
University of Nebraska, Dept. of Entomology
Reddish to dark brown, 1 3/8 to 2 1/8 inch, commonly known as “waterbugs”.
German Cockroach
University of Nebraska, Dept. of Entomology
Brown to tan, 1/2 to 5/8 inch, common in kitchens and baths.
Oriental Cockroach
University of Nebraska, Dept. of Entomology
Shiny black to dark reddish brown, 1 to 1 1/4 inch, commonly called “sewar roach”.
Brown Banded Cockroach
University of Nebraska, Dept. of Entomology
Light brown to brown, about half an inch long, prefer warmer areas of a structure.
Smokey Brown Cockroach
University of Nebraska, Dept. of Entomology
Shiny brownish black to dark mahogany, 1 to 1 1/4 inch, common outdoors in protected, moist, dark and warm areas. Good fliers and attracted to light.
millipede
Gary Alpert, Havard Univ., insectimages.org
Blackish, brownish or red/orange, active at night and seek areas of high moisture.
Pillbug
Gary Alpert, Harvard Univ., insectimages.org
Slate grey, 1/4 to 5/8 inch, commonly called “rolly-pollies”.
Sawtoothed Grain Beetle
Clemson Univ./USDA CES, insectimages.org
Brown, 1/8 inch, found in cereals, bread, nuts, dried fruits and many other products.
Biters and Stingers
Gary Alpert, Harvard Univ., insectimages.org
Red to reddish brown, 3/16 inch, harbor in cracks and crevices and feed at night, found in mattresses, box springs, furniture, etc.
Common Striped Scorpion
Clemson Univ./USDA CES, insectimages.org
Yellowish brown to tan, 2 1/4 to 2 1/2 inches, sting comparable to a wasp or bee sting.
Flea
Joseph Berger, insectimages.org
Brownish black to black, 1/8 inch, jumping insects, blood feeders that may transmit disese.
Brown Dog Tick
Gary Alpert, Harvard Univ., insectimages.org
Reddish brown, grey-blue or olive when engorged, can transmit disease.
Asian Tiger Mosquito
Susan Ellis, insectimages.org
Dark brown to black, carriers of many diseases and heartworms.
Brown Recluse Spider
DPI-Archive, Florida DACS, insectimages.org
Tan to dark brown with a darker fiddle-shaped marking on dorsum (top behind eyes). Inside, normally found in undisturbed areas such as boxes, shoes or below tables. Bites to humans can be dangerous.
Black Widow Spider
Clemson Univ./USDA CES, insectimages.org
Typically black with reddish hourglass marking on abdomen. Inside, normally found in seldom-used areas of the garage, basements, and crawlspaces. Bites to humans can be dangerous, especially small children.
Paper Wasp
Gary Alpert, Harvard Univ., insectimages.org
Brownish with yellow or reddish markings, 5/8 to 3/4 inches long, normally builds a comb nest in any protected location.
Eastern Yellow Jacket
Gary Alpert, Harvard Univ., insectimages.org
Yellow and black, 3/8 to 5/8 inch, mostly ground nesting but may build an aerial nest in shrubs or on buildings.
Honey Bee
Whitney Cranshaw, CSU, insectimages.org
Orangish-brown to black with body covered with pale hairs, 1/2 to 5/8 inch, are not aggressive and will attack only when threatened. Live removal is preferred but not always an option.
Bald Faced Hornet
Johnny N. Dell, insectimages.org
Black with white pattern on most of the face, 5/8 to 3/4 inch.
Bald Faced Hornet Nest
Rita Parkins, insectimages.org
Built of chewed cellulose material, can be constructed in trees, shrubs and on buildings, up to 14 inches in diameter and over 24 inches in length.
Bumble Bee
Kristina Simss, insectimages.org
Black with yellow markings, 1/4 to 1 inch, beneficial insects due to pollination of many plant species.
Velvet Ant
Jerry A. Payne, USD ARS,Bugwood.org
Actually a wasp but commonly mistaken for an ant. Females can sting. Normally found in yards and pastures cut occasionally inside of structures.
Ants
Fire Ant Mound
UGA-Archive, insectimages.org
Normally built under stones, at the base of a tree, shrub or any undisturbed area.
Fire Ants
Johnny N. Dell, insectimages.org
Head and thorax yellowish red and abdomen black, workers average 1/16 to 1/4 inch, inflict painful bites.
Argentine Ant
Natasha Wright, Florida DACS, insectimages.org
Light to dark brown, 1/16 inch long, inside usually nest near a moisture source such as sinks, potted plants, etc.
Odorous House Ant
Susan Ellis, insectimages.org
Dark brown to black, 1/16 to 1/8 inch, prefer wall voids especially around hot water pipes and heaters, in crevices, around sinks, etc.
Field Ant
Joseph Berger, Bugwood.org
These ants are red, black, brown, or a combination of all three colors. Occasionally field ants may also be golden yellow in color. They are between 1/8 and 1/4 inch in length.
Harvester Ant
Joseph Berger, Bugwood.org
Worker harvester ants range from 1/4 to 1/2 of an inch in length. Different harvester ant species exhibit different colors, ranging from reddish-brown or yellow to black.
Pavement Ant
Joseph Berger, Bugwood.org
Pavement ants frequently vary in color from red brown to blackish-brown in appearance and are from 1/8” to. 1/4” in length.
Crazy Ant
Eli Sarnat, IAkey: Invasive Ants of the Pacific Islands, USDA APHIS PPQ
Dark brown to black, 1/8’-1/4”, rapid and erratic movements. Highly adaptable living in both very and rather moist habitats.
Pharoah Ant
Pest and Diseases Image Library, Bugwood.org
Yellow with reddish abdomen, 1/16”. Nests in wood, wall voids, and baseboards. Prefer warm, humid areas near food and water.
Acrobat Ant
Jessica Lougque, Smithers Viscient, Bugwood.org
Light brown to dark brownish black, 1/8”, heart shaped abdomen. Nest outdoors in soil, leaves or wood; indoors in building voids, insulation and foam board.
Wood Destroying Insects
Subterranean Termite Worker
Gary Alpert, Harvard Univ., insectimages.org
Off-white to almond color, 1/8 to 1/4 inch, does all of the work and damage for a colony.
Subterranean Termite Swarmer
Gary Alpert, Harvard Univ., insectimages.org
Black with 2 pairs of wings, 2 body segments, about 3/8 inch long with straight antenna, normally swarm in spring.
Subterranearn Termite Shelter Tube
USDA Forest Service-Archive, insectimages.org
Mud tubes that act as highways between the colony and food sources.
Old House Borer
Clemson Univ./USDA CES, insectimages.org
White, about 1 1/4 inch, can live in wood 12 to 15 years, evidence of activity include oval, ragged emergence holes, frass (fine sawdust) and “clicking” noise.
Powder Post Beetle Symptoms
Whitney Cranshaw, CSU, insectimages.org
Small emergence holes and streaming frass (fine sawdust) are sings of an active infestation.
Carpenter Ants
Clemson Univ./USDA CES, insectimages.org
Black, red/black, red or brown. Various sizes. Normally infest decayed wood and expand into sound wood.
Carpenter Ants Wings
Whitney Cranshaw, CSU, insectimages.org
Normally swarm from May until August.
Carpenter Bee
Johnny N. Dell, insectimages.org
Resembles bumble bee except abdomen is black and shiny, about 1 inch long, normally bore holes in weathered and unpainted wood to lay eggs.