Occasional Invader Identification
Dealing With Occasional Invaders in Florida?
Why U Buggin Has You Covered
"Occasional invaders are a frustrating but common problem for Florida homeowners.
Pests like centipedes, earwigs, and silverfish normally live outside, but seek shelter in your home during extreme weather. If you're tired of seeing these unsettling pests, it's time to call the experts at Why U Buggin Pest & Termite Control. "
Silverfish
• Official Name:
Lepisma saccharinum (formerly Lepisma saccharina). There are also other species, like the gray silverfish, Ctenolepisma longicaudata.
• Biology:
Silverfish are small, wingless insects in the order Zygentoma. They have a flattened, tear-drop-shaped body covered in scales that give them a metallic sheen.
• Life Cycle:
They undergo an ametabolous life cycle, meaning they hatch from an egg as a smaller version of the adult and continue to molt throughout their lifespan.
• Diet:
They have a strong preference for starchy materials. This includes paper, book bindings, wallpaper glue, and cereals. They can also feed on natural fibers like cotton and silk.
• Longevity:
Silverfish are remarkably long-lived for insects, sometimes surviving for several years.
• Behavior:
They are nocturnal and secretive, preferring dark, moist areas like basements, kitchens, and attics. They move in a fish-like, darting motion when disturbed.
Why U Buggin's solution:
At Why U Buggin, we take a strategic approach to silverfish control that goes beyond simply treating the visible pests. Our solution includes:
• Moisture control assessment:
We begin with a comprehensive inspection to identify high-moisture areas and recommend solutions, such as dehumidifiers or improving ventilation.
• Targeted treatment:
Our technicians use professional-grade products applied to key areas where silverfish hide, including behind baseboards, in wall voids, and in storage areas
.• Exclusion techniques:
We seal common entry points, such as cracks in foundations and around utility lines, to prevent future infestations.Ready to protect your valuables from silverfish?Don't let silverfish turn your personal documents and keepsakes into their next meal. Contact Why U Buggin Pest & Termite Control today for a free inspection! 850-491-1491
Clover Mites
• Official Name:
Bryobia Praetiosa Koch. Clover mites belong to the family Tetranychidae (spider mites).
• Biology:
Clover mites are tiny, eight-legged arachnids, not insects. They are reddish-brown to dark green with exceptionally long front legs that they extend forward.
• Reproduction:
Most populations reproduce through parthenogenesis (females produce offspring without a male).
• Diet:
As plant feeders, they eat clover and grasses. They do not bite people or infest food.
• Home Invasion:
They become a nuisance when they enter homes in large numbers, often during seasonal changes. They are attracted to buildings with grassy areas right up against the foundation.
• Staining:
When crushed, they leave a red stain from their body pigments, which often alarms homeowners.
Clover mites
Tiny red dots taking over your Florida home? It might be clover mites.
Clover mites are tiny, red pests that can appear in massive numbers, often on the sunny side of a home.
While harmless to humans and pets, their sheer volume can be unnerving. The most frustrating part?
Crushing them leaves a red or reddish-brown stain on window sills, curtains, and carpets.
Why clover mites are invading your home
Clover mites feed on plants outdoors and typically enter your home under specific conditions.
• Environmental triggers:
They often seek shelter from extreme temperatures, whether it's the intense Florida sun or unseasonably cold weather.
This migration happens when their outdoor food sources dry up.
• Home entry:
These microscopic pests can enter through the smallest cracks and openings, congregating around windows and doors as they try to find a way inside.
Why U Buggin's solution for North Florida
Our approach to controlling clover mites is focused on prevention and exclusion, specifically for homes and businesses in the Tallahassee area.
• Perimeter power spray:
We apply professional-grade treatments to the exterior perimeter of your home, creating a protective barrier that prevents mites from crawling up and entering.
• Targeted exclusion:
We address potential entry points and offer advice on reducing outdoor harborage sites, like overgrown grass and shrubs near the foundation.
• Comprehensive care:
We provide guidance on maintaining your yard to minimize clover mite activity and reduce their access to your home in Wakulla, Gadsden, and Liberty counties.
Tired of the red stains?
Stop clover mites before they make a mess in your home. Contact Why u Buggin Pest and Termite Control for a free estimate!
Earwigs
• Official Name:
European earwig (Forficula auricularia) is a common species, but others, like the ringl-egged earwig (Euborellia annulipes), are also found in North America. They belong to the order Dermaptera.
• Biology:
Earwigs are nocturnal insects easily identified by the pair of pincer-like appendages, or cerci, at their rear.
• Life Cycle:
They undergo simple metamorphosis. The female shows strong maternal care, guarding her eggs and young nymphs in a nest.
• Diet:
Earwigs are omnivorous, feeding on both decaying organic matter, plants, and other insects.
• Behavior:
They seek dark, moist crevices to hide in during the day and are often found in outdoor debris like mulch, under rocks, and in woodpiles.
• Defense: When disturbed, some species release a foul-smelling liquid as a defense mechanism.
Earwigs
• Identification:
Elongated, flattened insects with pincer-like appendages (cerci) at the rear. They range from reddish-brown to black.
• Biology:
Earwigs are nocturnal and hide in damp, dark places during the day, such as under logs, in mulch, or leaf litter. They are omnivorous, feeding on both decaying organic matter and other insects.
• Why they invade:
Seeking moisture, earwigs enter homes through cracks and other openings, especially after heavy rains or during dry periods.
They are attracted to damp basements and crawlspaces.
• Secretions and signs:
When threatened, earwigs may release a foul-smelling, yellowish-brown liquid from their abdomen to deter predators.
They can also emit a "chemical cloud" with antibacterial and antifungal properties. The collective feces of an infestation contain pheromones that can attract more earwigs to an area.
Unsettling crawlers with pincers? Why u Buggin can help with earwigs.
Earwigs are known for their distinctive pincer-like appendages and their preference for damp, dark areas. While they look intimidating, they are primarily a nuisance pest that can invade your home in large numbers, especially after heavy rains, which are common in Florida.
Why earwigs are invading your home
Earwigs are most active at night and seek refuge in moist, secluded spots during the day.
• Seeking shelter:
They often congregate under landscaping materials, such as mulch, leaf piles, and woodpiles. When conditions get too wet or too dry, they look for better shelter-and your home is a perfect candidate.
• Easy access:
They find their way into basements, crawlspaces, and garages through cracks in foundations, gaps around windows, and other entry points. o
Why U Buggin's earwig solution
Our expert technicians create a multi-layered defense to keep earwigs out for good.
• Habitat modification:
We'll inspect your property to identify and recommend the removal of damp harborage sites like yard debris and woodpiles.
• Perimeter treatment:
Our specialized treatments are applied to the foundation and around the perimeter of your home, creating a protective zone that earwigs can't cross.
Sealing entry points: We identify and seal cracks and crevices in your foundation and exterior walls to block their access indoors.
Don't let earwigs find a home in yours.
Put a stop to earwig invasions. Request a free estimate from Why U Buggin Pest & Termite Control today!
Crickets
• Official Name:
Field crickets are a genus called Gryllus. There are many species, including the Jamaican field cricket (Gryllus assimilis), common in Florida. They are in the family Gryllidae and order Orthoptera.
• Biology:
Crickets are medium-sized insects with long antennae known for the chirping sound made by males.
• Sound:
Male crickets create their familiar sound by rubbing their wings together to attract females.
• Habitat and Diet:
They live outdoors in lawns and fields but enter homes when environmental conditions are unfavorable.
• Behavior:
Crickets are active at night and are attracted to light.
• Odor:
A large indoor infestation can cause a collective unpleasant odor from dead crickets and excrement.
Is the constant chirping driving you crazy in Tallahassee? Why u Buggin offers quiet relief from crickets.
Crickets are a common noise nuisance, especially in North Florida, where their nightly chirping can disrupt your sleep. While relatively harmless, a large indoor infestation can be a persistent and annoying problem for homeowners in Tallahassee, Wakulla, Gadsden, and Liberty counties.
Why crickets invade your home
• Drawn to light:
Crickets are often drawn to outdoor lighting, which is why you'll often find them congregating near your doors and windows.
• Seeking moisture:
Like many occasional invaders, crickets are drawn to damp areas, especially when their outdoor habitat is disturbed.
• Hidden entry:
They can get inside through small cracks in foundations, gaps under doors, and damaged window screens.
Why U Buggin's solution
We use proven strategies to eliminate crickets and keep them from coming back.
• Inspection and source identification:
We start by locating the breeding areas and entry points.
• Targeted treatment:
Our technicians apply effective treatments to eliminate the current infestation, focusing on the exterior perimeter and known indoor hiding spots.
• Long-term prevention:
We advise on preventative measures, such as sealing cracks and altering outdoor lighting, to make your home less attractive to crickets.
Turn the silence back on.
Restore the peace and quiet to your home.
Contact Why U Buggin for a free consultation!
Centipedes
• Official Name: Centipedes belong to the class Chilopoda. A common house invader is the house centipede (Scutigera coleoptrata).
• Biology: Centipedes are multi-legged, predatory arthropods with a flattened, elongated body. They are myriapods, related to millipedes but have only one pair of legs per body segment.
• Venom: The first pair of legs behind the head is modified into venomous claws called forcipules.
Centipedes use these to inject venom into their prey, which typically includes other pests like spiders and insects.
• Habitat: They are sensitive to water loss and require a moist environment, which is why they are often found in damp basements, bathrooms, and crawlspaces.
• Movement: Centipedes, particularly house centipedes, are very fast runners.
• Defense: When threatened, some species produce a sticky, toxic fluid.
Dealing with fast-moving pests in Tallahassee?
Why u Buggin offers relief from centipedes.
House centipedes (Scutigera coleoptrata) are unsettling predators known for their many legs and lightning-fast speed. While they feed on other household pests, their presence often signals a larger underlying pest problem. The last thing you want is a centipede crawling on your wall, but their presence actually provides a clue to the main issue.
We proudly serve homeowners in Tallahassee and the surrounding counties of Wakulla, Gadsden, and Liberty.
Why centipedes invade your home
• Following the food source: If centipedes are in your home, they are likely hunting other pests, such as spiders, cockroaches, and silverfish.
• Seeking moisture: Centipedes prefer damp, dark environments. You'll often find them in basements, bathrooms, crawlspaces, and behind large appliances where they can find moisture and prey.
Why u Buggin's solution for the Tallahassee
Our strategy for centipede control is focused on both direct elimination and addressing the root cause.
• Comprehensive pest inspection: We'll conduct a thorough inspection to identify the moisture issues and the other pests that are attracting centipedes.
• Targeted treatments: We apply treatments in the key areas where centipedes hide, providing immediate control in Wakulla, Gadsden, and Liberty counties.
• Exclusion and prevention: We seal potential entry points and recommend long-term moisture control strategies to make your home an inhospitable environment for all pests in the Tallahassee area.
Don't just treat the symptom-eliminate the source.
Let Why u Buggin solve your centipede problem for good. Call us today for a free estimate!
Indian Meal Moths
• Official Name:
Plodia interpunctella.
• Biology:
The Indian meal moth is a common pantry pest and belongs to the family Pyralidae.
Adult moths are small, about 3/8 of an inch long, with a distinct two-toned wing pattern: the front half is a light gray or beige, and the outer two-thirds are a rusty brown or copper color.
• Life Cycle:
This moth undergoes complete metamorphosis (egg, larva, pupa, and adult). It is the larval stage that causes damage, not the adults, which live only for about one to two weeks and are focused on reproduction.
• Larvae:
The larvae are off-white or yellowish caterpillars with a dark brown head. They are a common pest in homes and feed on a wide range of stored foods.
• Damage:
The larvae contaminate food with silken webbing, fecal pellets, and cast skins. The presence of webbing matted over food is a key sign of an infestation.
The Indian meal moth is one of the most common and frustrating pantry pests. You might first notice the small, two-toned moths fluttering in an erratic pattern around your kitchen or pantry. However, it's the larvae—or "pantry worms"-that cause real damage by infesting and contaminating your stored food.
Why Indian meal moths are attracted to your home
These moths seek out and infest a wide variety of dried food products.
• Pantry staples:
Their diet includes cereals, grains, flour, nuts, dried fruits, crackers, and even chocolate.
• Contaminated groceries:
A new infestation can be introduced to your home through contaminated products you purchase at the grocery store.
• Other sources: Infestations often begin with contaminated bags of pet food or bird seed, wt. El may be stored in garages or pantries for long periods.
Why U Buggin's Indian Meal Moth Solution
Indian meal moths are notoriously difficult to eliminate because they can quickly spread to new food sources. Our pest control specialists can help you find the source and eliminate the problem.
• Thorough inspection:
We will conduct a detailed inspection of your pantry and other food storage areas to identify the source of the infestation, which is often hard to find.
• Comprehensive treatment:
Our technicians will treat the areas of infestation, focusing on the cracks and crevices where larvae hide, to quickly eliminate the pests.
Don't let pantry moths take over your kitchen.
Protect your food and peace of mind.
Contact Why U Buggin Pest and Termite Control for a free estimate and eliminate Indian meal moths for good!