We found this what seems to be a centipede in our house. we have seen many more of it other times hiding in the ceiling or in any wood cracks in the floor. Our house was newly built in Erbil, Iraq in a new area so we don’t have any moisture issues. We have noticed little white bugs too that have three antennas at their end, I haven’t taken a photo of it but it looks a little like a firebrat or silverfish and I suspect is the baby of this bug maybe? Is this a centipede or millepede? And does it’s species cause harm to human or cats? Thank you in advance

As title says.

Went into a house for an emergency callback. Guessing previous tech didn't have the heart or courage to tell him

Looked legitimately like a horror movie. Dog poop covered the yard so much I had to wear a mask to not throw up. So obviously flies,then tall grass and foliage everywhere so mosquitoes. Random tires,car parts and other miscellaneous stuff. Like a poor man museum

Inside? Dog poop also. Baseboards??? What are those? German roaches everywhere,ants crawling around the leftover food. Clearly see rat droppings but could barely move inside the home to locate. House looks dilapidated. The kicker?? Neighborhood is a little less then 10 years old. How....

After explaining how I'm not a mover so I ain't moving your hoard in your home and garage I let him know he needs to clean it all cause I'm not treating until it's done. It's like throwing gauze on a gun shot wound.

Did qoute a high number though in hopes they'd find another company. Think the qoute for add-ons was 800. The roaches...gonna have to throw the appliances out.

How are you alive?

The nest was huge, from what I could tell it was the size of a (American) football. I tried 3 different sprays and couldn’t use my back patio for a week.

I’ve noticed stragglers trying to return to the site this morning. Should I worry about them at all? Will they try to re-nest in the same spot? I plan to see if the onions make it by tipping it back up and burying the base.

Moved into a new home (new build, was completed months before I moved in). I initially found these bugs congregating in the light fixtures, they are some type of worm or larvae. Removed hundreds from the light fixtures but they keep coming back. I had a pest control company come out and spray the exterior of property about a week ago (they sprayed with “Masterline B Maxxpro” which contains Bifenthrin 7.9%). They wanted to treat interior with some sort of aerosol but we have an newborn in the home so we deferred that for now. So far exterior treatment has not halted worm activity. Any advice? What can I do to get rid of these guys?

Found several damaged shirts and sweaters in my closet - never had clothing pests before so this is new to me. Can someone help identify what caused this damage? Everything online says to identity what pest you have first, then treat second, but doesn’t explain how to identify. The holes are big, at least 1 cm diameter, and have a gooey/mucousy substance on them. Haven’t been able to find a larvae, eggs, or pest yet. Any help is appreciated, thanks!

I was weed eating yesterday and stirred up a Yellowjacket nest. Once I realized what was going on I threw my weed eater and ran. When I returned 9 hours later, the weed eater was still swarmed. This is a heavily wooded area far from my house, so I’m not exactly sure where the nest is, but I assume my weed eater is on top of it. Honestly I just want my weed eater back without getting myself swarmed. How do I do this? Thanks!

UPDATE: Husband and I snuck down at sunset dressed in many layers of clothes and armed with Raid. Just a few yellow jackets were visible. My husband grabbed the weedwacker, and we sprinted away. I think I’ll let the jackets keep that corner of the woods. Thanks again for your help!

Recently moved into an older countryside home and found a cockroach nymph this morning in a rental furniture dresser. It was in my clothes (gross) but I was able to catch and kill it. Do I need to be concerned? If so, what can I do or need to do to prevent a full blown infestation?

Hello,

Looking to identify these bugs that are quickly becoming an annoyance to my sleep pattern. My apartment is convinced they are bed bugs but they mainly reside in my carpet and seem to have a black body with red legs. I’ve vacuumed a few times and it seems to have cut down on the number but they are still persistent. Any advice so I don’t have to get my apartment bug bombed is welcome!

I’m in north New Jersey and just noticed these holes and discoloration on my wood fence in New Jersey. I searched the surrounding area and couldn’t find any others. As shown in the pictures, it’s right where the wood fence meets the brick outside of the garage.

TL;DR:

Treat your pets with approved vet products, vacuum well, and use PT Alpine Flea and Bedbug spray to treat the floors and furniture crevices. Starting the next day, vacuum daily, and wait 4 full weeks before treating again. If needed, treat the yard with Talstar Xtra Verge granules.

Note: If entering an empty, infested dwelling or basement, put a white trash bag on each leg, and spray them with OFF Insect Repellant.

Fleas

The type of flea that infests pets and homes is the cat flea. Prevention is the best way to avoid this, so always treat your pets using products recommended by your vet. Do not use inexpensive alternatives as you will pay far more in the long run if your home becomes infested.

White Sock House Test

If you think you have fleas but haven't seen any, a good test is to put white socks on and walk around the house and see if any appear on them. Do this every few hours for a bit until you see - or don't see them.

Pet Test

To determine if your pet has fleas, inspect its private area and fur with a flashlight. If they are present, you can capture them by using petroleum jelly (or hand cream) on a finger tip. Blob the fleas with it to make removal easier. This should be done multiple times daily, as every flea removed helps resolve the issue quicker.

Also, if you think you have flea droppings, add water to them. They will turn to blood if they are.

If fleas are ruled out, and you still seem to be getting bites, see this: Mysterious Bites/Bugs (link)

Itching Bite Relief

Apply any brand of burn relief gel, or poison ivy lotion.

Sleeping

If you are concerned about flea activity in your bed while sleeping, consider a popup mosquito bed tent.

Fleas in Clothing, Mattresses, and Stuffed Animals

Fleas do not infest hanging clothing, clothing in drawers, mattresses, or stuffed animals. However, any cloth items left on the floor can become infested.

Quick Relief

For quick relief from flea bites before and after treatment, cover as much of the floor area as you can with sheets or plastic to contain them. Remove any coverings before treating, vacuum, treat, and replace the covers when the floors are dry. Remove the covers a section at a time to vacuum, and then replace.

Biology

Fleas go through four biological stages: egg, larvae, pupae, and adult. Adults live their lives on the pet feeding, mating, and laying eggs. Eggs fall off the pet then hatch as larvae and feed on dried blood droppings that also fall off the pet.

The larvae then form cocoons (pupate), weaving themselves into carpet fibers, crawling into cracks in hardwood floors, furniture recesses, and anywhere else they can find protection. When a host is present, they hatch, then jump on the pet (or you), and the cycle starts again. A complete cycle can take up to four weeks depending on conditions (Not so fun fact: fleas in the pupal state can wait up to two years to emerge until a host is present, so it is very important that there is daily activity and vacuuming to promote pupal hatching).

Pet Treatment

Treat your pet monthly with a quality, long term preventative like Advantage Multi or Advantage Plus, Revolution Plus, or a Seresto collar. If the pet is infested, you can treat with Capstar or Capaction (nitenpyram), which are pills that start killing fleas in 30 minutes. One dose should kill all the fleas in 24 hours, but if they persist, you can safely treat once per day as needed.

House Treatment

Preparation for a house treatment includes vacuuming of all floors, including under furniture, under beds, pet resting areas (closets, window sills, high cat perches, etc.), cloth/leather furniture surfaces, under removable cushions, and the side and back crevices of furniture. Throw rugs should be laundered, or vacuumed and removed from the room and sprayed separately. Bedding must be washed and not returned to the bed until a few hours after treatment. Pillows can be placed in closets or drawers during treatment. Pet beds should be removed, vacuumed, and washed if possible, or vacuumed and sprayed.

If using a professional service, they will use either an aerosolized spray, or a liquid spray which will be a mixture of an adulticide and a genetic insect growth regulator (IGRs keep larvae from developing into adults in their cocoons; thus breaking the cycle). If an aerosol treatment is used, keep clothing and bedding away from the treated area or in plastic bags. A liquid treatment does not require this precaution.

Treatment consists of spraying all floor areas, which includes under furniture and beds, and pet resting areas. If furniture has removable cushions, remove them and spray the cushion beds and the crevices along the sides and back. Do not treat furniture areas that receive prolonged human contact or mattresses.

Be prepared to leave the house with your pet for a few hours so the material can dry. This is so you and your pet don't contact the wet surfaces, and so you don't slip and fall. If a liquid treatment is to be done, cats can be put in carriers and up on a table, or confined to a bathroom. If an aerosol treatment is done all pets must be removed until the spray has settled and dried. Fish tanks must be covered with clear wrap and the pump turned off.

Self Treating

Use PT Alpine Flea and Bedbug aerosol (buy online) in the way described above. The active ingredient is dinotefuran, which has 'Reduced Risk Status' according to the EPA. In the UK, use Indorex, Frontline HomeGard, or VetUK Household Flea Spray. In Canada, Precor 2000, and Zodiac Home Flea spray is available. Read the label for application instructions. Again, all animals must be out of the house for at least a few hours while it dries.

Note: DO NOT use boric acid or diatomaceous earth (DE). They are hazardous to your health if inhaled.

Post Treatment Vacuuming

Vacuum the day after treatment, and do so daily if possible until the fleas are gone. This will help encourage the pupae to hatch, and it remove adults, larvae, and eggs. To kill the fleas in the bag or canister, vac up a small pool of isopropyl alcohol, or use a piece of a flea collar.

Yards

Yards usually do not need treating unless you know for a fact that fleas are present. If so, use Talstar Xtra granules (buy online) and a hand spreader set on #3. Walk with a slow-medium pace when applying. Water in after to activate the granules (no need to use an IGR as it will not work well outdoors). If you have a persistent, uncontrollable issue in a small area, consider using a weed torch.

Rugs/Carpets

If your rugs/carpets are at the end of their lifespan, consider removing and disposing them. That's where the larvae and pupae are concentrated. You will have to do this yourself as no carpet company will likely want to do it.

Moving

If you are moving from an infested house, do not bring any carpets, pet beds, or cloth furniture with you. That's the only way to stop transfer to the new house (laundry, hanging clothes, stuffed toys, and mattresses will not transfer them). You can also pre-treat the new house a day or so before you move in for added defense. And be kind to the next occupants of the house you're leaving and inform the landlord, or at least leave a note warning them of the issue.

Animals in Fireplaces

An animal nesting in a wood-burning fireplace can cause an infestation in that room, so the animal needs to be removed (alive or dead), and the ledge in the fireplace and hearth needs to be vacuumed well and treated. However, building a fire may do the trick.

A Personal Note:

If you have saved money by using this information, consider a small donation to your local animal shelter.

Also:

I provide this help to you as a service to the Lord, and pray you will accept the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ.

(See John 3:16 / John 3:3 in the New Testament)

PC Duranet

I always see silverfish in the corner of my bathroom in the middle of the night and about a year ago I saw one in my bedroom corner. I thought it was normal and everybody has them so I didn't mind it much.

But yesterday night I pull my blanket to go to bed and SEE A SILVERFISH RIGHT ON MY BED. I have never ever EVER thought that silverfish could live or like to be in your bed. I was non-stop crying for 30 minutes.

Now it's morning on the next day and I deep cleaned the crap out of my room. Flipped my mattress, got rid of all nasty stuff everywhere and I still feel scared that a pack of hundreds live in my room.

It has been raining a lot these past few days where I live which has made my bedroom so much more humid and ''moist''. So maybe that's the reason but still I'm terrified.

I heard that silverfish do not like the smell of lavender so I just mixed lavender essential oil with water and sprayed it on cotton pads and put them into all corners of my bedroom. I know they like moisture and the cotton pads are pretty wet but they reek of lavender. So I'm wondering if the lavender cotton pads will help or maybe bring even more silverfish bc of the water in them.

If you have any of these or similar, there's a moisture issue somewhere they are breeding in.

Also, if they do not enter vinegar traps, they are not fruit flies.

**************************************************************************************************************

Inside

If you live in an apartment, you may not be able to do much as it often is a long-standing issue. If you can break the lease, consider it as you may have to live with them for the duration. If moving is not an option, light traps like Zevo will help.

Moisture breeding flies will often be found dead on window sills, but that is not usually the source. They are there because of the light from the windows which appears to be an escape route.

The usual sources are:

* Sink/tub dirty drains

* Toilet seal leaks

* Roof leaks

* Over-watered plants

* The condensation pan under the fridge

*** Broken sewer pipe in a wall, or under a cement slab (**You can buy a moisture meter to check the walls and ceiling for possible leaks. If still no luck, a plumber or pest company may be able to find it)

* Leaking kitchen sinks

* Standing water in a crawlspace

* Caged pet bedding

Outside

If they are outside in numbers, they are often coming from the nearest wetland, pond, or river. There is no cure for this, so hopefully their season will be short. Keep outside lights off and curtains drawn to not attract them.

Light Traps

Light traps will never solve an issue, but may lead you to the source. Place a number of them around the house and see which one collects the most. The source should be near that area.

Plants

If a plant is determined to be the source, treat the soil with isopropyl alcohol as it will not affect the plant.

Drains

Put clear drinking glasses over the drains before bedtime. If any flies are in them in the morning, you have the source. Buy Invade Bio Drain Gel and use it as directed.

Toilets

To check if the wax seal under the toilet is the issue, run a strip of painter's or packing tape around the base of the toilet, but leave a little bit of space under it. If flies are emerging from the base they will get stuck on the tape. If this happens, do not caulk the base as the seal needs to be replaced.

Refrigerators

If breeding in the fridge, sanitation is required, and possibly an Ozone Treatment (link).

If the problem is on the ground floor and the floor is a concrete slab, a hollow space may have developed under the cement caused by rain intrusion or a pipe leak. If the flies are breeding there the fix is very difficult, so if you rent, ask to change units to one not on the ground floor. If you rent a house or own the home, a contractor and/or plumber is needed.

If a pipe is leaking, the solution is to locate the affected area, correct the leak, and excavate ALL of the wet soil. Then leave it open for a week to make sure the flies are gone. If not, more soil needs to be to be removed. If successful, fill with clean soil and repair the concrete.

If it's water intrusion from outside, that needs to be corrected. Once done, a possible option is to have a termite company drill holes in the concrete floor and inject termiticide. If they hit the breeding spot it may solve the issue. It's a lot easier than the excavation method.

If you are in an apartment, ask your neighbors if they have the same issue. If so, it's a deep-building issue and not coming from your unit, and this is the responsibility of management. If management does not take action, mention the Board of Health and call them if needed. However, these can be chronic and you may have no choice but to move.

Sleeping

If you are concerned about the flies while sleeping, consider a popup mosquito bed tent (Amazon).

A Personal Note:

If you have saved money by using this information, consider a small donation to a local animal shelter as a thank you.

Also:

I provide this help to you as a service to the Lord, and pray you will accept the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ.

(See John 3:16 / John 3:3 in the New Testament)

PC Duranet

An exterminator came over 2 days ago to treat my home for roaches. He told me they didn’t look like German roaches based off the pictures I showed him but they most certainly do look like them based off all the info I’ve seen online. He sprayed every room in my house and only put bait in kitchen cabinets. Yesterday I saw so many in places I had never seen them before and it was all during daytime. Last night I saw 2, each was crawling near our beds in my daughters room and one in my bedroom. They are all small babies, I only saw 2 adults once. Does this mean they are dying? How will I know if they are completely gone? Should I continue to have pest control come spray to keep them away and infesting again ?

I’ve had so much anxiety and am paranoid since this is a brand new build and I have kids, a baby who is learning fo crawl