German cockroaches are the most common indoor roaches. Adults are easy to identify by their light brown or tan color and the two black horizontal stripes located on the pronotum (behind the head that runs the length of the body). They are 13 to 16 millimeters in length. The nymphs (babies) are darker (almost black…
Silverfish are bluish-silver insects about half inch in length with a hard exoskeleton. They have two long antennas and 3 prominent tails. They move like fish wiggling along the ground. They grow from egg to adult with very little visible change in appearance. Silverfish are found in dark, damp areas such as basements, attics, kitchens…
Pigeons are amazing complex and intelligent birds. Pigeons are highly sociable. They will often be seen in flocks of 20 to 30 birds. They are also very destructive to buildings and to the health of humans. Pigeons’ droppings can eat through metal and paint over time. Pigeons can also carry bird mites. Once pigeons have…
Odorous Ants Odorous house ants are one of the most common ants in the Okanagan valley. Workers are 2.4 to 3.25 mm in size and brownish black or black in color. They eat honeydew (made from aphids) and sugary foods left by humans. They will nest inside or outside. Inside they are commonly found in…
In the Okanagan valley there are many different types of spiders. All spiders are controlled in the same way. One type of spider common to the Okanagan is the black widow spider. The black widow is a very shy spider and will avoid conflict at all cost. Most people get bit reaching behind a wood…
Deer mice are very active in the Okanagan. They live in several different habitats such as alpine habitats, northern boreal forests, desert, grassland, bushy areas, orchards and vineyards. Deer mice have many litters per year in the wild. Reproduction may not occur during the winter months. Females can become pregnant shortly after giving birth. The…
House mice are extremely common in all urban areas. They are brown, gray or black in color and can grow up to 20 cm from head to end of the tail. Once they invade a structure, using openings 1/4” or more, they seek out food and nesting areas around washers and dryers, dishwashers, stoves, fridges,…
Roof Rats are taking over the Okanagan. They were imported to Penticton around 2009 and since then they have been found in Osoyoos and North of Kelowna. They are brown or black in color (most commonly black) and are roughly 40 centimeters in length. They are excellent climbers and can run up to 7 feet…
The native species of subterranean termites in the okanagan are Reticulitermes. These termites thrive in the okanagan due to the climate. They are responsible for breaking down fallen trees, old stumps and other sources of cellulose. Unfortunately, they also invade wooden structures and if left uncontrolled, they will cause serious damage to buildings due to…
Bed Bugs From all the research, we believe bed bugs have been around since the cave men. When cave men moved into caves, bats left the caves to find new shelter and the bat bugs (which live on bats and feed off them) evolved into bed bugs and started feeding on humans. We still have…
