MILLIPEDES

Biology

• Length: 1 to 1 ½ inches

• Brownish in color

• Fertilization is internal.

• Lifetime includes 7-10 molts; after each molt, number of segments and legs increase.

• Two pairs of legs are found on each body segment.

• Nocturnal

Distribution/Habits

• Millipedes live outdoors, but can be found indoors if conditions outside are not favorable.

• They can be found on basement floors, or crawling up walls.

• They feed on decaying wood and any type of vegetable matter.

• Millipedes are slow, crawling insects that hide during the day under objects in damp soil.

• Protect themselves using a gland that secretes an unpleasant odor

• Some species have a gland that secretes a mixture of chemicals. This mixture is not toxic to humans, but may result in skin blistering.

HOUSE CENTIPEDE (Scutigera coleoptrata)

Biology

• Length: 1 to 1 ½ inches

• Normally gray or brown in color

• Has 15 or more pairs of long legs.

Distribution/Habits

• Found throughout North America and Mexico

• Mostly found in damp areas, crawl spaces, bathrooms, under siding and mulch beds.

• Most active at night

SOWBUGS

Biology

• Length: ¾ inches max.

• Oval body, curved on the upper part and flat and hollow beneath

• Thorax is large and constructed of 7 hard, overlapping plates.

• Head and abdomen are relatively small.

• 7 pairs of legs

• Two distinct tail-like appendages

• Life span: up to 2 years

Distribution/Habits

• Species distributed worldwide

• Prefer moist locations

• Most active at night (nocturnal)

• May bury themselves in several inches of soil

• Life is spent entirely on land

• Inactive in winter months

PILLBUGS

Biology

• Length: ¾ inches max.

• Oval body, curved on the upper part and flat and hollow beneath

• Thorax is large and constructed of 7 hard, overlapping plates.

• Head and abdomen are small.

• 7 pairs of legs

• Will roll up in a tight ball if disturbed.

• Life span: two years max.

Distribution/Habits

• Distributed worldwide

• Prefer moist locations

• Most active at night

• May bury themselves in several inches of soil

• Life is spent entirely on land

• Inactive in winter months

EARWIGS

Biology

• Length: ½ to 1 inch

• Reddish-brown in color

• Flat appearance

• Long forceps-like pinchers on last abdominal segment

Distribution/Habits

• Earwigs are found worldwide

• Mostly active at night

• Prefer cool moist hiding places

• Burrow into ground or leaf litter for shelter

SILVERFISH (Lepismatidae)

Biology

• Biology

• Length: ½ inch to ¾ inch

• Wingless, flattened body, shaped like a carrot

• Silver to gray in color

Distribution/Habits

• Can be found in warm, humid areas of structures worldwide

• Will travel quite far for food, but when food source is found, will remain close to it.

BOXELDER BUGS (Boisea trivitatta)

Biology

• Length: about 1/2 inch

• Dark brownish/black in color

• Three longitudinal red stripes on the thorax, red margins on the basal half of the wings

Distribution/Habits

• Found throughout North America and Canada

• Feed on the boxelder tree and other maples such as the Silver maple

• Will invade buildings and other structures to overwinter

ASIAN LADY BEETLE

Lady beetles or ‘ladybugs’ are not always considered beneficial insects, worthy of protection. While orchardists, gardeners and farmers might consider finding a lady beetle a sign of good luck because they feed on many serious plant pests, homeowners have recently become far less enchanted. With the appearance of literally thousands of annoying and smelly lady beetles flying and crawling inside a home or garage during late fall or winter, the words “beneficial,” “conservation,” and “protection” seem to be the last that come to mind. The particular species of lady beetle that has recently become a home invading pest is new to our area and is called the Asian Lady Beetle (Harmonia axyridis). This species looks like most other lady beetles (oval, convex, and approximately 1/3 inch long). However, body color varies dramatically among Asian lady beetles. Different color variations, from yellows to reds, can be found within a single handful of beetles. Many have black spots; some have many, some have few and some lack spots altogether. The most apparent identifying character that Asian lady beetles share is a black ‘M’ inscribed on their thorax, just above the wing covers. Some M’s are darker and more obvious than others, but their presence is almost always a good diagnostic tool.

Clover Mites

Clover mites are related to spiders and ticks, rather than insects. These extremely tiny mites are normally found outdoors, feeding on clover, grasses and other plants. Clover mites do not bite man and they do not transmit disease. Their red color is not due to blood but is a red pigment that will stain paper and other objects if mites are crushed. Clover mites may occur in large numbers indoors with the change of seasons in early spring and late summer. They are often found running around rapidly and erratically in warmer parts of a room. After a few days almost all of these mites will desiccate and die.

Interesting Facts about Clover Mites

• Males are unknown, females deposit only unfertilized eggs.  This makes it possible to produce a large number of eggs rapidly and without mating.

• The red mite color is not due to blood, it is a red pigment that will stain paper and walls if the mites are crushed.

• Large numbers of mites feeding on grass will turn the grass brown.

Identification

This red pigmented very tiny mite (1/30th of an inch) is frequently seen running around inside of buildings.  After heavy rains, excessive heat, or changes in the season, large numbers of these mites may accidentally enter buildings where they become a nuisance.

Individual mites are bright red with white stiff hairs that need high magnification to be seen.  They leave behind a red stain or smear when crushed; the stain is not blood but rather a red pigment. Clover mites have eight legs; the first pair is longer than the rest and is often held forward.

Biology

In the spring, clover mite females lay eggs in cracks in concrete foundations, cracks and crevices of buildings, under sidings, and on the underside of bark at the base of the trees.  Their eggs hatch above 40°F and below 86°F.  Males are unknown and all eggs are therefore unfertilized.

After eggs hatch, the newly emerged immature clover mites move to feed on plant juices, molt, and pass through two nymphal stages.  Approximately 30 days are required to complete a generation outdoors.  One generation is completed during the spring or early summer months and another in the early fall.

Clover mites in the egg stage may either hibernate (overwinter) or become dormant during the summer under tree bark, in cracks of fence posts and foundation walls, under sheathing of buildings or in other dry protected sites, during adverse weather conditions.