• MONDAY – FRIDAY 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Seasonal Pest

Clover mites are 0.75–0.85 mm (0.030–0.033 in) long, oval shaped arachnids with a pair of long legs pointing forward often mistaken for antennae. They are reddish brown; the younger ones and the eggs are a bright red. They are extremely common in late spring. They generally enter houses close to thick vegetation and can infiltrate houses in very large numbers through cracks and small openings around windows and doors. Whether indoors or outside, clover mites are found more commonly in sunny areas than in darker areas. If squashed, they leave a characteristic red stain caused by their pigmentation. Clover mites are not harmful to humans, pets, or furniture.

Springtails (Collembola) are omnivorous, free-living organisms that prefer moist conditions. They do not directly engage in the decomposition of organic matter, but contribute to it indirectly through the fragmentation of organic matter and the control of soil microbial communities. Springtails are frequently found in leaf litter and other decaying material.

The boxelder bug (Boisea trivittata) is a North American species of true bug. It is found primarily on boxelder trees, as well as maple and ash trees. During certain times of the year boxelder bugs cluster together in large groups while sunning themselves on warm surfaces near their host tree. This is especially a problem in the fall when they are seeking a warm place to overwinter. Large numbers are often seen congregating on houses seeking an entry point. They remain inactive behind siding and inside of walls while the weather is cool. Once the home’s heating system becomes active for the season, the insects may falsely perceive it to be springtime and enter inhabited parts of the home in search of food and water.

The orthopteran family Rhaphidophoridae, common names for these insects include the cave crickets, camelback crickets, camel crickets, spider crickets (sometimes shortened to “criders”, or “land shrimp” or “sprickets“, and sand treaders. Most cave crickets have very large hind legs. The species are also known to inhabit other cool, damp environments such as rotten logs, stumps, and under damp leaves, stones, boards, and logs. Occasionally, they prove to be a nuisance in the basements of homes in suburban areas, drains, sewers, and firewood stacks.

House crickets take two to three months to complete their life cycle at 26 to 32 °C (79 to 90 °F). They have no special overwintering stage, but can survive cold weather in and around buildings, and in dumps where heat from fermentation may sustain them. Eggs are deposited in whatever damp substrate is available. Juveniles resemble the adults except for being smaller and wingless. The house cricket is typically gray or brownish in color, growing to 16–21 millimeters (0.63–0.83 in) in length. The house cricket is an omnivore that eats a range of plant and animal matter. Crickets in the wild consume flowers, seeds, leaves, fruits, grasses and other insects (including dead members of their own species).