Some people mistakenly call termites "white ants" when seen in the ground, and "flying ants" when they are swarming. Maybe your next question is "Who cares?" But it's important to know, because measures for controlling the two pests vary.
Termite
- Straight antennae
- No waist line
- Front and back wings exactly same size
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Ants
- Elbowed antennae
- Narrow waist line
- Front wings much longer than back wings
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Crazy Ant
Attracted by sweet or greasy food
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Fire Ant
Colonies nest in soil and in voids like hollow doors and walls
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Pharaoh Ant
Very small and difficult to control, nest throughout structures
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Carpenter Ant
Destroys wood - Usually found in moist wood - Reproductives have wings.
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Cricket
Make an annoying noise in large numbers - Found primarily outdoors, but can move inside.
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American Cockroach
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German Cockroach
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Smokey Brown Cockroach
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Brown Banded Cockroach
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Oriental Cockroach
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Usually shy, nocturnal creatures - Contaminate food - Can aggravate allergies - Found in dark, moist areas and wherever food is stored or prepared - German cockroach reproduce rapidly - Brown Banded cockroach lives in warm, relatively dry areas - Oriental cockroach moves inside homes in fall and prefers cool, moist areas.
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Brown Dog Tick
Feeds in ears, between toes and on backs of dogs - Hides in pet bedding and behind baseboards - Bites people
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Deer Tick
May carry Lyme disease which can be debilitating to humans and pets - very small, less than 1/8" - Found near deer and mice habitats
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Earwig
Active at night, hidden in mulch during the day - Scavenges on dead plant and anmial material - Found in cool, damp ground cover
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Millipede
Normally found outdoors in damp places, but can migrate into basements and first floor rooms
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Silverfish
Eats paper, fabric and cereals - Fast-moving
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Sowbug/Pillbug
Like damp places - Frequently invade damp basements, crawl spaces
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Spider
Most species hide in cracks, dark areas or webs - May bite if disturbed - Black Widow and Brown Recluse species are poisonous
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Cat Flea
Found on pets, near pet areas and in carpet - Reproduces rapidly - Can cause irritating bites
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