Outside Pest - Spring Branch Exterminators

Outdoor Pest

Earwigs

Adult earwigs are flattened insects, up to 1-1/4 inches long. Their color ranges from red-brown to black. They are active at night and scavenge on dead insects and plant materials. During the day they hide under stones, boards, sidewalks, or debris

The males have curved forceps-like appendages they primarily use for defense and during courtship. They are not able to hurt people. The females appendages are smaller and less curved

Eggs are laid in small batches in a chamber two to three inches beneath the surface. Moisture is required for the eggs and young. The mother will guard and protect the eggs and newly hatched young. After the first molt the young will leave and fend for themselves

Sowbugs and Pillbugs

Sowbugs and pillbugs are not insects, they are crustaceans. Both are slow-moving and are closely related to crayfish, lobsters and shrimps

Sowbugs are oval to slightly elongated with a flattened body and are up to 3/4 inch long. Their color with vary from brownish to slate grey. They have seven pairs of legs and plates of overlapping armor. They have well developed eyes and tail-like appendages.

Pillbugs are also oval to slightly elongated and are up to 3/4 inch long. They have well developed eyes with seven pairs of legs. They too have overlapping armor and range in color from brownish to grey

The big difference is that pillbugs can roll up into a ball when disturbed. Pillbugs are often called roly-polys.

Both crustaceans mate throughout the year. The females carry the eggs in a brood pouch on the underside of her body. There can be between 10 to 200 in the pouch

Once the young hatch they will stay in the brood pouch for six to eight weeks until they can fend for themselves.

These creatures live outside in moist areas, feeding on decaying organic matter. They are a nuisance problem and when they enter homes they will soon die without adequate moisture.

These problems can easily be handled with outside applications, and if needed limited interior treatment. Many of our customers have an annual outside and underside treatment done to prevent problems and reduce the numbers of this type of pest.

The best protection for this type of problem is a program to maintain an exterior band of protection around the structure. We have programs we can design to provide long term protection with little to no disruption to your family and with a high degree of safety.

Call to get more information or to schedule an appointment.