These are the four most common cockroaches. Use this to determine what you have seen. It is important to know if you have German roaches before we come to your house.

This image shows the different stages of development of the American Cockroach. American cockroach females deposit up to 16 eggs in bean-shaped cases. Eggs hatch between 5 to 7 weeks, first into whitish-brown nymphs, later turning more reddish-brown. Development to adult averages about 15 months, varying between 9-1/2 to 20 months. Adults live almost 15 months.

The black widow is easily recognizable if you see the red hourglass on the abdomen. Bites from the widow spider are painful and potentially dangerous because they contain a nerve poison. Fortunately, widow spiders are non-aggressive and rarely bite. When bites do occur they happen when the female is provoked, for example, when an unwitting person presses down on a spider that is resting beneath a log or rock.

The brown recluse is small and has a violin shape on its back. The venom of the brown recluse is damaging to human cells. In susceptible individuals a slow-healing, ulcerous wound may form at the bite site. Oftentimes the original bite is not noted, but after a few hours a blister will form and pain develops.

Carpenter ants are large ants that swarm in spring. They are about 1/5-1/2 inch in size. They burrow into the wood but do not eat it, so any damage they may cause is slow. When swarming some carpenter ants are winged. It is important not to confuse these with termites. Carpenter ants have narrow "waists" and two pair of wings not of equal size.

This is a termite soldier. The yellowish color of the head and large pinchers set them apart from the workers. Both are about 1/2 to 3/8 inch long.

This is a picture of a winged termite. They are about 1/2 to 3/8 inch long. The “waist” is not narrow like the winged carpenter ant. Also they have two pair of wings that are all the same length.

Subterranean termites start out in soil and build mud tubes up through or over the foundations to feast on structural lumber. Termite infestations build up slowly. There is plenty of time once an infestation is discovered to select the best course of action and to make sure that all corrective measures are done properly.