Common Pests

Kentucky is home to hundreds of species of spiders. Wolf spiders, grass spiders, cellar spiders, and house spiders are among the types that are most commonly encountered in homes. None of these are dangerous, except to rare individuals who are unusually sensitive to their bites. Only two species--the black widow and the brown recluse--can reliable deliver a medically significant bite. Both species are secretive and reclusive, and neither is commonly encountered in household living spaces.

Several beetles, moths, and mites can infest whole grains or processed foods. Flour beetles, rice weevils, drugstore beetles, Angoumois grain moth, and Indian meal moth are among a host of small insects that commonly infest pantry supplies, pet food, or other stored items such as cereal, flour, rice, beans, nuts, spices and dried fruit. Luckily, these pests are not harmful to humans, and a few simple techniques can be used to control and prevent all of these different species. The key to controlling all of these pests is to find and destroy all items that have been contaminated by the pests.

The occasional cockroach shows up in most homes from time to time. Large infestations of German or American cockroaches, however, can contaminate food, spread harmful bacteria and potential disease pathogens, and even cause or exacerbate respiratory illness. The first step is sanitation and a pest control professional may need to intervene.

The black widow is a medium-sized spider with a large, glossy-black abdomen. Sometimes, red markings can be seen as well (especially on the spider's underside), but the glossy-black color is the most important feature. Black widows are very common in Kentucky. They are usually found outdoors in piles of rocks, piles of wood, or inside hollow spaces such as empty flower pots, drain pipes or hollow trees.

Camel crickets (sometimes called "cave crickets") are common inhabitants of unfinished basements, garages, and other cool, humid indoor locations. Because of their long legs, these crickets are sometimes mistaken for spiders. They do not infest food or damage possessions and they cannot harm humans, but they can be a nuisance.

Most ant species are not harmful to humans, pets, or to food or possessions, several species commonly invade homes. If you see trails of ants in a kitchen, they are usually memebers of a colony that exists close to your home. In most cases, these ants are simply searching your home for something to eat. Ants foraging inside homes can sometimes be a persistent nuisance, though, and may require treatment.

In some parts of Kentucky, ladybugs are a common home invader. Ladybugs, also known as "lady beetles" and "ladybird beetles", are small red or orange beetles, usually with black spots. Most of the time, ladybugs are beneficial to humans. They are predators that feed on garden and crop pests, including aphids and caterpillars. Once inside, they do not infest food or destroy belongings, but they can stain carpets and clothing, and they produce a foul odor.

Brown recluses are also associated iwth dark, hidden spaces, but they are otherwise very different from black widows. They look similar to many other brown spiders, such as grass spiders and wolf spiders. Brown recluses are medium-sized brown spiders with long, dark brown legs and a tan or grayish abdomen. They have a distinctive "fiddle" shape on their heads, but the marking is difficult to see clearly without magnification. They are also distinguished by their eyes; most spiders have eight eights, but recluses have only six.