Indian Meal-Moth

Characteristics: Grow to be approximately 1/2 inch long. They can be distinguished by their reddish-brown almost copper like bottom half of their wings; the rest of the moth is a pale grey color. They feed on a variety of foods, but they prefer coarse forms of flour. The larvae will be found eating grains, cereals, nuts, powdered milk, and dried fruits. Foods will often have webbing near the surface of the food that is being infested. Indian meal moths may produce 6-8 generations per year.

Red and Confused Flour Beetle

Characteristics: Reddish-brown and may grow to be approximately 3mm long. Confused flour beetles are primarily found in the northern states. Feeds on a variety of foods, but are major pests in flour, cereal, peas, beans, spices, and dried fruits. They could make their way through covered and sealed containers leaving infested foods with a foul odor.

Saw -Toothed Grain Beetle

Characteristics: Small brownish beetle that grows to be 3mm long. It can be identified by six tiny spikes on the side of its body, just behind its head (thorax). Found in breakfast cereals, flour, dried fruits, chocolate, and dried meats.

Earwig Extermination Phoenix

Identification & Biology

Also Known As: Pincher Bug

Physical Appearance

Earwigs are beetle-like, short-winged, ½ to 1 inch in length, and move quickly. The abdomen generally ends in a pair of “cerci”, which look like forceps or pincers, but these are not always present. When earwigs have wings, they are folded under forewings in a complex fashion. Earwigs rarely fly.

Behavior & Habitat

Earwigs prefer damp conditions and are often found in and around sinks and bathrooms, but also can be found hiding under baseboards, in shady cracks and openings, under piles of magazines or newspapers, inside waste bins and around pet food dishes. Earwigs stay mostly hidden during the day and forage actively at night.

Feeding Habits

Earwigs typically eat other insects, plants, garbage, and ripe fruit.

Life Cycle

The adult female Earwig lays about between 20 to 60 eggs in burrows a few inches beneath the soil which will hatch into nymphs in about 7 days’ time. After passing through 6 nymphal stages, the earwig finally becomes an adult. On average, the total life cycle lasts about 56 days.

Damage

Earwigs are pests mostly by their presence and diet. They emit a foul-smelling liquid when crushed. There is not any evidence that Earwigs transmit diseases or cause any other harm to humans or animals.

Please give us a call if you are having trouble with earwigs, we are able to make those earwigs disappear!