Insect Identification
Identify common pests that may be causing problems in your home or business.
Ants
Argentine Ants
Scientific name (Iridomyrmex humilis)
Argentine ants are highly competitive, often displacing other ant species in their territory. Workers travel long distances along food trails, making nests hard to locate. Their diet includes sweets, live and dead insects, meats, cereals, and damaged fruits.
Identification:
- Workers: About 2mm, light to dark brown.
- Queens: 4–6mm, typically multiple in a colony.
Biology:
Workers emerge in spring, peaking by autumn. Winged ants (reproductive kings and queens) appear early in spring and mature in about three months, mating inside the nest without swarming.
Garden Ants
Scientific name (Lasius niger)
The black garden ant, or Lasius niger, is one of the most common ant species in Europe and the UK. These fast-moving ants frequently nest outdoors in gardens, under paving stones, and near walls. Worker ants often invade homes, especially attracted to sweet foods.
Identification:
- Common outdoor nests in lawns, flower beds, and under paving.
- Worker ants quickly form foraging trails to food sources.
Biology:
In summer, winged queens and males mate during flight. The queens establish new colonies, laying eggs that develop into worker ants, who support the queen and colony.
Ghost Ants
Scientific name (Tapinoma melanocephalum)
Ghost ants thrive in warm environments and adapt well to various nesting sites, including wall spaces, cupboards, and potted plants. Indoors, they are commonly found in kitchens and bathrooms, where they seek out food and moisture. They favor sweet foods like sugar and honey, but will also consume grease deposits.
Identification:
- Size: 1.5–2mm
- Appearance: Pale, almost translucent body and legs, with a dark head and thorax.
Biology:
Queens lay many eggs that hatch into larvae in 2–4 weeks. Colonies are moderate to large, often with multiple queens. New colonies form by budding..
Pharaohs Ants
Scientific name (Monomorium pharaonis)
Pharaoh’s ants prefer warm, humid environments near food and water sources. They nest in hidden areas like wall voids, under floors, and inside furniture. These ants form trails and can mechanically spread diseases, especially in places like hospitals.
Identification:
- Workers: 2mm, Queens: 5mm; both are yellow with darker abdomens.
- Known for infesting hospitals, prisons, and large buildings.
Biology:
Colonies are large with multiple queens. Eggs hatch in 2 weeks, reaching adulthood in 5-6 weeks. New colonies form by budding, creating satellite nests.
Beetles
Domestic Carpet Beetle
Scientific name (Anthrenus verbasci)
The varied carpet beetle is a common pest in homes and museums. While adult beetles feed on pollen, their larvae, known as “woolly bears,” cause damage to natural fibers like wool, feathers, fur, and carpets. They thrive in dark, undisturbed areas under furniture.
Identification:
- Adult beetles: 1.5–4mm, brown or black with mottled yellow or white markings.
- Larvae: 4–5mm, brown, hairy, with distinct spear-headed hairs.
Biology:
Females lay 20–100 eggs, which hatch into larvae that feed for 60–70 days before pupating. Temperature and humidity affect development
Fur Beetle
Scientific name (Attagenus pellio)
The fur beetle, also known as the two-spot carpet beetle, is a key pest that damages stored products like furs, textiles, and skins.
Identification:
- Adult beetles: 4.5–5mm, oval-shaped, shiny black with two white spots on the wing cases.
- Larvae: Up to 12mm, brown, banded, with three pairs of golden hairs on the last abdominal segment.
Biology:
Females lay 50–100 eggs on materials like carpets and bird nests. The life cycle can range from 6 months to 2 years depending on conditions..
Hide Beetle
Scientific name (Dermestes maculatus)
The hide beetle, also known as the leather beetle, infests various animal-origin substances, including cured meats, dried fish, furs, skins, and stored tobacco. Both adults and larvae feed on these materials, with larvae causing the most damage by boring into materials.
Identification:
- Adult beetles: 5.5–10mm, black, oval-shaped, and covered in hairs.
- Larvae: Up to 14mm, dark brown with bristles, called ‘woolly bears.’
Biology:
Females lay up to 200 eggs, hatching into larvae that feed on dry, decomposing materials. The full life cycle ranges from 2 to 12 months.
Larder Beetle
Scientific name (Dermestes lardarius)
The larder beetle, also known as the bacon beetle, is a common pest of animal products like cured meats, cheese, and pet food. It can also be found in bird nests and animal remains.
Identification:
- Adults: 7–9mm, black with a light band and dark spots across the wing covers.
- Larvae: Yellow-brown, cylindrical, up to 20mm long, with curved spines at the abdomen’s tip.
Biology:
Females lay up to 200 eggs, hatching into larvae known as “woolly bears.” The full life cycle takes 2–3 months.
Yellow Mealworm Beetle
Scientific name (Tenebrio molitor)
Yellow mealworm beetles, or darkling beetles, are scavengers, typically found in decaying grain, cereals, and damp environments. They can infest food products like cornmeal, flour, and meat scraps, and are also found in litter from poultry houses and bird nests.
Identification:
- Adult beetles: About 28mm, shiny dark brown or black.
- Larvae (mealworms): Up to 20mm, honey-yellow, with a hard, worm-like body.
Biology: The larvae are commonly used as fish bait and animal food in aquariums and zoological parks..
Bed Bugs
Scientific name (Cimex lectularus)
Bed bugs go through five nymphal stages before reaching adulthood, feeding on warm-blooded animals, including humans. They hide in cracks or mattresses during the day and feed at night, injecting saliva that often causes delayed itching and swelling.
Identification:
- Adults: Reddish-brown, oval, flattened, 6–9mm long.
- Eggs: White, oval, about 1mm long.
Biology:
Females can lay 400–500 eggs during their lifetime. Eggs hatch in 6–17 days at temperatures above 21°C (70°F). Lower temperatures may extend the hatching period to 28 days.
Casual Intruders
Churchyard Beetles
The churchyard beetle, part of the darkling beetle family, is commonly found in dark areas like cellars, sheds, and barns. They were once frequent scavengers in homes. When threatened, these beetles raise their rear and may emit a foul-smelling fluid.
Identification:
- Adult: Around 30mm, black with an orange-fringed mouthpart, active from April to September.
Biology: Eggs are laid in soil, hatching into elongated larvae. The life cycle is completed in about a year, with adults living 2–3 years..
Cockchafer (May Bug)
Description of Cockchafer (May Bug).
Crane Flies
Description of Crane Flies.
Devil’s Coach Horse Beetle
Description of Devil’s Coach Horse Beetle.
Cockroaches
American Cockroach
Description of American Cockroach.
Brown Banded Cockroach
Description of Brown Banded Cockroach.
Australian Cockroach
Description of Australian Cockroach.
German Cockroach
Description of German Cockroach.
Oriental Cockroach
Description of Oriental Cockroach.
Fleas
Fleas
Description of Fleas.
Flying Insects
Biting Midge
Description of Biting Midge.
Blow Flies
Description of Blow Flies.
Mite Species
Bird Mites
Description of Bird Mites.
Clover Mites
Description of Clover Mites.
Flour Mites
Description of Flour Mites.
Stored Products Insects
Biscuit Beetles
Description of Biscuit Beetles.
Brown House Moth
Description of Brown House Moth.
Wasps & Bees
Bumble Bees
Description of Bumble Bees.
Common Wasp
Description of Common Wasp.
Honey Bee
Description of Honey Bee.
