Wood-destroying pests
Western drywood termites
Live inside dry wood in attics, eaves, trim and furniture. The main sign is piles of tiny six-sided pellets below small holes. Swarms on warm afternoons in late summer and fall. Common in older Arcadia homes with exposed wood. Next step: termite inspection.
Western subterranean termites
Live in soil and build mud tubes up foundations to reach wood. Swarm on warm days after spring rain. More common where yards stay wet. Next step: termite control.
Carpenter ants
Large black ants that nest in damp or damaged wood. Coarse sawdust-like shavings near wood is a sign. Usually linked to a leak. Next step: ant control.
Rodents and wildlife
Roof rats
Slender, dark rats with long tails that climb trees and get into attics. Night sounds in the ceiling and hollowed-out fruit on citrus trees are typical. The most common rat in Arcadia. Next step: rodent control.
House mice
Small rodents with big ears that nest in walls, garages and kitchens. Droppings the size of rice grains.
Raccoons, opossums and skunks
Den under decks, in crawlspaces and in attics, especially near the foothills and open green spaces. Next step: wildlife removal.
Pocket gophers
Push up fan-shaped dirt mounds in lawns and gardens and eat plant roots. Next step: gopher control.
Seeing this at your place right now? A local technician can talk it through with you on the phone.
Call (626) 555-0142Insects inside the home
Argentine ants
Small brown ants in long trails. The number one ant in Arcadia. Worst in summer heat and right after the first rain. Next step: ant control.
German cockroaches
Small tan roaches with two dark stripes, living in kitchens and bathrooms. Spread fast and need professional treatment. Next step: cockroach control.
American and Oriental cockroaches
Large roaches that come in from sewers, drains and planters. Common on warm nights in garages and bathrooms.
Bed bugs
Flat, apple-seed-sized bugs that hide in mattress seams and bite at night. Brought in with travel and used furniture. Next step: bed bug treatment.
Fleas
Small jumping insects on pets and in carpets. Can appear without pets if wildlife lives under the house. Next step: flea control.
Earwigs, silverfish and pill bugs
Moisture-loving pests that show up in bathrooms, garages and near sprinkler beds. Covered by most home pest plans.
Spiders and stinging pests
Black widows and brown widows
Shiny black or tan-brown spiders with an hourglass mark, found in garages, block walls and patio furniture. Brown widow egg sacs have spiky surfaces. Next step: spider control.
Honey bees
Swarms hang on branches in spring. Established colonies move into walls, eaves and meter boxes. Africanized bees are present in Southern California and cannot be told apart by sight. Next step: bee removal.
Yellowjackets and paper wasps
Yellowjackets nest in the ground and walls and get aggressive in late summer. Paper wasps build open nests under eaves. Next step: wasp control.
Aedes mosquitoes
Small black-and-white striped mosquitoes that bite during the day, peaking August through October in the San Gabriel Valley. Breed in small containers in your own yard. Next step: mosquito control.
Not sure what you have?
Take a clear photo if you can do so safely and call (626) 555-0142. Describing where you found the pest and what it was doing often tells a technician more than the bug itself.