Vertebrate pests include birds, mammals, and reptiles that can become nuisances in both urban and rural settings. They can damage crops, invade homes, and pose health risks.

RODENTS
Rodents like rats and mice are common vertebrate pests. They can contaminate food, chew through wires, and carry diseases. Rodents are prolific breeders, making them challenging to control.

RATS: Rats are a common pest in both urban and rural areas. They are known for their ability to adapt to various environments and can cause significant damage to properties by gnawing through materials. Rats pose health risks as they can carry diseases transmittable to humans. Effective control strategies include eliminating food sources, sealing entry points, and using traps or rodenticides. Integrated pest management is crucial for long-term control and prevention of rat infestations.

MICE: House mice are smaller than rats but can cause similar problems. They can enter homes through small openings and are known for their rapid reproduction. Mice can contaminate food and spread diseases. Control methods include maintaining cleanliness to reduce food sources, using traps, and sealing entry points to prevent their entry. It’s important to regularly inspect and monitor for signs of mouse activity to address infestations promptly.

Stinging and biting pests can pose health risks through venomous stings or bites. They include bees, wasps, hornets, and fire ants. These pests can cause allergic reactions and, in some cases, severe medical conditions.

Bees, Wasps and Hornets

Bees, hornets and wasps can sting when threatened. While bees die after stinging as their stinger gets detached, wasps can sting multiple times. Stings can cause pain, swelling, and, in allergic individuals, severe reactions that require immediate medical attention.

Fire Ants

Fire ants are known for their painful stings that can cause red, swollen spots, and in allergic individuals, serious reactions. They are aggressive and can attack in large numbers, making them a significant pest in affected areas. While generally known to inhabit the Southwest US, there are species of fire ants found in Ohio.

Spiders

Spiders are common household pests often found in dark, secluded areas of homes. While most spiders are harmless and can even help control other insect populations, some species, like the Black Widow or Brown Recluse, can be harmful and can cause a severe allergic reaction.

Fabric or wood pests, such as moths and beetles, can cause damage to clothing, furniture, and wooden structures. They are often hard to detect and can cause extensive damage over time.

Clothes Moths

Clothes moths target fabrics, especially those made from natural fibers like wool or silk. They can ruin clothing and upholstery. Control involves cleaning and sometimes using specific insecticides.

Carpenter Ants

Carpenter ants are known for their ability to cause damage to wooden structures. Unlike termites, they do not eat wood but excavate it to build their nests, which can weaken the structural integrity of the wood over time. These ants are typically large and black and can be found in moist or decaying wood. Control methods include eliminating moisture problems, removing decaying wood, and using baits or insecticides.

Carpenter Bees

Carpenter bees are large, solitary bees that bore into wood to create nests. They are often found in unpainted or weathered softwoods like pine, cedar, and redwood. While they do not consume the wood, their nesting activities can cause cosmetic and structural damage. Control methods include applying insecticidal dust or sprays into their holes, using natural repellents like essential oils, and sealing exposed wood surfaces.

Wood-Boring Beetles

Wood-boring beetles, such as powderpost beetles, can damage wooden structures and furniture. They often go unnoticed until damage becomes visible. Control requires professional pest management. Powderpost beetles are one of the four wood destroying insects in Ohio. They get their name because their feeding can reduce wood to a pile of powder. Heavily infested wood will have small holes perforated throughout it.