Occasional Invaders

There are many different kinds of insects that be be found throughout Long Island. Here are some common ones:

Centipedes
The centipede has a long body with a single pair of legs for each segment of the body. They are usually yellow or dark brown in color. Centipedes have big appendages that look like claws and they have venom inside that helps them attack their prey.

Flies
A fly has one pair of wings and two eyes. Flies can often be found inside of your home. The color of a house fly is dark grey and there are black stripes on the thorax. A fly has a unique mouth that is used to drink liquid.

Ground beetles
A ground beetle has a firm, flat body and wings that have ridges, but the wings do not give them the ability to fly. Most black beetles are black in color but there are a few that could be green or blue.

Millipedes
A millipede looks a lot like a worm. It has a body shaped like a cylinder and is  dark brown or black in color. If a millipede ever senses a threat, it will begin curling into a ball. Based on their size and species, they can have anywhere from 30-90 pairs of legs.

Are these insects dangerous?

Centipedes, ground beetles, and millipedes are usually considered annoying pests and won’t cause any harm to people or pets. A fly could be dangerous from contaminating food and transmitting a disease.

Why are other insects inside the house?

Centipedes and millipedes are usually an issue for people when the temperature outside is too hot and dry for them to live conveniently. They can come into the house by crawling under a door or through a space around the window. Lights can attract the beetles to the outside of your house and then the beetles can find small openings around the perimeter of the home. A fly can come into the house when looking for food and finding openings.

Where to find these other insects?

Depending on the species, these insects could be found anywhere. Millipedes and centipedes are usually outdoors in an area that is moist and dark, which could be under mulch, rocks, or a pile of wood. Indoors, you can find them wherever it is humid, which could be a basement or a crawl space. You can find flies around your garbage cans, in the garden, near the barbeque, and around animal feces. Inside, you can usually see them flying around in the kitchen.  Ground beetles can be found outdoors under a tree that fell, a pile of leaves, stones, a pile of wood. Indoors, you can find beetles in the basement or a room of the first floor.

How to get rid of these insects?

The best way to get rid of these insects is to contact your local pest control company. Long Island Pest Control can help. We have experienced and skilled technicians ready to provide safe and effective service. If you would like to inquire about these services for your home or business, contact Long Island Pest Control now!

How can to prevent these insects from invading in the future?

Here is some advice on how to prevent these insects from invading your home or business in the future:

• Trim trees, shrubs, and bushes away from the outside of your house.
• Close any openings found in the exterior walls.
• Install weather stripping on doors and windows.
• Put a door sweep at the base of each door.
• Use locking lids on outside garbage cans.
• Minimize moisture levels with a dehumidifier and fix any leaking pipes.
• Retrieve any fruit or vegetables that fell in the garden.
• Store food in the fridge and inside of an air-tight container.
• Take out the garbage on a regular basis.