Wasp

• Genus: Odynerus, Mason wasps.
  Solitary wasps about 13mm long predominantly
  black with yellow markings. The females construct
  nests of a few cells each of which contain an egg
  and is provisioned with food e.g. caterpillars. The
  larvae which hatch from the eggs feed themselves
  and live independently from their neighbours.
  Nests will be constructed in the ground and in soft mortar
• Genus: Similar in appearance. Distinguished by patterns
  on the face and abdomen. The following species
  are found in Northern Europe
• Common Wasp: Nests underground and in cavities in trees and buildings.
• German Wasp: Nests underground and in cavities in trees and buildings.
• Tree Wasp: Nests suspended from the branches of trees or constructed underground.
• Norwegian Wasp: Constructs small nests on twigs e.g. on gooseberry bushes and hawthorn.
• Cuckoo Wasp: Worker caste lacking. It is parasitic usually laying its eggs in the nests of the Red Wasp.
• Red Wasp: nests underground.
• Hornet: The largest of the wasps but relatively uncommon. Nests in hollow trees and occasionally buildings.

Oriental Cockroach

• Usually dark reddish brown in colour, the adults are about 25mm long and the immature cockroaches (nymphs) resemble adults except that they are wingless.
• Unlike other pest cockroaches, Oriental’s cannot climb up smooth surfaces.
• Oriental cockroaches generally live in moist areas, but can survive in dry areas if they have access to water.
• They tend to prefer cooler temperatures and thus are common in basements, boiler houses and walkways adjacent to buildings.
• The Oriental cockroach breeds well in unventilated
  crawl spaces or basements where humidity is high.
• Adult cockroaches can live up to one year, during which females produce an average of 150 young.
• This cockroach prefers to feed on starchy foods but will adapt to survive.
  

German Cockroach

• Adult German cockroaches are about 17mm long and light brown except for the shield behind the head marked with two dark stripes, which run lengthwise on the body.
• The nymphs are wingless and nearly black with a single light stripe running down the middle of the back.
• Egg capsules are light tan.
• Egg cases are carried by the female until just before hatching and each female may produce four to six cases during her lifetime, each containing 30 to 40 eggs.
• Eggs hatch in 28 to 30 days, and nymphs develop in 40 to 125 days.
• Female cockroaches live about 200 days (slightly longer than the male).
• The German cockroach produces more eggs and has more
  generations per year (three to four) than any other cockroach, and only a few individuals are needed to develop into troublesome infestations.
  

Common House Fly

• Adults, 6 mm long with a wingspan of 13-15mm and the 4th vein on the wing bends sharply forward.
• The thorax has 4 distinct stripes.
• The eggs are laid in decaying material, particularly rubbish dumps and manure heaps.
• Under ideal conditions it can take as little as 2 weeks to complete its life cycle.

Cat and Dog Flea

• Adult fleas are 2-3 mm in length and generally of a shiny brown appearance.
• They have a thin, laterally flattened body and large hind legs which allow them to jump onto passing hosts.
• Flea eggs are about 0.5mm long, oval, pearly-white in colour and laid indiscriminately in the fur or feathers of the host or in its nest or bedding.
• Four to eight eggs are laid after each blood meal and a single female may produce 800 - 1000 eggs during her
  lifetime, which may be as long as two years.
• The larvae thrive in dark, humid places such as animal bedding and carpet fluff, and feed on organic debris and adult flea excrement.
• Cats’ bedding may support a flea population of 8000 immature and 2000 adult forms.

Bed Bug

• Bed bug adults are reddish-brown, oval, flattened insects from 4 to 5 mm long and 1.5 to 3 mm wide before feeding.
• Engorged adults tend to be swollen and dull red.
• The eggs are white, oval, about 1 mm long and covered in a sticky film which allows them to adhere to surfaces.
• A newly hatched nymph is almost colourless whereas engorged nymphs are reddish and swollen.
• Although humans are the preferred host, bed bugs feed on many warm-blooded animals.
• Bed bugs usually hide in cracks or mattresses during the day and emerge at night to feed.
• They inject saliva as they feed and allergic reaction to this substance often causes slightly delayed swelling, itching and burning.
• Under favourable conditions, each female lays 200 to 500
  eggs and at temperatures above 21°C these hatch in 6 to 17 days.
• Adults often survive up to 2 months without food, but under certain circumstances can live a year or more without feeding.

Garden Ant

• Typical worker ants are 3-4mm long of a brown/black colour with elbowed antennae and biting mouthparts.
• The queen tends to be much larger at about 10mm.
• Garden Ants usually nest outdoors in lawns, flower beds, beneath paving flags and at the base of walls.
• Premises are usually invaded by worker ants foraging for food, especially sweet foods.
• During summer, winged females (Queens) and males leave the nest on one or two warm afternoons and take flight.
• During this flight, which may only last for 2- 3 hours, the ants mate.
• The formation of a new colony starts with a mated winged female digging into the earth to overwinter and start a new colony in the spring.
  

Lesser House Fly

• Adults, 6 mm long with 12 mm wingspan. They have a grey thorax with 3 longitudinal stripes, less pronounced than those of the Common Housefly.
• The base of abdomen has an extensive yellow patch.
• At rest, wings are folded along back; venation shows 4th vein extending straight to wing margin.
• They have an erratic flight pattern and are often seen flying in large numbers around indoor light fittings.
• The Lesser housefly is more tolerant of cool conditions than the Common housefly.
• When the eggs are laid they are about 1mm long and they hatch in 24 to 48 hours.
• Larval development is 8 days and they have 3 skin moults. Larvae are 6 mm when fully grown.
• Lifecycle from egg to adult takes about 3 weeks and they breed mainly in poultry manure.
  

Clothes Moth

• Slightly larger than the Case-bearing moth, adults can reach up to 7mm.
• The moths are a light, shiny gold colour, with a tuft of reddish hairs on the head.
• Clothes moths rarely fly to lights at night and instead prefer darkness, such as a closet or storage chest.
• Any clothes moths fluttering around the house are probably males, because females travel by running, hopping, or trying to hide in the folds of clothing.
• The female lays 100 - 150 white eggs on the surface of the fabric which will hatch into larvae in approximately 5
  days.
• The period of larval development is usually 6 weeks, during which time the larvae actively feed on the fabric, however, this can take considerably longer under cooler conditions.