Pest Library

House Mice and Deer Mice may be noticeable by waste droppings and chew marks. They make nests in walls or other tight, dark spaces and store food and reproduce quickly.

Brown Rats are common pests in wet, dark places such as basements. Black Rats, though less common in Michigan, prefer attics, roots, and trees.

Voles (Field Mice) are outdoor pests that tunnel in the grass and damage the base of trees and plants by chewing.

Wasps such as paper wasps and yellow jackets have slender bodies and narrow waists. They are aggressive and can sting multiple times. They may build paper-like nests on walls and roofs or live in ground nests.

Honey bees and Bumblebees have thick, fuzzy bodies and are important pollinators, generally not aggressive unless provoked. Bumblebees can sting multiple times but honey bees usually only sting once. Honey bees should live in managed hive boxes but may make homes in wall and tree cavities if lost. Bumblebees live in ground burrows.

Bald-faced Hornets and Cicada Killers are other possible pests. Hornets are very aggressive near their nests, usually hanging in trees or on buildings. Cicada Killers are solitary and non-aggressive towards humans; they live in sandy burrows.

Carpenter Ants are 1/4 to 1/2 inch long and may be black or red. They excavate wood to create nests and can damage structural wood. Signs may be sawdust piles near walls or windows, rustling noises, and winged ants indoors.

Termites are tiny white or black insects that eat wood and can cause serious structural damage. They may be detected by hollow-sounding wood, discarded wings near windows, or mud tubes on walls or foundation.

Carpenter Bees, Powderpost Beetles, and other wood-boring beetles may make nests or cause damage to wooden structures.

Boxelder Beetles and Asian Lady Beetles are harmless but may swarm in or on houses. Asian Lady Beetles are orange-red, may or may not have black spots with a black "M" shape on their head, and may bite unlike Ladybugs. Sealing cracks, diatomaceous earth, and barrier chemical treatments can help prevent them coming in the building.

Stink Bugs are a shield shaped beetle that release an odor when squished. They are harmless but can be unpleasant in the house. Cleaning and vacuuming can help or pesticide barrier treatments can be applied.

Other pests such as centipedes, millipedes, earwigs, and silverfish may hide in damp, dark places such as basements and bathrooms. They are harmless and can even be helpful to eat other insects, but there are some easy steps to prevent them.