High riskHouse mouse
Size : 7–10 cm without the tail
- Black droppings the size of a grain of rice
- Scratching in walls or ceilings, mostly at night
- Chewed packaging, insulation or wires
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20 pests
High risk
High riskRat
Size : 20–25 cm without the tail
- Capsule-shaped droppings, 1–2 cm long
- Burrows near the foundation or in the yard
- Heavier noises than a mouse
High riskBed bug
Size : 4–7 mm, reddish-brown and flat
- Bites often in a line when you wake up
- Small black or blood spots on the mattress
- Bugs hiding in mattress seams and bed frames
High riskCockroach
Size : 1.2–1.6 cm for the German cockroach
- Comes out at night and runs from light
- Small droppings that look like ground pepper
- Musty smell in cupboards
High riskYellow jacket
Size : 1–1.5 cm, yellow and black stripes
- Constant traffic near a hole, an eave or the ground
- Grey paper nest
- More aggressive in late summer
High riskHornet
Size : 1.5–2 cm
- The bald-faced hornet is black and white
- Large grey balloon-shaped nest in a tree or under an eave
- Defends its nest fiercely: do not approach
Keep an eye on itCarpenter ant
Size : 6–13 mm, black
- Small piles of sawdust near baseboards
- Winged ants indoors in spring
- Tunnels into damp structural wood
Low riskWolf spider
Size : 1–3.5 cm, brown and hairy
- Hunts on the ground and spins no web
- More common in basements and garages in fall
- Not dangerous; bites are rare
Low riskHouse centipede
Size : 2.5–4 cm, 15 pairs of long legs
- Very fast, mostly out at night
- Sign of humidity and of other insects
- Eats other insects; bites are rare
Low riskSilverfish
Size : 1–1.5 cm, silvery and teardrop-shaped
- Likes damp, dark places
- Nibbles paper, cardboard and glue
- Sign of high humidity
Low riskEarwig
Size : 1.2–2 cm, pincers at the end of the abdomen
- Gets in through patio doors and foundations in summer
- Hides under patio cushions and plants
- Harmless to health
Low riskSowbug / pill bug
Size : 1–1.5 cm, grey with a segmented shell
- Some roll into a ball
- Lives in damp areas: basements, decks, flower beds
- Sign of water infiltration
Low riskPantry moth
Size : 8–10 mm, bronze and grey wings
- Small moths flying in the kitchen at night
- Webbing and larvae in flour, cereal or nuts
- Throw out infested food and clean the pantry
Low riskFruit fly
Size : 2–4 mm, red eyes
- Around ripe fruit, compost and drains
- Multiplies very fast in summer
Low riskDrain fly
Size : 2–5 mm, fuzzy heart-shaped wings
- Rests on walls near drains
- Breeds in organic matter inside pipes
Keep an eye on itCarpet beetle
Size : 2–4 mm, mottled like a tiny ladybug
- Its hairy larvae damage rugs, wool and clothes
- Adults near windows in spring
Keep an eye on itFlea
Size : 1–3 mm, jumps very high
- Itchy bites, often around the ankles
- A pet that scratches a lot
- Tiny black specks in fur or bedding
High riskTick
Size : 3–5 mm unfed, swells after feeding
- Tall grass, wooded areas and yard edges
- Can transmit Lyme disease
- Remove with fine tweezers, close to the skin
High riskTermite
Size : 4–6 mm, creamy white
- Mud tubes on the foundation
- Wood that sounds hollow
- Winged swarmers in spring
Keep an eye on itMosquito
Size : 3–6 mm, long legs and a proboscis
- Active at dawn and dusk
- Lays eggs in standing water: saucers, gutters, neglected pools
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