Ohio is home to a variety of pest bugs. Pests can impact your quality of life and your daily business operations. Some stink, others destroy gardens, and a few feed on humans, but many are a nuisance to homeowners. If you are itching to learn which common pest bugs are closer to home, this list will help you in Ohio insect identification.
Cockroaches
The American cockroach, aka the water bug, is one of the most common Ohio pests. It has a reddish-brown body and a dark brown stain on its back. The body of a cockroach is flexible, allowing it to squeeze through cracks and small spaces. Cockroaches are exceptional runners, but they can also fly. Add these capabilities to decaying organic matter, and we have a hotbed of bacteria. Cockroaches are major residential and commercial pests. They eat any type of moist organic matter, making restaurants, food warehouses, and residential homes typical infestation hotspots.
Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
The brown marmorated stink bug is mainly an agricultural pest, but it will leave its mark in your garden and crawl into your house for warmth in the winter. Once inside, you may not see them, but you will smell them. This stink bug’s body is brown and covered with tiny black spots, with a triangular cloak-like feature on its back. Stink bugs get their name from the foul smell they emit when disturbed. As they seek refuge from the cold inside homes and buildings, stink bugs will make their presence clear through their strong odor.
Japanese Beetle
The Japanese beetle is a notorious garden pest, highly recognizable by its emerald green upper body and copper brown lower half. It also has small, white tufts of hair on the sides of its abdomen. You’ll recognize this beetle infestation if you see one. These garden destroyers feed on any plants, rendering leaves into a skeleton of veins. Japanese beetles emerge during the summer and hide in the soil during the winter.
Tarnished Plant Bug
Another significant garden pest is the tarnished plant bug. This insect has a brown body with a lighter V or Y shape on its back. The young, known as nymphs, are light green and cause greater damage. Tarnished Plant Bugs feed on bedding and perennial plants, mainly in the late spring and early summer, when the nymphs are most active. They leave round, sunken marks on the leaves, which may lead to them curling and withering.
Bed Bugs
A bed bug’s diet is human blood. This prevalent parasite has a flat, rusty red body and short legs. Bed bugs live in your mattress, where they know they’ll have a regular food supply: you. Even if the host is gone for some time, they can live without food for up to 12 to 15 months. Bed bug bites can cause skin irritation, swelling, and intense itching. They frequently reproduce, with many generations being born every year. Bed bugs can also spread rapidly to other areas, making them one of the most common pests in Ohio and worldwide.
Other Bugs in Ohio
These are only a few of the most common pest bugs in Ohio. Other honorable mentions are:
- Fleas
- Springtails
- Silverfish
- Pill bugs
- Clover Mites
- Centipedes
- Millipedes
Controlling Bugs in Ohio
Regardless of what kind of pests you have in your Ohio home, it is important to get rid of them as soon as possible. Not only are they a nuisance, but they can also carry diseases that could make you and your family sick. If you’re struggling with pests, Prevent Pest Control is here for you. We offer effective and affordable pest control solutions that will take care of your problem quickly and efficiently. Contact us today to learn more about our services!
