Long Island Pest Library

The long-legged, web-building and fast-running spiders in Long Island basements, garages and corners, and why almost none of them can hurt you.

Active: Year round indoors, most noticed August through October

The biters that breed in gutters, planters and birdbaths across Long Island from May to October. Identification and prevention; Bobby Bugs does not treat for mosquitoes.

Active: May through October, peak July through September

The pincer-tailed insects in Long Island mulch beds, bathrooms and basements, why they come in during hot dry spells and wet ones, and why the ear thing is a myth.

Active: May through October, indoors most in July and August

The black chirping crickets that come in every fall and the pale humpbacked camel crickets in damp basements and crawlspaces. What each one means and how to stop them.

Active: Field and house crickets August through October; camel crickets year round in damp basements

The small gray rodent that moves into Long Island homes every fall and breeds through the winter.

Active: Year round indoors, moves in Oct through Feb

The large burrowing brown rat found along waterfronts, commercial strips, and older neighborhoods.

Active: Year round, heaviest indoors Nov through Mar

The small light-brown roach that infests kitchens in apartments, multifamily homes, and restaurants.

Active: Year round indoors

Long Island's most common wood-nesting insect, and a reliable sign that water is getting into the house.

Active: May through October, peak July

The tiny dark ants that stream across Long Island kitchen counters every spring and after heavy rain.

Active: Mar through Oct, peak Apr through Jun

The only termite that matters on Long Island, working from the soil up into framing out of sight.

Active: Year round in soil, swarms Feb through Jun

The social wasps that make late summer dangerous around decks, garbage cans, and anywhere kids play.

Active: Apr through first frost, peak Aug and Sep

The big hovering bee that drills round half-inch holes in decks, fascia, and cedar trim every spring.

Active: Apr through Aug, second emergence in Aug

The giant solitary wasp that digs burrows in dry, sandy lawns and along patios in July and August.

Active: Jul through early Sep

Flat reddish-brown insects that hide within a few feet of the bed, and the signs to check for first.

Active: Year round indoors

The flea on Long Island pets and the carpets they sleep on, and why the problem outlasts the pet treatment.

Active: Worst Jul through Oct, year round indoors

Little moths on the kitchen ceiling and tiny brown beetles in the flour, almost always from one package.

Active: Year round indoors, worse Jun through Sep

The moisture pests of basements, bathrooms, and laundry rooms, and what their presence tells you.

Active: Year round indoors, peak Jun through Sep

The bugs that pile onto sunny walls in fall and slip inside to spend the winter in attics and walls.

Active: Invade Sep and Oct, indoors all winter

The big, slow flies at upstairs windows on warm winter days, overwintering in the attic and walls.

Active: Enter Sep and Oct, indoors all winter

The most serious pest on Long Island from a health standpoint, and the yard changes that cut the risk.

Active: Apr through Sep, peak May through Jul

The invasive planthopper that swarms trees and decks and coats everything below in sticky honeydew.

Active: May through Nov, peak Aug through Oct

The two animals behind almost every "something is in my attic" call on Long Island.

Active: Year round, nesting late winter through spring

The night-feeding scavenger that dens under decks, sheds and outbuildings and raises litters averaging 9 young.

Active: Breeding starts in early March

The skunk that looks for a winter den under porches and damaged foundations every early fall.

Active: Looks for winter dens in early fall

Sparrows, starlings, and pigeons in dryer vents, soffits, and gutters, and which nests are protected.

Active: Nesting Mar through Aug