Identify what you are seeing

Pest Library

Compare common signs and appearance clues for the ants, spiders, stingers and nuisance pests included in our monthly protection plan.

Photos and descriptions are a starting point, not a diagnosis. Avoid handling unknown spiders or active stinging-insect nests; Pestgone can confirm the species before treatment.

View the monthly plan

Category 1

Ants

Ant species behave differently, so correct identification helps us choose the right bait, placement and exterior treatment.

Odorous House Ant

Identification: Small brown-to-black ants that release a noticeable odour when crushed.
Common signs: Long indoor trails near sinks, counters and moisture.

Pavement Ant

Identification: Small dark ants that commonly nest beneath concrete and interlock.
Common signs: Soil piles near cracks, foundations, patios and driveways.

Fire Ant

Identification: Reddish ants known for aggressive colony defence and painful stings.
Common signs: Active soil mounds and ants that swarm when disturbed.

Professional identification is recommended; true fire ants are not commonly established in Ontario.

Carpenter Ant

Identification: Large black or reddish-black ants that excavate damp or damaged wood.
Common signs: Coarse sawdust, winged ants and activity around wet framing.

Little Black Ant

Identification: Very small, glossy black ants that form visible foraging trails.
Common signs: Trails around foundations, kitchens, masonry and gardens.

Pharaoh Ant

Identification: Tiny pale yellow ants with darker abdomens that favour warm buildings.
Common signs: Persistent trails around kitchens, bathrooms and wall voids.

Thief Ant

Identification: Extremely small yellow-to-brown ants that often nest near other colonies.
Common signs: Tiny workers around greasy foods, cupboards and wall cracks.

Argentine Ant

Identification: Small light-to-dark brown ants that travel in broad, busy trails.
Common signs: Large trails around foundations, trees and food sources.

Distribution is limited locally; identification confirms the right treatment.

Category 2

Spiders

Heavy spider activity often points to abundant insect prey, exterior lighting or sheltered entry points around the structure.

Several common spider types on a pale surface

Black Widow Spider

Identification: Glossy dark spider; mature females may show a red hourglass underneath.
Common signs: Strong, irregular webs in quiet protected spaces.

Avoid handling any suspected widow spider; request professional identification.

Wolf Spider

Identification: Robust, fast-moving hunting spider with brown or grey markings.
Common signs: Ground-level activity in basements, garages and near doors.

Brown Recluse Spider

Identification: Brown spider often associated with a violin-shaped marking.
Common signs: Hiding in undisturbed boxes, clothing or storage areas.

Brown recluse spiders are not established in Ontario; many local spiders are misidentified as this species.

House Spider

Identification: Small brown spider that builds tangled webs in corners and windows.
Common signs: Dusty cobwebs, egg sacs and repeated corner webbing.

Hobo Spider

Identification: Brown funnel-weaving spider with long legs and subtle markings.
Common signs: Funnel-shaped webs close to floors, foundations and window wells.

Professional identification helps distinguish it from common local funnel weavers.

Brown Widow Spider

Identification: Mottled tan-to-brown widow spider with banded legs.
Common signs: Irregular webs in protected outdoor furniture and storage.

This species is uncommon in Ontario; do not handle a suspected specimen.

Garden Spider

Identification: Large patterned orb-weaver that builds a circular web outdoors.
Common signs: Large geometric webs across shrubs, eaves and garden paths.

Category 3

Stingers

Nests near entrances, decks and play areas need careful treatment. Do not seal an active wall opening or disturb a nest.

Paper Wasp

Identification: Slender wasp with long legs and a small open-comb paper nest.
Common signs: Umbrella-shaped nests below eaves, railings and fixtures.

Mud Dauber

Identification: Narrow-waisted solitary wasp, often dark or metallic in colour.
Common signs: Tube-like mud nests on walls, garages and sheltered surfaces.

Yellow Jacket

Identification: Compact black-and-yellow wasp that aggressively defends its colony.
Common signs: Steady flight into ground holes, wall voids or soffits.

Carpenter Bee

Identification: Large bee with a smooth, shiny abdomen that bores into wood.
Common signs: Round holes and coarse dust beneath decks, fascia and trim.

Category 4

Rodents

Rodents squeeze through small gaps seeking food and warmth. Effective control combines treatment with sealing entry points.

House Mouse

Identification: Small grey-brown rodent with large ears and a thin tail about body length.
Common signs: Droppings, gnaw marks and shredded nesting material in kitchens and walls.

Norway Rat

Identification: Large, heavy-bodied brown rat with a blunt snout and short tail.
Common signs: Burrows along foundations, greasy rub marks and droppings in basements.

Roof Rat

Identification: Slender black rat with a pointed snout and long tail, an agile climber.
Common signs: Nesting in attics, soffits and upper levels; noises above ceilings at night.

Deer Mouse

Identification: Grey-to-brown mouse with white underside and feet.
Common signs: Droppings in garages, sheds and cabins; can carry hantavirus, so avoid sweeping droppings dry.

Professional cleanup is recommended due to hantavirus risk.

Category 5

Nuisance Pests

Many occasional invaders move indoors because of moisture, weather changes, stored food or gaps around the exterior.

Centipede

Identification: Fast-moving, flattened arthropod with one pair of legs per body segment.
Common signs: Sightings in damp basements, bathrooms and crawl spaces.

Millipede

Identification: Slow-moving, rounded arthropod with many short legs that curls when disturbed.
Common signs: Clusters near damp foundations, doors and lower-level rooms.

Pill Bug

Identification: Small grey crustacean that rolls into a tight ball.
Common signs: Activity beneath mulch, stones and damp basement edges.

Flea

Identification: Tiny wingless insect with strong jumping legs.
Common signs: Bites around ankles, pet scratching and dark specks in bedding.

Sow Bug

Identification: Grey segmented crustacean similar to a pill bug but unable to roll up.
Common signs: Activity in damp organic debris, crawl spaces and foundations.

Earwig

Identification: Elongated brown insect with curved pincers at the rear.
Common signs: Night-time activity near damp landscaping, doors and bathrooms.

Grain Beetle

Identification: Small reddish-brown pantry beetle associated with dry foods.
Common signs: Beetles or larvae in flour, cereal, rice, spices and packaging.

Silverfish

Identification: Silvery, tapered insect with three tail-like filaments.
Common signs: Damage to paper and fabrics, plus sightings in humid rooms.

Stink Bug

Identification: Shield-shaped brown or green insect that gives off an odour when disturbed.
Common signs: Seasonal clusters on sunny walls, windows and attics.

Boxelder Bug

Upon request

Identification: Black bug with distinctive red-orange lines along the wings.
Common signs: Large autumn clusters on warm exterior walls and windows.

Treatment is available upon request under the monthly protection plan.

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