Pest List L-M
| Pest / FS link | Excerpt |
|---|---|
Lady beetles (curiosity & beneficial) | There are several species of lady beetles (ladybird beetles, “ladybugs”) that occur in the Pacific Northwest. Many of the species commonly seen in the garden resemble the “classic” lady beetle, with black bodies and conspicuous red to orange wing covers marked with black spots. |
Little house flies (nuisance) | The little house fly, sometimes called the lesser house fly, is a nuisance pest. The small male flies (1/8 to 3/16 inch long) are often found in houses; however, females are rarely found indoors. |
Mealybugs (nuisance) | Several species of mealybugs can attack houseplants. Mealybugs get their name from the white, powdery or cottony wax which covers their grayish to pinkish bodies. |
Mediterranean flour moth (food & fabric) | Although not the most common food-infesting moth (that honor belongs to the Indianmeal moth), the Mediterranean flour moth is certainly a frequent one. This moth has a wingspan of about one inch. Forewings are grayish with dark zigzag lines and the hindwings are off-white. |
Mice and rats (nuisance) | These rodents are commonly problems wherever humans exist. Rodents will feed on just about anything including garbage, pet food, bird seed, meats, and nuts. |
Millipedes (nuisance) | Millipedes are arthropods in the class Diplopoda. Millipedes are characterized by being wormlike and quite elongate, with two pairs of legs on each body segment except for the front segments. |
Mites in stored foods (food & fabric) | Several species of mites (Tyroglyphidae) can become pests of stored foods. They infest products such as flour, cereals, packaged baking mixes, dried fruits, and pet foods. |
Moisture ants (nuisance) | Moisture ants are small ants (about 2/16 – 3/16 in length as workers). Color varies, but light yellowish-brown is the most common. |
Mosquitoes (stinging & biting) | Mosquitoes are pests because they annoy and bite humans and animals. Also, they may transmit or vector organisms that cause diseases such as malaria and encephalitis. |
Moth flies [drain flies] (nuisance) | Moth flies (sometimes called drain flies) are small hairy moth-like dipterans (true flies) in the family Psychodidae. As a group, they don’t get much larger 5 mm (about 1/5 inch) long. |
Multicolored Asian lady beetle (nuisance) | The multicolored Asian lady beetle was introduced into the United States as a biological control agent and is now found in large numbers in Washington. As their name indicates, these beetles come in many different colors... |
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