A Guide to Identify Insects, Rodents and Small Animals

Very common in Quebec, the cockroach is a rather spectacular insect since it can measure up to 1.5cm at our latitudes. It has a brown colour, an oval shape and 6 legs that allow it to move quickly. Known to be a very resistant insect, the cockroach can form a colony in no time thanks to its ability to lay up to 150 eggs per female. The cockroach loves warm, moist spaces and is often found in basements, bathrooms and kitchens. If you see one in your home, call for the services of a cockroach exterminator to avoid a widespread infestation.

Spiders are distinguished by their eight legs and multiple eyes and can be of different sizes and colours. In Quebec, we find mainly small and harmless spiders. They usually live outside, but they can sometimes get inside buildings, especially during the fall. While not dangerous, spiders in our province can lay hundreds of eggs. If you feel you are being infested, call for a spider extermination service from pest control professionals.

Larger than the pharaoh ant, the carpenter ant is a black insect with brown and red shades and can measure between 6 and 25 mm in length. Like all other ant species, the carpenter ant lives in colonies with a queen. The colonies are usually large and can number up to 2,000 specimens. Known for the damage they can cause to the structures, carpenter ants are insects that must be quickly removed when their presence is detected. For this, the intervention of a carpenter ant exterminator is essential, since the ants must not be killed randomly, but first attack the queen, to destroy the entire colony.

Wasps are flying insects that can be easily identified by their yellow and black stripes and are frequently seen in Quebec during the summer months. We often see both solitary wasps and social wasps, and it is the last one that we must watch out for. These insects live in groups in nests and can be dangerous when they feel threatened. Knowing that a wasp nest can contain up to hundreds of them, it is essential to never try to remove a wasp nest without protection. The wisest thing to do is always to call a wasp exterminator.

Easily identifiable by their yellow and black stripes, wasps are flying insects that are frequently seen in Quebec on sunny days. We often come across solitary wasps and social wasps, and it is the latter species of wasps that we must be wary of. Living in groups in nests, these insects can be dangerous when they feel threatened. Knowing that a wasp's nest can contain up to hundreds of individuals, it is essential to never try to remove a wasp's nest without protection. The wisest thing is always to call on a wasp exterminator.

More imposing than mice, rats are medium-sized rodents that can get inside residential and commercial properties to look for food. These rodents are agile, smart and resilient, they often travel through pipes and into walls. Rats are an invasive species with a high breeding capacity and can be very damaging. If you notice rats in your home, do not wait and ask for the services of a rat exterminator before the situation becomes out of control.

The skunk, with its black and white fur and its unique smell, is a very common animal in Quebec. Absolutely harmless, a skunk rarely attacks humans. On the other hand, it can adopt a rather impressive defensive attitude when it feels in danger, by projecting a liquid with a nauseating and tenacious odour. When you meet a skunk, it is preferable to let it go quietly. If a skunk has burrowed into your property, it is possible to ask for help from pest control professionals to catch and move the animal back into the wild.

Brown, maroon or black in color, the marmot is a smGroundhogs are small animals that can measure between 46 and 66 cm. They can be brown or black. Both stocky and round, the groundhog is a harmless mammal that never attacks humans and even tends to run away from them. Fearful and discreet, a groundhog does not represent danger. On the other hand, its housing can be a problem. Indeed, its burrow is composed of a vast network of galleries with several entrances, which can fragilize your land and prevent you from doing certain activities. If you are troubled by a groundhog burrow, ask for the help of an exterminator to catch and move this animal.

all animal that can measure between 46 and 66 cm. Both stocky and round, the marmot is a harmless mammal that never attacks humans and even tends to run away from them. Fearful and discreet, a marmot does not represent a danger. On the other hand, its habitat can be problematic. Indeed, his burrow is made up of a vast network of tunnels with several entrances, which can weaken your land and prevent you from doing certain activities. If you are bothered by a groundhog burrow, enlist the help of an exterminator to capture and relocate this animal.