Identification & Habits

Know your pest.

Every pest has its own habits, and IPM starts with understanding them. Here is what we deal with and what to look for.

Search pests

35 pests in our library

Crawling and biting

Find practical guidance on crawling pests that can affect comfort, hygiene or stored belongings in Accra homes and workplaces.

Ants

Ants form colonies and follow trails to food or water; indoors in Accra, they can become a nuisance around kitchens and stored provisions.

Driver ants

Driver ants, also called safari ants, move in organised columns and may pass through compounds, where their biting behaviour can concern people and pets.

Sharp macro close-up of a single brown cockroach on the edge of a glossy kitchen floor tile beside a cabinet base, seen from a low angle, with a softly blurred warm kitchen background

Cockroaches

Cockroaches shelter near warmth, food and moisture, often appearing in kitchens or service areas and raising hygiene concerns for Accra premises.

Sharp macro close-up of a single adult bed bug on the fabric seam of a mattress, with the woven fabric texture clearly visible and a softly blurred bedroom background

Bed bugs

Bed bugs hide close to sleeping or resting places and feed on blood; bites and disturbed sleep can affect households and guest accommodation.

Sharp macro close-up of a single dark reddish-brown flea on short clean animal fur, only the fur visible around it with no animal face shown, soft natural daylight, shallow depth of field

Fleas

Fleas are small jumping insects associated with animal resting places; bites and recurring activity can cause discomfort for people and pets.

A single brown tick on short dog fur, close macro with a shallow depth of field, only the fur and the tick visible with no dog face, eyes or body shown, soft natural daylight

Ticks

Ticks are small arachnids that attach to people or animals to feed; finding one can prompt checks of pets and nearby resting areas.

Mites

Mites are tiny arachnids with varied habits; some may affect people, animals or stored goods, so identifying the source matters.

Sharp macro close-up of a single common house spider on a fine silk web in the corner of a room, web softly lit, against a softly blurred warm background

Spiders

Spiders are arachnids that feed on small creatures and may settle in quiet corners; repeated indoor sightings can unsettle occupants.

A single small pale-brown scorpion resting calmly on pale concrete, seen from the side and slightly above, with its tail relaxed and curled and its claws lowered

Scorpions

Scorpions are eight-legged arachnids with pincers and a tail; an unfamiliar one indoors should be left untouched and assessed cautiously.

A single brown centipede with many legs resting on damp pale floor tiles close to the edge of a bathroom drain, seen from slightly above and to the side, soft side light, shallow depth of field

Centipedes

Centipedes are many-legged arthropods that hunt smaller creatures and favour sheltered places; some can bite if handled or disturbed.

Sharp macro close-up of a single dark millipede, partly curled into a loose coil, resting on damp grey concrete near a drain, the many segmented legs in sharp focus, soft natural daylight, shallow depth of field

Millipedes

Millipedes usually feed on decaying plant matter outdoors; after wet weather they may enter ground-floor rooms through small gaps.

Silverfish

Silverfish are small, wingless insects that favour sheltered, often humid spaces and may feed on paper, starches or fabrics in buildings.

Sharp macro close-up of a single dark field cricket resting on a tiled floor near a door threshold in soft warm evening light, the cricket in sharp focus with long antennae and large back legs visible, shallow depth of field

Crickets

Crickets may enter homes from gardens and sheltered outdoor spaces; chirping or repeated sightings can disturb quiet rooms.

Sharp macro close-up of a single common earwig resting on a clean pale kitchen worktop near a stainless steel sink, the earwig in sharp focus with curved rear pincers and long antennae visible, soft natural daylight, shallow depth of field

Earwigs

Earwigs shelter in damp, hidden places and may wander indoors; repeated sightings can point to nearby moisture, debris or entry gaps.

Flying insects

Learn how flying insects use water, food or shelter, and when activity around homes and businesses needs attention.

Sharp macro side-view close-up of a single mosquito resting on a fresh green leaf with tiny water droplets, legs and wings clearly visible, against a softly blurred botanical background

Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes develop in water and may bite indoors or outdoors; some can transmit infections, including malaria, depending on species and context.

Sharp macro side-view close-up of a single common house fly resting on a clean pale kitchen worktop beside a few crumbs, showing the large reddish-brown compound eyes, translucent veined wings, bristled body and six legs, against a softly blurred worktop background

Flies

Flies gather around food, bins and drains; some can transfer germs to food or surfaces, making source checks useful for homes and businesses.

Sharp macro side-view close-up of a single paper wasp resting on a section of a grey paper comb nest tucked under a roof eave, showing the narrow petiole waist, translucent folded wings, long segmented antennae and banded abdomen, against a softly blurred eave background

Wasps

where removal is appropriate

Wasps may build nests in sheltered places around buildings; nearby activity can create concern because some species sting when disturbed.

Sharp photograph of a large hornet resting calmly beside a papery grey nest attached under the eave of a house, outdoors in soft natural daylight, shallow depth of field, not attacking

Hornets

where removal is appropriate

Hornets are large social wasps that may nest in sheltered or elevated places; activity near people warrants distance and careful assessment.

Bees

where removal is appropriate

Bees may form a colony in a sheltered place or gather as a passing swarm; they are important pollinators and merit careful assessment.

Wood and fabric

Explore insects that affect timber, furnishings and fabrics, with identification and prevention shaped by the affected material.

Termites

Termites feed on cellulose and can work unseen in timber or behind surfaces, so suspected activity in Accra buildings merits inspection.

A small reddish-brown powderpost beetle on the rough surface of an old unpainted timber beam, with fine pale frass beside it and a few tiny round exit holes in the wood, soft side light, macro

Powderpost beetles

Powderpost beetle larvae can develop inside seasoned wood; small exit holes and fine powder may prompt a closer check of timber.

Furniture beetles

Furniture beetle larvae may damage susceptible timber while developing; exit holes or powder on furniture can be signs to investigate.

A small oval carpet beetle with a mottled pattern of dark, white and orange scales on the edge of a woollen rug, soft light, macro

Carpet beetles

Carpet beetle larvae feed on some natural fibres and other materials; shed skins or fabric damage can be clues in homes and stores.

A small pale golden-buff clothes moth resting on the folded edge of a plain woollen jumper, wings closed over the body, soft light, macro

Clothes moths

Clothes moth larvae can damage susceptible natural fibres in stored garments and textiles; checking quiet storage areas can help locate activity.

Stored food

Understand common insects found in grains and dry provisions, and the storage conditions that can support activity.

Weevils

Some weevils infest grains and dry provisions; adults in or near food packets can signal a source worth checking in cupboards or storerooms.

Flour beetles

Flour beetles are small insects associated with flour and other dry goods; activity in cupboards can make provisions unsuitable to keep.

Sharp macro close-up of a small pale pantry moth resting at the edge of a wooden pantry shelf beside open dried goods in plain unbranded packaging, soft natural daylight, shallow depth of field

Pantry moths

Pantry moth adults may appear near kitchens while larvae develop in dry provisions; checking food packets can help reveal the source.

A few small dark-brown cylindrical grain borer beetles among dried yellow maize kernels, with fine pale dust and one kernel showing a small bored hole, soft light, macro

Grain borers

Grain borers are beetles that can infest stored cereal grains; damaged kernels or insects near sacks and packets may warrant inspection.

Rodents

Learn how mice and rats enter buildings, where they shelter and what signs may need an inspection.

Close-up of a small house mouse with fine whiskers and brown fur eating breadcrumbs against a softly blurred neutral background

Mice and rats

Mice and rats enter buildings for food, water and shelter; droppings, gnawing or movement sounds can indicate activity needing assessment.

Wildlife

Find calm wildlife advice, practical proofing and lawful options where action is appropriate, with respect for animals and conservation.

Sharp macro close-up of a single calm snake lying in short green grass beside a garden path near a house wall, relaxed non-aggressive pose with mouth closed, soft natural daylight, shallow depth of field, the snake in sharp focus

Snakes

where removal is appropriate

Snakes may use sheltered areas or follow prey near buildings; keep away from any sighting and seek advice before considering lawful action.

Sharp macro close-up of a single house gecko on a painted exterior wall close to an outdoor light in the evening, a few small insects near the light, the gecko in sharp focus with detailed skin texture, soft warm evening light, shallow depth of field

Geckos

Geckos often hunt insects near lights and may shelter on walls or ceilings; droppings and entry gaps can concern occupants.

Sharp macro close-up of a single agama lizard resting on a plastered compound wall in bright sunlight, calm and relaxed, the scales in sharp focus, soft natural daylight, shallow depth of field

Lizards

Small lizards may be seen on walls, fences or near lights; species vary, so identification and exclusion advice should suit the situation.

A single small bat roosting calmly, hanging upside down from the underside of a corrugated roof beside a roof beam, wings folded around the body, seen from the side in soft dim natural light

Bats

where removal is appropriate

Bats may roost in roof spaces or other sheltered structures; avoid handling them and seek advice on safe, lawful proofing options.

Pigeons

Pigeons may roost on ledges, roofs and sheltered structures; droppings and nesting material can affect building cleanliness and maintenance.

A small brown sparrow-like bird perched on the edge of a roof beneath an eave, with a few strands of dry grass in a small gap in the roof edge behind it, soft daylight, seen from the side

Other birds

Birds may nest or perch on buildings and compounds; species, nesting stage and location inform respectful advice and lawful options.

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