Other Pests and Projects

Top-down view of a rat mite outline, colored in completely black, with a few white lines showing what the squiggly digestive tract looks like inside the mite. The mite has 8 legs - two pairs are on the front end of its body and two pairs are on the back end.

Biting Mites

Mites are one of the most abundant groups on insects on the earth, yet are so small they are barely visible to the naked eye. The vast majority of mites are harmless - or even helpful - to humans. They live in plants, soil, water and sometimes in our homes.

Termites

Autumn is the time of year for termite swarms. Adult winged termites (called alates) leave their colonies to mate and establish new colonies.

Spiders

Although many people are afraid of spiders, virtually all the spider species found in San Mateo County are harmless to humans. Unlike mosquitoes, which seek out and feed on people, spiders have no interest in biting us, and will only do so in self-defense.

Cockroaches

Cockroaches are common household pests that may spread bacteria, contaminate food and surfaces, damage property, and cause allergic reactions.

Fleas

Most people have had an encounter with a flea at some point – the jumping black specks, the small itchy bumps they leave in their wake, and the general feeling of unease due to having a parasite in your home. However, few people understand the biology of fleas and why they invade our homes in the first place.

A bed bug, which is an oval shaped insect with six legs and two antennae, it is a dark brown, reddish color

Bedbugs

The District does NOT provide pest control services for bedbugs. However, we can help you identify bedbug infestations and provide advice on choosing a pest control operator.

The back of a penny, with a louse egg, nymph, and adult around it. The egg is very small, smaller than the letter 'u' on the penny. The nymph is slightly bigger. The adult is about as long as the building is tall on the back of the penny..

Head Lice

Head lice are tiny parasites that can infest the head and neck area and attach their eggs to the base of the hair shaft. Head lice do not cause disease, but they can itch. Children scratching their scalps can open the skin and cause bacterial infection.

May contain: wasp, animal, bee, andrena, hornet, insect, invertebrate, honey bee, and apidae

Flies

There are many species of flies, but only a few are common household pests, including house flies, stable flies, and blow flies. Stable flies bite, but are not a major disease vector. Other fly species do not bite, but may contaminate food or food preparation surfaces.

Ants

Ants are common household pests. They don’t carry disease, but can be annoying.

When what's bugging you isn't a bug

Here at the District, we examine hundreds of samples every year that are submitted by residents in response to some kind of irritation – a bite, a rash, or some other skin reaction. An entomologist from the District laboratory will work with the responding technician to find the culprit of the bites and help the resident develop a plan to stop the infestation. But what happens when those samples…

Millipedes and Centipedes

Millipedes and Centipedes are not insects (which have six legs) but are both arthropods of the subphylum Myriapoda, which means 10,000 feet. Both millipedes and centipedes are considered beneficial insects and generally do not need management.

May contain: nature, outdoors, field, and water

Invasive Spartina (cordgrass) Project

The District is currently assisting the California Coastal Conservancy on the San Francisco Estuary Invasive Spartina Project. This project seeks to eradicate an invasive species of cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) that threatens native habitats throughout the San Francisco Bay. The US Fish and Wildlife, California Dept of Fish and Game, Bay Area Regional Water Quality Control Board…

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