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Earwigs What are they? Despite their scary appearance and reputation, earwigs are not directly harmful to humans. In fact, they are often beneficial, acting as scavengers of decaying matter and predators of insect larvae, slug eggs, aphids, and other garden pests. Adult earwigs…

Cockroaches What are they? Cockroaches have been an insect pest for about four million years. There are more than 3,500 species around the world. The German cockroach is one of the most common household cockroaches in the world. They are particularly fond of living in…

Clustering Flies What are they? Homeowners are often bothered by sluggish flies in their homes in late winter and early spring. These flies are collectively called "clustering flies," but may actually be any of the three most common types of flies. Cluster flies are about 8 to 10…

Centipedes, millipedes, sowbugs and pillbugs What are they? Centipedes, millipedes, sowbugs, and pillbugs are arthropods (not insects), although they do enjoy the same living conditions as insects. These creatures are not harmful. They are merely unattractive and considered a…

Carpenter ants What are they? The red carpenter ant and the black carpenter ant are two of the most common types found in Canada. The red carpenter ant has a dark brownish-black body, with a reddish-brown upper body. The black carpenter ant is dark brownish-black all over.…

Blacklegged (deer) ticks Identify blacklegged ticks from American dog ticks. Also learn how their appearance changes during and after feeding. On this page Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 1 This figure shows the size and pattern of: unfed adult blacklegged ticks (top…

Bedbugs - what are they? Bedbugs are small, wingless insects that feed on the blood of people and animals while they sleep. They are easily moved from room to room on infested objects. Bedbugs cannot easily climb metal or polished surfaces and cannot fly or jump. Adult bedbugs…

Bats What are they? Bats are flying creatures of the night, not much bigger than a house mouse. Bats can live up to 10 years. The wingspan of the two most common Canadian species (the little brown bat and the big brown bat) ranges from 20 to 35 cm (8 to 14 inches), though some…

Canadian Institutes of Health Research's 2025-26 Departmental plan: at a glance A departmental plan describes a department’s priorities, plans, and associated costs for the upcoming three fiscal years. Raison d’être, mandate, and role Operating context Read the full departmental…

Aphids What are they? Aphids are small, soft-bodied, pear-shaped insects with long antennae and a pair of cornicles (short tubes) sticking out on either side of their stomachs. Aphids are common garden pests. These tiny creatures have hundreds of species and almost as many…