The brown recluse spider has 13 known varieties. They are medium-sized spiders with a pale brown to dark brown color. They have four pairs of long, thin legs and six eyes that are arranged in pairs as compared to other spiders that have eight eyes. Their distinguishing characteristic is the presence of violin or fiddle-shaped marks on top of their abdomen which is why they are sometimes referred to as the fiddleback spider or brown fiddler. On average, they can grow from six to 20 millimeters in length. Average lifespan is up to 2 years. The females can hatch 50 eggs in one sac.
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In general, the Black Widow male species are smaller than its female counterparts. The males can grow to only ¼ inch even in maturity, while the female species can grow up to 1.5 inches. The lifespan of male species is also shorter than the females. The males can live up to 2 months while the females can live up to three years. This is because, the males are eventually killed by the female after mating; thus, they are also called mourning spiders. The female can lay 300 to 400 eggs per birth. When hatched, only a handful survive because they eat each other.
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The German cockroach is one of the most common species of cockroach found in Nebraska. It can grow to up to 1.5 inches on average; however, it can grow larger in some cases. Its color ranges from pale brown to tan brown to dark brown. It is active all day; however, most of its activity is carried out during the night. It has six legs arranged in pairs. It also has wings that it uses for greater mobility and food hunting tasks.
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Ants, like, termites are considered social insects because they also live in colonies. Their society is based on a hierarchy composed of the queen, soldiers and workers.

There are 22,000 species of ants, of which only 12 500 are successfully classified to date. The common species are either red or black in color. Their average size ranges from 0.75 to 52 millimeters. Their bodies are divided into three sections – the head, the thorax and the gaster.
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Like most plains states, Nebraska harbors a large population of voles. Voles typically grow to three to six inches in length and often have five to ten litters a year with each litter averaging five to ten offspring. As a result, vole populations can grow very quickly in a short period of time.

Voles are often mistaken for Moles, mice, rats, shrews and sometimes gophers. The reason for the confusion is that voles are unique in that they are alittle each of the other animals they are often thougth to be. Voles are sometimes confused with gophers because they also burrow and usually have many exit holes. If they enter the house, they are commonly thought to be a mouse. Many times voles will occupy the abandon mole tunnels leaving a homeowner to believe moles are active when it’s actually a vole infestation.

Voles are omnivores willing to each both plants and animals. They will also eat most any nut or fruit. Their preference for plants is usually where there presense is most evident and destructive.

Voles will target root systems and will burrow underground and feed until the plant is dead. Bulbs are also a favorite of the vole. Their ability to tunnel and burrow gives them undetected access to flower beds and gardens. Many times the only indication of a Vole infestation is after they have destroyed numerous plants.