Unless you’re an entomologist, the thought of sharing your home with insects might not be a pleasant one. But the truth is, there are probably more insects living in your house right now than you realize.Â
In fact, the average home has more than 100 different types of bugs living in it!
So, let’s take a closer look at some of the most common insects you’ll find in your home so you can take pest control steps to get rid of them once and for all.Â
Click on the interactive chart below to get a closer look at some of the insects you might find in your home.
From the cracks in your floorboards to the gaps between your furniture, there are countless hiding spots for bugs to take refuge in your bedroom. Plus, bedrooms are often full of dust, which provides a food source for many types of insects. And finally, most bedrooms are located near other rooms in the house (such as the kitchen or bathroom), making it easy for pests to travel from one room to another.
| Silverfish | Come inside on paper products. |
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| Cockroaches | Enter through small cracks and crevices. |
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| Book lice | Enter through cracks and crevices in the foundation or walls. |
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| Ants | Enter through cracks in the foundation or gaps around doors and windows. |
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| Carpet beetles | Enter through cracks and crevices in the foundation or through open doors and windows. |
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| Gall midges | Come inside accidentally and are attracted to moisture. |
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| Mosquitoes | Come in through open doors and windows, cracks and crevices in the exterior of the home, or by hitchhiking on pets or visitors. |
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| Fungus gnats | Come inside via the soil of infested houseplants. |
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| Dark-winged fungus gnats | Attracted to decomposing organic matter. |
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| Cobweb spiders | Unintentionally brought into homes on clothing or luggage. |
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The bathroom is one of the most commonly used rooms in any home, and it’s also one of the most likely places to find pests. From ants and cockroaches to spiders and silverfish, a variety of creatures are drawn to the humid, dark environments found in bathrooms. In many cases, these pests are simply looking for a source of water or shelter. However, they can also be attracted by the food left behind on counters and in sinks.Â
| Cobweb spiders | Unintentionally brought into homes on clothing or luggage. |
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| Carpet beetles | Enter through cracks and crevices in the foundation or through open doors and windows. |
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| Ants | Enter through cracks in the foundation or gaps around doors and windows. |
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| Dark-winged fungus gnats | Attracted to decomposing organic matter. |
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| Gall midges | Come inside accidentally and are attracted to moisture. |
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| Book lice | Enter through cracks and crevices in the foundation or walls. |
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Your living room is a gathering place for your family and friends. It’s also a common gathering place for bugs. Why are there so many bugs in your living room? There are a few reasons.Â
First, your living room is usually one of the warmest rooms in your house. Bugs are attracted to warmth. Second, there are usually lots of food and water sources in your living room. Third, there are usually lots of hiding places in your living room.Â
Finally, your living room is usually full of people coming and going. Bugs can hitch a ride into your living room on clothing or shoes.
| Slender springtails | Found in damp basements, crawl spaces, and kitchens, and they can enter homes through small cracks and crevices. |
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| Silverfish | Carried inside in paper products. |
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| Cockroaches | Get in through small cracks and crevices. |
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| Leafhoppers | Attracted to porch lights or windows, and they can enter through open doors and windows. |
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| Book lice | Enter through cracks and crevices in the foundation or walls. |
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| Eulophid wasps | Find their way into homes through open doors or windows. |
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| Ants | Enter through cracks in the foundation or gaps around doors and windows. |
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| Platygastrid wasps | Come into homes by accident, usually through an open door or crack. |
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| Death watch beetles | Attracted to light, which is why they are often seen in homes at night. |
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| Ladybugs | Enter through any small crack or opening. |
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| Weevils | Enter homes through tiny cracks and crevices as well as in bags of dry goods (like flour). |
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| Carpet beetles | Enter homes through cracks and crevices in the foundation or through open doors and windows. |
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| Click beetles |
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| Scarab beetles | Enter homes accidentally, through cracks and gaps. |
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| Darkling beetles | Enter homes through gaps around doors and windows. |
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| Pyralid moths | Drawn to lights |
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| Blow flies | Attracted to rotting food and other sources of decomposing matter |
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| Gall midges | Come inside accidentally and are attracted to moisture. |
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| Non-biting midges | Come into homes by accident and are often found near damp areas. |
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| Mosquitoes | Come in through open doors and windows, cracks and crevices in the exterior of the home, or by hitchhiking on pets or visitors. |
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| Fruit flies, vinegar flies | Enter via open doors or windows. Attracted to ripened fruits and vegetables. |
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| Fungus gnats | Come inside via the soil of infested houseplants. |
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| Scuttle flies | Enter through cracks in doors and windows. |
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| Moth flies | Attracted to moisture |
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| Dark-winged fungus gnats | Attracted to decomposing organic matter. |
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| Crane flies | Attracted to light. Often seen near windows and porch lights. |
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| Ground spiders | Come in through cracks and crevices in the foundation or walls. Carried in on clothing or boxes. |
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| Cellar spiders | Come into homes accidentally. |
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| Jumping spiders | Come in through open doors or windows or cracks and crevices. |
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| Cobweb spiders | Unintentionally brought into homes on clothing or luggage. |
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| Greenhouse millipedes | Come inside accidentally. |
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| Pillbugs | Enter homes through cracks in the foundation or openings around doors and windows. |
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| Slender springtails | Found in damp basements, crawl spaces, and kitchens, and they can enter homes through small cracks and crevices. |
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| Aphids | Come into the home accidentally through open doors and windows. Sometimes come in on infested plants. |
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| Leafhoppers | Attracted to porch lights or windows. |
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| Book lice | Enter through cracks and crevices in the foundation or walls. |
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| Eulophid wasps | Find their way into homes through open doors or windows. |
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| Ants | Enter through cracks in the foundation or gaps around doors and windows |
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| Carpet beetles | Enter through cracks and crevices in the foundation or through open doors and windows. |
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| Pyralid moths | Drawn to lights. |
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| Gall midges | Come inside accidentally and are attracted to moisture. |
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| Non-biting midges | Come into homes by accident and are often found near damp areas. |
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| Mosquitoes | Come in through open doors and windows, cracks and crevices in the exterior of the home, or by hitchhiking on pets or visitors. |
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| Fruit flies, vinegar flies | Open doors or windows. Attracted to ripened fruits and vegetables. |
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| Dark-winged fungus gnats | Attracted to decomposing organic matter. |
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| Cobweb spiders | Unintentionally brought into homes on clothing or luggage. |
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| Pillbugs, roly polys | Enter homes through cracks in the foundation or openings around doors and windows. |
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Most of us don’t think about the complex network of life going on inside our homes. We’re too busy living our lives to worry about the cockroaches scuttling around in the walls or the ants raiding our pantries. But these insects play an important role in the delicate ecosystem of your home. And that ecosystem is more important than you might think.Â
The insects in your home are engaged in a constant battle for survival. Some are predators, preying on other insects for food. Some are scavengers, feeding on any organic material they can find. Others are parasites, leeching off their hosts for sustenance. This intricate web of life keeps populations in check and helps to ensure a healthy balance. However, this balance can be easily disrupted.Â
Infestations happen when one species gets out of control and starts to overwhelm the others. This can happen for a variety of reasons, including changes in temperature, a lack of food, or an influx of new insects. If left unchecked, an infestation can quickly spiral out of control and become a serious problem. That’s why it’s important to be proactive and take steps to prevent them from happening in the first place.
The type of pests, and the severity of the infestation, can vary greatly depending on your location. That’s why it’s important to be aware of the unique pest pressures in your area and to take steps to protect your home or business accordingly. Here’s a quick guide to some of the most common types of pests and where they’re most likely to be found.
City dwellers have to contend with all sorts of pests, from rats and cockroaches to bedbugs and pigeons. These pests are attracted to urban areas for many reasons, including the availability of food, shelter, and water.Â
And because cities are so densely populated, it’s easy for pests to spread from one building to another. That’s why it’s so important for city dwellers to be vigilant about controlling pests and to call in a professional at the first sign of an infestation.
Rural homeowners have to deal with different types of pests than their urban counterparts, including deer ticks, mosquitoes, termites, and rabbits. These pests are attracted to rural areas for different reasons than those that like cities – usually because there’s more open space and fewer people around.Â
That said, even rural homeowners need to be on the lookout for pests and should take steps to prevent them from taking over their property.
Pests don’t just thrive in warm weather – some of them actually prefer cooler climates. So if you live in a cooler climate zone, be on the lookout for ants, rodents, spiders, and cockroaches. These pests will seek out any warm place they can find when the weather gets cold, which means they’ll likely end up in your home if you’re not careful.Â
To prevent an infestation, seal up any cracks or openings in your home’s exterior, and make sure your doors and windows fit snugly in their frames.
If you live in a warmer climate zone, you’ll want to be on the lookout for different types of pests than those that like cooler climates – namely snakes, scorpions, centipedes, millipedes, and termites.Â
These insects and animals will typically only come into your home if it’s too hot or too dry outside, so if you live in a warmer climate zone, make sure your home is well-sealed against the elements. You should also keep an eye out for signs of termite damage (like hollowed-out wood) and call a professional exterminator if you spot anything suspicious.Â
If you live at high altitude, you’re likely to encounter several different types of pests. One of the most common pests you’ll find is the mosquito. These pesky insects are attracted to standing water, so be sure to empty any pots or barrels that may be collecting water around your home.
If you live at low altitude, you’ll likely encounter different types of pests than if you lived at high altitude. Some of the most common include termites and ants.Â
Most people don’t enjoy sharing their homes with insects—but the truth is, there are probably more bugs living in your house right now than you realize. By being aware of the most common house pests, you can take steps to get rid of them.
After all, they aren’t paying any rent, so there’s no reason to let them hang out for free!
