85 pest species — search by common name or Latin name. Includes order, family, and key identification notes.
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Order | Family | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Cockroach | Periplaneta americana | Blattodea | Blattidae | Largest US pest cockroach; figure-8 pronotum mark |
| American Dog Tick | Dermacentor variabilis | Ixodida | Ixodidae | RMSF vector; white ornate markings; eastern US |
| Aphid | Aphis gossypii | Hemiptera | Aphididae | Soft-bodied; cluster on stems; honeydew; parthenogenetic |
| Argentine Ant | Linepithema humile | Hymenoptera | Dolichoderinae | Super-colony forming; California and Southeast |
| Arizona Bark Scorpion | Centruroides sculpturatus | Scorpiones | Buthidae | Only medically significant US scorpion; glows UV |
| Asian Cockroach | Blattella asahinai | Blattodea | Blattellidae | Near-identical to German roach; attracted to light |
| Asian Longhorned Tick | Haemaphysalis longicornis | Ixodida | Ixodidae | Invasive; parthenogenetic; rapidly spreading since 2017 |
| Asian Subterranean Termite | Coptotermes gestroi | Blattodea | Rhinotermitidae | Invasive in South FL; hybridizes with Formosan |
| Asian Tiger Mosquito | Aedes albopictus | Diptera | Culicidae | Striped; dengue/Zika vector; aggressive daytime biter |
| Bald-Faced Hornet | Dolichovespula maculata | Hymenoptera | Vespidae | Black/white; aerial paper nests; not a true hornet |
| Black Carpet Beetle | Attagenus unicolor | Coleoptera | Dermestidae | Larvae damage wool, silk, feathers, furs |
| Black Fly | Simulium venustum | Diptera | Simuliidae | 'Buffalo gnat'; fast-running water; aggressive biters |
| Black Widow | Latrodectus mactans | Araneae | Theridiidae | Red hourglass; neurotoxic venom; southern US |
| Blacklegged Tick | Ixodes scapularis | Ixodida | Ixodidae | Primary Lyme disease vector; deer tick; eastern US |
| Blow Fly | Calliphora vicina | Diptera | Calliphoridae | Metallic blue/green; carrion; indicates dead animal |
| Bold Jumping Spider | Phidippus audax | Araneae | Salticidae | Black with white/orange spots; excellent vision |
| Boxelder Bug | Boisea trivittata | Hemiptera | Rhopalidae | Black/red markings; aggregates on buildings in fall |
| Brown Dog Tick | Rhipicephalus sanguineus | Ixodida | Ixodidae | Only tick completing lifecycle indoors; RMSF in SW |
| Brown Marmorated Stink Bug | Halyomorpha halys | Hemiptera | Pentatomidae | Invasive; shield-shaped; aggregates in fall |
| Brown Recluse | Loxosceles reclusa | Araneae | Sicariidae | Violin mark; necrotic venom; 6 eyes in 3 pairs |
| Brown Widow | Latrodectus geometricus | Araneae | Theridiidae | Tan/brown; orange hourglass; spiky egg sacs |
| Brown-Banded Cockroach | Supella longipalpa | Blattodea | Blattellidae | Two pale bands across wings; prefers warm dry areas |
| Carpenter Ant | Camponotus pennsylvanicus | Hymenoptera | Formicidae | Largest US ant; tunnels in moist/damaged wood |
| Cat Flea | Ctenocephalides felis | Siphonaptera | Pulicidae | 95%+ of US household fleas; hosts: cats, dogs, humans |
| Cellar Spider | Pholcus phalangioides | Araneae | Pholcidae | 'Daddy long-legs spider'; vibrates when disturbed |
| Cicada Killer | Sphecius speciosus | Hymenoptera | Crabronidae | Enormous solitary wasp; paralyzes cicadas; harmless |
| Common House Mosquito | Culex pipiens | Diptera | Culicidae | West Nile virus vector; dusk/dawn biter |
| Common Silverfish | Lepisma saccharina | Zygentoma | Lepismatidae | Silver scales; eats starch; humidity indicator |
| Confused Flour Beetle | Tribolium confusum | Coleoptera | Tenebrionidae | Curved antennae; most common stored grain pest |
| Dampwood Termite | Zootermopsis angusticollis | Blattodea | Archotermopsidae | Requires very moist wood; largest US termite |
| Deer Mouse | Peromyscus maniculatus | Rodentia | Cricetidae | Hantavirus reservoir; white belly; rural/suburban |
| Desert Hairy Scorpion | Hadrurus arizonensis | Scorpiones | Caraboctonidae | Largest NA scorpion; mild sting; desert SW |
| Dog Flea | Ctenocephalides canis | Siphonaptera | Pulicidae | Similar to cat flea; less common in households |
| Drain Fly | Psychoda alternata | Diptera | Psychodidae | Moth-like; breeds in drain biofilm; enzyme treatment |
| Earwig | Forficula auricularia | Dermaptera | Forficulidae | Pincer abdomen; beneficial outdoor predator; harmless |
| Eastern Carpenter Bee | Xylocopa virginica | Hymenoptera | Apidae | Shiny black abdomen; bores 1/2" holes in wood |
| Eastern Gray Squirrel | Sciurus carolinensis | Rodentia | Sciuridae | Primary attic squirrel; gnaws wires and wood |
| Eastern Mole | Scalopus aquaticus | Eulipotyphla | Talpidae | Surface tunnels; feeds on earthworms/grubs |
| Eastern Subterranean Termite | Reticulitermes flavipes | Blattodea | Rhinotermitidae | Most damaging US termite; soil-nesting |
| Eastern Yellow Jacket | Vespula maculifrons | Hymenoptera | Vespidae | Underground nests; 3-5K workers peak; most aggressive |
| European Hornet | Vespa crabro | Hymenoptera | Vespidae | Only true US hornet; large; nocturnal; tree hollows |
| Firebrat | Thermobia domestica | Zygentoma | Lepismatidae | Similar to silverfish; prefers hot/dry areas (100°F+) |
| Formosan Subterranean Termite | Coptotermes formosanus | Blattodea | Rhinotermitidae | Super-aggressive invasive; 3M+ colony sizes |
| Fruit Fly | Drosophila melanogaster | Diptera | Drosophilidae | Red eyes; tan body; breeds in fermenting material |
| Fungus Gnat | Bradysia coprophila | Diptera | Sciaridae | Potting soil; root damage; Bti treatment |
| Garden Orb Weaver | Argiope aurantia | Araneae | Araneidae | Yellow/black; large orb web with stabilimentum |
| German Cockroach | Blattella germanica | Blattodea | Blattellidae | Most common household roach; 2 dark pronotal stripes |
| Ghost Ant | Tapinoma melanocephalum | Hymenoptera | Formicidae | Pale abdomen/legs; dark head; Florida and Hawaii |
| Hobo Spider | Eratigena agrestis | Araneae | Agelenidae | Northwest US; funnel webs; formerly considered dangerous |
| House Centipede | Scutigera coleoptrata | Chilopoda | Scutigeridae | 15 pairs of long legs; fast; beneficial predator |
| House Cricket | Acheta domesticus | Orthoptera | Gryllidae | Fall invader; damages fabric; chirping |
| House Fly | Musca domestica | Diptera | Muscidae | Four thoracic stripes; 7-10 day life cycle; disease vector |
| House Mouse | Mus musculus | Rodentia | Muridae | Most common indoor rodent; 1/4" entry gap |
| Indian Meal Moth | Plodia interpunctella | Lepidoptera | Pyralidae | #1 stored food moth; larvae web grain; copper wing tips |
| Japanese Beetle | Popillia japonica | Coleoptera | Scarabaeidae | Green/bronze; skeletonizes plants; grub larvae |
| Lone Star Tick | Amblyomma americanum | Ixodida | Ixodidae | White spot on female; STARI vector; red meat allergy |
| Meadow Vole | Microtus pennsylvanicus | Rodentia | Cricetidae | Short tail; runway systems; lawn damage |
| Mealybug | Planococcus citri | Hemiptera | Pseudococcidae | White waxy coating; citrus/houseplants; honeydew |
| No-See-Um | Culicoides furens | Diptera | Ceratopogonidae | Biting midge; 1-3mm; intensely itchy; near water |
| Norway Rat | Rattus norvegicus | Rodentia | Muridae | 'Brown rat'; burrows; blunt snout; lower floors |
| Odorous House Ant | Tapinoma sessile | Hymenoptera | Formicidae | Coconut odor when crushed; multiple queens |
| Oriental Cockroach | Blatta orientalis | Blattodea | Blattidae | 'Waterbug'; dark/black; prefers cool damp areas |
| Oriental Rat Flea | Xenopsylla cheopis | Siphonaptera | Pulicidae | Plague and typhus vector; wild rodents in SW US |
| Paper Wasp | Polistes exclamans | Hymenoptera | Vespidae | Umbrella-shaped nest; less aggressive than YJ |
| Pavement Ant | Tetramorium caespitum | Hymenoptera | Formicidae | Parallel grooves on head; mounds in sidewalk cracks |
| Pharaoh Ant | Monomorium pharaonis | Hymenoptera | Formicidae | Yellow/amber; tiny; buds when sprayed; hospitals |
| Powderpost Beetle | Lyctus brunneus | Coleoptera | Lyctidae | 1mm holes in hardwood; fine powder frass |
| Red Imported Fire Ant | Solenopsis invicta | Hymenoptera | Formicidae | Invasive; painful sting; dome mounds; 14 southern states |
| Roof Rat | Rattus rattus | Rodentia | Muridae | 'Black rat'; climber; pointed snout; attics |
| Smoky Brown Cockroach | Periplaneta fuliginosa | Blattodea | Blattidae | Uniform mahogany-brown; strong flier; SE US |
| Southern House Mosquito | Culex quinquefasciatus | Diptera | Culicidae | West Nile/St. Louis encephalitis; SE and West US |
| Spider Mite | Tetranychus urticae | Trombidiformes | Tetranychidae | Two-spotted; leaf stippling; fine webbing |
| Spotted Lanternfly | Lycorma delicatula | Hemiptera | Fulgoridae | Invasive; gray wings; red hindwings; 70+ host plants |
| Striped Bark Scorpion | Centruroides vittatus | Scorpiones | Buthidae | Two dark stripes; Texas/Oklahoma; painful sting |
| Tawny Crazy Ant | Nylanderia fulva | Hymenoptera | Formicidae | Reddish-brown; erratic movement; invades electronics |
| Turkestan Cockroach | Blatta lateralis | Blattodea | Blattidae | Displacing Oriental roach in SW US |
| Varied Carpet Beetle | Anthrenus verbasci | Coleoptera | Dermestidae | Multicolored scales; larvae damage natural fiber fabrics |
| Webbing Clothes Moth | Tineola bisselliella | Lepidoptera | Tineidae | Buff; no markings; larvae eat wool/silk/fur; avoids light |
| Western Blacklegged Tick | Ixodes pacificus | Ixodida | Ixodidae | Western US Lyme vector; similar to I. scapularis |
| Western Drywood Termite | Incisitermes minor | Blattodea | Kalotermitidae | Pellet frass; no soil contact; California/SW |
| Western Subterranean Termite | Reticulitermes hesperus | Blattodea | Rhinotermitidae | Primary subterranean termite of Pacific Coast |
| White Grub | Popillia japonica larva | Coleoptera | Scarabaeidae | C-shaped; destroys turf roots; attracts skunks |
| Whitefly | Bemisia tabaci | Hemiptera | Aleyrodidae | Tiny white flies; underside of leaves; greenhouse pest |
| Wolf Spider | Lycosa spp. | Araneae | Lycosidae | Large ground-hunting; carries egg sac; harmless |
| Yellow Fever Mosquito | Aedes aegypti | Diptera | Culicidae | Zika, dengue, yellow fever vector; white leg markings |
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📷 AI Photo Identification →The quality of pest information available to homeowners varies enormously by source, and finding the reliable sources for your specific region is a one-time investment that pays off across years of pest management decisions. Cooperative extension services associated with land grant universities in each state are usually the highest-quality regional resource, producing fact sheets, identification guides, and treatment recommendations specifically calibrated to local conditions, pest species, and regulatory environments. State department of agriculture pest fact sheets are typically similar in quality and orientation. Local pest control company blog content varies in quality but can be useful when produced by experienced practitioners writing about their actual work rather than generic SEO content. National pest control sites tend to be less useful for the specific reason that they average across regions and don't address the conditions you're actually facing. Bookmarking two or three high-quality regional resources at the outset, and consulting them before making significant pest management decisions, raises the average quality of your decisions dramatically without much ongoing effort.
An inspection is the cheapest tool in pest management, and homeowners systematically underspend on it. The economics are unambiguous: an annual or semiannual inspection costs a small fraction of what any moderate treatment costs, and it catches problems while they're still cheap to address. Termite damage detected in its first season requires perimeter treatment; the same damage discovered three years later may require structural repairs running into five figures. Rodent activity detected through droppings before nesting establishes requires sealing and a few traps; the same activity discovered after a multi-generation infestation has set up in wall voids requires removal, exclusion, sanitation, and sometimes drywall work. The pattern repeats across nearly every pest category. Even households that don't engage a regular pest service should treat the annual inspection as a baseline expense — equivalent to the way they probably treat HVAC tune-ups, gutter cleaning, or smoke detector battery changes. The marginal cost of one trained set of eyes on the property each year is one of the most defensible expenses in home maintenance.
Pest forecast reports — issued by some state agricultural agencies, cooperative extension services, and commercial pest control companies — are an underutilized resource for homeowners who want to anticipate rather than react to seasonal pest activity. These reports typically combine historical pest data, current weather conditions, and growing degree day calculations to predict when specific pests will emerge or peak in specific regions. A tick forecast for an upcoming spring season, a mosquito pressure forecast after a wet winter, a termite swarm prediction for a specific week in the Southeast — these aren't speculation but reasonably calibrated predictions based on biological timing. For homeowners, the value is in scheduling preventive treatment and personal protection to match the predicted high-pressure windows rather than reacting after problems have established. Subscribing to a regional pest newsletter from a cooperative extension service or state agriculture department is free or low cost and produces these forecasts during relevant seasons. The information is dramatically more actionable than generic pest control content because it's calibrated to your specific region and current conditions.