What bug is this?
Check whatever you know and the list below narrows down. The more you check, the closer the match.
Bed BugsBite at night in rows of 3–5, hide in mattress seams and behind headboards. They never leave on their own.
CockroachesGerman roaches move into kitchens for warmth and water and multiply within weeks. They spread bacteria and trigger asthma.
AntsOdorous house ants and pavement ants trail to sugar; the nest is in a wall or under a slab. Treat the colony, not the trail.
SpidersMost house spiders are harmless and eat other bugs. Learn to spot the two that matter: black widow and brown recluse.
TermitesSpring swarms, mud tubes on the foundation, hollow-sounding wood. Damage is silent and not covered by most home insurance.
MiceScratching in the walls at night, chewed wires and cereal boxes. They move indoors in the fall when it gets cold.
Wasps & Yellow JacketsPaper nests under eaves, yellow jackets in the ground. Late-summer colonies are big and aggressive; never seal an active nest.
FleasCome in on pets, bite ankles and lower legs. You have to treat the pet, the house and the yard at the same time.
Fruit Flies & GnatsFruit flies hover over ripe produce and the trash can; fungus gnats come from overwatered houseplants.
SilverfishFast silvery insects in bathrooms and basements. Harmless to people, but they eat paper, book bindings and wallpaper paste.
Stink BugsBrown marmorated stink bugs gather on sunny walls in fall and overwinter in attics. Harmless, but smelly when crushed.
ScorpionsCommon in Arizona, Texas and the Southwest. The Arizona bark scorpion sting is dangerous for kids and older adults.
Carpenter BeesBig black bees drilling perfectly round holes in decks and fascia boards each spring. Males hover but cannot sting.
TicksDeer ticks spread Lyme disease; dog ticks hitch a ride on pets. How to check, remove one correctly and tick-proof the yard.
MosquitoesPeak in July. Dump standing water weekly, use EPA-registered repellents and fix window screens.
RatsNorway rats in basements and garages, roof rats in attics and palm trees. Trap-shy and smart; it takes a plan.
MothsPantry moths in flour and cereal, clothes moths in wool. The larvae do the damage, not the adults.
House FliesCome in from outside and breed in trash. Screens, traps and a clean garbage can.
Carpet BeetlesTiny round beetles on windowsills; the hairy larvae eat wool, rugs and pet hair.
EarwigsPincers on the tail, show up in damp bathrooms and basements. Harmless to people.
House CentipedesVery fast, many long legs, live in damp basements. They eat other bugs.
Pillbugs & SowbugsGray armored crustaceans in damp spots. A moisture problem, not a dirt problem.
No matches. Uncheck one of the options, or tell us what you saw.