Home Pests — Page 2
Start with the evidence: where the pest appeared, what it looks like, and whether there are repeat sightings. These guides cover indoor pests and practical questions about inspections, prevention, and household pest management.
982 questions · Page 2 of 28
SpidersAre giant house spiders dangerous?Find out whether giant house spiders are dangerous, how to identify them correctly, and what steps to take if you find one in your home.Beetles & WeevilsAre holes in wood always a sign of active woodworm?Discover whether holes in wood always mean active woodworm, how to identify the signs, and what steps to take next.CentipedesAre house centipedes dangerous to cats?No. A house centipede will not poison a cat. A cornered one can pinch, which feels like a mild bee sting. See when to call the vet.CentipedesAre house centipedes dangerous?No. House centipedes are not dangerous to people or pets. A bite, which only happens if one is pressed against skin, feels like a mild bee sting.CentipedesAre house centipedes good to have around?House centipedes are useful predators of silverfish, small roaches, spiders and flies. Seeing many often points to high humidity indoors.SpidersAre house spiders dangerous?No. Nearly all house spiders are harmless. Only a handful of species have medically significant venom, and most bites are accidental.SpidersAre jumping spiders poisonous?Discover whether jumping spiders are poisonous, how to identify them safely, and what to do if you encounter one.Other True BugsAre kissing bugs dangerous?Kissing bugs can transmit the parasite behind Chagas disease and can cause allergic reactions. Real risk depends on where you live. Here is what to know.Other True BugsAre kissing bugs found in California?Discover whether kissing bugs live in California, how to identify them safely, and what steps to take if you encounter one.Other True BugsAre kissing bugs found in Florida?Yes. Kissing bugs are native and established in Florida. They are 1/2 to 1 1/4 inches long with an elongated head and flat oval body.BatsAre kissing bugs found in New York?No. New York is outside the kissing bug's natural range. A bug that looks like one is most likely a harmless look-alike such as a boxelder bug.Other True BugsAre kissing bugs found in Texas?Yes. Kissing bugs are native to Texas, which has more species than any other state. Most are about an inch long with a cone-shaped head.Beetles & WeevilsAre larder beetles harmful?Learn whether larder beetles are harmful, how to identify them, and what to do if you find them in your home.MillipedesAre millipedes bad for plants?Learn whether millipedes harm plants, how to identify them, and how to manage them safely around your home and garden.MillipedesAre millipedes dangerous?No. Millipedes cannot bite, sting, spread disease or eat wood. Handling them roughly can release a fluid that stains and irritates skin.MillipedesAre millipedes insects?Are millipedes insects? Learn why these multi-legged crawlers belong to a different scientific class, how to identify them, and how to manage them safely.MillipedesAre millipedes poisonous?Millipedes are not poisonous and cannot bite or sting. When disturbed they release a fluid that can irritate skin. Here is how to handle them.MosquitoesAre mosquitoes attracted to light?No. Mosquitoes find you by your breath, body heat and sweat, not by light. The swarm around a porch bulb is usually midges and moths.Wasps & HornetsAre mud dauber nests the same as social wasp nests?Discover the main differences between mud dauber nests and social wasp nests, how to identify them, and what steps to take safely.Wasps & HornetsAre mud daubers aggressive?No. Mud daubers are solitary wasps with no colony to defend and almost never sting unless they are trapped or handled.Wasps & HornetsAre mud daubers dangerous?Mud daubers look alarming but rarely sting. Learn how to tell them from aggressive wasps, why they hunt black widows, and when removal or a pro makes sense.Wasps & HornetsAre mud daubers wasps?Learn what mud daubers are, how they differ from social wasps, and how to identify and manage their nests safely.Flies & GnatsAre no-see-ums common in Florida?Yes. No-see-ums are very common in Florida, especially near the coast, salt marshes, mangroves and damp inland waterways.Flies & GnatsAre no-see-ums common in Las Vegas?No. Las Vegas is too dry for biting midges to breed, except near overwatered turf or leaking irrigation. Something else is probably biting.CockroachesAre Oriental cockroaches associated with damp basements?Yes. Oriental cockroaches need high moisture and cool, dark spaces, so damp basements, crawl spaces and cellars are their favorite places indoors.CockroachesAre palmetto bugs found in Florida?Yes, palmetto bugs are very common in Florida. The name is a regional nickname, usually for the American cockroach. Here is how to identify one.AntsAre pharaoh ants common in Florida?Discover whether pharaoh ants are common in Florida homes, how to identify them accurately, and what steps to take for effective management.AntsAre pharaoh ants dangerous?Learn whether pharaoh ants are dangerous, how they transmit pathogens, and the right way to manage them without causing colony fragmentation.Woodlice / Pillbugs & SowbugsAre pill bugs bad for a garden?No. Pill bugs break down rotting matter into nutrients for the soil. They rarely harm healthy plants. See when they can become a problem.Woodlice / Pillbugs & SowbugsAre pill bugs crustaceans?Yes. Pill bugs are land crustaceans, closer to shrimp and lobsters than to insects. They have 14 legs and breathe through gill-like organs.Woodlice / Pillbugs & SowbugsAre pill bugs dangerous?No. Pill bugs do not bite, sting or spread disease and cannot damage drywall or furniture. They are harmless to people, pets and homes.Woodlice / Pillbugs & SowbugsAre pill bugs good for gardens?Yes. Pill bugs are decomposers that shred fallen leaves and decaying wood, cycling nutrients back into garden soil.Woodlice / Pillbugs & SowbugsAre pill bugs insects?Discover why pill bugs are actually terrestrial crustaceans rather than insects, how to identify them, and how to keep them out of your home.Woodlice / Pillbugs & SowbugsAre pill bugs isopods?Yes. Pill bugs are isopods, land crustaceans related to crabs and lobsters, with 14 legs, armored plates and gills that need moisture.Moths & ButterfliesAre plaster bagworms harmful to people?No. Plaster bagworms cannot bite, sting or carry disease. Seeing them on walls usually points to damp air or hidden mold. Here is what to do.Beetles & WeevilsAre rice weevils harmful if found in stored grain?Rice weevils do not bite, sting or spread disease, so eating a few by accident is a quality issue, not poisoning. Toss grain that smells musty.