Common Questions — Page 38
Browse all questions alphabetically, choose a setting, or search for a common or scientific name. Each answer links to related reading so you can follow the evidence.
1460 questions · Page 38 of 41
SparrowsWhy are house sparrows considered harmful?Learn why house sparrows are considered harmful pests, how to identify them, and what practical steps to take for exclusion and control.Beetles & WeevilsWhy are larder beetle larvae found in a bedroom?Discover why larder beetle larvae appear in bedrooms, how to identify them, and what practical steps you can take to manage them.Beetles & WeevilsWhy are larder beetles in a house?Larder beetles are in your house because they found animal protein: pet food, cured meats, or dead insects hidden in walls or the attic.Scale Insects & MealybugsWhy are mealybugs in soil?Discover why mealybugs hide in soil, how to identify them accurately, and what steps to take for effective control.Mice & RatsWhy are mice returning after a gap is sealed?Discover why mice continue to enter your home even after you seal up their entry gaps, and learn how to properly address an active rodent problem.MosquitoesWhy are mosquito larvae found in a pool that looks clean?Understand why mosquito larvae appear in clear swimming pools and how to handle them safely.Wasps & HornetsWhy are mud dauber nests attached to a house wall?Learn why mud dauber wasps attach their nests to house walls, how to identify them, and how to safely remove them.VolesWhy are new vole runways visible after snow melts?Learn why vole runways suddenly appear after winter snow melts and how to manage the turf damage.Flies & GnatsWhy are no-see-ums found in a bed?An explanation of why no-see-ums are found in a bed, how to identify them, and what practical steps to take.Flies & GnatsWhy are no-see-ums reported around Florida coastal properties?Discover why no-see-ums plague Florida coastal properties, how to identify them, and what practical steps you can take.MitesWhy are oak leaf itch mites associated with cicadas?Understand why oak leaf itch mites correlate with periodic cicada emergences, how to identify exposure, and what steps to take safely.Moths & ButterfliesWhy are pantry moth larvae on the kitchen ceiling?Learn why pantry moth larvae crawl onto the kitchen ceiling, how to identify an infestation, and practical steps to deal with the problem safely.Moths & ButterfliesWhy are pantry moths appearing after a pantry was cleaned?An explanation of why pantry moths continue to emerge after a thorough kitchen cleaning, with identification tips and practical next steps.Flies & GnatsWhy are phorid flies appearing in a bathroom?Learn why phorid flies appear in bathrooms, how to identify them, and what steps to take to resolve the infestation.Woodlice / Pillbugs & SowbugsWhy are pill bugs in the house?Learn why pill bugs enter houses, how to identify them, and practical steps to keep them out.Moths & ButterfliesWhy are plaster bagworms in the house?Plaster bagworms move in where humidity is high and there is damp material, mold and organic debris for the larvae to eat.Moths & ButterfliesWhy are plaster bagworms on walls?Plaster bagworms crawl on damp walls that grow mold and gather dust. When done feeding, the larvae climb to high corners to pupate.Garden PestsWhy are red bugs in mulch?Red bugs in mulch may be chinch bug nymphs, clover mites, seed bugs or fire ants, drawn by damp, warm wood chips full of fungi and shelter.Mice & RatsWhy are roof rats reported in Phoenix homes?Understand why roof rats find Phoenix homes so appealing, how to identify them, and what steps to take safely.ScorpionsWhy are scorpions found in bathrooms or sinks?Learn why scorpions end up in sinks and bathrooms, how to identify common species, and what steps to take for household exclusion and safety.Silverfish & FirebratsWhy are silverfish found in cardboard boxes?Discover why silverfish infest cardboard boxes, how to identify them, and what practical steps you can take to clear them out.SlugsWhy are slugs in the house?Slugs come indoors looking for moisture and dark shelter, squeezing through gaps or riding in on potted plants brought inside.Flies & GnatsWhy are small black flies on indoor plants?Small black flies on houseplants are usually fungus gnats, often arriving as eggs in potting mix and thriving in overwatered soil.CockroachesWhy are small cockroaches in a house?Learn why small cockroaches appear in houses, how to identify them correctly, what practical steps to take, and when to call a professional.CockroachesWhy are small cockroaches in the kitchen at night?Learn why small cockroaches appear in your kitchen at night, how to identify them, and what practical steps to take next.SpringtailsWhy are snow fleas in the house?Snow fleas, a kind of springtail, come inside to escape flooded yards in late winter or drought in summer, through cracks and pipe gaps.Woodlice / Pillbugs & SowbugsWhy are sowbugs in the house?Sowbugs come inside when drought or heavy rain drives them out of the soil, slipping under doors and through foundation cracks to find moisture.PlanthoppersWhy are spotted lanternflies common in New York City?New York City has plenty of tree-of-heaven, the spotted lanternfly's favorite host, and trains and trucks that move the bugs and their eggs.Flies & GnatsWhy are spotted-wing drosophila found in strawberries?Learn why spotted-wing drosophila attack healthy strawberries, how to identify them, and what practical steps you can take to manage an infestation.SpringtailsWhy are springtails appearing after a moisture leak?Learn why springtails appear after a moisture leak, how to identify them, and practical steps to resolve the issue safely.SpringtailsWhy are springtails found in soil?Springtails live in soil because damp topsoil and leaf litter give them moisture and food: fungal spores, bacteria, algae and decaying plants.Other True BugsWhy are stink bugs clustering on a sunny exterior wall?Learn why stink bugs gather on sunny exterior walls in autumn, how to identify them, and what practical steps to take next.Other True BugsWhy are stink bugs common in Minnesota?Minnesota has many stink bugs because the invasive brown marmorated stink bug spread there. In September they gather on homes to overwinter.Other True BugsWhy are stink bugs common in Washington State?Washington State's orchards, gardens and weeds feed lots of stink bugs, and in cool September weather they head for warm buildings to overwinter.Other True BugsWhy are stink bugs in the house?Stink bugs come into houses in autumn only to escape the cold, crawling through gaps from sun-warmed walls to wait out winter in wall voids.Bed Bugs & Related BugsWhy are swallow bugs in the house?Swallow bugs come inside in autumn after cliff swallows leave their mud nests on the eaves. Without birds to feed on, they wander indoors.