Common Questions — Page 8
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 8 of 41
MitesDo dust mites bite humans?No. Dust mites cannot bite. The itchy welts come from allergy to proteins in mite droppings and shed skins. Here is what is really going on.AntsDo fire ants have venom?Yes. Female fire ants inject venom made mostly of alkaloids that burn skin cells, causing sharp pain and the white pustule that follows a sting.FleasDo flea larvae normally live on dogs or in their surroundings?Flea larvae do not live on dogs. They live in carpet, rugs and floor cracks, feeding on dust and flea dirt. That is why treating only the pet fails.FleasDo flea sprays work indoors?Indoor flea sprays work on carpets and pet beds when you vacuum first and treat pets the same day. Sprays cannot reach pupae inside their cocoons.Flies & GnatsDo flesh flies bite?No. Flesh flies have soft, spongy mouthparts made for soaking up liquids like sweat and nectar. They cannot pierce skin.Flies & GnatsDo fruit flies carry disease?Fruit flies can carry bacteria and fungi on their bodies to food and counters. At home this is usually a minor sanitation issue.Flies & GnatsDo fungus gnats bite people?No. Fungus gnats have soft, reduced mouthparts and cannot bite people or pets. Bites blamed on them usually come from midges that got inside.Flies & GnatsDo fungus gnats kill plants?No. Fungus gnats rarely kill healthy, mature plants, but their larvae can damage roots and kill seedlings and cuttings in soggy soil.CockroachesDo German cockroaches fly?Discover whether German cockroaches can fly, learn how to identify them correctly, and find practical steps to handle an infestation.AntsDo ghost ants bite?Find out if ghost ants bite, why they invade kitchens, and how to manage these tiny pests safely without misidentifying skin reactions.Flies & GnatsDo horse flies bite humans?Yes. Female horse flies bite people, slicing the skin with blade-like mouthparts to feed on blood. Males only feed on nectar and pollen.Flies & GnatsDo horse flies lay eggs in humans?No. Horse flies only take blood from people. They lay their eggs on vegetation near water or in moist mud, never in human skin.Flies & GnatsDo horseflies bite or sting?Learn whether horseflies bite or sting, how to identify them, and how to safely manage their painful bites.CentipedesDo house centipedes bite?Find out if house centipedes bite, what their venomous legs can do, and how to handle them safely using practical home solutions.CentipedesDo house centipedes eat ants?House centipedes do eat ants, plus roaches, flies and silverfish. But one hunter cannot keep up with a colony of thousands, so they will not fix an ant problem.CentipedesDo house centipedes eat cockroaches?Do house centipedes eat cockroaches? Discover the truth about these multi-legged hunters, what they actually consume, and how to manage dampness in your home.Flies & GnatsDo house flies have antennae?Yes. House fly antennae are very short and tucked into a groove between the eyes, with a feathery bristle that senses air movement and temperature.Flies & GnatsDo house flies have two sets of wings?No. House flies have one pair of wings plus tiny balancing organs called halteres where the second pair used to be.Moths & ButterfliesDo Indian meal moth traps remove the food source?Discover why Indian meal moth traps do not remove the food source and learn how to properly identify, clean, and prevent pantry moth infestations.Beetles & WeevilsDo Japanese beetle traps solve a garden infestation?Discover why Japanese beetle traps often worsen garden infestations, how to properly identify the pests, and what methods actually work.SpidersDo jumping spiders bite?Learn the truth about jumping spider bites, how to identify the spiders, and what to do if you get bitten.Beetles & WeevilsDo larder beetles fly?Find out if larder beetles fly, how to identify them in your home, and what steps to take when dealing with an infestation.MosquitoesDo male mosquitoes suck blood?Male mosquitoes do not suck blood. Learn how to tell males from females, what actually bites, and when bites or infestations need help.MillipedesDo millipedes bite?No. Millipedes have no fangs, stinger or piercing mouthparts. Their jaws only scrape and chew rotting leaves and plant matter.MillipedesDo millipedes breed inside a house or wander indoors?Learn whether millipedes breed inside houses or simply wander indoors, how to identify them, and what practical steps stop them from getting in.MillipedesDo millipedes really have 1,000 legs?No. Despite the name, most millipedes around homes have from about 60 to a few hundred legs, well short of a thousand.Crickets & Mole CricketsDo mole crickets bite?No. Mole crickets have small jaws made for clipping roots that cannot break human skin. If handled they may push or give a faint pinch.MolesDo moles eat plant roots or disturb them while tunneling?Learn whether moles actually eat plant roots or simply disturb them while tunneling, and find out how to accurately diagnose and manage lawn damage.MosquitoesDo mosquito yard sprays work?Mosquito yard sprays work only briefly. Sun, rain and heat break them down in days to two weeks, and they do nothing about new mosquitoes hatching.MosquitoesDo only female mosquitoes bite?Yes. Only females bite, because they need blood protein to mature their eggs. Males lack the mouthparts to pierce skin and drink nectar instead.OpossumsDo opossums eat mice?Yes, opossums eat mice now and then, but they are lazy foragers. They are more likely to come for spilled birdseed or pet food.OpossumsDo opossums eat ticks?Examine the popular claim that opossums eat ticks, discover the realities of backyard wildlife parasite control, and learn how to manage tick risks safely.CockroachesDo palmetto bugs bite?No. Palmetto bugs are scavengers with chewing mouthparts and do not bite for blood. A rare nip happens only in severe infestations.CockroachesDo palmetto bugs fly?Yes, adult palmetto bugs can fly, though it is more of a clumsy downward glide. Nymphs have no wings, and cool weather keeps adults grounded.Moths & ButterfliesDo pantry moth traps solve an infestation?No. Pheromone traps only catch adult males, not the larvae or egg-laying females in your food. Here is the cleanup that actually ends it.AntsDo pharaoh ants bite?No. Pharaoh ants have chewing mouthparts and no working stinger, so they do not bite or sting people in any meaningful way. Here is why they still matter.