Do you have an issue with common house bugs? Many Americans do, but these pest problems don’t have to be a major pain. In my nearly two decades of experience as a pest control expert, I’ve learned that controlling bug problems is often tougher than you’d think, but it’s not impossible. In this guide, I’ll present the top eight most common house bugs and the best ways to get rid of them.
If you’re struggling to find a solution to your pest problems, remember that the best pest control solution may be hiring a professional exterminator. Still, there are plenty of ways to keep your home bug free by taking DIY precautions. Read on to see eight of the most common house bugs and how to keep them out of your home.
What Attracts Common House Bugs?
Most bugs end up in your home because they’re seeking food and shelter. Some typical places where you’ll find bugs are near your trash cans, in your pantry and storage closets, near stagnant water, in clogged gutters, in drains, and by spilled food. Keeping a tidy home can help prevent bugs, but it’s not foolproof. Bugs are attracted to the shelter from the elements your home provides, so they may infiltrate your home even if it’s free from garbage, food and crumbs.
What Are the Most Common House Bugs in the United States?
The most common household bugs in the United States include ants, cockroaches, termites, flies, spiders, mosquitoes, wasps, bees and bed bugs. I’ll discuss their characteristics, the potential damage they can cause and effective methods for eliminating and preventing them.
1. Ants
Ants are social insects that contaminate food and leave behind pheromone trails that lead other ants to the same location. Some of the most common household ants include carpenter ants, odorous house ants, pavement ants and Argentine ants.
To combat ant infestations, it’s essential to locate and seal their entry points to your home. Natural remedies such as peppermint oil or cinnamon can act as deterrents, and baiting methods using ant baits or homemade solutions can effectively eliminate ants from places like bedrooms, kitchens, and bathrooms.
What They Look Like
Ants have slender bodies and distinctly segmented antennae. They come in various colors, including black, brown, red, or yellow, and can range in size from small to medium.
Where They’re Commonly Found
Ants love kitchens and pantry areas as they gravitate to food and moisture sources. Ants and termites often set up shop in the same places, such as cracks and crevices in walls, floors, or foundations, as well as in outdoor areas near gardens or tree stumps.
One of the easiest, most affordable, and highly effective methods for dealing with ants I’ve encountered in my years combating common household bugs is creating a barrier by applying a thin line of petroleum jelly or dish soap along entry points. This DIY control method blocks their access to high-traffic areas and discourages infestation buildups.
2. Cockroaches
Cockroaches are particularly bothersome pests that contaminate food, spread bacteria, and trigger allergies in some individuals. Unfortunately, they’re one of the most common bugs in households across the United States.
It’s important to eliminate food and water sources, seal cracks and crevices, and use cockroach baits or gel-based insecticides to combat cockroach infestations as soon as you even think you may have an infestation.
What They Look Like
Cockroaches have flat, oval-shaped bodies and long antennae. Their size varies by species, with some measuring up to a few centimeters long.
Where They’re Commonly Found
Cockroaches prefer areas of the house that provide access to food, water and shelter. They often hide in kitchens, bathrooms, basements, crawl spaces, and cracks in your baseboards, floors and walls.
3. Termites
Termites are tiny pests with destructive feeding habits, particularly on wood and other cellulose materials. They’re one of the most costly of the common bugs in your house to deal with if left untreated. If you wait too long to tackle them, termites can cause significant damage to the structure of homes.
You must often hire professionals to deal with termite infestations. Remedies such as liquid termiticides, bait systems, or fumigation may eliminate termite colonies and prevent further damage to your property.
What They Look Like
Termites are small, with soft bodies and straight antennae. They typically have a pale or translucent appearance.
Where They’re Commonly Found
Termites most often inhabit areas with high moisture levels, such as damp soil, rotting wood or areas with water leaks. Even more concerning, they can be present in the structural components of your home, including foundations, walls, and wooden furniture, and can do extreme structural damage. As an experienced pest control professional, I’ve found them most commonly in the crevices of cellulose-containing materials such as mattresses and couches.
Read also: What are the bugs around windows?
4. Flies
Flies are extremely common pests that buzz loudly and fly erratically around our homes. They’re not just a nuisance — they also pose health risks as they carry and spread diseases. You may be tempted to just swat them away, but that’s not always the best solution. To get rid of flies long term, it’s important to remove their breeding sites. Look out for larvae, keep food and garbage properly disposed of and tightly sealed, and use fly traps or insecticides designed explicitly for the species.
What They Look Like
House flies are small insects with two wings and a compact body. They have large compound eyes, which give them excellent vision and the ability to detect movement.
Where They’re Commonly Found
Common house flies are attracted to areas where organic waste or exposed food is plentiful, such as garbage cans, kitchens, and outdoor spaces. These flying critters easily enter homes through open windows or doors. Fruit flies, conversely, are attracted to the scent of rotten and fermented fruit. Thankfully, most flies don’t require a professional exterminator unless there’s a serious underlying problem leading them to be attracted to your home.
Most fly infestations I’ve dealt with were easily remedied by employing a few fly traps and sticky tapes and keeping an extra-clean home — especially the kitchen sink, trash cans, and litter boxes. Tidiness generally goes a long way in eliminating potential breeding sites. Cover trash cans, repair screensand regularly empty and clean pet waste areas.
5. Spiders
Spiders are wingless creatures (technically, they’re not insects) that are more scary (to many) than destructive. These common household pests have four pairs of legs and come in various sizes, colors, and shapes. Some species are harmless, while others are venomous.
Spiders are among North America’s most misunderstood common house bugs. While they’re beneficial for controlling other insects, their presence can be unsettling, and a few species are dangerous. Reducing their food sources (other insects) is vital to managing spider populations. If necessary, pest control methods, including spider traps or insecticides, are highly effective.
What They Look Like
Spiders have eight legs — sometimes short, sometimes long. They can be smooth or hairy. They’re known for a distinctive two-part body structure: the cephalothorax and the abdomen. They vary in size, shape, and color (light and dark brown are common colors), with some species featuring unique patterns.
Where They’re Commonly Found
Spiders are commonly found in areas of the home that provide plenty of shelter and food. They prefer undisturbed locations such as corners, crevices, and areas with low human activity, like basements, attics, garages, and outdoor structures.
6. Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes are one of the most annoying common bugs in your house. These literal bloodsuckers can give you itchy bites and transmit diseases including malaria, Dengue fever and Zika virus.
To reduce mosquito populations, it’s important to remove standing water sources. You can do this by emptying containers and cleaning gutters. You can also use mosquito repellents, and screens on doors and windows.
What They Look Like
Mosquitoes are small flying insects with slender bodies, long, skinny legs and two wings. They have a proboscis that enables them to feed on the blood of humans and animals.
Where They’re Commonly Found
Mosquitoes are commonly found in areas with standing water, as they require it for breeding. They are often present near ponds, lakes, stagnant pools and even small water-filled containers.
I’ve found that the best way to prevent mosquitoes is to keep flower pots, birdbaths, gutters, and other containers around your yard and garden free of standing water. Consider using outdoor mosquito control methods like mosquito repellents, citronella candles or sticky mosquito and fly traps.
7. Wasps and Bees
Wasps and bees are flying insects from the Hymenoptera family that have similar appearances but distinct differences. They both deliver painful stings and are especially dangerous to people who are allergic.
DIY removal of large infestations is complex and best left to professionals who can safely eliminate the nests and relocate bees if possible. However, taking preventive measures such as sealing cracks, securing garbage bins and minimizing outdoor food sources helps reduce their numbers in and around your home.
What They Look Like
Wasps have slender bodies with narrow waists, a smooth exoskeleton, and a more aggressive nature. Bees have rounder, hairier bodies and play a crucial role in pollination.
Where They’re Commonly Found
Wasps and bees thrive in outdoor areas such as gardens and parks that feature flowering plants. They build nests in various locations, including trees, eaves, attics, and underground burrows.
8. Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are among the worst common household bugs I’ve ever dealt with, both as a professional exterminator and homeowner. Taking prompt action and a comprehensive approach to dealing with them is crucial. This includes thorough cleaning, regular inspection, targeted treatment and seeking professional pest control services for severe infestations.
What They Look Like
Bed bugs are small, reddish-brown insects with flat, oval-shaped bodies about the size of an apple seed. They have six legs, two antennae and a distinctly segmented body with a shiny, translucent exoskeleton.
Where They’re Commonly Found
Bed bugs are adept hitchhikers and may be found in multiple areas throughout a home. They typically hide in cracks and crevices near their food source, often in our sleeping areas. Common hiding spots include mattress seams, bed frames, headboards, box springs, and upholstered furniture, while they also infest other locations such as carpets, curtains, electrical outlets, luggage, and clothing.
What Are Signs Your Home Has a Bug Problem?
There are many signs that your home has a bug problem, but some are more prevalent than others:
- Bite marks or skin irritation: If you or your family experience unexplained bites or skin irritation, it can be a sign of bed bugs, fleas, or other biting insects.
- Droppings or excrement: Finding droppings or excrement in your home indicates pest infestation. Different pests leave different types of droppings, so identifying the type helps determine the type(s) of pest you’re dealing with.
- Presence of live or dead insects: An increase in common bugs in your home, especially in low-traffic areas, indicates an infestation.
- Unusual sounds or smells: Pests sometimes make unusual sounds, such as scratching, rustling, or squeaking. Additionally, certain pests, like cockroaches, often produce distinctive odors when an infestation occurs.
- Visible damage: Look for signs of damage, such as chewed wires, gnawed furniture, or holes in fabric or wood. These are indications of pests like rodents or termites.
- Visible nests or webs: Discovering nests, webs, or egg casings in and around your home strongly indicates a pest infestation. You see this with pests like wasps, spiders, or termites.
If you observe any signs, contact a pest control company like Terminix or Orkin to properly assess, identify, and implement effective treatment to eliminate the infestation.
What Other Types Of Common Bugs Are There?
Although ants, cockroaches, termites, flies, spiders, mosquitoes, wasps and bees, and bed bugs are the eight most common house bugs in the United States, they’re hardly the only ones you may have to look out for. Other pests, like stink bugs, gnats, centipedes, crickets, dust mites, earwigs, and weevils, are all different types of common house bugs that you should be aware of.
How Should You Deal With Insects in a New Home?
Dealing with insects in a new home requires a systematic approach. To eliminate existing pests and prevent future infestations, consider the following remedies:
- Install screens and seal openings: Install screens on doors and windows to prevent insects from entering the home. Seal any openings or gaps in walls, windows, and doors with weatherstripping or caulk to deny pests access.
- Implement preventive measures: Consider preventive treatments, such as applying insecticide barriers around the home’s perimeter or using traps in areas prone to pest activity. Before applying these barriers, take a look at some of the top insecticides for home use.
- Remove food and water sources: Food and water attract common bugs to your house, so ensure proper food storage in sealed containers and promptly fix leaks and plumbing issues that provide water sources to pests.
- Regular cleaning and maintenance: Regularly clean your home, paying attention to areas where pests are likely to hide, such as kitchen cabinets, basements, and crawl spaces. Seal any cracks or openings that could serve as entry points for pests.
- Practice proper waste management: Dispose of garbage regularly in tightly sealed containers to prevent attracting pests. Keep outdoor trash bins away from the house and ensure they have tight-fitting lids.
- Hire a professional pest control company: A reputable pest control company comprehensively assesses your home’s pest situation. They tailor treatment plans to address specific pest issues and help ensure the home remains pest free.
Remember, every home and pest situation is unique, so consulting with professional pest control companies that offer customized plans with ongoing visits and treatments to ensure your new home remains pest free is best.
Final Recommendations on Common House Bugs
Common house bugs are a nuisance, but it’s important to know that they can also pose potential health risks, so it’s crucial that you take care of these issues in a timely manner. While DIY methods are available, seeking professional assistance is often the most efficient and cost-effective solution for removing common house bugs. Experts have the know-how, pesticides, and tools to tackle infestations quickly, so it’s worth considering hiring professionals to handle your bug problem.
FAQs About Common House Bugs
What house bugs are harmful?
Some common bugs in your house, such as mosquitoes, roaches and ticks, are as harmful as they are annoying, transmitting diseases to humans. Other harmful bugs include bed bugs, which can cause skin irritations and sleep disturbances.
What house bugs come out at night?
Several house bugs, including cockroaches, spiders, and silverfish, are nocturnal and more active at night. They prefer to hide during the day and come out searching for food and mates or exploring their surroundings in the darkness of night.
Can a house be completely bug free?
While it’s challenging to have a completely bug-free home, proper preventive measures, regular cleaning and professional pest control treatments significantly reduce the presence of bugs. Effective pest control helps minimize infestations of common bugs in your house and creates a more comfortable living environment, but some occasional sightings or small insect populations are practically unavoidable.
Is it normal to have bugs in your house?
Yes, but that doesn’t mean that they’re welcome. Bugs naturally seek out food, water and shelter, so it’s not uncommon to find them in your home. However, a few bugs in your kitchen can quickly become an infestation, so be sure to take care of your pest problems before they turn into a bigger issue.
