Common Pests
FLIES
Flies are common nuisance pests belonging to the order Diptera, known for their rapid reproduction and ability to thrive in a variety of environments, especially around food waste and organic debris. Species such as the housefly are frequently found in homes and businesses, where they can quickly become a problem.
Beyond being a nuisance, flies pose serious health risks. They can carry and spread bacteria and pathogens by landing on contaminated surfaces and then transferring those germs to food, countertops, and other areas. This makes proper fly control essential for maintaining a clean and safe environment.
SPIDERS
Spiders typically enter homes in search of food, shelter, or mating opportunities, often building webs in corners, basements, attics, and other undisturbed areas. Although the majority pose no threat, a few species—such as the black widow spider and the brown recluse spider—can deliver medically significant bites.
managing spiders involves reducing clutter, sealing entry points, and controlling other insect populations that serve as their food source. Professional treatment can help eliminate active infestations and prevent future activity, keeping your home safe and comfortable.
WASP & BEES
Wasps are generally more aggressive and can sting multiple times, making them a concern for families, pets, and outdoor activities. They often build nests in eaves, attics, or underground, and will defend their colonies if disturbed. Bees, such as the honey bee, are less aggressive and play a vital role in pollination, but can still pose a risk if their hives are located close to entryways or living spaces.
Because stings can cause painful reactions—and in some cases severe allergic responses—it’s important to address infestations carefully. Suburban pest control services can safely remove nests, relocate bees when possible, and implement preventative measures to reduce the likelihood of future activity.
MOSQUITOES
Mosquitoes are small flying insects belonging to the family Culicidae, commonly found in areas with standing water where they breed and multiply rapidly. They are most active during warm months and are known for feeding on blood, with females requiring blood meals to produce eggs.
Beyond being a nuisance, mosquitoes are a significant public health concern because they can transmit serious diseases, including West Nile virus, dengue, and malaria in some regions.
Effective mosquito control focuses on eliminating standing water, reducing breeding sites, and using targeted treatments to lower adult populations. Professional pest control services can help manage mosquito activity and reduce the risk of bites and disease transmission around homes and outdoor spaces
HOUSE CENTIPEDE easy
Centipedes belong to class of Chilopoda. The name centipede, which means “100 legs,” can be somewhat misleading: centipedes may have anywhere from 15 to 177 pairs of legs. The heads of centipedes have a pair of long and sensitive antennae. They have small mouths and have large, clawlike structures that contain a venom gland. Adult centipedes hide in moist, dark and secluded areas during winter.
Centipedes may enter houses and buildings, but they do not roam during daytime. They hide in damp areas around bathrooms, closets, basements and other sites typically infested by pests.
CRICKETS
Crickets can become household pests when they enter homes seeking warmth, moisture, or light; they are noisy (due to chirping), may damage fabrics or paper, and are best controlled by sealing cracks and gaps, reducing indoor moisture with dehumidifiers, keeping yards trimmed, and using sticky traps or vacuuming for quick removal.
They’re mostly annoying because of their loud nighttime chirping, but they can also chew small holes in fabrics (wool, silk, cotton), paper, or stored clothing.
TICKS
Ticks are dangerous outdoor pests that hitchhike into yards and homes on pets, clothing, or wildlife. They hide in tall grass, leaf litter, and shady areas, and can transmit serious diseases like Lyme disease.
Ticks thrive in the state's humid, wooded, and suburban environments. They hide in tall grass, leaf litter, brush, and shady edges — and they hitch rides on deer, rodents, pets, and people. The biggest risks are diseases like Lyme disease (mainly from blacklegged ticks), ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and alpha-gal syndrome.
BED BUGS
Bed bugs are small, flat, reddish-brown insects that hide in mattresses, furniture cracks, and baseboards. They feed on human blood at night, causing itchy bites and spreading rapidly through luggage, clothing, and second-hand items.
They emerge at night (mainly midnight to 5 a.m.) to feed on sleeping hosts, attracted by body heat and carbon dioxide. They don't fly or jump, but they crawl quickly and can travel several feet to reach you. They don't transmit diseases, but their bites often cause itchy, red welts (sometimes in lines or clusters), and heavy infestations can produce a musty-sweet odor.
TERMITES
(the most common and destructive type in Virginia, They live in large underground colonies and tunnel through soil to reach wood in homes. They build protective mud tubes along foundations or walls, need constant moisture, and can cause major structural damage by eating wood from the inside out — often going undetected until swarmer's appear or wood sounds hollow.
infest dry wood directly without needing soil contact. They live and nest entirely inside wooden structures like beams, furniture, or attics, producing small pellet-like droppings (frass) that look like sawdust.
CARPENTER ANTS
Carpenter ants are large ants (workers ¼–½ inch, queens up to ¾ inch) commonly black, reddish-brown, or a mix of red and black. Unlike termites, they do not eat wood — they excavate galleries and nests inside damp or decaying wood (such as beams, window frames, or tree stumps) to create shelter for their colony, often leaving piles of coarse, sawdust-like shavings (frass) as evidence. They are active in Virginia homes, especially near moisture issues.
Carpenter ants are nocturnal foragers that travel long distances from outdoor nests into homes in search of food (sweets, proteins, and insects). They have a distinct pinched “waist,” elbowed antennae, and winged swarmer's that appear in spring or early summer.
OUTDOOR HOUSE ANTS
Outdoor house ants are tiny (about 1/8 inch), dark brown ants that build outdoor nests in mulch, under rocks, debris, or shallow soil. They are notorious for trailing into kitchens and bathrooms looking for sweets and moisture; when crushed, they release a distinct rotten coconut-like odor, and large colonies can split into "super colonies" that make them harder to control.
PAVEMENT ANTS
Pavement ants are small (about 1/8 inch), dark brown to black ants that typically nest outdoors in soil under sidewalks, driveways, patios, or stones. They often enter homes through tiny cracks in search of food (sweets, grease, and crumbs), especially in spring and summer, and can form visible trails along baseboards or floors.
Pavement ants are opportunistic foragers that frequently invade homes from outdoor nests in search of food, especially sweets, grease, and crumbs. They form visible trails along baseboards, kitchen counters, and floors, and are one of the most common nuisance ants found around houses
CLOVER MITES
Clover mites are tiny arachnids (about 1/30 inch long, smaller than a pinhead) that appear bright red or reddish-brown. They have eight legs, with the front pair noticeably longer and often mistaken for antennae. They feed on plants like clover, grass, and weeds, and are known for invading homes in large numbers, especially on sunny sides, where they crawl on windowsills, walls, and curtains.
Clover mites do not bite humans or pets and cannot reproduce or survive long indoors. However, they become a nuisance pest when thousands enter homes during spring and fall. They move quickly toward light and warmth, and if crushed, they leave a reddish stain (not blood) on surfaces — making them frustrating to deal with despite being harmless.
FLEES
Fleas are tiny (about 1/8 inch long), wingless, reddish-brown insects with flat bodies and powerful hind legs that allow them to jump up to 13 inches — over 200 times their body length. They are parasites that feed on the blood of mammals (including dogs, cats, and humans), and they are extremely fast and hard to catch.
Fleas reproduce rapidly and can quickly infest homes, especially in carpets, furniture, pet bedding, and floor cracks. Their bites cause intense itching and red welts, and they can transmit diseases or cause flea allergy dermatitis in pets. In Virginia, fleas are most active during warm, humid months and are commonly brought indoors by pets.
COCKROACHES
Adults can be slightly more than 50 mm (3 inches) long. Female American cockroaches make protective cases for their eggs. These cases are capsule-shaped. After forming a capsule, the roach deposits it in a warm, humid area. An average American roach egg capsule contains about 16 eggs. Both male and female American cockroaches can fly. The wings develop when the roaches become adults.
American cockroaches normally live outdoors. They prefer warm, damp areas like flowerbeds, and under mulch. American cockroaches are very common in sewer systems of many American cities. American cockroaches enter homes to find water or food. They can easily pass under doors if the weather stripping is damaged. Basement windows and garages are also common entryways.
BEETLES
Some beetles can become destructive pests. Carpet beetle larvae eat natural fibers and feathers. They often damage woolens and other fabrics. Other beetles, like powder post beetles, feed on hardwoods and bamboo. These pests attack furniture and other items made of wood. Some, like the flour beetles and the grain beetles, attack food products in homes. They also damage food in production facilities and stores. Some beetles damage lawns and landscapes. Immature June beetles, called grubs, attack the roots of grass. The elm leaf beetle damages trees by eating the leaves.
Beetles belong to the insect order Coleoptera. This is the largest order of insects. There are more than a quarter million species of beetles in the world. In North America, scientists have identified more than 25,000 beetle species.