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The number one nuisance pest in North America, ants make up the majority of local pest problems. Varying by species, the average colony is made up of anywhere between 300,000 to 500,000 ants. With the capability of surviving more than seven years, it’s no surprise that they are likely to take up residence in your home. Common types of ants that may become problems in your home include:

One of the most feared pest infestations, bed bugs are small, flat insects that feed on the blood of human hosts and tend to congregate in mattress folds, furniture, carpet, or wall folds. Bed bugs do not transmit disease, but their bites can result in red welts, rashes, and hives. They may cause allergic reactions and, in extreme cases, anaphylactic shock.

More of a nuisance than a threat, house crickets are omnivorous scavengers that feed on almost anything in sight. Known to destroy both vegetable gardens and clothing all while producing a repetitious chirping sound, crickets cause quite the disturbance! You can typically find more of these creatures in heavily wooded areas.

Earwigs may appeal as more of a threat in comparison to other pests, but they are simply more of an eyesore than an actual threat. Although they don’t pose much harm to humans, earwigs are still extremely unwelcome by homeowners… and for a good reason. These pests are most widely recognized for their menacing pincers and scorpion-like thorax.

First introduced to the United States in the 1920s, fire ants are characterized by their copper color and painful sting. Although commonly found inhabiting a sandy-looking mound in your backyard, fire ants are also drawn into the comfort of your home by sugary and fatty foods. Regardless of whether you see them indoors or out, they are a threat to the safety of your loved ones.

Fleas require blood to survive, so they seek out hosts that can provide sustenance. Although most likely to affect your four-legged friends, fleas can also latch on to human hosts, exposing you to diseases like typhus and tularemia. In addition to applying flea treatment to your pets, it’s also a good idea to safeguard your home to prevent an infestation.

Adapted for aerial movement and streamlined for speed, flies are some of the most difficult pests to catch. In addition, they feed on rotting food and animal feces, making them highly resistant to many insecticides but also undesirable to have around your home as they are prolific carriers of disease, posing a great threat to both humans and animals. Their names derive from the location or food they prefer - house flies, fruit flies, drain flies, stable flies, horse flies, deer flies, and flesh flies, among others. Sometimes it takes a professional pest control company to eliminate these 6-legged critters.

Grasshoppers are found on every continent but Antarctica. Here in the United States, grasshoppers typically inhabit dry open areas with grass and other low plants. They can typically be found in fields, meadows, and backyards. Grasshoppers seek out dry areas, so they do find their way inside houses from time to time.

Mostly nocturnal, cockroaches like to seek shelter from the outdoors. Likely to gravitate in dark, warm locations, many homeowners notice that cockroaches inhabit their bathrooms, closets, and kitchens. Ranging in color from light brown to black, the type of cockroach has much to do with the location they are likely to be found. Different types of roaches include:

Including mice and rats, rodents can present a number of threats to homeowners. Known to chew through wires, causing electrical fires, transmit diseases, and even track in ticks, it’s always a good idea to prevent these pests before a problem occurs. Rodents also can transmit at least 35 diseases including Lyme disease, salmonella, and more. Types of rodents to be aware of are:

Due to their high reproduction rate and elusive nature, silverfish are some of the most difficult pests to eliminate once they have invaded your home. For this reason, preventative pest control is extremely important. With their appearance matching their name, silverfish probably aren’t something you want to find lurking around your home!

Contrary to popular belief, spiders are not insects. They are actually arachnids, closely related to ticks and scorpions. Possessing the signature trait of eight legs and known to leave behind webs, spiders are notorious for spooking many homeowners. Some common types of spiders to watch out for in your home include:

There are a number of stinging insects common to North America, many of which pose a threat to your family’s well being. Insects like bees, wasps and hornets can cause painful, sometimes life-threatening stings! It’s important to understand the behaviors and characteristics of these pests, so you can stay safe. Some stinging insects to be aware of are:

Causing more than $5 billion in damage to homes across the United States each year, termites are most common in the southern part of the nation. Since most homeowners’ insurance won't cover termite damage, professional help and prevention methods are often recommended. Of the more than 2,500 known species of termites, common ones to look out for in your home are:

Closely related to spiders, ticks also belong to the arachnid group. Relying on the blood of their hosts, ticks are likely to move from one mammal to another in order to survive. Due to their transient behavior, these pests are vectors of a number of diseases, including Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Lyme disease. Types of ticks to be aware of are:

Voles are a type of rodent known for damaging the roots of your lawn, trees, and shrubs. There are 23 species commonly found throughout the United States, including the prairie vole, meadow vole, pine vole, and Oregon vole. With other names like meadow mice, field mice, meadow moles, and ground moles, they are easily confused with mice, moles, and other types of rodents.