Identify and Manage Indoor Insects

A variety of mites occur in home gardens. Learn about their life cycle and how to identify and manage pest mite species.

Spiders are general predators, feeding on a wide range of prey (insects, other spiders, etc.). They are beneficial to people because they feed on harmful insects.

House flies are the most common fly found in and around homes.

The cat flea is the most common flea encountered in homes. It survives on both dogs and cats and will bite humans.

Carpenter ants, pharaoh ants, odorous house ants, acrobat ants, field ants, and pavement ants are some common ants that enter homes. Sanitation practices and baits can be used to control ants indoors.

Silverfish and firebrats are found outdoors but indoors they can become pests because they feed on starchy substances as well as book bindings, dry foods, flour, bits of cloth, or paper.

Rice weevils and granary weevils are beetles that may be found indoors in stored food products.

Fungus gnats are tiny, black flies that are commonly seen around lamps, windows, and indoor plants with moist soil.