Our homes provide shelter, nesting sites, food and water for many pests and insects. Some prefer to live in our homes while others are foraging for food/water and some are seeking shelter from prolonged rain or flooding.
Proper identification of the insect, by specie, is important to controlling pests safely and economically. For example, all cockroaches are not the same. German and Brownbanded cockroaches prefer to live inside our homes while other species do not and when we find American, Smokeybrown or Woods cockroaches, for example, there is often no need for treatment as they prefer to live outdoors; they will generally leave on their own.
Common pests found by location include:
Attic:
| Roof Rats and Mice |
Shelter and construct nests |
| Squirrel |
Construct nests |
| Birds |
Construct nests |
| Bees, Wasps, and Hornets |
Construct hives and deposit eggs |
| Brownbanded Cockroach |
Construct nests and communal gathering places |
| Blow Flies |
Feed on dead carcasses |
| Drywood Termites |
Infest seasoned wood framing |
| Anobiid Powderpost Beetles |
Infest seasoned wood framing |
Bathroom:
| Cockroach |
Seeks moisture |
| Earwig |
Seeks moisture |
| Silverfish |
Seeks moisture |
| Subterranean Termite |
Consumes water damaged wood around plumbing leaks |
| Ants |
Seeks water and can feed on some cosmetics |
Kitchen:
| German Cockroach |
Nests around refrigerators and dishwashers – warm places |
| Brownbanded Cockroach |
Seeks food and water |
| Silverfish |
Feeds on starches and carbohydrates like cereal |
| Drywood Termite |
Infests cabinets |
| Lyctis Powderpost Beetles |
Infests cabinets |
| House Mouse |
Seeks food and water |
| Ants |
Seeks food and water |
| House Fly |
Seeks food and water |
| Pantry Pests |
Attack stored grains in pantry |
Garage:
| Mice |
Build nests in stored goods |
| Formosan Subterranean Termites |
Construct carton nests on water heaters |
| Ants |
Seeks shelter |
| Cockroach |
Nests in stored goods and congregates around water heater |
| House Fly |
Congregates around doors and windows |
| Moths |
Attracted to light |
| Termite Swarmeres |
Land around doors and windows |
| Spiders |
Build webs on walls and in corners |
Living/Family Room:
| Fleas |
Carried inside on people/pets |
| Dust Mites |
Live beneath furniture, along baseboards |
Bedroom:
| Fleas |
Often found on dog beds |
| Bed Bugs |
Carried in. Lives on beds, dressers and along baseboards |
Exterior:
| Spiders |
Build webs around ceiling lights |
| Gnats |
Attracted to light |
| Flies |
Attracted to light |
| Mud Dauber |
Builds nest under eaves |
| Ants |
Trail along foundation to gain entry into home |
| Bees |
Construct hives behind wall cladding and in eaves |
| Roof Rats and Squirrels |
Gain entrance to home at attic/soffit openings |
Crawlspace:
| Wood Boring Beetles |
Infest seasoned wood |
| Subterranean Termites |
Infest seasoned wood |
| Wildlife |
Hunt and nest in protected crawlspaces |
| Wood Decaying Fungi |
Consumes damp wood |
| Mice |
Construct nests behind insulation and in ductwork |
| Cockroach |
Live in broken sewer piping and debris piles |
| Flies |
Consume dead carcasses |
| Fleas |
Live on live animal hosts which enter the crawlspace |
Please consider our homes and workspaces are a haven for many pests and insects. A pest management professional must be knowledgeable in the biology and habits of each target pest/insect. Pest prevention requires thorough inspection of all areas and a multi-faceted plan of action.
360PestControl provides full-service pest control, termite inspections, termite treatment, lawn & ornamental services across Florida.
William Chandler is an Associate Certified Entomologist and Building Scientist with over 40 years of experience in pest control, mold and moisture investigation, building construction and forensic building investigation. He is a Termite Expert by UF/PMU.
