Most Common Household Bugs (And How To Keep Them Out Of Your House)

It’s hard to relax at home when you're seeing bugs and wonder if there are more lurking around the corner. That’s the reality for many people, as bugs are in the majority of homes. That’s why it’s important to know more about the most common household bugs, so it's easier to get rid of them.

Common household bugs, like ants, silverfish, and cockroaches, are mostly harmless, but they can make you feel uncomfortable. Many household spiders are harmless, but black widows and brown recluse spiders can harm you. You can keep most household bugs away by running a dehumidifier and sealing your door and window gaps.

Bugs enter homes looking for food, shelter, water, and warmth. By removing these elements, you can discourage bugs from entering your home and get rid of existing ones. Follow along as we highlight the 10 most common household bugs and explore how to block them.

The Most Common House Bugs

1. Ants

Ants can ruin any picnic, and they can also make your home life uncomfortable. That’s because they are among the most common household bugs in the world. There are over 700 ant species in the United States alone, and you can find them in all 50 states. Sugar ants, pavement ants, and carpenter ants are some of the most common household ants.

However, renters and homeowners in the southern U.S. must worry about fire ants. Fire ants have painful stings, and they can harm you in swarms. The best way to keep them away is to clean up after every meal, whether you eat indoors or outdoors. It’s also important to store your food in airtight containers and keep pet food away from doors.

2. Spiders

Even if you aren’t an arachnophobe, you may easily jump at the sight of spiders in your house. No matter where you live, you’ll probably find a spider in your house at one point or another. Common arachnids inhabit each U.S. state, and there are over 3,000 North American species. Cellar spiders (daddy longlegs), wolf spiders, jumping spiders, and hobo spiders are the most common household spiders.

These spiders are relatively harmless to humans, and can even help keep other bugs out of your house. You’re more likely to find spiders at home if you already have a lot of bugs, but that doesn’t mean you’ll celebrate their presence. Some spiders, like black widows and brown recluses, are quite dangerous. These two species are drawn to clutter, so cleaning your home and using glue traps can help keep them awaythem. However, seek immediate medical attention if you are bitten by a brown recluse or black widow spider.

3. Bed Bugs

Nobody thinks they’re going to deal with bed bugs until they find them. Bed bugs are more common than you may think, especially during the summer. The small, wingless pests hitch rides on furniture and clothing and can wind up in someone's home. Finding bed bugs is stressful for anyone who knows how difficult it is to get rid of them. That’s because they can quickly spread through air ducts, plumbing, electrical outlets, and walls.

Bed bugs can follow you even if you move, unless, of course, you completely eradicate them. Your best bet is to call a professional if you find bed bugs at home, or else you may spend months battling them. In some cases, heat treatments and fumigation are the only effective methods to get rid of them for good. Eradicating bed bugs typically costs $300 to $1,500, but it varies based on severity.

4. Silverfish

Many people see silverfish at home and don’t even know its name. This is partially because silverfish are more discreet than other household bugs. They exist in each U.S. state, and they’re most active indoors during the fall and winter. The cold air outside drives them indoors as they seek warmth and shelter. Nothing attracts silverfish more than high indoor humidity, which likely explains why you have them.

The heat from the furnace and the moisture in the air keep silverfish comfortable and lets them reproduce. If your home’s air exceeds 60% humidity, you’re probably going to find silverfish, and they’ll keep breeding. The best way to deter silverfish is to declutter your home and maintain 30% to 50% indoor humidity.

5. Cockroaches

Cockroaches are arguably the most dreaded household bugs, and the sight of them can ruin any night. Like most pests, cockroaches enter homes in search of warmth, water, shelter, and food. That’s why you’ll often find them in rooms with lots of clutter, leaky pipes, dirty drains, and exposed food. For example, you may find cockroaches under your kitchen sink, as they can detect moisture and food remnants.

Cockroaches especially love messy areas, like laundry bins and trash heaps. Cluttered spaces help cockroaches rest and breed without fear of predators. Like bed bugs, you will likely struggle to get rid of cockroaches without professional help. Cockroaches can remain after extermination, as they develop tolerance to many insecticides. Call a professional if you’ve had no luck getting rid of cockroaches at home.

6. Fleas

Any loving pet owner dreads the thought of finding fleas on their fur baby. Finding fleas indoors likely indicates they entered your home by hitching a ride on your pet. Fleas latch onto animals, feed on their blood, and reproduce quickly. During a flea infestation, they will likely lay eggs in your pet’s fur, and the eggs may land on the carpet. That’s why vacuuming is such a crucial part of flea extermination, as the eggs can hatch when left undisturbed.

Fleas can still enter your home if you don’t have pets, but that’s relatively rare. For example, if you live in a duplex or apartment complex and your neighbor has fleas, they may get inro your home. This can also happen if wild animals, like raccoons and opossums, linger around your home. Use prescription-grade flea control products and follow your veterinarian’s recommendation, then thoroughly vacuum your home to eradicate fleas.

7. Termites

Termites are very destructive and early intervention is a must. However, you can only intervene early if you know what to look for. The problem with termites is that many people don’t notice them until the population has grown and become more active. Early signs of termites, like mud tubes, small wood pellets, and wing piles, can indicate that termites are present. These wood pellets are also called frass, and they are termite droppings.

Frass looks like wood shavings, as termites eat wood, and at first you may not realize it’s flea waste. You’re more likely to find termites if your house is near a tree line or if your home has lots of old wood. Termite queens can lay up to 30,000 eggs daily, which can create a crisis. Call a pest control service right away if you discover termites, as they’re hard to get rid of without help.

8. Flies

The sound of flies buzzing around your kitchen, bathroom, or living room can ruin a relaxing night. That sound is all too familiar for countless homeowners, as flies are widespread pests. House flies, drain flies, and fruit flies are the most common varieties. House flies and fruit flies are usually found in kitchens, as they’re drawn to produce. Drain flies, as you might expect, typically linger around dirty drains.

The biofilm within your sink drains can attract drain flies and other pests. It’s easier to get rid of flies than other pests, as you can use fly strips and other traps. Prevention is still the best option, however, so you must keep your countertops clean. Clean up after every meal, flush your drains with vinegar and baking soda, and install weatherstripping to keep out house flies.

9. Moths

Some people have moth phobias, which is too bad considering how common they are. That said, it’s hard to blame someone for fearing such strange pests. Moths typically show up in homes around April and stick around throughout the summer. You must be careful when opening doors at night during the summer, especially if your lights are on.

Moths rush toward lights, whether they are inside or outside by your front door. Once inside, moths typically linger in closets, pantries, and vents. Ideally, you should replace your outdoor bulbs with bright ultraviolet ones to keep away moths. You can also use electronic bug zapper traps. Place a trap near one of your home’s entry doors for the best results.

10. Centipedes

Centipedes can be a scary household bug. The fact that centipedes are venomous can make anyone panic, but their venom doesn’t affect people. Instead, centipedes use their venom to kill smaller insects, which is what attracts them to most homes. Homes with lots of bugs are more likely to have centipedes. They eat everything from spiders and flies to moths and silverfish.

While it may sound like they’re doing you a favor, that doesn’t mean you want them in your house. After all, centipedes can puncture your skin, even if they won’t seriously harm you. Luckily, their stings are rare, defensive, and only occur when they're startled. Patch leaky pipes, run a dehumidifier, declutter, and eradicate the other pests in your home to deter centipedes.

Summing It Up

Ants, spiders, bed bugs, and silverfish are among the most common household bugs. You may also find cockroaches, fleas, termites, and flies at home during the spring and summer. The best way to deter the most common house bugs is to reduce the indoor humidity, declutter, and clean food scraps after each meal.

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