Identify any pest.
Know exactly what to do.

South America's most destructive ant export. 320M acres infested across 14 states. Dome mounds with no hole on top. Venomous sting forms white pustule in 24hrs. The Two-Step Method is the pro standard.

Largest ant in N. America — up to 1 inch. Tunnels through moist wood, creating smooth galleries. Always indicates a moisture problem. Find the water leak first, then the colony. Night tracking with red flashlight.

Classic driveway ant — pushes sandy mounds through sidewalk cracks. 1/8 inch, dark brown. One of the most common home-invading ants in the Northeast and Midwest. Gel bait or perimeter treatment.

Smells like rotten coconut when crushed — the best ID trick. Forms long foraging trails through kitchens. One of the most common indoor ants nationwide. Gel bait only — sprays cause colony splitting.

Supercolony with millions of workers — dominates coastal California and Gulf South. Never spray or the colony splits and multiplies. Slow-acting bait is the only effective strategy. Multiple queens.

Just 1/16 inch — among the smallest U.S. ants. Shiny black. Trails into kitchens and bathrooms. Found throughout the U.S. Terro liquid bait or Advion gel is the easiest fix.

Pale yellow, tiny (1/16 inch). Major hospital pest — spreads pathogens through sterile areas. Multiple queens. Spraying causes instant colony budding into dozens of new nests. Bait placement is the only option.

Nearly invisible — dark head, pale translucent abdomen and legs. Very tiny. Tropical species established in Florida, Hawaii. Kitchen and bathroom trails. Multiple queens. Sweet bait effective.

Heart-shaped gaster held up over body when disturbed — the defining trait. Nests in rotted wood, foam insulation, and hollow doors. Often enters via pipes. Bites when threatened. Perimeter treatment.

Moves in erratic, rapid patterns — hence "crazy." Invades electronics and causes short circuits. Mass invasions covering structures in Texas and Gulf Coast. No workers respond to bait well. Perimeter treatment critical.

Hardest roach to eliminate. 400,000 offspring per year per female. Two dark parallel stripes on pronotum. Sprays scatter the colony and make infestations worse — gel bait only. Never found outdoors.

The "palmetto bug" — reddish-brown, 1.5–2 inches. Largest common U.S. roach. Outdoor species that wanders inside from sewers and drains. Very different treatment from German roach — perimeter exclusion is primary.

Two pale bands across wings. Unlike the German roach, spreads throughout the entire structure — bedrooms, electronics, upper wall areas. Requires whole-home treatment, not just kitchen-focused.

Shiny black, 1 inch, slow-moving "water bug." Prefers cool damp basements — a moisture indicator. Enters via floor drains and utility conduits. Fix drainage first; exclusion is the primary solution.

Uniform dark mahogany-brown, fully winged — excellent flier attracted to lights at night. Common in Southeast and Gulf Coast. Lives outdoors in gutters, mulch, tree holes. Drawn inside by lights.

Large, dark, wingless Florida species. Secretes a foul defensive chemical when threatened. Primarily outdoor in compost and leaf litter. Slow-moving and easy to exclude — perimeter treatment effective.

Nearly identical to German cockroach but FLIES and is attracted to lights. Found outdoors in Florida. If you see what looks like a German roach flying toward your porch light — it's an Asian cockroach. Perimeter treatment.

Most common U.S. termite — present in 48 contiguous states. Builds pencil-width mud tubes along foundation. Swarms March–May. $5B+ annual damage. Termidor (fipronil) liquid treatment is the gold standard.

10 million workers per colony — most destructive on Earth. Gulf Coast states. Now crossbreeding with Asian termite creating a more prolific hybrid species. Swarms May–June evenings. No DIY options.

Lives entirely in wood — no soil contact needed. Produces distinctive hexagonal frass pellets (kick-out holes). Western U.S., Hawaii. Requires whole-structure Vikane gas fumigation. No soil treatment helps.

Largest U.S. termite — requires consistently wet wood to survive. Fix the moisture source and the colony eventually dies. Pacific Northwest coast. No soil treatment needed — it's a plumbing problem.

Now crossbreeding with Formosan termites in Louisiana. More cold-tolerant than Formosan — expanding range. Established in South Florida. Core of the dangerous 2026 hybrid threat story.

Primary subterranean species on the West Coast. Same mud tube behavior as eastern species. Causes significant damage throughout California. Swarms January–March. Termidor treatment same protocol as eastern.

The tan, round-bodied spider behind every corner cobweb. Not dangerous. CimeXa desiccant dust is the most effective control — sprays fail because spiders don't groom themselves like insects do.

Necrotic venom. Violin mark on cephalothorax. 60 million estimated in Missouri alone. Found in undisturbed spaces — closets, cardboard boxes, shoes. Six eyes in pairs (not 8). Full treatment guide.

Shiny black, red hourglass on underside of abdomen. Neurotoxic venom — medically significant. Builds messy, low webs in dark undisturbed spaces: garages, woodpiles. CimeXa dust in harborage areas.

Tan with orange hourglass (not red). Spiky, tan egg sacs are the best ID feature. Found in Florida and Southeast. Less venomous than black widow but medically significant. Same control methods.

Large, fast, hairy, intimidating — and harmless. Doesn't build webs; hunts on the ground. Females carry egg sacs and spiderlings on abdomen. One of the most feared harmless spiders in the U.S.

"Daddy long-legs." Very long thin legs, tiny body. Vibrates rapidly when disturbed. Harmless and actually beneficial — eats mosquitoes, other spiders. No treatment needed; they're helping you.

Large front eyes, bold black with iridescent green chelicerae. Turns to face you. Doesn't build webs — hunts actively. Completely harmless. Most "personable" spider in the U.S. Loves sunny windows.

Pacific Northwest funnel-web spider. Horizontal sheet web with funnel retreat at back. Fast-moving, ground-level. Previously thought dangerous — current science shows bite causes minimal local reaction.

Builds large, perfect circular webs with a zigzag "stabilimentum" through the center. Large, striking yellow-black pattern. Outdoor and garden spider. Entirely beneficial — controls other insects.

Only medically dangerous U.S. scorpion. Tan, slender, 2–3 inches. Climbs walls and ceilings — hides in any dark gap. All scorpions fluoresce bright green under a 365nm UV blacklight. Full exclusion guide.

Two dark stripes on back. Most common scorpion in Texas and Oklahoma. Painful sting but not as medically critical as Arizona bark scorpion. Same UV detection and exclusion methods apply.

West Nile, Zika, Dengue, and malaria vectors. 6 species profiles with disease tables. Source reduction every 7 days is the #1 control. Bti dunks for standing water. DEET 25%+ for personal protection.

Most aggressive stinging insect in the U.S. Underground or aerial nests. Colony peaks in August — maximum size and aggression. Treat at night only with a jet aerosol from 15+ feet. Protocol guide inside.

Builds open, umbrella-shaped nests under eaves, railings, and door frames. Slender, long-legged. Less aggressive than yellow jackets but stings when nest is threatened. Early-season nests are walnut-sized and easy to treat.

Large black-and-white wasp — not a true hornet. Builds large enclosed papery nests in trees and shrubs. Extremely aggressive when disturbed. Attacks in swarms. Professional removal strongly recommended.

Enormous — 1.5 inches. Terrifying but largely harmless. Solitary wasp; males can't sting, females rarely do. Burrows in lawns to provision nests with paralyzed cicadas. Treat the lawn, not the wasps.

Large, shiny black abdomen (bumblebees are fuzzy all over). Bores perfect 1/2-inch holes in unfinished wood. Males hover aggressively but can't sting. Paint or stain bare wood to deter boring.

1–3mm — barely visible with the naked eye. Produce an intensely itchy bite disproportionate to their size. Peak at dawn and dusk near water. 20% DEET or Picaridin effective. Fine-mesh (18×14) screens needed.

Tiny red eyes, tan body. Breeds in overripe fruit, drains, garbage, damp mops, and forgotten potatoes. Apple cider vinegar + dish soap trap catches adults. Eliminate the fermentation source — not just the adults.

Fuzzy, moth-like wings, slow-flying. Breed exclusively in organic biofilm inside drain pipes. Bleach doesn't dissolve biofilm — only enzymatic drain cleaner works. Tape test over drain to find the source.

Long antennae, small dark body — looks like a tiny mosquito. Larvae destroy houseplant roots in overly wet soil. Yellow sticky traps for adults. Bti (Gnatrol) in soil kills larvae. Let soil dry between waterings.

Gray with four dark thorax stripes. Contaminates food on every landing — vomits digestive fluid, picks up pathogens. Breeds in garbage, manure, decaying organic matter. Sealed bins + screens + Spinosad fly bait.

Tiny, hump-backed, black. Inflicts a painful bite that bleeds and swells. Breeds in fast-flowing streams — not controllable at source. Protective clothing + DEET is the primary defense during peak season (May–June).

Gray forewings with black spots, brilliant red hindwings visible in flight. Invasive from Asia — devastates vineyards and orchards. Expanding rapidly in Mid-Atlantic. Kill on sight, report to state ag department.

Most common indoor rodent — 3–4 inches. Droppings like small rice grains. Needs only 1/4 inch to enter. Curious, unlike rats — doesn't need pre-baiting. Run 12+ snap traps simultaneously for effective control.

Burrowing rat — heavy body, blunt nose, small ears. Lives at ground level. Highly neophobic — new objects trigger avoidance for days. Pre-bait traps for several days before setting them. Hantavirus risk.

Slender climber — attics, trees, power lines. Pointed nose, large ears, long tail longer than body. Common in coastal southern states and California. Set snap traps elevated in attic and rafters.

Primary hantavirus reservoir. Bicolor — tan/brown above, white below, white feet. Large eyes and ears. Rural and suburban. Never sweep dry droppings — full bleach spray protocol required before cleanup.

Short tail, small ears, stocky — not a mole. Creates surface runways through lawn. Destroys grass roots, garden bulbs, and girdles tree bark. Snap traps placed in runways; hardware cloth around tree bases.

Not a rodent — a carnivorous insectivore. Eats grubs and earthworms, not plants. Raised tunnel ridges in lawn are the sign. Trapping (Macabee trap) is most effective. Controlling grubs reduces mole pressure.

Gray, red, and flying squirrels enter attics through soffit gaps and roof damage. Chew electrical wiring — serious fire hazard. One-way exclusion doors + sealing is the humane, permanent solution.

Creates crescent or fan-shaped mounds (distinct from mole's circular ridges). Destroys plant roots from below. Western and central U.S. Macabee traps placed in main tunnel runs are most effective.

Apple-seed size, mahogany brown. Bites at night; feeds every 5–10 days. 95% of the infestation is eggs and pupae — immune to contact pesticides. Heat treatment (120°F+) is the only reliable one-shot solution.

95% of the infestation is NOT on the pet — it's in the home environment as eggs, larvae, and pupae. Must treat pet + home + yard simultaneously. IGR (Precor) breaks the reproductive cycle.

Primary Lyme disease vector. Nymphs are poppy-seed sized — easily missed. Must be attached 36–48 hours to transmit Lyme. Daily tick checks + permethrin clothing prevents nearly all transmission.

Larger than deer tick — brown with white/silver markings. Carries Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Tularemia. Active April–August. Most common tick in eastern U.S. Found in grass and shrubby vegetation.

White spot on back of female. Aggressively hunts hosts — follows movement. Can cause alpha-gal syndrome (red meat allergy). Southeast and Mid-Atlantic. Most aggressive tick species; host-seeking is active.

Silver, fish-shaped, fast-moving. Destroys books, photos, fabric, and wallpaper. Presence signals excess humidity — a dehumidifier is the first fix. CimeXa dust in cracks and Dekko boric acid packs for bookshelves.

Shield-shaped, marbled brown. Never squish — releases pheromone attracting more. Seal all gaps before September. Vacuum indoor bugs into a soapy water solution. Bifenthrin on south/west walls in late summer.

Distinctive red-and-black pattern. Aggregates on south-facing walls in fall before seeking overwintering sites inside. Seal like stink bugs — before September. Bifenthrin on aggregation surfaces kills on contact.

The "pincher bug." Rear pincers look menacing but are rarely used on humans. The ear myth is false. Attracted to moist mulch at the foundation. Oil trap in evening, desiccant dust, and mulch removal are the fixes.

Chirping males attract females — they need moisture and warmth to breed indoors. Switch porch lights to yellow LEDs (2700K) — reduces attraction by 60–80%. Dehumidify basement below 50% RH. Glue board traps.

Two legs per body segment — curls into a ball when threatened. Invades in mass after heavy rain when soil saturates. Completely harmless and dies indoors within 48hrs. Remove mulch from foundation; improve drainage.

15 pairs of very long legs — fast and alarming. One pair of legs per segment (unlike millipedes). Actually beneficial — eats cockroaches, spiders, flies. Reduce indoor humidity and prey insects to reduce them.

All scorpion species fluoresce bright green under a 365nm UV blacklight — hunt at night with one. Seal all gaps and voids; scorpions can compress flat. CimeXa desiccant in wall voids. Sticky traps for monitoring.

Silverfish relative that prefers heat rather than moisture. Found near boilers, ovens, and hot water pipes. Mottled gray-brown. Same control methods as silverfish — boric acid, desiccants, and sanitation.

476,000+ diagnosed cases per year. The bullseye rash appears in 70–80% of cases. The 36–48 hour attachment window means daily tick checks prevent nearly all transmission. Full prevention protocol.

35–40% fatality rate. Transmitted by breathing aerosolized particles from rodent droppings — never sweep them dry. Bleach spray protocol, N95 respirator, 30-minute ventilation before entering. Full 8-step guide.

Most common mosquito-borne illness in the U.S. — 2,600+ cases annually. Culex mosquitoes bite dusk to dawn. 80% of infected show no symptoms; 1% develop neurological complications. Source reduction + DEET.

Most fatal tick-borne illness in the U.S. — rapidly progressive if untreated. Rash begins on wrists and ankles, spreads to palms and soles. Requires doxycycline immediately — don't wait for lab confirmation.

Beyond physical bites, bed bug infestations cause documented anxiety, insomnia, and PTSD-like symptoms. Knowing the hotel inspection protocol and encasement strategies prevents the problem entirely.

Rodents contaminate food and surfaces with urine, droppings, and hair — all major disease vectors. A single mouse produces 50–75 droppings and contaminates 10x the food it eats. Exclusion is the only permanent fix.

Soft-bodied, pear-shaped, often green or black. Feed on plant phloem; excrete honeydew that grows black sooty mold. Neem oil spray or strong water spray effective. Encourage ladybugs — a single one eats 5,000 aphids.

Tiny white flies on underside of leaves. Cloud of white when plant is disturbed. Weakens plants and spreads viruses. Yellow sticky traps for adults. Spinosad or neem oil for nymph stages. Biological controls work well.

Tomato hornworm, cabbage worm, corn earworm, codling moth larvae. Spinosad spray is the most effective organic treatment — excellent for all caterpillar species. BT (Bacillus thuringiensis) also highly effective.

Microscopic — stippled yellowing leaves are the sign. Fine webbing on undersides. Thrive in hot, dusty conditions. Strong water spray disrupts colonies. Neem oil or insecticidal soap effective. Avoid broad-spectrum pesticides.

Metallic green and copper. Skeletonizes leaves starting from the top. Grub stage destroys lawn roots in August. Pheromone bag traps attract MORE — place them away from the garden. Spinosad spray on adults.

C-shaped white larvae eating grass roots underground. Lawn rolls back like carpet in patches. Birds and skunks digging = active grubs below. Imidacloprid granules in May–June. Beneficial nematodes are organic option.

Leave ragged holes in leaves and a silvery slime trail. Most active at night and after rain. Beer traps catch large numbers. Iron phosphate bait (Sluggo) is organic-certified, pet-safe, and highly effective.

Cottony white masses (mealybug) or flat brown bumps (scale) on stems. Tap the white fuzz — if it moves, it's mealybug. Isopropyl alcohol on cotton swab for small infestations. Neem oil or dormant oil spray for larger.

Devastating to vineyards, orchards, and ornamental trees. Excretes honeydew that grows sooty mold. No natural U.S. predators. Expanding rapidly from Mid-Atlantic. Kill on sight and report to your state ag department.

From Asia. Gray forewings, red hindwings. Devastating to vineyards and orchards. First U.S. find: Berks County, PA, 2014. Populations escalating in Mid-Atlantic 2025–2026. Kill on sight, report sighting.

Formosan and Asian termites crossbreeding in Louisiana — confirmed hybrid produces larger colonies, swarms earlier, and resists cold better than either parent. Expanding beyond original Gulf Coast zone.

Invades electronics and causes short circuits. Moves in erratic masses — billions of ants covering structures in Texas. Displaces fire ants. Expanding across Gulf Coast. Very difficult to control; professional treatment needed.

Invasive from Asia — established in northeastern U.S. since 2017. Reproduces via parthenogenesis (no male needed). Can form massive infestations on livestock and wildlife. Expanding range rapidly. New public health threat.

Aggressive daytime biter — unlike most mosquitoes. Distinctive black-and-white striped legs and body. Invasive — spreading north. Carries Zika, Dengue, Chikungunya. Breeds in tiny water amounts including bottle caps.