Common PA Household Insects & Pests​

Proper pest identification is the first step in making an integrated pest management (IPM) decision.

“What is THAT crawling across the kitchen floor?

Why are there holes in my new cashmere sweater?

Why is the oatmeal full of webs?”

If you’ve asked questions like these, then you need this fact sheet. Proper pest identification is the first step in making an integrated pest management (IPM) decision.

Improper identification can lead to unsuitable solutions to pest problems. The pictures and descriptions in this publication should help the homeowner or apartment dweller identify common insects found in the home.

Once the pests have been identified, other sources of information can be used to determine the species’ potential as a pest and how to prevent or control them.

Click Here to Download this handy PDF document: Identifying Common Household Insects in Pennsylvania by The Penn State University Extension program, with pictures identifying these common household pests:

• INDIAN MEAL MOTH
• SAW-TOOTHED GRAIN BEETLE
• LARDER BEETLE
• AMERICAN COCKROACH
• GERMAN COCKROACH
• BROWN-BANDED COCKROACH
• ORIENTAL COCKROACH
• BLACK CARPET BEETLE
• BED BUG
• HUMAN LOUSE TICK
• FLEA
• MOSQUITO
• HOUSE FLY
• PAPER WASP
• ASIAN LADY BEETLE
• BOOK LICE
• WESTERN CONIFER SEED BUG
• VINEGAR FLY
• EUROPEAN EARWIG
• HOUSE CENTIPEDE
• SILVERFISH
• BROWN MARMORATED STINK BUGS
• CARPENTER ANT
• TERMITE
• CARPENTER BEE

Source: Prepared by Steve Jacobs, extension entomologist, Penn State University; and Kristie Auman-Bauer, public relations and outreach coordinator, Pennsylvania IPM program, Penn State University.