Pest groups and core guides

Ants in a San Diego home: trace the trail before choosing treatment

Trails around sinks and food; inspect entry points rather than assuming an indoor nest.

Brown marmorated stink bugs: cause, fix and prevention

Shelter seeking brings outdoor plant-feeding bugs indoors. This guide separates identification, immediate household action, treatment decisions and prevention.

Halyomorpha halys · California invasive species reference; no neighborhood occurrence claimed

Carpenter ants: identify the nest and the wood condition

Large ants and coarse sawdust-like debris near timber; distinguish from termite pellets.

Carpenter bees: cause, fix and prevention

Exposed suitable wood offers nesting galleries. This guide separates identification, immediate household action, treatment decisions and prevention.

Carpet beetles: find the larval food and protect susceptible materials

Hairy larvae, shed skins and irregular fabric damage; adults may appear at windows.

Cat flea: cause, fix and prevention

Jumping insects or flea dirt on pets plus activity near animal sleeping areas.

Ctenocephalides felis · San Diego County identifies the cat flea as its most common flea

Centipedes: investigate shelter, entry and insect prey

Centipedes are predators; recurring sightings deserve an entry, shelter and prey investigation.

Clothes moths: protect wool and other susceptible stored textiles

Webbing, cases or holes in undisturbed wool; distinguish from pantry moths.

Cockroaches: identify the population, then remove its support

Night sightings, shed skins, egg cases and trap catches; identify species.

Common bed bug: cause, fix and prevention

Live bugs, shed skins, eggs and dark fecal marks near sleeping places; bites alone are insufficient.

Cimex lectularius · Common human-associated bed bug named by San Diego County

Common household spiders: cause, fix and prevention

Insect prey and sheltered web-building or hiding locations explain most appearances. This guide separates identification, immediate household action, treatment decisions and prevention.

Conenose bugs: cause, fix and prevention

Wild animal nesting sites and suitable shelter can bring these blood-feeding bugs near homes. This guide separates identification, immediate household action, treatment decisions and prevention.

Drain flies: locate the breeding film and the plumbing defect

Small fuzzy flies resting near drains; verify the source rather than treating every sink.

Drywood termites: understand the evidence before accepting a treatment proposal

Distinct pellet piles, discarded wings and concealed wood galleries.

Earwigs: manage damp shelter and household entry

Elongated insects with rear pincers, often under damp debris.

Firebrats: inspect warm sheltered spaces without treating equipment blindly

Firebrats are heat-associated household insects that can affect susceptible stored materials.

Fungus gnats: inspect the potting medium, not just the window

Small dark flies around houseplants; distinguish from biting mosquitoes.

House and blow flies: remove the larval resource, not only the adult

Adults near waste; maggots; sudden indoor blow-fly activity can warrant a concealed-source investigation.

House mice: protect the kitchen, find the entrance and handle contamination safely

Small droppings, gnawing, nesting material and sounds; capture identification evidence safely.

Mus musculus · Household pest

Millipedes: manage damp outdoor material and unwanted household entry

Millipedes are moisture-associated outdoor visitors; distinguish them from predatory centipedes.

Mosquitoes around a San Diego house: find the water, then fix the source

Biting activity and larvae in water; day biting can occur.

Pantry pests: trace the food package, not just the flying moth

Webbing, beetles, larvae or damaged packaging in dry foods.

Rats: investigate both roof routes and ground-level shelter

Droppings, rub marks, gnawing and noises; inspect both high and low approaches.

Scorpions: cause, fix and prevention

Sheltered ground-level spaces and prey can place scorpions around homes. This guide separates identification, immediate household action, treatment decisions and prevention.

Silverfish: investigate moisture and protect stored paper

Silverfish sightings and paper damage call for identification, a moisture review and protected storage.

Springtails: use the sighting to investigate recurring moisture

Tiny jumping insects near sinks, pots or damp floors.

Subterranean termites: follow the soil-to-building connection

Mud tubes, damaged wood and swarms; swarms outside do not prove structural infestation.

Western boxelder bug in San Diego homes: cause, fix and prevention

Seasonal shelter seeking from outdoor host plants can bring aggregations to walls. This guide separates identification, immediate household action, treatment decisions and prevention.

Boisea rubrolineata · California nuisance species; confirm local specimen

Western honey bee: swarms, established hives and prevention

Swarms seek new nesting cavities; established colonies contain comb and brood. This guide separates identification, immediate household action, treatment decisions and prevention.

Apis mellifera · Honey bees are covered by UC Cooperative Extension San Diego County resources

Widow spiders: cause, fix and prevention

Dry protected clutter and outdoor structures supply shelter. This guide separates identification, immediate household action, treatment decisions and prevention.

Wood-boring beetles: cause, fix and prevention

Infested wood products or suitable untreated timber can support larvae. This guide separates identification, immediate household action, treatment decisions and prevention.

Yellowjackets and social wasps: cause, fix and prevention

Nests near people and accessible food or drinks create conflict. This guide separates identification, immediate household action, treatment decisions and prevention.