The Top 10 Most Common Pests in the United States

Getting to know the Unwelcome Tenants: America’s Most Common Pests

The United States is home to a diverse range of pests that can be both a nuisance and a threat. Every homeowner, renter, or occasional visitor has faced them: the uninvited guests that scuttle, buzz, and sometimes even bite. Whether it’s the wood-devouring habits of termites, the itchy aftermath of a mosquito bite, or the unsettling scurry of a rodent in the dark, these creatures have cemented their reputation in households across the nation.  At Home Pros’ Bug Pro Chelle Hartzer breaks down the list of her top 10 and what homeowners should know.

Ants

There are around 700 species of ants in the US. The biggest challenge with ants is they are social insects: they form colonies with workers and reproductive. Those workers are performing multiple roles and most people will see them foraging for food. It is estimated that only about 20% of the ant colony will be outside looking for and gathering food. To successfully eliminate ant issues, the colony must be found and eliminated, not just the workers outside. Otherwise, the colony replaces those workers and continues on.

• Carpenter ants are especially problematic because they nest in moist wood. While they don’t eat the wood as termites do, they chew out galleries and can create structural damage.
• Fire ants both bite and sting. They can form large colonies outside. If those colonies are disturbed, they come out in mass to defend the nest and people can have significant reactions to their stings.
• Odorous house ants are one of the most common ants found in homes. If they are crushed, the smell has been likened to blue cheese. They can get into wall voids and other areas hard to access and treat.

Termites

Termites are another insect that forms large, often hidden colonies. These consume wood and create galleries and tunnels in the wood. They can often go undetected for years, causing large amounts of structural damage. Homeowners will notice termites when they swarm: the colony produces winged reproductives that leave the colony in massive numbers all at once. They will be seen around lights in the evening and will be seen dead on windowsills and other areas where they have gotten in from the outside. Most will be eaten by predators, die before mating, or not be able to find suitable nesting sites. All it takes is just a couple to survive though.

• Subterranean termites, as the name suggests, are nesting in the ground. They forage for wood on and in the ground. These will form mud tubes to get them from the ground level up to wood material in homes.
• Drywood termites are nesting in homes. They may be in wall voids, attics, under floors, and nearly anywhere there is wood.

Rodents

You would think rodents would be relatively easy to see because they are much bigger than the common insect pests. However, they are small, sneaky, and mostly nocturnal. People often don’t notice rodents until they see the secondary evidence they leave behind. That may be gnaw marks, damaged packaging, spilled foods, and droppings. Rodents will feed on just about anything available to them. The common items are stored foods, dropped or spilled food, and trash. They will also take advantage of pet foods, birdseed, and plant material.

• Norway rats are found across the country and they burrow in the ground. When inside, they will find any protected areas to nest in.
• Roof rats like to nest up high and are found in the southern half of the US and in coastal cities. They are fantastic climbers and will avoid coming to the ground if they can.
• House mice are also found all over the US. These will nest almost anywhere and collect small soft items to line their nest with.