COMMON PESTS IN THE SOUTH

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There is a wide variety of common bugs in the South, which we group into five categories. U.S. Pest Protection offers pest control services for both residents and businesses alike, and we can prevent infestations and rid your property from these pests and more.

1. Threat pests

Threat pests endanger your health and property, spreading disease and causing damage. Common in the South, they infiltrate homes in various ways, making fast, effective control essential.

Ants, Bed Bugs, Cockroaches, Flies, Mosquitos, Rodents, Ticks, Termites, Spiders

2. occasional invaders

Occasional invaders are common in the South, infesting buildings less often than threat pests. However, they can still cause damage and health risks, especially with changing weather patterns.

Beetles, Hornets, Ladybugs, Stink Bugs, Silverfish, Wasps, Weevils

3. best pests

These pests are mostly harmless and even benefit the environment but can be a nuisance if they invade your home in large numbers.

Bees, Butterflies, Fireflies & Lightning Bugs, Moths

4. uncommon occupants

Uncommon occupants thrive in humid, shaded areas and may appear unexpectedly in basements or bathrooms. Harmless but startling.

Centipedes, Millipedes, Pill Bugs, Sow Bugs, Firebrats

5. Moisture and water damage

Though not a living pest, moisture can be just as harmful as bugs or rodents. A silent destroyer, it poses a serious threat to crawlspaces and can cause various issues.

Moisture, Fungi, Mold, Wood Decay

Threat Pests

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Ants are notorious kitchen invaders, quickly contaminating food and carrying off crumbs many times their size. Some species also deliver painful, venomous bites. How To Get Rid Of Ants Types Of Ants Pest Solutions For Ants Prevention Tips For Ants
Bed bugs are difficult to eradicate, and their itchy bites make a bed bug infestation a nightmare scenario for homeowners. Home remedies are limited, and more advanced methods like heat treatments are usually needed to quell the invasion. How To Get Rid Of Bed Bugs Types Of Bed Bugs Pest Solutions For Bed Bugs Prevention Tips For Bed Bugs
The sturdy cockroach has been around since the time of the dinosaurs and is a pro at scavenging for food and hiding in dark spaces. Roaches aren’t just particularly unnerving to find in your home—they can also make you sick. How To Get Rid Of Cockroaches Types Of Cockroaches Pest Solutions For Cockroaches Prevention Tips For Cockroaches
Flies are a particularly common southern pest. They are drawn to leftover food and breed in or around decomposing matter. Flies may seem like a nuisance, but their population can quickly get out of hand. How To Get Rid Of Flies Types Of Flies How to Keep Flies Away
Sometimes deemed “The Most Dangerous Animal on Earth,” mosquitoes are experts at spreading nasty diseases, from the West Nile and Zika viruses to dengue and even malaria. Don’t take them lightly. How To Get Rid Of Mosquitos Types Of Mosquitos Prevention Tips For Mosquitos
Rodents of all sizes pose threats to homes and businesses through their destructive habits and health risks. Their remarkable ability to squeeze through tiny openings and reproduce rapidly makes rodent infestations particularly challenging to eliminate. How To Get Rid Of Rodents Types Of Rodents
Any trip through the great outdoors risks a tick hitching a ride back into your home. Ticks feed on blood and can spread some serious diseases—including lyme disease—while they do so. Ticks can also hitch a ride on your pets. How To Get Rid Of Ticks How to Remove a Tick
Termites are one of the most destructive pests. By chewing on wood, termites can erode a structure from the inside out, easily causing thousands or more in damages. U.S. Pest can protect your home from these destructive pests. Types of Termites Pest Control for Termites
While spiders do help keep other insect populations under control, their own population can rapidly grow out of hand if you aren’t careful. In addition, certain spiders—such as the black widow and brown recluse—are particularly dangerous. Types of Spiders Pest Solutions for Spiders Health Risks of Spiders Spiders vs Insects
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Occasional Invaders

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Beetles come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. They won’t pose a threat to humans, but they can destroy plants or gardens—and a beetle infestation in your home is certainly startling. How To Get Rid Of Beetles Types Of Beetles Pest Solutions For Beetles Prevention Tips For Beetles
Equipped with a nasty stinger for hunting, hornets protect their nest with abandon. While one hornet is more afraid of you than you are of it, there’s a reason why “don’t poke the hornet’s nest” is a common phrase. How To Get Rid Of Hornets Types Of Hornets Pest Solutions For Hornets Prevention Tips For Hornets
Ladybugs include a variety of similarly colored beetles, including the Asian lady beetle. While they are beneficial to your garden, a ladybug infestation in your house can be a threat to your respiratory system due to their shells. How To Get Rid Of Ladybugs Types Of Ladybugs Pest Solutions For Ladybugs Prevention Tips For Ladybugs
These shield-shaped bugs aren’t just a shock to find in your home. As their name implies, stink bugs release a noxious odor that truly stinks—similar to a skunk—when they feel threatened, making them hard to remove. How To Get Rid Of Stink Bugs Types Of Stink Bugs Pest Solutions For Stink Bugs Prevention Tips For Stink Bugs
A silverfish isn’t a fish, but it is silver and it does look and move like a fish. Silverfish are a particularly creepy nuisance pest, and they have a destructive appetite and can destroy clothing, insulation, and books. How To Get Rid Of Silverfish Types Of Silverfish Pest Solutions For Silverfish Prevention Tips For Silverfish
Wasps are territorial, aggressive, and can sting multiple times with one stinger. While one wasp doesn’t pose much of a threat, a hive of wasps can be a dangerous and a potential pain point—literally—if it’s near your property. How To Get Rid Of Wasps Types Of Wasps Pest Solutions For Wasps Prevention Tips For Wasps
A pantry pest, weevils infiltrate your property to eat and reproduce near your food sources. Weevils are most commonly found in pantries and cupboards and are eager to eat foods like grain, rice, and other dry goods. How To Get Rid Of Weevils Types Of Weevils Pest Solutions For Weevils Prevention Tips For Weevils
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Best Pests

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Bees are vital to the environment as the most important plant pollinator in Tennessee. Bees sting only as a last resort, and bee stings are only dangerous to those who are allergic. U.S. Pest Protection is proud to support bees through the Tennessee Honey Festival. How To Get Rid Of Bees Types Of Bees Pest Solutions For Bees Prevention Tips For Bees
Butterflies themselves are beautiful fliers that come in a wide variety of colors and patterns and are benign creatures that lack venom. Their larval stage, otherwise known as caterpillars, can sometimes cause damage to gardens. How To Get Rid Of Butterflies Types Of Butterflies Pest Solutions For Butterflies Prevention Tips For Butterflies
A soft-bodied beetle, fireflies—or lightning bugs—are bioluminescent, meaning that they have the ability to light up parts of their bodies. These are harmless creatures that are common throughout the Tennessee outdoors. How To Get Rid Of Fireflies Types Of Fireflies Pest Solutions For Fireflies Prevention Tips For Fireflies
Famously drawn to lights, moths are harmless creatures to humans, though they can destroy clothing if they find their way into a closet. Moths are less colorful than butterflies and have fuzzy bodies. How To Get Rid Of Moths Types Of Moths Pest Solutions For Moths Prevention Tips For Moths
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Uncommon Occupants

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Centipedes look terrifying, and when they scurry quickly across the floor, they look even more so. If you find multiple centipedes in your home, that could indicate you have other pest problems, as centipedes feed on other bugs. How To Get Rid Of Centipedes Types Of Centipedes Pest Solutions For Centipedes Prevention Tips For Centipedes
No, millipedes do not have a million legs—but they do have plenty. Millipedes have two pairs of jointed legs on most body segments and look like long worms. How To Get Rid Of Millipedes Types Of Millipedes Pest Solutions For Millipedes Prevention Tips For Millipedes
Also called rollie-pollies or potato bugs, pill bugs go by many names. Pill bugs are actually crustaceans and are known for their ability to roll into a ball form for defensive purposes. How To Get Rid Of Pill Bugs Types Of Pill Bugs Pest Solutions For Pill Bugs Prevention Tips For Pill Bugs
Sow bugs are round with segmented armor plates not dissimilar to a tiny armadillo. They are similar visually and size-wise to pill bugs and are commonly found in mulch and other wooded areas. How To Get Rid Of Sow Bugs Types Of Sow Bugs Pest Solutions For Sow Bugs Prevention Tips For Sow Bugs
Is it a silverfish, or is it a firebrat? That may be your first question when you see one of these creatures. Unlike silverfish, firebrats feed on carbohydrates, starches, and protein sources. How To Get Rid Of Firebrats Types Of Firebrats Prevention Tips For Firebrats
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Moisture and Water Damage

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Standing water is always bad for a home and can result in many secondhand problems in addition to direct water damage. However, high moisture areas can be almost as bad and are much harder to locate. How To Get Rid Of Moisture Types Of Moisture Solutions For Moisture Prevention Tips For Moisture
Wood-destroying fungi aren’t nearly as noticeable or as creepy as termites or other pests, but they are just as destructive—if not more. Fungi can make short and silent work of wood in your crawlspace, causing major damage without your knowledge. How To Get Rid Of Fungi Types Of Fungi Solutions For Fungi Prevention Tips For Fungi
Out of sight does not always mean out of mind. Mold grows in high moisture areas, and it can cause a variety of health problems even if you don’t see it. Eradicating mold is vital to a healthy home. How To Get Rid Of Mold Types Of Mold Solutions For Mold Prevention Tips For Mold
In areas of high moisture, wood can decay and rot away, leading to potential structural damage to your home, as well as a host of other health issues and maintenance problems. How To Get Rid Of Wood Decay Types Of Wood Decay Pest Solutions For Wood Decay Prevention Tips For Wood Decay
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