Household Pests
Insects

Western conifer-seed bug
Western conifer-seed bug, Leptoglossus occidentalis
Order: HemipteraFamily: Coreidae
Description
The western conifer-seed bug is a common household nuisance in the fall and winter. These ...

Western bloodsucking conenose
Western bloodsucking conenose, Triatoma protracta
Order: HemipteraFamily: Reduviidae
Description
The western bloodsucking conenose is native to Colorado. As a group, these insects are more ...

Western black widow spider
Western black widow spider, Latrodectus hesperus
Order: AraneaeFamily: Theridiidae
Description
The western black widow spider is the most common of the Latrodectus spp. inhabiting Colorado. ...

Ticks and tick-borne diseases
Ticks and tick-borne diseases
Order: AcariFamily: Argasidae, Ixodidae
Description
Ticks are classified as arachnids, which includes spiders, scorpions, and mites. There are two families of ...

Termites
Termites, Reticulitermes hesperus
Order: BlattodeaFamily: Rhinotermitidae
Description
The eastern subterranean termite is the most common termite species in Colorado. Termites are either blind ...

Spiders in the home
Spiders in the home
Order: Araneae
Description
Western black widow spider Western black widow spiders, Latrodectus hesperus, (Family: Theridiidae) are the most dangerous spider found in the ...

Miller moth
Miller moths
Order: LepidopteraFamily: Noctuidae
Description
The common name "miller moth" refers to any moth species that is abundant in or around the home. In Colorado, miller moths are most ...

Indian meal moth
Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella
Order: LepidopteraFamily: Pyralidae
Description
The Indian meal moth is the most common species of pestiferous moth in Colorado homes. The larvae feed on ...

Harvestmen
Harvestmen
Order: OpilionesFamily: Phalangiidae, Sclerosomatidae
Description
In Colorado, commonly encountered harvestmen include certain Leiobunum spp. and the invasive Philangium opilio. The ...

Flies in the home
Flies in the home
Order: Diptera
Description
Adult flies are winged and the most frequently observed life stage. Larvae are pale, legless maggots that often migrate away from their food source ...

European paper wasp
European paper wasp, Polistes dominula
Order: HymenopteraFamily: Vespidae
Description
The European paper wasp is a generally black insect marked with yellow. They are fairly slender bodied with ...

European earwigs
European earwig, Forficula auricularia Â
Order: DermapteraFamily: Forficulidae
Description
Earwigs found in Colorado were introduced in the 1950s, they are a common nuisance pest both indoors ...

Drosophilid flies
Drosophilid flies, Drosophila spp.
Order: DipteraFamily: Drosophilidae
Description
Adults are small flies with stout bodies, measuring approximately 3 mm (1/8 inch) long, and typically have ...

Dermestid beetles
Dermestid beetles
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Dermestidae
Description
Dermestid beetles are scavengers that feed on a variety of household materials derived from plant or animal matter. There are ...

Cockroaches
Cockroaches
Order: BlattodeaFamily: Blattidae, Blattellidae
Description
Cockroaches can feed on a wide variety of food sources but tend to prefer foods containing meat and starch.
American ...

Boxelder bug
Boxelder bug, Boisea trivattata
Order: HemipteraFamily: Rhopalidae
Description
The boxelder bug is a common household pest in Colorado. They can feed on a variety of plants, and boxelder seed ...

Bed bugs
Bed bugs, Cimex lectularius
Order: HemipteraFamily: Cimicidae
Description
These insects have piercing/sucking mouthparts and are found worldwide, however infestations in the US have been on the ...

Ants in the home
Ants in the home
Order: HymenopteraFamily: Formicidae
Description
Almost anywhere in Colorado, ants will be the most common insect found in yards, gardens, fields and forests. Most ants found ...