Household Pests

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

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

Scabies Order: AcariFamily: Sarcoptidae Description Scabies is a common skin condition caused by a microscopic mite, Sarcoptes scabiei, that burrows and reproduces in the upper layers of skin. ...

Mosquitoes and West Nile virus Order: DipteraFamily: Culicidae Description Over 200 species of mosquitoes inhabit the United States, with over 45 species of mosquitoes occurring in Colorado. ...

Millipedes, centipedes, sowbugs, and pillbugs Order: Polyxenida, Scolopendromorpha, Scutigeromorpha, Isopoda  Description and life history Millipedes Millipedes (class: Diplopoda) are commonly ...

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 ...

Lice Order: PhthirapteraFamily: Pediculidae Description and life history Lice are insect ectoparasites that feed on the blood of vertebrates. The medical term “pediculosis” refers to a lice ...

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

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 ...

Fleas Order: SiphonapteraFamily: Pulicidae Description Fleas are wingless insects that have spines on the legs and body. These insects are small, measuring about 1.4-2 mm (1/18-1/13 inch) long ...

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

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

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 ...

Brown recluse spider, Loxosceles reclusa Order: AraneaeFamily: Sicariidae Description The brown recluse spider is uncommon and frequently misidentified in Colorado. These spiders can have light ...

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 ...

Booklice Order: PsocopteraFamily: Liposcelididae, Trogiidae Description Booklice are small insects that do not bite or sting and can be a pest indoors. These insects are usually wingless, ...

Biting flies Order: DipteraFamily: Simuliidae, Ceratopogonidae, Tabanidae, Rhagionidae, Muscidae Description, life history, and bites Simulium spp. There are around 40 species of small biting ...

Bed bugs, Cimex lectularius Order: HemipteraFamily: Cimicidae Description These insects are found worldwide, however infestations in the US have been on the rise in recent decades. Like all ...

Bed bug look-alikes Order: HemipteraFamily: Cimicidae Description The eastern bat bug (Cimex adjunctus), western bat bug (Cimex pilosellus), swallow bug (Oeciacus vicarius), and Hesperocimex ...

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 ...