Is a mystery pest bugging you? Here, you will find helpful information detailing insects, their habits, characteristics, and where they may be commonly found in or around the Boston area.
The American cockroach is one of the largest roach species in Boston, often reaching 1.5–2 inches in length. They thrive in warm, damp environments such as basements, sewers, and utility areas, and are known carriers of bacteria that contaminate food and surfaces.
The American house spider is a small, harmless spider frequently found in Boston homes and buildings. Known for their tangled webs in corners and storage areas, they help control insect populations but can create the impression of poor housekeeping when webs build up.
The bald-faced hornet is a large black-and-white wasp known for building basketball-sized paper nests in trees and structures around Boston. They are aggressive defenders of their colonies and can deliver painful stings.
Bed bugs are small, reddish-brown insects that feed on human blood, often at night. In Boston, infestations are a growing problem in homes, apartments, hotels, and dorms, where they spread quickly and are difficult to eliminate.
Carpenter ants are large black ants that tunnel through wood to build their nests. In Boston, they are a major structural pest that can weaken wood in homes and buildings over time.
Black widow spiders are rare in Boston but are recognizable by their glossy black bodies and red hourglass marking. Their venomous bite can be serious, though sightings in Massachusetts are extremely uncommon.
Boxelder bugs are black-and-red insects that invade Boston homes in the fall to overwinter. While harmless, they can gather in large numbers and become a nuisance.
The brown dog tick is unique because it can infest homes and kennels, surviving entirely indoors. In Boston, infestations often spread through pets returning from boarding or travel.
The brown recluse spider is often feared for its venomous bite, but it is rarely found in Boston. Misidentifications are common, though awareness is important because their bites can cause serious skin reactions.
Carpenter bees resemble bumblebees but bore holes into wood to build nests. In Boston, they can cause structural damage to decks, siding, and outdoor wood fixtures.
Clover mites are tiny red mites that invade homes in huge numbers, especially in spring. They are harmless but can stain walls and furniture when crushed.
Cluster flies are sluggish flies that invade Boston homes and buildings in the fall to overwinter. They gather in large numbers in attics and wall voids, emerging in spring and becoming a nuisance indoors.
Ground beetles are dark, fast-moving insects commonly found in soil, leaf litter, and occasionally indoors. While they may enter Boston homes and buildings, they are harmless and even beneficial as natural predators of other pests.
Deer ticks, also called blacklegged ticks, are a major vector of Lyme disease in Massachusetts. They are common in grassy and wooded areas around Boston.
Drain flies, also called moth flies, are tiny, fuzzy flies that breed in organic buildup inside drains. In Boston homes and businesses, they are a common nuisance in bathrooms and kitchens.
Eastern subterranean termites are the most destructive wood pests in Massachusetts, capable of causing severe structural damage if left untreated. They live underground and attack wooden structures from below.
Fleas are small, jumping insects that feed on blood, primarily from pets. In Boston homes, infestations often spread from pets to carpets and furniture, causing itchy bites for both animals and humans.
Fruit flies are tiny brown flies that breed in overripe produce and organic waste. In Boston, they are a common summertime kitchen nuisance, especially in homes, restaurants, and grocery stores.
Fungus gnats are tiny, mosquito-like flies often found around houseplants. In Boston, they are most common indoors during winter when overwatered plants create breeding sites.
The German cockroach is Boston’s most common and troublesome roach, especially in restaurants, hotels, and hospitals. Small, fast-breeding, and highly resilient, they contaminate food, spread bacteria, and are notoriously difficult to control without professional pest management.
Green bottle flies are metallic-green flies that are often found near garbage and decaying material in Boston. While a nuisance indoors, they are important outdoors for breaking down organic matter.
Honey bees are social pollinators that play a vital role in Boston’s ecosystems. While beneficial, they can sting if threatened, and large swarms or hives near homes may need careful removal.
The house centipede is a fast-moving, long-legged arthropod often startling to see indoors. Despite their alarming appearance, they are harmless to humans and help control other pests.
House crickets are tan insects known for their loud nighttime chirping. In Boston, they sometimes invade basements and kitchens, becoming both a nuisance and a minor risk to fabrics and paper.
House flies are one of Boston’s most common nuisance pests, easily recognized by their buzzing flight indoors. They spread bacteria and are strongly associated with poor sanitation.
The house mouse is a small rodent commonly found in Boston homes and buildings. Known for their gnawing and rapid reproduction, mice contaminate food and spread allergens.
The Indian meal moth is a common pantry pest in Boston, infesting grains, flour, dried fruit, and pet food. Adults are small moths, but the larvae cause the damage.
Millipedes are long, segmented arthropods that curl into a spiral when disturbed. While harmless to humans, they often invade Boston basements and damp spaces in large numbers, especially after heavy rain.
Mud daubers are solitary wasps that build distinctive mud tube nests on walls, eaves, and sheds. They are not aggressive and rarely sting, making them more of a nuisance than a danger around Boston homes and buildings.
The Norway rat, also called the brown rat, is Boston’s most common rodent. Large, aggressive, and destructive, they gnaw through structures, contaminate food, and spread disease, making them one of the city’s most serious pests.
The odorous house ant is a small brown ant that emits a rotten coconut smell when crushed. In Boston, they are one of the most common nuisance ants found indoors.
The Oriental cockroach, sometimes called the “water bug,” is a large, dark cockroach often found in damp, cool areas of Boston. Known for their foul odor and ability to spread bacteria, they thrive in basements, sewers, and utility spaces.
Paper wasps are slender, reddish-brown or black-and-yellow wasps that build papery umbrella-shaped nests under eaves, decks, and other sheltered spots. While less aggressive than yellow jackets, they will sting if threatened.
Pavement ants are small brown ants commonly found nesting in cracks of sidewalks, driveways, and foundations in Boston. They invade kitchens in search of sweets and greasy foods.
Pharaoh ants are tiny yellowish ants that infest kitchens, hospitals, and food storage areas in Boston. They spread rapidly through large colonies and are difficult to eliminate without professional treatment.
Powderpost beetles infest and damage hardwood, leaving behind tiny round exit holes and fine sawdust-like powder. They are a serious concern in Boston homes and buildings with exposed wood, flooring, or furniture.
Silverfish are small, wingless insects covered in silvery scales that wriggle like fish when they move. In Boston homes and buildings, they are known for damaging paper, books, clothing, and stored food.
The varied carpet beetle is a small, patterned beetle whose larvae feed on natural fibers like wool, silk, and leather. They are common household pests in Boston, causing damage to clothing, carpets, and stored items.
Wolf spiders are large, fast-moving spiders that sometimes wander indoors in Boston homes and buildings. While not dangerous, their size and speed can make them alarming to encounter.
Yellow jackets are aggressive stinging insects common in Boston during summer and fall. They nest in the ground or wall voids and are known for painful stings, often attacking in swarms if their nest is disturbed.
The Yellow sac spider is a small, pale spider that often nests indoors in corners and ceilings. Their bites are painful but not dangerous, and they are one of the more commonly misidentified spiders in Boston homes and buildings.
