Roaches & bed bugs
Oriental cockroachCucaracha oriental
When: Year-round; most active in summer
Large dark roaches, often called water bugs, that live in damp basements, drains and crawl spaces.
Pest library · English & Español
Pest Library
Photos and quick facts for 44 pests we deal with across Bergen, Passaic and Essex County, with their Spanish names and when each one is most active. Not sure what you found? Text us a photo.
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Roaches & bed bugs
German & American cockroachesCucarachas alemanas y americanas
When: Year-round indoors
German roaches spread fast in kitchens and apartments; American roaches come up from basements and sewers.
Roaches & bed bugs
Wood cockroachesCucarachas de madera
When: Late spring and summer
Outdoor roaches that live under bark and leaf litter. Males fly to porch lights and wander inside, but they don’t breed indoors.
Roaches & bed bugs
Bed bugsChinches
When: Year-round
Small blood-feeding bugs that hide in mattress seams and furniture. Bites and blood spots on sheets are common signs.
Ants & termites
Subterranean termitesTermitas subterráneas
When: Swarm in spring; feed year-round
They build mud tubes up foundations and eat wood from the inside. Swarms of winged insects in spring are a warning sign.
Ants & termites
Carpenter antsHormigas carpinteras
When: Spring through fall
Large black ants that nest in damp or damaged wood. Piles of sawdust-like shavings mean a nest is nearby.
Ants & termites
House antsHormigas
When: Spring through fall
Pavement and odorous house ants follow scent trails to food in kitchens and bathrooms.
Bees & wasps
Yellow jacketsAvispas chaqueta amarilla
When: Late summer and fall peak
Aggressive stinging wasps that nest in the ground, walls and eaves. Colonies are largest in late summer.
Bees & wasps
European hornetsAvispones europeos
When: Summer through fall
Large hornets that nest in hollow trees, walls and attics, and fly at night toward lights.
Bees & wasps
Honey beesAbejas
When: Spring through fall
Important pollinators that sometimes build hives inside walls. A hive in a wall should be handled by a professional.
Bees & wasps
Carpenter beesAbejas carpinteras
When: Spring
Large bees that bore round holes into decks, fascia and wooden siding to lay eggs.
Bees & wasps
Cicada killersAvispas asesinas de cigarras
When: July and August
Very large wasps that dig holes in lawns and sandy soil. They look scary, but the males can’t sting.
Flies
House fliesMoscas
When: Summer peak
Common flies that breed in garbage and spread bacteria onto food and counters.
Flies
Fruit fliesMoscas de la fruta
When: Year-round indoors
Tiny flies with red eyes that breed in overripe fruit, drains and recycling.
Flies
Drain fliesMoscas de drenaje
When: Year-round
Small fuzzy moth-like flies that breed in the slime inside sink, tub and floor drains.
Flies
Phorid fliesMoscas fóridas
When: Year-round indoors
Small humpbacked flies that breed in drains, garbage and broken sewer lines. They often run across surfaces before flying.
Biters & spiders
FleasPulgas
When: Summer peak; year-round indoors
Tiny jumping insects that ride in on pets and lay eggs in carpets and pet bedding.
Biters & spiders
Deer ticksGarrapatas
When: Spring through fall
Ticks that can carry Lyme disease. They wait in tall grass and leaf litter for people and pets.
Biters & spiders
Asian tiger mosquitoesMosquitos tigre
When: Late spring through fall
Striped mosquitoes that bite during the day and breed in small amounts of standing water.
Biters & spiders
Black widow spidersArañas viuda negra
When: Year-round in sheltered spots
Venomous spiders with a red hourglass mark. They hide in garages, woodpiles and crawl spaces.
Biters & spiders
House spidersArañas domésticas
When: Year-round
Mostly harmless spiders that build webs in corners, basements and windows.
Other home invaders
Brown marmorated stink bugsChinches apestosas
When: Fall, as they move indoors
Shield-shaped bugs that crowd into walls and attics in fall and smell when crushed.
Other home invaders
Asian lady beetlesMariquitas asiáticas
When: Fall and early spring
They gather on sunny walls in fall and overwinter indoors. They can bite and stain surfaces.
Other home invaders
Pantry mothsPolillas de despensa
When: Year-round indoors
Small moths whose larvae infest flour, cereal, rice and pet food in kitchen cabinets.
Other home invaders
Clothing mothsPolillas de la ropa
When: Year-round indoors
Their larvae eat wool, silk, fur and other natural fibers in closets and stored clothing.
Other home invaders
SilverfishPececillos de plata
When: Year-round
Fast, silver insects that live in damp bathrooms and basements and feed on paper and starch.
Other home invaders
Camel cricketsGrillos camello
When: Late summer and fall
Humpbacked, jumping crickets that gather in damp basements and garages.
Other home invaders
Boxelder bugsChinches del arce
When: Fall
Black and red bugs that gather on sunny walls in fall and slip inside to spend the winter.
Other home invaders
MillipedesMilpiés
When: Late summer and fall, after heavy rain
They crawl in under doors and through basements after heavy rain, then die quickly indoors.
Other home invaders
EarwigsTijeretas
When: Summer
Insects with rear pincers that hide in damp mulch and come into bathrooms and basements.
Other home invaders
SpringtailsColémbolos
When: Spring through fall in damp spots
Tiny jumping insects that gather in damp basements, bathrooms, potted plants and new construction.
Rodents & wildlife
House miceRatones
When: Fall and winter peak
Mice slip in through gaps about the width of a dime as the weather cools, then nest in walls and attics.
Rodents & wildlife
Norway ratsRatas
When: Year-round
Large rats that burrow along foundations and get in through gaps around pipes and doors.
Rodents & wildlife
ChipmunksArdillas listadas
When: Spring through fall
They burrow next to foundations, patios and walkways and can get into garages and sheds.
Rodents & wildlife
VolesTopillos
When: Year-round; damage shows in spring
Small mouse-like rodents that tunnel through lawns and gardens and chew roots and bark.
Rodents & wildlife
RaccoonsMapaches
When: Year-round; den in spring
Strong climbers that tear into roofs, chimneys and attics, especially when raising young.
Rodents & wildlife
SquirrelsArdillas
When: Fall and winter
They chew roof edges and vents to nest in attics, and can chew wiring.
Rodents & wildlife
OpossumsZarigüeyas
When: Year-round
They shelter under decks, sheds and porches and raid garbage and pet food.
Rodents & wildlife
SkunksZorrillos
When: Year-round; less active in winter
They dig under decks, sheds and foundations, and spray when cornered.
Rodents & wildlife
BatsMurciélagos
When: Spring through fall
Protected animals that roost in attics and walls. They must be excluded legally, not trapped.
Birds & snakes
PigeonsPalomas
When: Year-round
They roost and nest on ledges, roofs and signs, leaving droppings that damage buildings.
Birds & snakes
StarlingsEstorninos
When: Spring nesting season
Birds that nest in dryer vents, exhaust vents and gutters, which can block airflow.
Birds & snakes
House sparrowsGorriones
When: Year-round; nest in spring
Small birds that nest in dryer vents, exhaust vents, signs and gutters.
Birds & snakes
SnakesCulebras
When: Spring through fall
Garter snakes and eastern rat snakes are common and harmless, and often follow mice into basements.
No match. Text a photo to 973-510-2585 and we’ll identify it for you.
Can’t tell what it is?
Snap a clear photo and text it to us. We’ll tell you what it is, whether it’s a problem, and what to do next.
Questions about identifying pests
I found a bug but don’t know what it is. What should I do?
Take a clear photo and text it to 973-510-2585. We’ll tell you what it is and whether it needs treatment.
Which pests are most common in North Jersey homes?
Mice, cockroaches, ants, bed bugs and stinging insects are the calls we get most. Mice and stink bugs move indoors in fall, and termites and carpenter ants are most active in spring.
¿Hablan español?
Sí. Envíenos una foto del insecto o llámenos al 973-510-2585 y le atendemos en español.
Updated October 2026