Live pest-threat dashboard · September 2026
What's bugging you?
Identify the pest, then follow a plan that works: safe DIY methods, products worth buying and clear signs it's time to call a pro.
Hot right now:AntsBed bugsMiceCockroachesTermites
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- peaking now
Photo: Content Providers(s): CDC/ Harvard University, Dr. Gary Alpe · Bed Bugs under the lens
Three jobs, three guides
Start where you are.
Threat dashboard
Highest-risk pests first · bars = 12-month activity · badge = your move.
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DamageDIY + pro Threat file
Start where you saw it
Rooms and signs beat guessing the species.
Latest field guides
Evidence-led, label-checked, updated.
Fleas · Products
5 Best Flea Sprays for Home and Pets (2026)
Bed Bugs · Products
Best Bed Bug Traps and Encasements (2026)
Raccoons · Removal
How to Get Raccoons Out of the Attic (2026 Guide)
Bed Bugs · Removal
How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs (2026 Guide)
Carpet Beetles · Removal
How to Get Rid of Carpet Beetles (2026 Guide)
Fleas · Removal
How to Get Rid of Fleas in the House (2026 Guide)
Browse by pest family
Six families, 39 pests, one method each.
Ants, roaches, bed bugs and the other insects that move indoors for food, water and warmth.
Nests under eaves, in walls and in the ground: when to leave them, when to act and how to stay safe.
Spiders, scorpions, ticks and the many-legged crawlers found in basements and yards.
Mice, rats, squirrels and their relatives: signs, traps, exclusion and cleanup.
Diggers and grazers that tunnel lawns, raid vegetable beds and undermine foundations.
Seasonal threat calendar
What moves, what to do before it does, where to look.
Warmth wakes colonies and swarms. Catch problems early, while numbers are small.
Spring threat watch
Spring checklist
- Clear gutters and fix downspouts
- Pull mulch 6 to 12 inches back from the foundation
- Repair window and door screens
- Knock down starter wasp nests under eaves
Inspect these spots
- Window sills (discarded wings)
- Foundation walls (mud tubes)
- Kitchen counters and sinks
- Eaves, fascia and deck rails
Peak season for insects outdoors, and for stinging insects defending big nests.
Summer threat watch
- Wasps & Yellow JacketsYellow jacket nests reach full size
- FleasWarm, humid weather speeds the life cycle
- FliesFruit and drain flies breed in days
- CockroachesOutdoor roaches move inside in heat waves
Summer checklist
- Keep lids on trash and recycling
- Empty standing water weekly
- Keep pets on flea and tick preventives
- Run a dehumidifier in the basement
Inspect these spots
- Ground holes with wasp traffic
- Drains and fruit bowls
- Pet bedding and rugs
- Under sinks and behind appliances
Cooler nights push rodents and overwintering insects to look for a way inside.
Fall threat watch
Fall checklist
- Seal gaps around pipes, vents and utility lines
- Install door sweeps
- Store firewood 20 feet from the house
- Trim branches that touch the roof
Inspect these spots
- Attic and roof vents
- Garage door seals
- Utility entry points
- Pantry and bird seed storage
Pests already inside stay active in the warmth. Winter is the time to find and fix entry points.
Winter threat watch
Winter checklist
- Check the attic for droppings and nests
- Inspect luggage after trips
- Keep storage off basement floors
- Wrap young tree trunks with guards
Inspect these spots
- Attic insulation and rafters
- Behind the stove and fridge
- Basement corners
- Chimney cap and flue
Seasonal pest activity guide
The year at a glance: who peaks when, and the move that stops them.
| Season | Most active pests | Key prevention steps |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | Termites, Ants, Bees | Clear gutters and fix downspouts · Pull mulch 6 to 12 inches back from the foundation · Repair window and door screens |
| Summer | Wasps & Yellow Jackets, Fleas, Flies | Keep lids on trash and recycling · Empty standing water weekly · Keep pets on flea and tick preventives |
| Fall | Mice, Rats, Spiders | Seal gaps around pipes, vents and utility lines · Install door sweeps · Store firewood 20 feet from the house |
| Winter | Mice, Bed Bugs, Raccoons | Check the attic for droppings and nests · Inspect luggage after trips · Keep storage off basement floors |
DIY or call a pro? Decide in 60 seconds
Three checks, honest answer.
- 1Is it a pro-only pest?Termites in the structure, bed bugs across rooms, wildlife in the attic, bats, venomous snakes — stop and call.
- 2Is there a safety flag?Allergies to stings, asthma + roaches, droppings near food, kids or pets near poisons — get help or use non-chemical first.
- 3Did two weeks of correct DIY fail?Right bait, right trap, sealed entry — still active? A pro finds what you can't see.
Whole-home prevention
Pest-proof your home in three layers
Indoors
- Seal entry points
- Steel wool, caulk and metal mesh on gaps around pipes, vents and baseboards.
- Store food sealed
- Airtight containers for dry goods, pet food and bird seed.
- Control moisture
- Fix leaks and keep basements and bathrooms dry.
- Cut clutter
- Fewer boxes and piles means fewer places to hide and nest.
Outdoors
- Keep a dry border
- Pull mulch and soil back from the foundation; fix grading and downspouts.
- Trim vegetation
- Keep shrubs off walls and branches off the roof.
- Move woodpiles
- Store firewood raised and well away from the house.
- Secure trash
- Locking lids and regular pickup keep wildlife moving on.
Routine
- Inspect monthly
- Attic, basement, under sinks and along the foundation.
- Monitor with traps
- Sticky monitors and pheromone traps show problems early.
- Act on first signs
- One mouse or a few ants is the cheapest time to act.
- Know your limits
- Termites, bed bugs and wildlife in the attic usually need a pro.
Threats by region
Climate drives pressure. Pick yours.
Northeast
Cold winters push rodents indoors; humid summers bring ticks and mosquitoes.
| Pest | When |
|---|---|
| Mice | Fall to winter |
| Ticks | Spring to fall |
| Ants | Spring to summer |
| Squirrels | Fall |
| Bats | Summer |
Southeast
Heat and humidity keep insects active nearly all year; termite pressure is high.
| Pest | When |
|---|---|
| Termites | Year-round, swarms in spring |
| Cockroaches | Year-round |
| Ants | Year-round (fire ants) |
| Armadillos | Spring to fall |
| Snakes | Spring to fall |
Midwest
Hard freezes and hot summers: big seasonal swings in what comes inside.
| Pest | When |
|---|---|
| Mice | Fall to winter |
| Wasps & Yellow Jackets | Late summer |
| Moles | Spring and fall |
| Voles | Winter |
| Spiders | Fall |
Southwest
Dry heat drives pests toward water and shade inside homes.
| Pest | When |
|---|---|
| Scorpions | Spring to fall |
| Ants | Spring to fall |
| Cockroaches | Summer |
| Rats | Year-round (roof rats) |
| Snakes | Spring to fall |
West Coast
Mild winters mean rodents and ants stay active; drywood termites near the coast.
| Pest | When |
|---|---|
| Gophers | Year-round |
| Rats | Year-round (roof rats) |
| Ants | Winter rains and summer heat |
| Termites | Spring and fall swarms |
| Raccoons | Year-round |
Pacific Northwest
Wet, mild weather favors moisture pests and wood-destroying insects.
| Pest | When |
|---|---|
| Ants | Spring to summer (carpenter ants) |
| Rats | Fall to winter |
| Moles | Fall to spring |
| Spiders | Late summer to fall |
| Millipedes | Fall rains |
Still unsure? Get a pro quote, not a spray contract
Ask what's included, which product and why, safety around kids and pets, guarantee terms — and get it in writing. Our hiring guide lists the exact questions.
Photo credits
Thank you to Content Providers: CDC/ Harvard University, Dr. Gary Alpe (photo 2), Amazon product photo, Korall, Arnoldius and Sam Thomas for sharing these beautiful photographs and helping bring this guide to life.