Top 5 Creepiest Pests

Maryland, Virginia and D.C. are gearing up for Halloween in the usual fashion. Spreading faux spider webs across trees in the front yard, carving intricate patterns into pumpkins, Halloween season is here.

To celebrate this spooky season, American Pest gives you the top five creepiest bugs you can find in your home. Happy Halloween!

Spider Beetles

Spider beetles are a pantry pest in a Halloween costume of their own.

The tiny beetles, looking more like large mites than beetles, are not particularly common in most pantries but can become an issue if infested food is brought into the house. And since the creatures are so small, they may not be easily spotted before taking up house in your pantry products.

Once the product is infested it is important to get rid of it immediately or risk spreading the infestation to other items.

Freezing or throwing away the infested product is a good way to get the bugs out of your pantry. 

Creepy pest fact: spider beetles can live for over 7 years without water.

Camel Crickets

Camel crickets are also known as camel back crickets, cave crickets, spider crickets, and the more vernacular term, “sprickets.”

Whatever you call them, they are among the most feared accidental invaders in the DC Metro region.

These crickets are larger than their chirping cousins, with enormous back legs capable of propelling them farther than other crickets. These back legs are where they get their nickname since they resemble those of larger spiders, leading to myths of mutant spider-crickets.

Camel crickets enjoy cool, damp places where they can hide and eat other insects.

Sealing entry points to basements and crawl spaces can help keep them outside where they enjoy residing in rotting logs or leaves. 

Creepy pest fact: camel crickets jump toward people (and other perceived predators) when they feel threatened.

Earwigs

Otherwise known as “pincher bugs,” earwigs are generally found outdoors when there is plenty of moisture.

During particularly dry spells they may find their way inside to search out a more hospitable environment there.

Earwigs get their name from the myth that those pinchers are used to burrow through the ear canal into human brains. 

Thankfully, this creepy pest fact is that myth behind its namesake is totally bogus.

House Centipedes

The sheer number and size of the legs of this particular arthropod are enough to send even the bravest running for the hills.

House centipedes prefer damp areas where they are hidden. This may be why you find them most often in the bathroom and in drains. 

Creepy pest fact: house centipedes are predators, so while they may be terrifying, they are at least eating other critters that have made their way inside.

Black Widow Spiders

Black Widow spiders are notorious killers. Though there are horror stories of their venom killing humans, this is rarely the case.

Their name and scary reputation actually come from the females’ habit of eating her male counterpart after mating. 

Creepy pest fact: even though their bite probably won’t kill you, it can certainly be serious enough to land you in the hospital and cause severe pain.

How to Keep Your Home Free of Pests

Keeping your home free of these creepy pests is easy with our preventive plans.

Our pest experts will identify the type of bugs that are active around you, seal entry points to prevent them from coming in and treat the foundation which makes it less attractive for any bugs trying their luck at invasion.

It's important to mention that our services are eco-friendly as well non harmful towards humans or pets; they integrate toxic methods only when absolutely necessary so we can ensure no one's health would be compromised by our work!