Common Household Bugs in Vallejo: How to Identify Them and Get Rid of Them

Why Vallejo homes get so many household bugs

• Bay moisture. Fog and damp air off San Pablo Bay and the Carquinez Strait raise humidity, especially near the waterfront, Mare Island and Glen Cove. Many household bugs need moisture.
• Older homes. Crawl spaces, old plaster, gaps around trim and older plumbing give bugs places to hide.
• Gardens next to the house. Mulch, ivy and planters against the foundation bring outdoor bugs closer.
• Mild winters. Bugs stay active year-round.

Quick ID guide

Silverfish

Silverfish are one of the most searched household bugs in Vallejo, and they are a common sight in older bathrooms and closets here.

What they look like: about 1/2 inch, silvery-gray, flat, carrot-shaped body, long antennae and three tail bristles. They move quickly with a side-to-side wiggle.

Where they live: dark, damp places such as bathrooms, under sinks, laundry rooms, basements, closets and attics. They also hide in boxes of old papers and books.

What they eat: starches and sugars in paper, glue, book bindings, wallpaper paste, cotton, linen and dry foods.

How to get rid of silverfish:
1. Lower humidity. Run bathroom fans, use a dehumidifier and fix leaks.
2. Clear clutter: old newspapers, magazines and cardboard boxes.
3. Store papers, photos and clothing in sealed plastic bins.
4. Vacuum cracks, baseboards and closets regularly.
5. Seal gaps around baseboards, pipes and trim.

If you keep seeing them, there is likely a moisture source behind a wall or under the floor worth checking.

Carpet beetles

Carpet beetles are one of the most misidentified bugs we see. The adults are harmless. The larvae do the damage.

What they look like: adults are tiny, round beetles about the size of a pinhead, often mottled black, white and yellow. Larvae are fuzzy, striped and carrot-shaped, about 1/4 inch.

Signs: holes in wool sweaters, rugs and blankets; shed larval skins in closets; tiny beetles on window sills, often in spring.

How to get rid of carpet beetles:
1. Vacuum carpets, rugs, closets, under furniture and along baseboards, then throw out the bag.
2. Wash or dry-clean affected clothing and blankets.
3. Store wool, silk and other natural fabrics in sealed bags or bins.
4. Check for old bird nests, wasp nests or dead insects in the attic and vents, which can feed larvae.

Carpet beetle larvae can cause itchy skin reactions in some people and are sometimes mistaken for bed bugs. If you are not sure, see our signs of bed bugs guide.

Pantry moths

What they look like: small moths with gray and coppery wings fluttering in the kitchen. Larvae are small, cream-colored caterpillars that leave webbing in food.

How to get rid of pantry moths:
1. Throw out infested food: flour, rice, cereal, nuts, dried fruit, spices and pet food.
2. Vacuum and wipe the shelves, cracks and corners of the pantry.
3. Store dry goods in sealed glass or hard plastic containers.
4. Use pheromone traps to catch males and monitor.

Earwigs

What they look like: about 3/4 inch, shiny brown, with pincers at the back end.

Earwigs live in mulch, under stones and in damp garden beds, and come in around doors and through gaps, especially in summer. They do not harm people.

How to get rid of earwigs: reduce mulch and leaf litter near the foundation, fix outdoor leaks and drippy irrigation, seal gaps under doors, and set rolled-up damp newspaper traps in the garden overnight.

Pill bugs and sow bugs

These little gray “roly-polies” are not insects at all. They are related to crabs and need moisture to survive. They usually die quickly indoors.

How to keep them out: keep mulch and planters away from the house, improve drainage, add door sweeps and seal gaps at the bottom of the garage door.

House centipedes

House centipedes look alarming with all those long legs, but they eat silverfish, spiders and other bugs. They prefer damp bathrooms, basements and garages.

How to reduce them: lower humidity and reduce the bugs they eat. Fewer silverfish means fewer centipedes.

Booklice

Tiny, pale, soft insects found on damp books, papers, window sills and sometimes new drywall. They feed on mold. Lowering humidity is usually enough to make them disappear.

Drain flies and fungus gnats

Drain flies are small, fuzzy, moth-like flies that rest on bathroom walls. They breed in the slime inside drains. Clean drains with a stiff brush and an enzyme drain cleaner.

Fungus gnats are tiny black flies around houseplants. Let the soil dry out between watering and use yellow sticky traps.

Other bugs worth a closer look

Some small bugs point to a bigger issue:

• Small brown roaches in the kitchen are likely German cockroaches, which breed fast. See cockroach exterminator in Vallejo.
• Tiny ants in trails are likely Argentine ants. See why ants invade after rain.
• Tiny pellets under wood may be drywood termites. See signs of termites.
• Bites around ankles in a home with pets may be fleas. See flea control in Vallejo.
• Black widows in the garage or woodpile. See spider control in Vallejo.

General tips to keep household bugs out

1. Control moisture. Run fans, use a dehumidifier in damp rooms and fix leaks fast.
2. Seal gaps around doors, windows, pipes and baseboards.
3. Cut clutter, especially cardboard and paper.
4. Store food and fabrics in sealed containers.
5. Pull mulch and plants a few inches back from the foundation.
6. Vacuum often, including closets and under furniture.
7. Keep the crawl space dry and vented.

When to call a pro

Call us at (707) 000-0000 if:

• You keep finding the same bug for weeks after cleaning and sealing
• Clothes, rugs or stored items are being damaged
• You cannot identify the bug
• You suspect a hidden moisture problem behind walls or under floors
• The bugs come along with other signs, such as droppings or wood damage

We identify the bug first, because the right fix depends on what it is and why it is inside. Then we treat where it lives and help you fix what attracted it. See all our pest control services in Vallejo for the full list.