Pacific Northwest Pest Library
Something showed up in your home and you need to know what it is. Our techs cover every pest we get called about in Oregon and Washington — what it looks like, why it’s there, and what actually works. Written by people who deal with these things every day.
🌿 Active Right Now — Spring 2026
These are the calls we’re getting most across Oregon and Washington this week.
Spring rains push ant colonies indoors, wasp queens are founding new nests, and rodent activity picks back up as temperatures rise. If something just appeared in your home, one of these is likely the culprit.
Ants
The #1 call we get in Oregon & Washington
From the tiny dark ants trailing across your counter after spring rain to the carpenter ants working through damp wood, the PNW has a full roster. Which species you have changes everything about how you treat it — and which ones to never spray.
View All Ant Species →Spiders
Most are harmless — a few deserve a closer look
The PNW is home to hundreds of spider species, but only a handful are medically significant. Knowing the difference between a harmless cellar spider and a black widow is genuinely useful — and we’ll walk you through the ID in plain terms.
View All Spider Species →Rodents
Fall & winter they look for a way in — same as you
Mice and rats don’t just cause damage — they contaminate food, chew wiring, and breed fast. Most rodent issues in Oregon and Washington follow predictable seasonal patterns. Getting ahead of them in October is a lot easier than dealing with them in January.
View All Rodent Species →Wasps & Stinging Insects
Peak summer — where the nest is determines what to do
Yellowjackets in the ground, paper wasps on the eaves, bald-faced hornets in the shrubs — they all need different approaches. Whether it’s DIY-able or worth calling us usually comes down to nest location, size, and how close it is to where people walk.
- Yellowjackets
- Paper Wasps
- Bald-Faced Hornets
- Mud Daubers
- Bumble Bees
- European Hornets
- Honeybees
- Carpenter Bees
- Murder Hornets
Cockroaches
Less common here — but fast movers when they arrive
Cockroaches are less prevalent in the Pacific Northwest than in warmer climates, but they do show up — particularly in kitchens, apartments, and multi-unit buildings. German cockroaches are by far the most common call we get, and they can establish quickly if the conditions are right.
View All Cockroach Species →Flies
Usually a symptom — identifying the fly finds the source
Cluster flies show up in fall by the hundreds. Fungus gnats live in your houseplant soil. Fruit flies mean there’s something overripe nearby. Identifying the specific fly almost always points you straight to the problem — which makes this one of the most useful ID skills a homeowner can have.
View All Fly Species →Bed Bugs
Requires professional treatment — this is not a DIY situation
Bed bugs are excellent hitchhikers — hotels, used furniture, luggage, and rideshares are all common vectors. They hide well, breed fast, and every over-the-counter treatment we’ve seen makes the problem worse by scattering them. If you suspect bed bugs, the most important thing is to avoid spreading them before you call.
Bed Bug Resource Guide →Beetles & Box Elder Bugs
Seasonal clusters and silent fabric damage
Box elder bugs are harmless but show up in the thousands every October — it’s a nuisance, not a danger. Carpet beetles are a different story: they quietly destroy wool, silk, and stored goods without any obvious sign until the damage is done. These pages help you tell the difference and know which one actually needs attention.
View All Beetles →Fleas & Ticks
Usually hitchhike in on pets or passing wildlife
Fleas are a year-round concern for Pacific Northwest pet owners — our mild winters mean they never fully go away. Ticks are increasingly common in Oregon and Washington trails and wooded yards. Both need prompt attention, not just for comfort, but for pet and family health.
View All Fleas & Ticks →Other PNW Pests
Earwigs, silverfish, springtails & more
Not every pest fits a neat category. Earwigs look alarming but are largely harmless. Silverfish signal a moisture issue somewhere in your walls or attic. Springtails in your bathroom almost always mean a leak. These pages help you figure out what you’re actually seeing — and whether you need help or just a fix.
View All Other Pests →No pests found matching “” — try a broader term, or send us a photo and we’ll ID it for free.
Not sure what you’re dealing with?
Snap a photo and send it to us. Our technicians identify pests from photos every day — it’s free, takes about a minute, and you’ll know exactly what you’re looking at and whether it needs treatment.
Plan Coverage
Every pest page in this library notes whether it’s covered under the All Seasons Pest Plan. For most Oregon and Washington homeowners, one plan handles the full year — ants, spiders, wasps, and everything in between.