INSIGHT PEST LEARNING CENTER
Seasonal Nuisances 101: Identification,
Risks & Prevention Tips
Meet the Nuisance Crawlers (a.k.a. Chirpers, Sugar Mites, and Night Crawlers)
As the seasons shift, you might start noticing creepy crawlers that seem to come out of nowhere. They're not always dangerous, but they’re definitely unwanted. Whether it’s a chirping cricket in the basement or a centipede racing across your bathroom floor, these pests can make home life uncomfortable and unsettling.
At Insight Pest Solutions, we help homeowners manage these common (and often surprising) seasonal nuisance pests:
- Ground Beetles
- Silverfish
- Crickets
- Millipedes & Centipedes
- Pillbugs
- Earwigs
This guide will walk you through what each pest looks like, the minor risks they carry, and how to keep them out of your home year-round.
Meet the Nuisance Crawlers (a.k.a. Chirpers, Sugar Mites, and Night Crawlers)
As the seasons shift, you might start noticing creepy crawlers that seem to come out of nowhere. They're not always dangerous, but they’re definitely unwanted. Whether it’s a chirping cricket in the basement or a centipede racing across your bathroom floor, these pests can make home life uncomfortable and unsettling.
At Insight Pest Solutions, we help homeowners manage these common (and often surprising) seasonal nuisance pests:
- Ground Beetles
- Silverfish
- Crickets
- Millipedes & Centipedes
- Pillbugs
- Earwigs
This guide will walk you through what each pest looks like, the minor risks they carry, and how to keep them out of your home year-round.
What Do These Pests Look Like?
These fast-moving beetles are usually black or dark brown and have a shiny shell. Though harmless to humans, they’re often mistaken for roaches when they dart across floors.
- Size: ½ to 1 inch
- Color: Shiny black, brown, or even metallic green
- Behavior: Nocturnal hunters that occasionally wander indoors
- Nicknames: Night Crawlers, Garden Soldiers, Stink Beetles
These quick, wingless insects have a silvery, fish-like appearance and thrive in damp, dark areas like bathrooms, basements, and laundry rooms.
- Size: ½ to ¾ inch
- Color: Shiny gray or silver
- Behavior: Active at night; feed on paper, fabric, and dry food
- Nicknames: Sugar Mites, Paper Fish, Bristletails, Fish Moths
Famous for their noisy nighttime chirps, crickets are harmless but can be incredibly annoying once they find their way inside.
- Size: ½ to 1 inch
- Color: Brown, black, or yellowish
- Behavior: Jumpers that hide in warm, dark spaces
- Nicknames: Chirpers, Jumping Jimneys, Criddicks
These leggy invaders are usually found crawling along basement floors or bathroom walls. Millipedes are slow and curl into a coil when disturbed, while centipedes move quickly and look like they’re straight out of a sci-fi movie.
- Millipedes: Dark, cylindrical body with two legs per segment
- Centipedes Flatter bodies with one leg per segment and long antennae
- Behavior: Prefer moisture and hide in dark crevices
- Nicknames: Thousand Leggers, House Centipedes, Night Crawlers
Also known as roly-polies, these bugs curl into tight balls when threatened. While they look like insects, pillbugs are actually crustaceans that thrive in moist environments.
- Size: ¼ to ½ inch
- Color: Slate gray or brown
- Behavior: Feed on decaying matter; often found under rocks, mulch, or in basements
- Nicknames: Potato Bugs, Woodlice, Armadillo Bugs
With their distinct pincer-like tails, earwigs look far scarier than they are. Despite myths, they don’t crawl into ears, but they can be unsettling when they appear in large numbers.
- Size: ½ to 1 inch
- Color: Brown to black with light-colored legs
- Behavior: Nocturnal and moisture-loving; hide in bathrooms, under sinks, and garden mulch
- Nicknames: Pincher Bugs, Twitchbugs, Pincer Bugs
What Do These Pests Look Like?
These fast-moving beetles are usually black or dark brown and have a shiny shell. Though harmless to humans, they’re often mistaken for roaches when they dart across floors.
- Size: ½ to 1 inch
- Color: Shiny black, brown, or even metallic green
- Behavior: Nocturnal hunters that occasionally wander indoors
- Nicknames: Night Crawlers, Garden Soldiers, Stink Beetles
These quick, wingless insects have a silvery, fish-like appearance and thrive in damp, dark areas like bathrooms, basements, and laundry rooms.
- Size: ½ to ¾ inch
- Color: Shiny gray or silver
- Behavior: Active at night; feed on paper, fabric, and dry food
- Nicknames: Sugar Mites, Paper Fish, Bristletails, Fish Moths
Famous for their noisy nighttime chirps, crickets are harmless but can be incredibly annoying once they find their way inside.
- Size: ½ to 1 inch
- Color: Brown, black, or yellowish
- Behavior: Jumpers that hide in warm, dark spaces
- Nicknames: Chirpers, Jumping Jimneys, Criddicks
These leggy invaders are usually found crawling along basement floors or bathroom walls. Millipedes are slow and curl into a coil when disturbed, while centipedes move quickly and look like they’re straight out of a sci-fi movie.
- Millipedes: Dark, cylindrical body with two legs per segment
- Centipedes Flatter bodies with one leg per segment and long antennae
- Behavior: Prefer moisture and hide in dark crevices
- Nicknames: Thousand Leggers, House Centipedes, Night Crawlers
Also known as roly-polies, these bugs curl into tight balls when threatened. While they look like insects, pillbugs are actually crustaceans that thrive in moist environments.
- Size: ¼ to ½ inch
- Color: Slate gray or brown
- Behavior: Feed on decaying matter; often found under rocks, mulch, or in basements
- Nicknames: Potato Bugs, Woodlice, Armadillo Bugs
With their distinct pincer-like tails, earwigs look far scarier than they are. Despite myths, they don’t crawl into ears, but they can be unsettling when they appear in large numbers.
- Size: ½ to 1 inch
- Color: Brown to black with light-colored legs
- Behavior: Nocturnal and moisture-loving; hide in bathrooms, under sinks, and garden mulch
- Nicknames: Pincher Bugs, Twitchbugs, Pincer Bugs
Health Risks & Damage
Most of these pests are harmless to humans, but that doesn’t mean they belong inside your home. Here's what to watch out for:
- Silverfish can damage books, wallpaper, and stored food
- Crickets chew on fabrics, paper, and upholstery
- Earwigs and pillbugs can invade in large numbers during wet seasons
- Centipede bites are rare but can cause mild irritation
- Ground beetles and millipedes may release a foul-smelling fluid when threatened
None of these pests transmit disease, but their presence often signals excess moisture or hidden entry points that can lead to bigger infestations over time. Plus, they tend to attract other, larger pests like spiders, rodents, and more.
Health Risks & Damage
Most of these pests are harmless to humans, but that doesn’t mean they belong inside your home. Here's what to watch out for:
- Silverfish can damage books, wallpaper, and stored food
- Crickets chew on fabrics, paper, and upholstery
- Earwigs and pillbugs can invade in large numbers during wet seasons
- Centipede bites are rare but can cause mild irritation
- Ground beetles and millipedes may release a foul-smelling fluid when threatened
None of these pests transmit disease, but their presence often signals excess moisture or hidden entry points that can lead to bigger infestations over time. Plus, they tend to attract other, larger pests like spiders, rodents, and more.
Signs of a Seasonal Pest Infestation
These pests tend to show up in spring, fall, or after heavy rain. Here are some red flags:
- Sudden appearance of crawling insects near baseboards, sinks, or drains
- Unexplained fabric or paper damage in storage areas
- Nocturnal sounds (like chirping or skittering) from basements or walls
- Multiple sightings near entry points, especially on ground floors
- Piles of shed skins, frass, or small droppings
Signs of a Seasonal Pest Infestation
These pests tend to show up in spring, fall, or after heavy rain. Here are some red flags:
- Sudden appearance of crawling insects near baseboards, sinks, or drains
- Unexplained fabric or paper damage in storage areas
- Nocturnal sounds (like chirping or skittering) from basements or walls
- Multiple sightings near entry points, especially on ground floors
- Piles of shed skins, frass, or small droppings
Prevention Tips
The best way to stop these pests is by eliminating the conditions they love, mainly moisture and shelter.
- Use dehumidifiers in basements and bathrooms
- Seal cracks and gaps around windows, doors, and foundations
- Keep storage areas clean and clutter-free
- Clear away leaf piles, mulch, and firewood near the foundation
- Fix plumbing leaks and improve ventilation in crawl spaces
- Store items in sealed plastic bins, not cardboard
Prevention Tips
The best way to stop these pests is by eliminating the conditions they love, mainly moisture and shelter.
- Use dehumidifiers in basements and bathrooms
- Seal cracks and gaps around windows, doors, and foundations
- Keep storage areas clean and clutter-free
- Clear away leaf piles, mulch, and firewood near the foundation
- Fix plumbing leaks and improve ventilation in crawl spaces
- Store items in sealed plastic bins, not cardboard
How to Get Rid of Seasonal Nuisance Pests
Getting rid of these invaders usually requires a combination of exclusion, moisture control, and targeted treatments.
Professional Control May Include:
- Perimeter barrier sprays to block entry
- Crack-and-crevice treatments in damp or infested areas
- Sticky traps or monitoring tools for crickets and silverfish
- Dry treatments for moisture-prone baseboards and wall voids
- Routine pest control services to prevent seasonal resurgence
Note: Most of these pests don’t reproduce indoors. Eliminating their entry points and indoor habitat is key to keeping them away long-term.
Take Control With Insight Pest Solutions
Whether you're dealing with chirping crickets, silverfish in your pantry, or a sudden millipede invasion after rain, Insight Pest Solutions has your back. We know seasonal pests are more than just a nuisance; they’re a sign your home might need protection before a bigger issue arises.
Our expert technicians use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to address pest behavior, eliminate attractants, and apply targeted treatments that keep your home clean, dry, and pest-free.
Don’t let seasonal pests overstay their welcome. Contact Insight Pest Solutions today to schedule a pest inspection and enjoy a quieter, cleaner home year-round.
