Entomology at Home: Guide to Identifying House and Yard Insects

Entomology is the science of studying insects. It is a vast branch of zoology with estimates of 1 million or more species described which is 80% of all animal species. Entomology dates back to ancient times when agriculture required a proper labeling and knowledge of insects and how they interact with crops. William Kirby is known as the father of this science when he published the first entomological encyclopedia, Introduction to Entomology. Since then, many people have become entomologists through investigation and research for museums and through the participation of entomological societies that sprang up in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Entomology is a vast science, so most entomologists specialize in a particular family of insects. The different family specializations are coleopterology (beetles), dipterology (flies), odonatology (dragonflies and damselflies), hemipterology (true bugs), isopterology (termites), lepidopterology (butterflies and moths), melittology or apiology (bees), myrmecology (ants), orthopterology (grasshoppers), trichopterology (caddis flies), and vespology (wasps). Entomology is useful not only in the scientific community, museums, and agriculture, but also in your home where insects inevitably enter and live with you. Although bugs are part of nature and responsible for cleaning and maintaining the ecosystem, in your home they can be considered pests and are usually not a welcome guest. You probably know the most common home insects that show themselves on a daily basis like the fly, but have you ever wondered who made the holes in your wool clothes and the webs in your grain products? Identifying the insects present in your home and their activity can help you find the best solution to preventing and controlling their presence.

Indian Meal Moth This article on the moth is about its habits and appearance. It describes its life cycle and instructions on how to prevent and control their infestation both chemically and non-chemically.

Adult Sawtoothed Grain Beetle A picture is included in this article and a description of the life history of the bug and tips for managing an infestation.

Larder Beetle This article describes the appearance of these commercial pests and the damage an infestation can cause.

Cockroach (American) Since cockroaches are notorious for their unpleasant presence in the home, the article is thoroughly explains how to identify them, prevent infestation, and how to get rid of them.

Cockroach (German) The article describes the adult, larva, and egg phase of the German cockroach. Their medical significance as pests and transporters of disease is discussed as well as ways to manage them.

Brown-Banded Cockroach An article on identifying the brown-banded adult cockroach, a description of its lifecycle, and management. Management includes detecting them, preventing their infestation, and using insecticides and baits to rid yourself of them.

Oriental Cockroach The article is about the appearance of oriental cockroaches, their development, behavior, and what you can do to control their infestation. Pictures are included.

Black Carpet Beetle  An overview of the three carpet beetle species and their life cycles which are similar, as well as their diet of pollen and fabric.

Carpet Beetle Control This DIY guide to carpet beetle control will teach you what signs indicate an infestation and how to clear one up.

Bedbugs A guide to spotting bedbugs, sings of infestation, and the complexities of getting rid of bedbugs in the home.

Human Louse  The definition of human louse with a close-up picture and a description of its effect on the host.

Tick What is a tick and what a bite from one looks like? Find out what you should do if you get bitten by a tick with this kid-friendly guide.

Ticks and Lyme Disease What are the risks of a tick bite? Learn how to monitor your health in the event of a tick bite and address Lyme disease.

Tick Removal It's important to remove a tick with care.  This guide will teach you how to do so.

Fleas A description of how to identify flea bites on humans and animals, including pictures of bites, and information on treatment and flea removal.

Mosquito Why does a mosquito bite swell and itch? Find out when you read this article.

House Fly Learn more about one of the most common species of insects that you're likely to encounter.

Wasp Role Wasps may be pesky and even frightening, but this article explains why they have a vital role in the ecosystem.

Wasp in the Home Instructions for humanely dealing with wasps inside the home.

Ladybugs  Learn to how to use ladybug traps as the most effective way of catching them.

Booklice What attracts these harmless pests in your home? Find out how to prevent manifestations.

Western Conifer Seed Bug Seeds attract these bugs so there are some specific measures outlined in this article that can prevent an infestation.

Fruit Fly The classification, description, pictures, habitat, and dietary habits of vinegar flies.

Earwig A kid-friendly guide to this creepy but common species of insect.

Earwig Facts Five surprising earwig facts that debunk some myths about this bug.

House Centipede Did you know the House Centipede can help manage other household pests? Learn more in this article.

Silverfish This article is on silverfish and firebrats in the home with information on how to manage them both chemically and non-chemically.

Stink Bugs There are different colors of stink bugs. Find out more about the offensive smelling liquid they excrete and how to differentiate between the various types.

Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs This invasive pest has agricultural significance. Find out more about the problems they present both indoors and outdoors.

Ants Learn to differentiate between ants and termites with strategies on how to inspect and control ant colonies in the home with special tips for carpenter ants.

Termites Termites can cause significant damage to carpentry in the home. It's important to learn how to control them.

Bees Have you ever wondered how bees make honey? You can find out when you read this article.

Keep Honeybees Out Bees are very troublesome around the home, but there are some humane way to prevent them from nesting near your living space.

Spiders There are many different types of spider and learning the differences between them can be an important safety measure.

Importance of Spiders Many people have a fear of spiders, but fear can sometimes be eased with understanding.  Find out why spiders are so important to the natural world.

Crickets You've probably heard a cricket, but this article can help you learn to identify them on sight. You can also learn more about how and why crickets make a chirping noise.

Chiggers This article dispels some myths about chigger bites and will help you learn more about treating bites.

What are Chiggers? This guide will help kids learn more about chiggers and includes a diagram of their life cycle.

Sowbugs Did you know that sowbugs are not technically insects? This article explains why along with other interesting information.

Sowbugs and Pillbugs These pests are very similar, but the article will help you learn the differences.