What's bugging you?
56 pests common to Will, DuPage, and eastern Kendall counties — with ID tips, behavior notes, and what we'd do about each one. Browse by category below, or just send us a photo and we'll tell you what you've got.
Ants (6)
The most common household pest in Will County. Different species need different treatment — IDing the species correctly is half the job.
-
Carpenter Ant
Camponotus pennsylvanicus
View ID & treatment
-
Pavement Ant
Tetramorium caespitum
View ID & treatment
-
Odorous House Ant
Tapinoma sessile
View ID & treatment
-
Pharaoh Ant
Monomorium pharaonis
View ID & treatment
-
Citronella Ant
Lasius interjectus
View ID & treatment
-
Little Black Ant
Monomorium minimum
View ID & treatment
Spiders (7)
Most spiders in Illinois are harmless and helpful. A handful are worth knowing how to identify — especially brown recluse.
-
Brown Recluse Spider
Loxosceles reclusa
View ID & treatment
-
Wolf Spider (Family Lycosidae)
View ID & treatment
-
Cellar Spider
Pholcus phalangioides
View ID & treatment
-
Common House Spider
Parasteatoda tepidariorum
View ID & treatment
-
Garden Orb Weaver
Argiope aurantia
View ID & treatment
-
Jumping Spider
Family Salticidae
View ID & treatment
-
Yellow Sac Spider
Cheiracanthium mildei
View ID & treatment
Stinging Insects (8)
Wasps, yellow jackets, and bees. Some build small papery nests; others build paper-mache colonies under your eaves.
-
Bald-Faced Hornet
Dolichovespula maculata
View ID & treatment
-
Carpenter Bee
Xylocopa virginica
View ID & treatment
-
European Hornet
Vespa crabro
View ID & treatment
-
Paper Wasp
Polistes spp.
View ID & treatment
-
Yellow Jacket
Vespula spp.
View ID & treatment
-
Bumble Bee
Bombus spp.
View ID & treatment
-
Eastern Cicada Killer
Sphecius speciosus
View ID & treatment
-
Mud Dauber
Sceliphron caementarium
View ID & treatment
Rodents (5)
Mice, voles, and the occasional rat. Trapping is half the job — exclusion is the other half.
Ticks (4)
Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, alpha-gal — Illinois ticks carry serious risk. Knowing which one bit you matters.
Mosquitoes (2)
Will County mosquito pressure is heaviest near creeks, retention ponds, and forest preserves. Some species are local; some are recent invaders.
Occasional Invaders (12)
Pests that wander indoors but don't establish colonies. Nuisance more than threat — usually solved by sealing the gap they came through.
-
Asian Lady Beetle
Harmonia axyridis
View ID & treatment
-
Boxelder Bug
Boisea trivittata
View ID & treatment
-
Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
Halyomorpha halys
View ID & treatment
-
Carpet Beetle
Anthrenus spp. / Attagenus spp.
View ID & treatment
-
European Earwig
Forficula auricularia
View ID & treatment
-
House Centipede
Scutigera coleoptrata
View ID & treatment
-
Silverfish
Lepisma saccharina
View ID & treatment
-
Cluster Fly
Pollenia rudis
View ID & treatment
-
Millipede
Narceus spp. / Oxidus gracilis
View ID & treatment
-
Pill Bug & Sowbug
Armadillidium vulgare / Porcellio laevis
View ID & treatment
-
Western Conifer Seed Bug
Leptoglossus occidentalis
View ID & treatment
-
Clover Mite
Bryobia praetiosa
View ID & treatment
Flying & Biting Pests (5)
House flies, fruit flies, drain flies — small but persistent.
Cockroaches (2)
Illinois's two common cockroach species. Sanctuary doesn't treat cockroaches — but knowing which one you have determines who you should call.
Wood-Destroying (2)
Termites and powderpost beetles. Sanctuary does inspections — for treatment, we refer to specialists with the right warranties.
Garden & Outdoor Insects (3)
Insects people find outdoors and worry about — but that aren't household pests. Some are beneficial, some are garden problems, none of them are a threat to your house. All three photographed here in Will County.
Don't see your pest?
Take a photo and send it our way — we'll identify it and tell you whether it's something we treat.