Pest Damage Hides Behind Walls Until It's Too Late
Several posts detail homeowners dealing with persistent pest infestations (bed bugs, weevils) and structural damage to their homes (drywall holes, flooring issues). There's a recurring theme of frustration with inspections or repairs not resolving the underlying problems.
SOURCES (60)
“I find them everyday - usually 5-10 in the shower, some on the ground, some on the ceiling, and I was cleaning out our cats’ water fountain and found maybe 20 in there. I also find them near the edges of rugs. What type of…”
“is this indication of bed bugs? submitted by /u/BulkyBackground7855 [link] [comments]”
“As mentioned in the caption. Is it a bedbug? submitted by /u/Apprehensive_Past693 [link] [comments]”
“I found these things after my ipad in the livingroom does anyone have an idea of what pest this indicates? thanks submitted by /u/BulkyBackground7855 [link] [comments]”
“My home was built in 1910. Have been living in it for 4 years no issues or mud tubes inside. I don’t know why or what caused me this morning to say. Hmm. I want to look under my house. Well I know this. The galleries are from when I tore it apart. I live in the PNW. This is old wood towards the front of the house. I went around and tried poking at the rest of the piers / newer wood with no luck poking through or finding any rot or damage. Side note, when I put the wood vertically it’s like a saw”
“There were like four or five of them in my kitchen the day after we got back from vacation. I'm in Ontario, Canada. Google Lens thinks it might be a wood roach, but I'm weirded out that it wasn't a solo critter. It does NOT have two black lines on its head. Should I call an exterminator/pest control? submitted by /u/zzLorezz [link] [comments]”
“Recently moved into a place and I’m seeing these marks around in some places. They smear easy, and I’ve been cleaning them as I see them but I’m curious as to what they are. I did see a cockroach a couple weeks back, but my unit has since been treated twice now and I haven’t seen anything in any traps, or any evidence of live pests (I’ve been on the lookout). I’d like to know what these are though so I can keep a close eye out for whatever they’re from. submitted by /u/Treaniebeanie”
“Freaking out and hoping this isn’t mice and is either lint or maybe a bug thing. I found this and only this on the top of a mattress in my attic (my bedroom) this morning (the mattress is not on the floor, if that makes a difference). The only issue I’ve had with mice up there in my 11 years of living here was one about a year ago and that was quickly caught in the attic closet during winter (it never got in the main room, there are no holes anywhere in the room, and not even my pinky cannot fit”
“Recently had a small problem with bedbugs, pest control came and haven't had any issues in the past weeks, was cleaning My room to take stuff back in but found this bug, I'm traumatized at this point with the bedbugs sinte it took 3 visits from pest control to get rid of them. Now I just want to be sure that this isn't of some importance before taking everything in or if I have to call pest control back, (bug was already like this when I found it) submitted by /u/AnReceta”
“Hi! Does this look like a dead bed bug? I found it in our bathroom. We recently had a bed bug infestation, and more than two weeks ago we did a massive decluttering, steamed the entire house, and applied diatomaceous earth throughout. So far, my husband hasn't had any new bites. As for me, I haven't had any visible bites at all, even though we sleep in the same bed. I'm hoping this is just a dried-up bed bug that died because of the diatomaceous earth. Could you please help me identi”
“I just saw two in the matter of 20 minutes. One in the bathroom and one in the kitchen. The one in the kitchen kinda ran across the counter then I killed it. I don’t think they are phorid flies. I see those too but my zevo light catches those. I don’t have any plants inside either. How do I get rid of the phorid flies and whatever these are? submitted by /u/H_4400 [link] [comments]”
“I don’t really have any background on pests or insects so I was just curious if this is dirt buildup or possibly from termites? These pictures are from a corner of my garage (30 year old garage with bad wood surrounding it) so I can definitely see it possibly being dust accumulating that is coming from underneath. I live in Arizona and dusts storms have been happening quite frequently over the past month. The other corner of my garage looks similar to this, just with not as many “webs” on the co”
“Hello, Im located in Québec/Canada I’ve been finding what I though was bed bug in my bathroom since last years. I never found a single one in my bedroom yet. I share a wall with my neighbor so I though maybe she have a really bad infestation. I then recently find out the existence of swallow bugs and I was wondering (and hoping) that’s the bugs i found in my bathroom and powder room. The chimney pass through both these rooms. Thanks in advance for your help submitted by /u/RideSoggy1”
“Located within the kitchen close to the window. Concern is a swarmer termite. No evidence of infestation that I have noted around the house both inside and out. submitted by /u/MattB876 [link] [comments]”
“Found this thing half squished under my front door of my apartment. Please tell me it isn’t a roach. The shape is off due to it having a squished back end submitted by /u/Lilu1414 [link] [comments]”
“Moved into a place in April that has ended up with bed. It’s and cockroaches. They did a roach spraying on July 3rd, 3 weeks ago and I come back after a week of being gone and saw this running across my cupboards. Cockroach right? submitted by /u/Paige_ash [link] [comments]”
“Found 4 of these on our bed while changing the sheets. Contacted our pest control services but they are closed on the weekends. Does this look like a bed bug to you? submitted by /u/Equivalent-Habit-313 [link] [comments]”
“Hello! I spotted the first bug about a week back sitting on my desk in the morning. The second and third picture (I apologise for the bad quality) were taken 10 minutes ago, it was running over my bed while I was sitting there reading. I tried to take these pictures before killing it but unfortunately it was very fast, and my phone focused on the bedding texture instead of the bug. Size is hard to determine, I would say the first bug was bigger, the second one quite skinny and not very big, abou”
Is this termite frass? submitted by /u/foxyfai [link] [comments]
“Hey guys, Found it on my bed crawling on my skin, do you guys have any idea what is it and is it any dangerous ? submitted by /u/ElegantHoney2234 [link] [comments]”
“I bought an old book and it was sitting in my bedside time for awhile. Decided to open now and saw this!! Is it one of those insects that eat furniture and clothes? I am in PANIC submitted by /u/Cute_Sand_1060 [link] [comments]”
“I have been itching for almost 4 months and i wake with with new bites or hotspots daily. I attached 2 pictures here and i wanted to know if these are signs that I have bed bugs present? I remove all the debris from my bedding and wash them on a regular basis but theae things appear daily. Please let me know if these are signs of bed bug activity or what? submitted by /u/BulkyBackground7855 [link] [comments]”
“Recently moved into an apartment and I’ve been seeing these more recently. How do I get rid of them? submitted by /u/Stunning_Pea_3363 [link] [comments]”
“I have found 5 total of these. 2 in my bathroom & 3 or so in my kitchen. I am freaking out that there’s an infestation. Can someone tell me what these are & how to get rid of them submitted by /u/Lazy-Information6644 [link] [comments]”
“hi guys- i’ve moved into a new apartment about two months ago, and i’m coming from a place with the same roommate i’ve lived with for three years and we’ve never had a bug issue. i found this little (probable) roach about the size of a pencil tip in the kitchen sink. wondering if it’s time to panic and call a pest tech… note: this apartment charges $1/mo “pest control” but being that i’ve seen this now not too long after their last “service,” i’m skeptical of what they’re doing. location to bett”
“What do you think this could be evidence of? My sister found it in the wall of a construction project in SC. There was also evidence of mice and roaches nearby. submitted by /u/LemonAndBeans [link] [comments]”
“These little brown bugs are coming up from floorboards and stuff, I’ve sprayed a couple times and they won’t go away. What are they? And any tips on getting rid of them? 🙏 submitted by /u/Potential_Walrus1107 [link] [comments]”
“Do carpenter ants leave these? Wood looks like it’s been chewed through and this cocoon was embedded submitted by /u/SubstantialTime8168 [link] [comments]”
“Sorry for quality, it was the best I could get. This is the second one I have found, on my phone when it was near my bed submitted by /u/GBboy6 [link] [comments]”
“*Added better pics in comments. Best I could get atm. In southern California, and this is on the soffit of the house. submitted by /u/WickedCoolUsername [link] [comments]”
“*I did read through the entire mystery bites guide, and followed all advice there. Glue traps have not caught anything.* We've been getting bites on and off in bed for over a month now. Will go quiet for a few days and just when we think whatever it is has disappeared we'll get a few more. No signs of bed bugs or fleas. Bites are super itchy, small red dot in the middle and swelling, not really any visible halo that I can see, only on the legs, not in tight clusters but some are co-locat”
“Rats chewed through PVC line! House was just had fumigation and now this lol crazy! Never seen them chew through pvc like that before. Cool find. Unit is shut off until new install on Monday! submitted by /u/Alternative_Drive_46 [link] [comments]”
“I wasn't quite sure which label to use but I do need advice on this one. I have things very organized under the sink but this is the second time I have found them. They are hard and I thought they were maybe some darker wood chipped off. I can't think of anything I'm using that would cause any wood/etc to do this. I don't hear or see any mice or rats... ...please say no 😭 I'm going to my manager's office and showing her these photos when I pick up my package today”
“There is this hole under the sink where bugs come out of. So far I've had spiders, silverfish, and rollie pollies. Whats the best/safest way to seal it DIY? It's quite uneven so duct tape wont be very clean, and it might get gnarly when I clean the bathroom. Thoughts? submitted by /u/Ok_Vacation4028 [link] [comments]”
“I found these in cardboard. I was going to use the cardboard to help organize my closet. Dumb idea now i know 😅 They even got all over the clothes i put in them.. Can anyone help me identify them to put my mind at ease? submitted by /u/Krystyn0129 [link] [comments]”
“Found in my bathroom and I’ve seen a few like this, what is this and should I be worried? submitted by /u/Historical_Wash_356 [link] [comments]”
“I have a small gap between the security door and the main door. I was hoping for ideas to fill this gap to keep out the bugs that sometimes find their way inside the house. Thanks. submitted by /u/AlarmReal892 [link] [comments]”
“Sorry the pictures are far away, when I got closer my phone went blurry. I found this on the thermostat outside my bedroom. I couldn't find any on my mattress or any signs of them, but even if it's just one I want to tell the property manager. submitted by /u/Heavy_Sun1417 [link] [comments]”
“Found hundreds of them flying in a corner of our kitchen corner ceiling upon returning from a month long vacation… Are they carpet beetle? I thought they eat animal fiber and so on… Bean weevil? or what are they…?? So lost submitted by /u/28003 [link] [comments]”
“Found this bug next to me on top of my bed. I don't see why it would be a bed bug because everything here is freshly washed and brand new... i tried to get an up close image and an image to show how big it is in comparison with my bed! i hope this helps submitted by /u/Salty-Rip-1210 [link] [comments]”
“Hello, I recently discovered what I think is a flea on my bed. It was just sitting on top of my duvet, very tiny, jumping around. I eventually killed it (after many tries) and some blood came out onto the tissue? I took off all my bedding and have not seen another one. I have no pets and I don’t have any contact to any animals. The only possible explanation I can think of is that I caught a hitchhiker while at the movies the other day. I came home, showered, but I left my clothes onto a chair in”
“I found 2 in my bedding and I'm freaking out tbh I have washed all the bedding and my mattress is the kind at like dorms so it has a plastic coating that I wiped down. I'm kind of freaking out like I didn't think I was a gross person. I did have some flys by the sink and trash which I assume this guy came from. I'm gonna get some fly traps and hopefully bug bomb my dorm. Please also give advice on how to get rid of them submitted by /u/p3apod1987 [link] [comment”
“I’ve been finding these all over my house on the third floor. Could someone please help me identify them and suggest ways to get rid of them? I even found one on my bed. submitted by /u/Cool_Shelter_5792 [link] [comments]”
“God, please tell me these aren't bedbugs ! submitted by /u/LesserIight [link] [comments]”
“I'm worrying I might actually have bed bugs, I have sort of itchy red bumps, I do have eczema, but this just looks different. I'm worried about them because of my allergies, I have trouble breathing in my home, even with inhalers. I found a shell and many stains like the one shown, but no actual bedbug sighted. I thought I woke up and saw bugs crawling all over me but I was drugged off my mind so thought it was just a hallucination and went to sleep. I do kinda have a silverfish problem”
“I found this in the corner of our ceiling randomly a few days ago and it has gotten a little bit larger over the last few days as well. Wondering if these are moth eggs? submitted by /u/momonabudget0625 [link] [comments]”
“They seem to love being in / on paper and cardboard Any ideas? We’re trying to get pest control, but we don’t know what to tell the pest exterminator before they come out? submitted by /u/Artistic_Host3233 [link] [comments]”
“These guys started burrowing at the corner of my basement, should I be concerned? https://imgur.com/a/aGe9nfc submitted by /u/Ok-Cryptographer-963 [link] [comments]”
“https://www.kapwing.com/6a5882133be9b2fd630caf29/studio/editor I tried to get better pictures but they’re so small it’s hard to get a clear shot . It’s in the bathroom area and first guess is mites but unsure which type of mite and unsure if best treatment would be ecovia or transport micron. Is there something better to use like crossfire? Unsure if it helps but it’s also in NYC . submitted by /u/pgf111 [link] [comments]”
“Can anyone identify what bug this is? Found on my mom’s bed and walls. Is it termite? submitted by /u/TheusProme [link] [comments]”
“I sprayed a ton of cutter skinsations bug spray in my bedroom because probably about 20 to 30 flying bugs get into my room every night from cracks in my window AC and tonight it was especially bad so I sprayed it everywhere a ton of it and I'm wondering when it's safe to sleep submitted by /u/urmomishot2 [link] [comments]”