When people think about pests, their minds often jump straight to mice, ants, or wasps. But there’s a whole category of lesser-known but incredibly frustrating little intruders that can do just as much damage—or cause just as much stress and anxiety. Pantry pests are a great example. These are the tiny bugs that manage to find their way into dry goods like flour, cereal, pet food, pasta, and spices. Beetles, weevils, and moths are three kinds of bugs that top the list. They’re small enough to go unnoticed until you open a bag of rice and something inside it moves. What makes them particularly annoying is how quietly they spread. A single container can lead to a full-blown infestation in a surprisingly short time.
These pests don’t care whether a package is unopened or expired. They chew through packaging, lay eggs inside food products, and leave behind contamination that often requires full pantry cleanouts. Getting rid of them involves more than tossing a few infested boxes. It usually means finding the source, identifying all points of entry, and knowing which products they’re most drawn to. In some cases, it even calls for treatments that can reach into cracks and corners where these insects like to hide and breed.
Moisture-Lovers And Hidden Crawlers
Silverfish and earwigs are two pests that often go unnoticed until they’ve been around a while. These moisture-loving crawlers tend to hang out in bathrooms, basements, and under sinks—anywhere there’s humidity and darkness. They’re not necessarily aggressive or destructive in the same way rodents or termites are, but their presence usually signals that something else is off. A recurring silverfish problem, for example, might point to excess moisture, water leaks, or decaying materials somewhere in the home—conditions that can also attract other pests if left unaddressed.
Silverfish are notorious for their appetite for paper and fabrics. They’ll chew through old books, stored clothing, wallpaper glue, and cardboard boxes with quiet persistence, often going undetected until the damage is done. Earwigs, with their intimidating pincers, are more of a nuisance than a threat but can still be unsettling when found crawling across kitchen counters or bathroom floors. Removing these types of pests usually isn’t a one-step process. It involves correcting the underlying moisture issues, sealing up entry points, and applying strategic treatments to discourage them from coming back.
Occasional Invaders That Don’t Stay Long—But Return Often
There’s another category of pests that don’t necessarily live in a home full-time but still cause problems when they show up. Crickets, centipedes, millipedes, and pill bugs fall into this group. These pests tend to wander inside during certain times of year—usually when outdoor conditions change. Heavy rains, cold snaps, or extreme heat can push them indoors, where they become uninvited guests in basements, garages, or lower-level living spaces.
Crickets are mostly known for their chirping, which can be surprisingly loud and disruptive indoors. Millipedes and pill bugs typically don’t survive long once inside, but they can appear in large numbers, especially in damp areas. House centipedes, on the other hand, stick around longer. Though they help control other insects, their alien-like appearance and swift movements make most people want them gone immediately. The trick with these occasional invaders is knowing when and why they show up, then putting measures in place to block their entry points and make the environment less appealing to them.
Insects That Thrive On Fabrics, Hair, And Dust
Some pests aren’t interested in your food or your basement—they’re after your closets, carpets, or furniture. Carpet beetles and clothes moths can cause damage that’s both frustrating and expensive to fix. These insects thrive in stored fabrics, wool blankets, upholstered furniture, and even pet hair or lint buildup. Their larvae are the real culprits, feeding quietly and persistently in areas that are often overlooked.
Unlike more obvious infestations, fabric pests don’t usually announce themselves until the damage is already done. A row of holes in a sweater, bald patches in a rug, or strange larvae in a storage bin are often the first signs something’s wrong. Controlling them takes a bit of detective work—finding infested items, thoroughly cleaning the area, and removing anything they might be using as a food source. Sometimes that includes deep cleaning or applying targeted treatments to prevent reinfestation. It’s not a quick fix, and without careful handling, the issue can come right back the next season.
While most pest control efforts focus on the common culprits, it’s the “other pests” that often catch homeowners off guard. From fabric-feeding beetles and moisture-loving silverfish to pantry insects and unexpected basement crawlers, these invaders have their own patterns and behaviors—and they can be every bit as disruptive. At Integrated Wildlife Management, we take a comprehensive approach to pest control that goes beyond the obvious. If you’ve been dealing with unexplained damage, sudden insect sightings, or just want help identifying the source of a recurring issue, we’re here to help. Contact us today to ask questions, schedule service, or learn more about how we can protect your space.
Frequently Asked Questions About Other Pests
Q1. What attracts pantry pests if I keep my food sealed and clean my kitchen regularly?
A1. Even when food is sealed and your kitchen is spotless, pantry pests can still sneak in through packaging that appears intact. Many dry goods—like flour, grains, and nuts—are already infested at the processing or packaging stage. These tiny invaders can chew through paper and cardboard, and once inside a pantry, they multiply quickly and migrate to nearby items. High humidity and long storage times also increase the chances of infestation, especially in warm or poorly ventilated storage areas.
Q2. Why do I keep seeing silverfish in my bathroom even after spraying for bugs?
A2. Silverfish thrive in areas with high moisture and limited airflow. Bathrooms provide the perfect environment with warm, damp conditions under sinks, around baseboards, or behind walls. Sprays might kill the ones you see, but unless the underlying humidity issue is resolved—like poor ventilation or hidden leaks—they’ll keep coming back. Addressing the environment is just as important as treating the pest.
Q3. Are house centipedes actually dangerous, or just creepy?
A3. House centipedes aren’t dangerous to people or pets, but their quick, darting movements and long legs definitely make them unsettling. Interestingly, they help control other insects like roaches and spiders by hunting them. Still, most people don’t want them around. If you’re spotting centipedes frequently, it’s often a sign of a deeper insect problem they’re feeding on—or a moisture issue in that part of the home.