Household-pests
Guides
Anthrenini
Anthrenini is a tribe of carpet beetles within the family Dermestidae, subfamily Megatominae. The tribe contains at least 100 described species, primarily in the genus Anthrenus, with one additional monotypic genus Dermeanthrenus. Members are small beetles known for feeding on keratinous materials including wool, fur, feathers, and dried animal products. Several species are significant household and museum pests worldwide.
Blattinae
Blattinae is a subfamily of cockroaches in the family Blattidae, established by Latreille in 1810. It includes several of the most common household cockroach species, notably Periplaneta americana (American cockroach) and Blatta orientalis (Oriental cockroach). The subfamily is characterized by male genitalia with diagnostic sclerites, and includes genera with diverse morphologies ranging from fully winged macropterous males to reduced-winged females in sexually dimorphic species.
Ectobiidae
Wood Cockroaches
Ectobiidae is a family of cockroaches in the order Blattodea, formerly known as Blattellidae. The family contains many of the smaller common household pest cockroaches, including the globally significant German cockroach (Blattella germanica). Members are sometimes called wood cockroaches. The family is distributed worldwide and includes several subfamilies: Blattellinae, Ectobiinae, Nyctiborinae, and Pseudophyllodromiinae. Many species are associated with human habitations, though others occupy natural habitats including wetlands, grasslands, and forests.
Tineidae
fungus moths, tineid moths, clothes moths
Tineidae is a large family of moths containing over 3,000 species across more than 300 genera. Members are commonly known as fungus moths or clothes moths, reflecting their diverse larval feeding habits. The family is notable for its unusual dietary breadth among Lepidoptera: most larvae feed on fungi, lichens, and detritus rather than living plants, though some species have adapted to keratin-based materials including stored fabrics, feathers, and even tortoise shells. Several species are significant household pests, while others play important roles in decomposition.
Zygentoma
silverfishes, fishmoths, firebrats
Zygentoma is an order of wingless insects comprising approximately 550 described species, including silverfishes and firebrats. These insects represent one of the most ancient living lineages of insects, having diverged before the evolution of winged insects in the Carboniferous period. They are characterized by three long caudal filaments and ametabolous development with continued molting throughout life. Many species are associated with human dwellings where they feed on starchy materials, while others inhabit caves, leaf litter, or live as inquilines in ant and termite nests.