Thorough by Design
We look beyond the obvious signs of activity to identify entry points, harborage, and conditions that can keep pest problems coming back.
Residential pest protection · Inland Northwest
The peak of
home protection.
Smarter, more complete pest protection built for the Inland Northwest. Summit combines targeted treatments, proactive prevention, and year-round protection to help keep pests where they belong—outside your home.
Local expertiseTargeted treatmentsYear-round protection
The peak of home protection.Greater Spokane • CDA • Northern Idaho
The Summit Standard
Summit 5-Point Protection™
Five layers of protection. One complete system.
Pests don’t rely on one way into your home—and neither do we rely on one way to stop them. Summit 5-Point Protection combines five targeted layers of service designed to protect your home from the ground up.
- 01
Exterior Barrier
Targeted protection around the foundation and exterior entry points where pests are most likely to approach your home.
- 02
Ground Treatment
Targeted treatment of soil and high-pressure areas around the property to help control crawling pests before they reach the home.
- 03
Web & Wasp Removal
A complete exterior sweep to remove accessible webs and wasp nests while treating key areas to discourage recurring activity.
- 04
Interior Defense
Precision treatment of interior areas where pests travel, hide, and establish activity.
- 05
Rodent Protection
Inspection and targeted control where rodent activity is present, with attention to areas most likely to support entry and harborage.
Built for the Inland Northwest
Whatever’s bugging you.
From seasonal invaders to year-round problems, Summit protects homes against the pests most common throughout Eastern Washington and North Idaho.
The Summit Difference
A higher standard of service.
Effective pest control is about more than applying product. It’s knowing where to look, understanding what’s driving the activity, and treating the areas that actually matter.
Targeted, Not Excessive
More product isn’t always better. We focus treatments where they can make the greatest difference while avoiding unnecessary application.
Service Built Around Your Home
Every property is different. Our approach adapts to your home, the season, and the pest pressure we find.
Responsible by Design
Smarter treatment starts with precision.
Responsible pest control starts with treating the right pest, in the right place, for the right reason. Summit combines targeted application with practical prevention and follows product-label requirements designed to protect people, pets, and the environment.
VIEW SAFETY & COMPLIANCE →Ready for a pest-free home?
Let us take it from here.
Tell us what you’re seeing and where you’re seeing it. We’ll help determine the right next step for your home.
Built for your property
Your entire property,
protected.
Every property is different. So is the pest pressure around it. We tailor every service to your home, your environment, and the season—targeting what matters, where it matters.
Home Protection
Choose your service.
Explore our signature year-round protection system and focused mosquito control for your outdoor spaces.
Summit 5-Point Protection™
Five coordinated layers protect the exterior, grounds, accessible webs and wasp nests, interior, and rodent-prone areas of your home.
EXPLORE SEASONAL PEST PROTECTION →Mosquito Control
Targeted fog treatments and In2Care® Mosquito Stations work together for immediate relief and season-long control.
EXPLORE MOSQUITO CONTROL →Exclusion & Prevention
We identify the gaps, conditions, and entry points that give pests an opportunity to move in—and help address the source of recurring activity.
Not sure where to start?
Tell us what you’re seeing.
We’ll help determine the right protection for your home, property, and the pest activity around it.
Seasonal Pest Protection
Summit 5-Point Protection™
Five layers work together across the places pests approach, enter, and settle around your home—creating complete protection that adapts with the season.
The Summit Standard
Protection from the ground up.
Five layers of protection. One complete system.
Each layer has a clear purpose. Together, they create a coordinated approach that responds to the pest pressure around your property rather than treating every home the same way.
- 01
Exterior Barrier
The exterior is your home’s first line of protection. We focus on the foundation, thresholds, utility openings, and other likely approach points, creating a targeted barrier that helps reduce pest activity before it moves indoors.
- 02
Ground Treatment
Pest pressure often begins in the soil, mulch, and landscaped areas closest to the structure. We treat the places where crawling pests are most likely to travel and gather, adding another layer between outdoor activity and your home.
- 03
Web & Wasp Removal
Accessible spider webs and wasp nests are removed from eaves, overhangs, and other exterior areas during service. Attention to these recurring spots helps keep the home looking cared for while discouraging activity from rebuilding between visits.
- 04
Interior Defense
When indoor treatment is appropriate, we focus on the specific areas where pests travel, hide, or enter. This precision-first approach addresses the activity you are seeing without treating rooms that do not need it.
- 05
Rodent Protection
We inspect for signs of rodent activity and pay close attention to likely entry and shelter areas around the home. When activity is present, the protection plan is tailored to the conditions we find and monitored as part of your service.
Outdoor Pest Protection
Mosquito Control
Take back your backyard. We target mosquitoes where they rest and where they breed, helping keep your outdoor spaces comfortable all season long.
Two ways to protect your yard.
Each method addresses a different part of the mosquito life cycle. Use the markers to see how they work together across your property.
Fog Treatment
We treat the shaded, protected areas where mosquitoes spend their day — beneath decks, along fences, around shrubs, and throughout dense landscaping. This helps quickly reduce active mosquitoes and gives you immediate relief where you spend time outside.
In2Care® Mosquito Stations
These discreet stations target mosquitoes beyond the areas we can treat directly. Female mosquitoes are drawn to the stations, where they pick up a larvicide and carry it to other breeding sites around your property — helping stop the next generation before it develops.
Better Together
Fogging targets the mosquitoes bothering you today. In2Care® helps disrupt the mosquitoes coming next. Together, they provide a more complete approach to season-long mosquito control.
PROTECT MY HOMECommercial Service
Commercial Pest Protection
Pest control that works around your business—not the other way around.
Protect your reputation, your customers, and your operation with commercial pest protection built to stay quietly in the background.
Discreet by design — Flexible, off-hours service and a professional presence that keeps pest control out of sight and out of mind.
Ready when the inspector walks in — Clear, detailed service documentation keeps your pest-management records organized, accessible, and inspection-ready.
Built for your business — Restaurants, offices, retail, warehouses, and multi-family properties each have different pressures. Your protection plan should too.
Quiet service. Serious protection. Zero disruption.
PROTECT MY BUSINESSReady for a pest-free business?
Let us take it from here.
Tell us what you’re seeing and where you’re seeing it. We’ll help determine the right next step for your business.
The Summit Pest Library
Know what you’re dealing with.
Learn more about the pests commonly found throughout the Inland Northwest—where they live, what attracts them, and the signs that may indicate activity around your home.
Wasps / Bees
5 pestsSocial colonies, solitary nesters and pollinators can look similar from a distance. Nest structure, flight pattern and location help distinguish them.
Bald Faced Hornets
- Where: Large gray paper nests hang from trees, shrubs or eaves.
- When: Queens begin nests in spring; colonies peak in summer and fade after hard freezes.
- Eats: Caterpillars, flies and spiders, plus nectar, sap and fruit.
- Watch for: Workers defend the nest with repeated, painful stings.
- Worth knowing: Despite the name, this is a black-and-white yellowjacket, not a true hornet.
Yellow Jackets
- Where: Often nest in old rodent burrows, wall voids, crawl spaces or hollow logs.
- When: Colonies grow through summer and are most noticeable and defensive in late summer and fall.
- Eats: Insects early in the season; sweets, ripe fruit and scavenged foods later.
- Watch for: A steady stream entering one hole can reveal a nest; workers can sting repeatedly.
- Worth knowing: Their annual colonies die after hard freezes; only new queens overwinter.
Paper Wasp
- Where: Open, umbrella-shaped combs appear beneath eaves, porch ceilings and overhangs.
- When: New nests start in spring, expand through summer and decline in fall.
- Eats: Caterpillars and other insects; adults also visit flowers for nectar.
- Watch for: Nests near doors or busy outdoor areas can bring repeated stings if disturbed.
- Worth knowing: They make paper by chewing weathered wood fibers and mixing them with saliva.
Mud Dauber
- Where: Small mud cells are built on siding, rafters, bridges and other sheltered surfaces.
- When: Adults are active in warm months; young overwinter in mud cells and emerge in spring.
- Eats: Females stock each cell with spiders for their larvae.
- Watch for: Mud nests are the usual concern; these solitary wasps are not normally defensive.
- Worth knowing: “Mud dauber” describes several solitary wasp species with similar nesting habits.
Honey Bee
- Where: Colonies occupy hives or cavities; temporary swarms may cluster on branches, fences or walls.
- When: Swarming is most common in spring as established colonies reproduce.
- Eats: Flower nectar and pollen.
- Watch for: A passing swarm may leave within days, while steady traffic into a wall can indicate an established colony.
- Worth knowing: A swarm is led by the old queen while scouts search for a permanent home.
Ants
6 pestsTrails, nest location, size and behavior help distinguish ants that only forage indoors from those nesting near the structure.
Field Ant
- Where: Build soil mounds in lawns, fields and along pavement, trees, fences or foundations.
- When: Active through warm months, when winged reproductives may leave mature colonies.
- Eats: Honeydew from plant-feeding insects, other insects, sweets and proteins.
- Watch for: Large lawn mounds and foraging workers; they can pinch and apply irritating formic acid.
- Worth knowing: Color ranges from pale yellow to red-brown or black, so color alone is unreliable.
Pharaoh Ant
- Where: Nest in warm indoor spaces near moisture, including wall voids, cabinets, baseboards and areas around appliances.
- When: Active year-round inside heated buildings, where trails may shift as the colony moves between nesting sites.
- Eats: Sweets, oils, proteins and a wide range of household foods.
- Watch for: Very small yellow to golden ants traveling in narrow trails around kitchens, bathrooms and plumbing.
- Worth knowing: Colonies can spread among connected nesting sites, making accurate identification especially important.
Pavement Ant
- Where: Nest beneath pavement cracks, stones, slabs and ground-level foundation walls.
- When: Active spring through fall; heated structures may support winter foraging.
- Eats: Insects, seeds, honeydew and many household foods, especially grease and protein.
- Watch for: Fine soil piles at cracks and organized trails toward food.
- Worth knowing: A colony may contain several queens and thousands of workers.
Western Thatching Ant
- Where: Build distinctive mounds from grass, needles and small twigs in sunny yards, open woods and along forest edges.
- When: Workers are active from spring through fall and are most noticeable during warm daylight hours.
- Eats: Honeydew, flower nectar and insects gathered around the nest and nearby vegetation.
- Watch for: Large thatched mounds and well-defined trails; workers may defend the colony if the mound is disturbed.
- Worth knowing: These native ants benefit outdoor ecosystems, but a nest near the home or a busy area may create a conflict.
Odorous House Ant
- Where: Nest beneath stones, roots and siding or in foundation cracks and damp wall voids.
- When: Active spring through fall and able to forage indoors whenever conditions allow.
- Eats: Honeydew, flower nectar and sweet or protein-based household foods.
- Watch for: Long, persistent trails across cabinets, sinks and baseboards can contaminate food.
- Worth knowing: A crushed worker releases an odor often compared with rotten coconut.
Moisture Ant
- Where: Nest in damp soil, rotting logs, decayed wood and moisture-damaged areas around a structure.
- When: Workers forage in warm months; winged ants may appear during summer mating flights.
- Eats: Honeydew, sweets and small insects.
- Watch for: Small yellow to brown ants near persistent dampness or softened wood can point to a nearby nest.
- Worth knowing: Their presence indoors often helps reveal a moisture condition that needs attention.
Beetles
4 pestsBody shape, color, feeding signs and the place an insect is found help separate outdoor plant feeders from indoor fabric pests and seasonal invaders.
Asian Lady Beetle
- Where: Feed outdoors on plant pests, then gather on sunny walls and enter attics or wall voids to overwinter.
- When: Large groups are most noticeable on warm fall days and may reappear indoors during winter thaws.
- Eats: Aphids and other soft-bodied insects.
- Watch for: Indoor clusters may release a yellow, odorous fluid that can stain light surfaces.
- Worth knowing: Color varies from yellow-orange to red, and the number of black spots is highly variable.
Varied Carpet Beetle
- Where: Larvae hide along carpet edges, closets, vents, stored fabrics and other quiet areas with natural fibers.
- When: Adults are often seen near windows in spring, while larvae can remain active indoors throughout the year.
- Eats: Larvae feed on wool, fur, feathers, hair and accumulated lint; adults visit flowers.
- Watch for: Irregular fabric damage, shed larval skins or tiny mottled beetles near windows.
- Worth knowing: The bristly larva causes the household damage; the small rounded adult does not feed on fabrics.
Japanese Beetle
- Where: Adults gather on flowers, fruit and foliage; larvae develop beneath turf and other grassy areas.
- When: Adults are most visible during warm summer weeks.
- Eats: Adults feed on the leaves and flowers of many plants; larvae feed on grass roots.
- Watch for: Metallic green beetles with coppery wings, lacy-looking leaves and clusters feeding in full sun.
- Worth knowing: Small white tufts along the sides of the abdomen help distinguish Japanese beetles from lookalikes.
Elm Leaf Beetle
- Where: Adults and larvae live on elm foliage; adults may enter protected building spaces to overwinter.
- When: Feeding begins after leaves open in spring and can continue through summer.
- Eats: Elm leaves, which larvae often strip between the veins.
- Watch for: Yellow-green beetles with dark markings and skeletonized or browned elm leaves can signal activity.
- Worth knowing: Repeated feeding can thin a tree’s canopy, while indoor adults are seasonal visitors rather than structural pests.
Roaches
4 pestsSize, markings and where activity appears help distinguish the cockroach species most often encountered in and around American homes.
German Cockroach
- Where: Favor warm, humid areas near food and water, especially kitchens, bathrooms and appliance spaces.
- When: Active indoors year-round and most visible at night.
- Eats: A wide range of crumbs, grease, residue and other organic material.
- Watch for: Small tan roaches with two dark stripes behind the head, pepper-like spotting and shed skins.
- Worth knowing: Females carry their egg case until shortly before it hatches, helping populations build quickly indoors.
American Cockroach
- Where: Prefer warm, damp spaces such as utility rooms, boiler areas, floor drains and sewer-connected voids.
- When: Can remain active indoors year-round, with outdoor movement increasing in warm weather.
- Eats: Decaying organic material, food residue and many other available foods.
- Watch for: Large reddish-brown adults, capsule-shaped egg cases and droppings in humid service areas.
- Worth knowing: Adults are among the largest common household cockroaches in the United States.
Oriental Cockroach
- Where: Gather in cool, damp places including crawl spaces, basements, drains, utility areas and beneath debris.
- When: Outdoor activity rises in warmer months, while sheltered indoor populations can persist longer.
- Eats: Decaying organic matter, garbage and other available food residue.
- Watch for: Shiny dark brown to nearly black roaches moving slowly near moisture or lower levels of a building.
- Worth knowing: This species tolerates cooler conditions better than many other household cockroaches.
Brown-Banded Cockroach
- Where: Favor warm, dry, elevated spaces such as cabinets, furniture, electronics and upper wall areas.
- When: Active indoors year-round where temperatures remain comfortable.
- Eats: Crumbs, starches, glue and many other household materials.
- Watch for: Small roaches with two pale bands across the wings or abdomen and egg cases attached beneath objects.
- Worth knowing: Unlike German cockroaches, brown-banded cockroaches are often found away from sinks and drains.
Structural Pests
5 pestsThese pests can live within furnishings, soil-connected building spaces or wood. Accurate identification helps reveal where activity is centered.
Bed Bug
- Where: Hide in mattress seams, bed frames, upholstered furniture, baseboards and narrow cracks near resting areas.
- When: Active indoors year-round and often noticed after travel, a move or the arrival of used furnishings.
- Eats: Blood from sleeping people and, less often, other warm-blooded hosts.
- Watch for: Reddish-brown insects, pale shed skins, dark spotting or small rust-colored stains near a bed.
- Worth knowing: Bed bugs are excellent hitchhikers and their presence is not a sign of poor housekeeping.
Western Subterranean Termite
- Where: Colonies live in soil and reach wood through concealed pathways, foundation gaps and mud tubes.
- When: Winged adults are most often noticed during warm spring swarms, while colonies remain active below ground.
- Eats: Cellulose in wood and other plant-based materials.
- Watch for: Mud tubes, discarded wings, hollow-sounding wood or blistered surfaces can signal hidden activity.
- Worth knowing: Workers stay pale and soft-bodied because they travel inside soil, wood or protected tubes.
Carpenter Bee
- Where: Round tunnels are bored into unfinished wood at decks, eaves, siding and fences.
- When: Adults emerge from old tunnels in spring; a new generation appears in late summer.
- Eats: Pollen and nectar; larvae receive stored pollen provisions.
- Watch for: Half-inch entry holes and coarse wood debris can signal nesting; repeated use may damage wood.
- Worth knowing: Males may hover at people but cannot sting.
Carpenter Ant
- Where: Excavate galleries in damp or damaged wood in siding, walls, trees, stumps and firewood.
- When: Most active on warm nights; mature colonies may release winged ants from May through July.
- Eats: Honeydew, sweets and insects—they do not eat wood.
- Watch for: Coarse frass, rustling in walls, discarded wings and repeated traffic from one gap.
- Worth knowing: Their galleries often point to moisture damage that existed before the ants arrived.
Powderpost Beetle
- Where: Larvae develop inside seasoned hardwood flooring, trim, furniture and other wood products.
- When: Adult emergence is most noticeable in spring and summer, while larvae may remain hidden for much longer.
- Eats: Starch within the wood; feeding happens almost entirely during the larval stage.
- Watch for: Tiny round exit holes and fresh, flour-like powder beneath wood can reveal active emergence.
- Worth knowing: Several beetle groups are called powderpost beetles, so the wood type, hole size and powder texture all matter for identification.
Pantry Pests
3 pestsStored-food pests often begin inside a package and spread quietly. The insect, damaged product and nearby webbing or shed skins help narrow the source.
Larder Beetle
- Where: Develop in stored animal products, dry pet food, cured meats, cheese and accumulations of dead insects.
- When: Can occur indoors year-round, with adults often becoming more noticeable in spring.
- Eats: High-protein animal materials and dry stored foods.
- Watch for: Dark beetles with a pale band across the wing covers, bristly larvae or small holes in packaging.
- Worth knowing: Larvae may wander away from food and bore into nearby material when ready to pupate.
Indian Meal Moth
- Where: Infest dry foods such as cereal, flour, nuts, seeds, dried fruit and pet food.
- When: Can breed indoors year-round, especially in warm storage areas.
- Eats: Larvae feed within stored foods; adults do not feed.
- Watch for: Fine webbing in food, wandering pale caterpillars or small moths with coppery outer wings.
- Worth knowing: Larvae often leave the food package and travel to walls or ceilings before pupating.
Sawtoothed Grain Beetle
- Where: Infest dry foods such as cereal, flour, pasta, nuts, dried fruit, pet food and birdseed.
- When: Can reproduce indoors year-round, especially in warm storage areas.
- Eats: Broken grain and a wide range of processed dry foods.
- Watch for: Tiny, flat brown beetles in packages or cabinet seams may be accompanied by damaged food and shed skins.
- Worth knowing: Six small tooth-like projections along each side of the thorax give this narrow pantry beetle its name.
Garden / House Pests
15 pestsThese occasional invaders are often linked to moisture, vegetation and seasonal movement around the foundation.
Clover Mite
- Where: Live in lawns and vegetation, then enter around sunny windows and south-facing walls.
- When: Most abundant in spring and fall; heat and deep cold reduce activity.
- Eats: Plant cell contents from turf, clover and many ornamental plants.
- Watch for: Tiny red specks may gather indoors and leave a red stain when crushed, but do not bite.
- Worth knowing: Populations are entirely female and reproduce from unfertilized eggs.
Silverfish
- Where: Favor humid basements, bathrooms, laundry rooms and storage areas.
- When: Active indoors year-round where moisture remains high.
- Eats: Starches and proteins in paper, book bindings, wallpaper paste, fabrics and stored foods.
- Watch for: Ragged feeding marks on paper and fabric, shed skins and quick-moving silvery insects.
- Worth knowing: Adults continue molting throughout life.
Sow Bug
- Where: Shelter in damp soil, leaf litter and beneath boards, stones or mulch.
- When: Most active at night and in moist weather; may wander inside during weather changes.
- Eats: Mostly decaying organic matter, with occasional feeding on tender plants.
- Watch for: Indoor sightings usually signal damp conditions; sow bugs do not bite or sting.
- Worth knowing: They are land-dwelling crustaceans related to shrimp and crabs, not insects.
Earwigs
- Where: Hide by day in dark, damp spaces beneath pots, leaves, boards, bark and pavers.
- When: Young emerge in late spring; adults remain active through summer and fall.
- Eats: Decaying plant matter, fungi and small insects, as well as flowers and seedlings.
- Watch for: Irregular holes in petals and young leaves; indoor visitors do not establish colonies.
- Worth knowing: Females guard and clean their eggs and protect newly hatched young.
Centipede
- Where: Found under stones, bark and leaf litter or in damp basements, bathrooms and crawl spaces.
- When: Most visible in warm months and during wet late-summer or fall weather.
- Eats: Hunts insects, spiders and other small arthropods.
- Watch for: Frequent sightings can indicate moisture or a supply of other pests; bites are rare.
- Worth knowing: Centipedes have one pair of legs per body segment.
Box Elder
- Where: Gather near boxelder, maple and ash trees, then shelter in wall voids, attics and window casings.
- When: Adults emerge in spring and mass on sun-warmed buildings in fall before overwintering.
- Eats: Sap and seeds from boxelder and related trees.
- Watch for: Large indoor groups are a nuisance and may stain surfaces, but do not damage structures.
- Worth knowing: Beneath the wings, the abdomen is bright red.
Springtail
- Where: Live in damp soil, leaf litter and mulch; indoors they gather near moisture.
- When: Often noticed in spring but active whenever conditions stay moist, even on winter snow.
- Eats: Decaying organic matter, fungi, algae, mold and bacteria.
- Watch for: Large indoor numbers point to excess moisture; they do not bite or damage buildings.
- Worth knowing: A spring-loaded appendage called a furcula launches them into the air.
Millipede
- Where: Occupy moist soil, mulch, leaf mold and spaces beneath logs or landscape timbers.
- When: Most visible during damp spring and fall conditions, when they may wander indoors.
- Eats: Decaying organic matter and occasionally tender plants.
- Watch for: Usually a nuisance in large numbers; they do not bite.
- Worth knowing: Millipedes carry two pairs of legs on most body segments and curl when disturbed.
Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
- Where: Feed on trees, gardens and crops, then gather on buildings and enter sheltered spaces to overwinter.
- When: Adults become most noticeable on warm walls in late summer and fall.
- Eats: Plant juices from fruit, vegetables, seed pods and ornamental plants.
- Watch for: Shield-shaped brown insects indoors and a strong odor when they are handled or crushed.
- Worth knowing: Alternating pale and dark bands along the antennae and abdomen help distinguish this species.
Field Cricket
- Where: Live in lawns, fields, garden edges and beneath debris, sometimes wandering into basements or garages.
- When: Most noticeable from midsummer into fall, especially on warm evenings.
- Eats: Plant material, seeds, small insects and organic debris.
- Watch for: Dark, robust crickets indoors or persistent nighttime chirping near foundations and entryways.
- Worth knowing: Males produce their call by rubbing specialized areas of the front wings together.
Dust Mite
- Where: Live in household dust, especially within bedding, upholstered furniture and carpeting where humidity stays moderate.
- When: Present indoors year-round, with populations often higher during humid periods.
- Eats: Shed human and animal skin cells and microscopic organic material.
- Watch for: Dust mites are too small to see without magnification; their particles can contribute to indoor allergies.
- Worth knowing: They do not bite, sting or live on people.
Tent Caterpillar
- Where: Colonies build visible silk tents in the branch forks of deciduous trees and shrubs.
- When: Eggs hatch in spring, and caterpillars feed together for several weeks before becoming moths.
- Eats: Leaves of trees and shrubs, with preferences varying by species.
- Watch for: Silken tents, groups of striped caterpillars and thinning foliage are the clearest signs.
- Worth knowing: Healthy mature trees often recover from a single season of feeding, though repeated heavy activity can be stressful.
Codling Moth
- Where: Adults visit apple and pear trees; larvae tunnel into developing fruit.
- When: The first adults appear around bloom time, with additional activity possible through summer.
- Eats: Larvae feed inside apples, pears and related fruit; adults take little food.
- Watch for: Small entry holes, crumbly brown residue and tunneling around the fruit core can reveal activity.
- Worth knowing: Codling moth larvae are the familiar “worm in the apple”; the adult is a small, mottled gray moth.
Slug
- Where: Shelter in damp, shaded soil, mulch, dense groundcover and beneath boards, pots or stones.
- When: Most active at night and during cool, wet periods in spring and fall.
- Eats: Tender leaves, seedlings, fruit, fungi and decaying plant material.
- Watch for: Irregular holes in foliage and silvery slime trails are the most recognizable signs.
- Worth knowing: Slugs are soft-bodied mollusks without an external shell and depend on moisture to remain active.
Webbing Clothes Moth
- Where: Larvae hide in dark, undisturbed closets, rugs, upholstered furniture and stored natural-fiber items.
- When: Can develop indoors year-round, especially where textiles remain untouched for long periods.
- Eats: Larvae feed on wool, fur, feathers, hair and other animal-based fibers; adults do not feed.
- Watch for: Fine silk webbing, shed cases and irregular holes in natural fabrics can indicate activity.
- Worth knowing: The small buff-colored adults avoid light; the hidden larval stage causes the material damage.
Flies
11 pestsTrue flies range from small indoor breeders to seasonal outdoor swarms. Size, wing shape, movement and breeding site help tell them apart.
House Fly
- Where: Breed in manure, garbage, pet waste and decaying organic debris.
- When: Populations build through warm summer and early fall weather.
- Eats: Liquids from food scraps, waste and decaying materials.
- Watch for: They do not bite, but can transfer pathogens mechanically onto food and surfaces.
- Worth knowing: House-fly development is useful to forensic investigators estimating time since death.
Horse Fly
- Where: Adults frequent tree lines and open areas; eggs are laid near ponds, marshes and wet soil.
- When: Primarily a summer pest, sometimes surging after late-season rain.
- Eats: Both sexes take nectar; females cut skin and feed on blood for egg production.
- Watch for: Bites are immediately painful and may cause swelling or allergic reactions.
- Worth knowing: Their large aquatic or semi-aquatic larvae are predators of other small animals.
Lake Fly
- Where: Larvae develop in the sediment of lakes, ponds and slow-moving water; adults gather near shorelines and lights.
- When: Large, synchronized emergences are most noticeable from late spring through summer.
- Eats: Larvae feed on algae and organic material; adults feed very little or not at all.
- Watch for: Harmless swarms may collect on siding, screens and outdoor surfaces near water.
- Worth knowing: Lake flies are non-biting midges that resemble mosquitoes but lack a piercing mouthpart.
Mayfly
- Where: Young develop in clean freshwater; winged adults gather near lakes, rivers and outdoor lights.
- When: Brief, concentrated hatches occur from late spring through summer, depending on the species.
- Eats: Aquatic young feed on algae and organic material; adults do not feed.
- Watch for: Temporary swarms and piles beneath lights can be messy, but mayflies do not bite, sting or damage homes.
- Worth knowing: Their upright wings and two or three long tail filaments are distinctive.
Fruit Fly
- Where: Breed in overripe produce, fermenting liquids, recycling residue and other moist organic material.
- When: Can appear indoors year-round, with populations building fastest in warm conditions.
- Eats: Yeast and microorganisms growing on fermenting fruit and other sugary material.
- Watch for: Tiny tan flies hovering near produce, bottles or bins often point to a nearby breeding source.
- Worth knowing: Their life cycle can run from egg to adult in little more than a week when conditions are warm.
Drain Fly
- Where: Breed in moist organic film inside drains, sewer lines, sump pits and other persistently wet areas.
- When: Can remain active indoors year-round wherever moisture and buildup are present.
- Eats: Larvae feed on bacteria, fungi and decaying organic material within the film.
- Watch for: Tiny, fuzzy, moth-like flies resting near the same drain can indicate a nearby breeding site.
- Worth knowing: Drain flies are weak fliers and usually stay close to where they developed.
Cluster Fly
- Where: Develop as parasites of earthworms outdoors, then gather in attics and wall voids to overwinter.
- When: Adults collect on sunny walls in fall and may appear indoors during warm winter or early-spring days.
- Eats: Adults take nectar and plant juices; larvae develop in earthworms.
- Watch for: Slow, dark flies clustering at upper windows or lights, often in older buildings.
- Worth knowing: Cluster flies do not breed in garbage or food inside the home.
Fungus Gnat
- Where: Breed in consistently moist potting soil, greenhouse media and other damp organic material.
- When: Can appear indoors year-round where houseplants stay moist.
- Eats: Larvae feed on fungi and decaying plant matter and may graze fine roots.
- Watch for: Tiny dark flies hovering around pots, windows or lights and slender larvae in the soil.
- Worth knowing: Adults are weak fliers and usually remain close to the damp material where they developed.
Crane Fly
- Where: Larvae develop in damp lawns, garden soil and other moist areas rich in organic material.
- When: Adults are most noticeable during mild spring weather and again from late summer into fall.
- Eats: Larvae feed on roots and decaying vegetation; short-lived adults feed little or may visit flowers.
- Watch for: Long-legged adults often gather near doors and lights. They resemble oversized mosquitoes but do not bite.
- Worth knowing: Crane flies are often called “mosquito hawks,” but adults do not hunt mosquitoes.
Deer Fly
- Where: Adults patrol sunny edges near woods, wetlands, streams and other areas used by wildlife.
- When: Most active on warm, bright days from late spring through summer.
- Eats: Both sexes take nectar; females also feed on blood to produce eggs.
- Watch for: A stout fly with patterned wings and bright, banded eyes may circle persistently before landing.
- Worth knowing: Deer flies are usually smaller than horse flies, and females use scissor-like mouthparts rather than a mosquito-style probe.
Phorid Fly
- Where: Breed in moist, decaying organic material around drains, damaged plumbing, trash areas and other hidden buildup.
- When: Can remain active indoors year-round wherever a suitable breeding site persists.
- Eats: Larvae feed on fungi, bacteria and decomposing organic material.
- Watch for: Tiny tan to dark flies with a noticeably humped back often run across surfaces instead of immediately taking flight.
- Worth knowing: Repeated sightings can help point to a concealed moisture or sanitation issue near the breeding source.
Vectors
6 pestsBiting pests can affect comfort and, for some species, health. Identification helps clarify what is present around a property.
Tick
- Where: Wait in grassy, brushy and wooded areas, leaf litter and yard edges used by wildlife.
- When: Most active April through September, though exposure can occur outside that window.
- Eats: Blood from animal or human hosts at each active life stage.
- Watch for: Some species transmit disease; nymphs can be as small as a poppy seed.
- Worth knowing: Ticks do not fly or jump—they “quest” from vegetation for a passing host.
Mosquito
- Where: Immature stages develop in standing water; adults rest in tall grass, weeds and shrubs.
- When: Active from early summer through fall in northern climates, with many species busiest near dawn or dusk.
- Eats: Both sexes take nectar; females also require blood to produce eggs.
- Watch for: Itchy bites and potential disease transmission, including West Nile virus.
- Worth knowing: A Culex female can lay a floating raft of 100–300 eggs.
Flea
- Where: Adults live on animal hosts; eggs fall into carpets, floor cracks and pet resting areas.
- When: Most common in warm months but can persist indoors year-round.
- Eats: Adults feed on blood; larvae consume flea dirt and organic debris.
- Watch for: Pet scratching, itchy bites and dark specks around bedding can indicate activity.
- Worth knowing: Pupae can wait in protective cocoons for months before a host triggers emergence.
Western Black-Legged Tick
- Where: Wait on low vegetation and leaf litter in wooded, brushy and coastal habitats used by wildlife.
- When: Adults are often active during cooler months, while younger stages are more noticeable in spring and summer.
- Eats: Blood from wildlife, pets or people at each active life stage.
- Watch for: A dark-legged tick attached after time outdoors; some populations can transmit Lyme disease bacteria.
- Worth knowing: This is the primary Lyme disease vector along the Pacific Coast, though local risk varies by area.
Chigger
- Where: Larvae occur in tall grass, brush, weedy edges and other humid outdoor vegetation.
- When: Most active during warm late-spring and summer weather.
- Eats: Larvae feed on skin cells of animal or human hosts; later stages live freely and prey on tiny arthropods.
- Watch for: Clusters of intensely itchy red bumps can appear hours after time in infested vegetation.
- Worth knowing: Chiggers are mites, and only the nearly microscopic larval stage bites people.
Rocky Mountain Wood Tick
- Where: Wait on grasses and low shrubs in open woods, brushy slopes, trails and other drier inland habitats.
- When: Adults are most active in spring and early summer, especially after snowmelt.
- Eats: Blood from wildlife, pets or people at each active life stage.
- Watch for: An attached brown tick with pale markings along the back should be identified carefully.
- Worth knowing: This regional tick can transmit illness, including Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia, though risk varies by place and exposure.
Spiders
7 pestsWeb shape, hunting behavior and body markings matter more than color alone when distinguishing local spiders.
Orb Weaver
- Where: Circular webs span gardens, shrubs and porch-light areas where flying insects gather.
- When: Hatch in spring and become most visible at maturity in late summer and fall.
- Eats: Flying insects such as moths and beetles.
- Watch for: Large webs can startle homeowners, but orb weavers are not considered dangerous.
- Worth knowing: Their wheel-shaped web serves as hunting tool, sensory system and home.
Wolf Spider
- Where: Shelter in soil retreats or beneath boards, stones, firewood and siding; hunt without prey webs.
- When: Active at night in warmer months; some overwinter in protected structures.
- Eats: Insects and other small arthropods chased on foot.
- Watch for: Bites are uncommon and usually limited to short-lived pain, redness or swelling.
- Worth knowing: Females carry newly hatched spiderlings on their backs.
Black Widow
- Where: Build coarse webs near the ground in woodpiles, sheds, garages, crawl spaces and beneath porches.
- When: Most active in warm months; older females often die after egg laying in fall.
- Eats: Insects and other small arthropods trapped in the web.
- Watch for: A female bite can cause serious nerve and muscle symptoms and warrants prompt medical attention.
- Worth knowing: The red hourglass is on the underside of the female’s abdomen.
Daddy Long Legs
- Where: Harvestmen shelter under logs, rocks and vegetation; cellar spiders hang in loose indoor webs.
- When: Harvestmen are most noticeable from late spring through fall.
- Eats: Small prey, carrion and plant debris; cellar spiders catch insects.
- Watch for: Neither common “daddy long legs” is considered a danger to people.
- Worth knowing: The name covers several animals; harvestmen are not spiders and have no venom glands.
Brown Recluse
- Where: In its actual range, it shelters in dry, undisturbed spaces. It is not established in the Pacific Northwest.
- When: There is no local season because established populations do not occur here.
- Eats: Insects and other small arthropods.
- Watch for: Bites can be medically significant, but suspected local cases are commonly another species or another cause.
- Worth knowing: Washington State University reports that submitted regional “brown recluses” have not been genuine specimens.
Hobo Spider
- Where: Build funnel-shaped webs in cracks, retaining walls, window wells, basements and other low sheltered areas.
- When: Adults are most noticeable from late summer into fall, when males wander in search of mates.
- Eats: Insects and other small arthropods that enter the web.
- Watch for: A fast-moving brown spider near a funnel web; appearance alone is not enough for reliable identification.
- Worth knowing: Hobo spiders are common in the Northwest and are not considered medically dangerous by current evidence.
Giant House Spider
- Where: Build funnel-shaped webs in basements, garages, crawl spaces, sheds and other sheltered corners.
- When: Adults are most noticeable from late summer into fall, when males leave their webs and wander indoors.
- Eats: Insects and other small arthropods that reach the web.
- Watch for: A large, fast brown spider with very long legs is often found near a sheet web with a funnel retreat.
- Worth knowing: Despite their size and speed, giant house spiders are shy; bites are uncommon and not considered medically significant.
Rodents
11 pestsDroppings, gnawing, tracks, runways and other signs help separate outdoor landscape activity from small-mammal activity around a structure.
Vole
- Where: Live outdoors in burrows and surface runways through lawns and gardens.
- When: Active year-round, including beneath snow cover.
- Eats: Roots, bulbs, grasses and bark.
- Watch for: Narrow runways, clipped vegetation, burrow openings and girdled young trees.
- Worth knowing: Voles are sometimes called field mice, but they rarely enter homes.
Mole
- Where: Tunnel beneath lawns, gardens and landscaped areas in moist, loose soil.
- When: Active year-round, with fresh surface ridges often most noticeable in spring and fall.
- Eats: Earthworms, grubs and other soil-dwelling invertebrates rather than plant roots.
- Watch for: Raised surface tunnels, loose mounds of soil and soft areas beneath turf.
- Worth knowing: Broad, outward-facing front feet and a pointed, flexible snout are built for life underground.
House Mouse
- Where: Nest in wall voids, boxes, appliances, storage areas and other sheltered indoor spaces.
- When: Active year-round, with indoor movement often increasing as temperatures fall.
- Eats: Many foods, especially seeds and cereal grains.
- Watch for: Quarter-inch droppings, small gnaw marks, scratching sounds and shredded nesting material.
- Worth knowing: A house mouse can pass through an opening about one-quarter inch wide.
Deer Mouse
- Where: Common near fields and woods; may nest in cabins, sheds, garages, firewood and secluded storage.
- When: Nocturnal and active year-round, with fall movement into buildings.
- Eats: Seeds, nuts, insects and stored foods.
- Watch for: Droppings, nesting material and food caches; deer-mouse waste can carry hantavirus.
- Worth knowing: A white underside, pale feet and large eyes distinguish it from a house mouse.
Rat
- Where: Norway rats burrow near foundations and basements; roof rats favor attics, roofs and trees.
- When: Active year-round, with more building entry as outdoor temperatures drop.
- Eats: A broad diet including garbage, vegetables, meat, nuts and other high-fat foods.
- Watch for: Large droppings, gnawing, greasy run marks, burrows and damaged wiring.
- Worth knowing: Rats are cautious feeders and tend to follow established routes close to shelter.
Pocket Gopher
- Where: Live alone in underground tunnel systems beneath lawns, gardens, fields and landscaped areas.
- When: Active year-round, with fresh digging often easiest to spot in spring and fall.
- Eats: Roots, bulbs and other underground plant parts, along with vegetation pulled into tunnels.
- Watch for: Fan-shaped soil mounds with a plugged opening and little or no open surface runway.
- Worth knowing: Fur-lined cheek pouches outside the mouth carry food without filling with soil.
Little Brown Bat
- Where: Roost in caves, tree cavities and sheltered building spaces, often near water and feeding habitat.
- When: Most active from spring through fall and seen flying around dusk; winter is spent in hibernation sites.
- Eats: Night-flying insects, including mosquitoes, moths and small flies.
- Watch for: A small brown bat with short ears and glossy fur, usually seen in quick, looping flight after sunset.
- Worth knowing: Bats are flying mammals rather than rodents and are an important part of local ecosystems.
Packrat
- Where: Shelter in rocky areas, wooded edges, cabins, sheds, crawl spaces and other quiet structures.
- When: Nocturnal and active year-round, with indoor activity often noticed as weather cools.
- Eats: Seeds, fruit, vegetation and many available stored foods.
- Watch for: Bulky nests or middens, collected objects, gnaw marks and larger droppings can indicate activity.
- Worth knowing: Also called woodrats, packrats have furry tails and a more compact build than Norway rats.
Chipmunk
- Where: Live in burrows near rock walls, woodpiles, garden beds, foundations and other sheltered landscape edges.
- When: Most active during daylight from spring through fall, with long periods spent underground in winter.
- Eats: Seeds, nuts, berries, fruit, fungi and occasional insects.
- Watch for: Small round burrow openings, scattered seed shells and quick daytime movement along walls or planting beds.
- Worth knowing: Bold stripes continue across the face, which helps distinguish chipmunks from ground squirrels.
Ground Squirrel
- Where: Build underground burrow systems in open lawns, fields, slopes and landscaped areas.
- When: Active during the day from spring into fall, with seasonal dormancy varying by species and conditions.
- Eats: Grasses, seeds, bulbs, garden plants and some insects.
- Watch for: Open burrow entrances, excavated soil, clipped vegetation and animals sitting upright near the burrow.
- Worth knowing: Ground squirrels are stockier than chipmunks and do not have the same bold facial stripes.
Tree Squirrel
- Where: Nest in mature trees and may use attics, rooflines, chimneys or other elevated shelter around a home.
- When: Active during daylight throughout the year, with nest-building and food caching often more noticeable in fall.
- Eats: Nuts, seeds, buds, fruit, fungi and other available plant foods.
- Watch for: Daytime movement along fences and roofs, entry near eaves, scratching above ceilings and chewed openings.
- Worth knowing: Tree squirrels have full, bushy tails and spend much of their time above ground, unlike burrowing ground squirrels.
Nuisance Wildlife
9 pestsTracks, droppings, den locations and nighttime activity help identify larger animals using yards, crawl spaces and other sheltered areas around a home.
Raccoon
- Where: Use wooded areas, neighborhoods and spaces beneath decks, sheds, porches or other quiet structures.
- When: Mostly active from dusk through the night and present year-round, with activity changing with weather and food availability.
- Eats: Fruit, insects, eggs, small animals, pet food and other readily available foods.
- Watch for: Five-toed tracks that resemble small handprints, tipped-over containers and repeated nighttime visits.
- Worth knowing: A dark facial mask and ringed tail are distinctive, but tracks and activity patterns may be noticed before the animal itself.
Skunk
- Where: Den beneath decks, sheds, porches and in other sheltered ground-level spaces near open feeding areas.
- When: Primarily active at night from spring through fall, with reduced activity during prolonged winter cold.
- Eats: Grubs, insects, small animals, fruit and other available foods.
- Watch for: Shallow cone-shaped holes in lawns, a lingering musky odor and four-legged tracks with long front claws.
- Worth knowing: Black-and-white markings vary widely, so body shape, tracks and behavior can be more useful than stripe pattern alone.
Opossum
- Where: Shelter in hollow trees, brush piles and spaces beneath decks, sheds or other low structures.
- When: Mostly active at night throughout the year, with movement often following nearby food and cover.
- Eats: Insects, fruit, carrion, small animals and many other available foods.
- Watch for: Five-toed tracks with a thumb-like inner toe on the hind foot, scattered droppings and slow nighttime movement.
- Worth knowing: The Virginia opossum is North America’s only native marsupial and is often recognized by its pale face and mostly bare tail.
Northern Flicker
- Where: Frequent open woods, yards and parks, nesting in tree cavities and occasionally investigating siding, trim or other hollow-sounding surfaces.
- When: Present through much of the year, with drumming and nest-site activity most noticeable in spring.
- Eats: Primarily ants and other ground-dwelling insects, along with fruit and seeds.
- Watch for: A large brown woodpecker with dark spots, a black chest crescent and bright color visible beneath the wings in flight.
- Worth knowing: Northern flickers often feed on the ground, unlike many other woodpeckers; drumming on a home may be territorial signaling rather than feeding.
Barn Swallow
- Where: Build cup-shaped mud nests on sheltered ledges beneath eaves, porches, bridges and outbuildings near open feeding areas.
- When: Return to the Inland Northwest in spring, raise young through summer and migrate south before winter.
- Eats: Flying insects captured in swift, low flight over yards, fields and water.
- Watch for: A deeply forked tail, blue-black back and warm rusty throat distinguish adults; repeated flights to an eave may reveal an active nest.
- Worth knowing: Barn swallows are beneficial insect-eaters and may return to the same nesting area in later seasons.
European Starling
- Where: Roost and nest in tree cavities, vents, eaves, signs and other sheltered openings around homes and commercial buildings.
- When: Present year-round, with nesting activity in spring and larger flocks gathering outside the breeding season.
- Eats: Insects, fruit, seeds and many foods found around people.
- Watch for: A compact, short-tailed bird with a pointed bill; dark plumage shows pale speckles in winter and glossy color in brighter light.
- Worth knowing: Starlings are strong cavity competitors and often return to suitable nesting and roosting sites.
House Sparrow
- Where: Nest in vents, eaves, roof gaps, signs and other small cavities close to buildings and human activity.
- When: Active year-round and may raise more than one brood during the warmer months.
- Eats: Seeds, grains, insects and food scraps.
- Watch for: Small, sturdy birds moving in groups; males have a gray crown and black throat, while females are plainer brown.
- Worth knowing: Repeated trips carrying grass or feathers often point to a nest tucked inside a building opening.
Rock Pigeon
- Where: Roost and nest on ledges, rafters, rooftops, signs and other sheltered flat surfaces that resemble natural cliff sites.
- When: Present year-round and able to nest during much of the year where food and shelter are dependable.
- Eats: Seeds, grains and readily available food around buildings.
- Watch for: Stocky birds with broad wings, a small head and typically gray plumage with dark wing bars, though color varies.
- Worth knowing: Pigeons often use the same protected ledges repeatedly, so feathers and accumulated nesting material can reveal a regular roost.
American Crow
- Where: Use tall trees, open yards, parks, fields and neighborhood rooftops, with communal roosts forming in sheltered areas.
- When: Present year-round, with pair and nest activity most noticeable in spring and larger gatherings outside the breeding season.
- Eats: Insects, fruit, seeds, carrion and a wide range of available foods.
- Watch for: A large all-black bird with a sturdy bill, broad wings and a familiar caw; groups may gather around a reliable food source.
- Worth knowing: Crows are highly observant and social, and repeated activity is often tied to an accessible food source or established roost.
Good Bugs
12 pestsBeneficial insects pollinate plants, recycle nutrients or prey on other insects. These welcome visitors are identification subjects—not treatment targets.
Seven-Spotted Ladybug
- Where: Found on garden plants, shrubs and crops wherever aphids and other soft-bodied insects are present.
- When: Active from spring through fall and may shelter in protected outdoor sites during winter.
- Eats: Aphids, scale insects and other plant pests.
- Watch for: A rounded red beetle with three black spots on each wing cover and one shared spot near the head.
- Worth knowing: This beneficial predator is not a treatment target and helps keep garden pests in check.
Monarch Butterfly
- Where: Adults visit flowering areas; caterpillars develop only on milkweed plants.
- When: Most often seen during the warmer months and seasonal migration periods.
- Eats: Adults drink flower nectar; caterpillars feed on milkweed leaves.
- Watch for: Orange wings with bold black veins and a black border dotted with white.
- Worth knowing: Monarchs are beneficial pollinators, not a treatment target, and milkweed is essential to their life cycle.
Green Darner Dragonfly
- Where: Adults patrol yards and open areas near ponds, lakes and wetlands; young develop in water.
- When: Seen from spring through fall, including seasonal migrants moving through the region.
- Eats: Flying insects such as mosquitoes, midges and small flies.
- Watch for: A large dragonfly with a green thorax and a blue or brown abdomen in fast, direct flight.
- Worth knowing: This beneficial aerial predator is not a treatment target and helps reduce flying-insect activity.
Praying Mantis
- Where: Hunts on tall plants, shrubs and garden vegetation where insects are abundant.
- When: Young appear in spring; full-sized adults are most noticeable in late summer and early fall.
- Eats: A wide range of insects and other small arthropods.
- Watch for: An elongated body, triangular head and folded, grasping front legs.
- Worth knowing: Mantises are beneficial garden predators and are not a treatment target.
Green Lacewing
- Where: Adults rest on garden foliage and may visit porch lights; larvae hunt among leaves and stems.
- When: Active through the growing season, with some adults overwintering in sheltered locations.
- Eats: Larvae consume aphids, mites and other soft-bodied plant pests; adults often take nectar and pollen.
- Watch for: A delicate pale-green insect with clear, finely veined wings and golden eyes.
- Worth knowing: Green lacewings are beneficial and not a treatment target; their larvae are especially valuable garden predators.
Bumble Bee
- Where: Nest in sheltered cavities, often underground in abandoned burrows or beneath dense vegetation.
- When: Queens appear in spring; worker activity grows through summer before colonies naturally decline in fall.
- Eats: Flower nectar and pollen.
- Watch for: A large, fuzzy bee moving steadily among flowers, often with pollen packed on the hind legs.
- Worth knowing: Bumble bees are important native pollinators and not a treatment target when they are simply foraging.
Blue Orchard Mason Bee
- Where: Nest alone in existing narrow holes, hollow reeds and managed bee houses near flowering plants.
- When: Adults are active for a short period in spring when fruit trees and early flowers bloom.
- Eats: Flower nectar and pollen gathered for each nest cell.
- Watch for: A small metallic blue bee carrying dry pollen beneath the abdomen may be seen moving quickly among blossoms.
- Worth knowing: This gentle native pollinator is beneficial and not a treatment target; each female builds and provisions her own nest.
Hoverfly
- Where: Adults visit gardens, meadows and flowering shrubs; many larvae live among plants where aphids gather.
- When: Active from spring through fall, often hovering in place on warm, sunny days.
- Eats: Adults take nectar and pollen; many larvae prey on aphids and other soft-bodied plant pests.
- Watch for: Bright yellow-and-black markings resemble a bee or wasp, but hoverflies have one pair of wings and do not sting.
- Worth knowing: Hoverflies are beneficial pollinators and garden predators, not treatment targets.
Western Tiger Swallowtail
- Where: Adults visit open woods, gardens and stream corridors; caterpillars develop on trees such as willow, poplar and alder.
- When: Most often seen from late spring through summer.
- Eats: Adults drink flower nectar; caterpillars feed on the leaves of their host trees.
- Watch for: Large yellow wings crossed by black tiger stripes and finished with small tail-like tips are distinctive.
- Worth knowing: This native butterfly is a beneficial pollinator and not a treatment target.
Spined Soldier Bug
- Where: Hunts on garden plants, shrubs, crops and other vegetation where caterpillars or beetle larvae are present.
- When: Active through the growing season, with adults sheltering in protected spots through winter.
- Eats: Caterpillars, beetle larvae and other soft-bodied insects.
- Watch for: A shield-shaped brown bug with pointed shoulders may be seen holding prey with its piercing beak.
- Worth knowing: This beneficial predatory stink bug is not a treatment target and helps reduce plant-feeding pests.
Ground Beetle
- Where: Shelter beneath stones, logs, mulch and garden debris, then hunt across soil at night.
- When: Active from spring through fall and occasionally found indoors after wandering from outside.
- Eats: Many species prey on slugs, insect eggs, caterpillars and other small invertebrates; some also eat weed seeds.
- Watch for: Dark, shiny beetles with long legs often run quickly when exposed but do not establish household infestations.
- Worth knowing: Ground beetles are beneficial garden predators and not treatment targets.
Hummingbird Moth
- Where: Adults visit flower beds, meadows and garden edges, hovering in front of blossoms as they feed.
- When: Most noticeable from late spring through summer, often around dusk or during warm daylight hours.
- Eats: Adults drink nectar with a long feeding tube; caterpillars feed on specific host plants.
- Watch for: A stout, fast-flying moth that hovers at flowers can easily be mistaken for a tiny hummingbird.
- Worth knowing: Hummingbird moths are beneficial pollinators and not treatment targets.
Our process
Smarter from start to finish.
Great pest control isn't about spraying more. It's about knowing where to look, what to target, and how to keep pests from coming back.
Our process
Smarter from start to finish.
- UnderstandWe start with you. What you've seen, where you've seen it, and what's been happening around your home.
- Find the SourceWe inspect your property for activity, entry points, nesting areas, and the conditions attracting pests in the first place.
- Build the PlanNo one-size-fits-all treatments. We identify the problem and build a service plan around your home, your property, and the pests we find.
- Treat with PurposeWe target the areas that matter using precise treatments, removal, trapping, and exclusion where needed.
- Stay AheadPest pressure changes with the seasons. We return, reassess, and adjust your protection to help keep your home covered year-round.
Eastern Washington · North Idaho
Local protection.
Built for here.
Summit provides residential pest protection throughout Greater Spokane, Coeur d’Alene, and surrounding communities across the Inland Northwest.
- Spokane
- Spokane Valley
- Airway Heights
- Medical Lake
- Cheney
- Fairwood
- Mead
- Liberty Lake
- Newman Lake
- Otis Orchards
- Millwood
- Town and Country
- Country Homes
- Nine Mile Falls
- Chattaroy
- Buckeye
- Mica
- Rockford
- Espanola
- Suncrest
- Newport
- Coeur d’Alene
- Post Falls
- Hayden
- Rathdrum
- Spirit Lake
- Athol
- Hauser
- Huetter
- Harrison
- State Line
- Sandpoint
- Dover
- Ponderay
- Priest River
- Careywood
- Bayview
- Cocolalla
- Sagle
- Blanchard
- Plummer
Safety & Compliance
Clear standards. Documented practice.
Product information, licensing details, state requirements, and relevant safety documentation are organized here for straightforward reference.
Product Labels
Current labels and supporting product documentation used in Summit service will be listed here by product.
Documents pending publicationWashington Compliance
Washington-specific business, applicator, and operating documentation will be organized here when finalized.
Details pending publicationIdaho Compliance
Idaho-specific business, applicator, and operating documentation will be organized here when finalized.
Details pending publicationEPA Information
Relevant federal product and application resources will appear alongside the related Summit materials.
Resources pending publicationCompany Licensing
Company license details will be published here after they are issued and verified.
License details pending publicationApplicator Licensing
Applicable technician and applicator credentials will be published only after they can be confirmed.
License details pending publicationSafety Documentation
Relevant safety resources and service documentation will be organized here as they become available.
Documents pending publicationNeed a document before it appears here? Contact Summit and specify the service or product involved.
About Summit
Built for the Northwest.
Built to a higher standard.
Summit Pest Solutions was built around a simple belief: homeowners deserve pest protection that is thorough, thoughtful, and designed around the property—not a one-size-fits-all treatment.
Why Summit
The details matter.
Pest pressure changes from property to property and season to season. Our approach starts by understanding those differences, then targeting the areas that matter most.
Smarter Service
We focus on understanding the problem before deciding how to treat it.
Respect for Your Home
Every treatment is performed with attention to the property, the people living there, and the conditions surrounding it.
Clear Communication
You should know what we found, what we’re doing, and why we’re doing it.
FAQ
Questions? We’ve got answers.
Everything you need to know about Summit Pest Solutions, our treatments, and what to expect before, during, and after your service.
01
Service & Results
Every home is different, so we start by identifying pest activity and the conditions contributing to it. Your technician will treat the appropriate interior and exterior areas, address accessible pest harborage and entry points, and explain what was completed before leaving.
Our year-round protection is built around recurring service rather than one-time spraying. After the initial service, we return approximately 30–45 days later for the second service, followed by regular seasonal services approximately every 90–100 days.
Pest activity can change between scheduled visits. If a covered pest problem returns between regular services, contact us and we’ll help determine the appropriate next step. Any return visits or coverage depend on the terms of your Summit service agreement.
Yes, when interior treatment is appropriate. We focus treatment on the areas where pest activity is occurring rather than automatically applying products throughout the entire home.
It depends on the pest, level of activity, environment, and treatment used. Some activity may decrease quickly, while other pest problems require time and continued service to disrupt their life cycle. Your technician can explain what to expect after your specific treatment.
02
Treatments & Safety
Our technicians apply products according to their labels and use targeted treatment methods based on the pest and the property. We’ll explain any precautions specific to your service, including whether people or pets need to avoid a treated area temporarily.
Usually not for standard exterior service. Certain interior treatments may have specific instructions. If any temporary vacancy or preparation is required, we’ll let you know before treatment begins.
We select products based on the target pest, treatment location, conditions around the home, and product label requirements. Rather than relying on one product everywhere, our technicians use a targeted approach designed around the specific problem.
No. Our approach is targeted. We focus treatment where pests live, travel, enter, nest, or are most likely to become a problem instead of unnecessarily treating every available surface.
It means being deliberate about how and where treatments are performed. We identify the target pest, use products according to their labels, focus applications where they can make a meaningful difference, and avoid unnecessary treatment.
03
Pricing & Getting Started
Pricing depends on factors such as the size of the home, pest activity, treatment requirements, and service plan. Contact Summit for a personalized quote.
No. Tell us what you’re seeing and where you’re seeing it. Our team can help identify the likely pest and determine the appropriate treatment approach.
Not necessarily. Many exterior services can be completed without you being home as long as the technician has the access needed to perform the service. If interior access is required, we’ll coordinate with you.
Summit Pest Solutions serves homeowners throughout the Greater Spokane, Coeur d’Alene, and Inland Northwest service area.
Request a quote online or contact Summit Pest Solutions. We’ll learn about your home and the pest activity you’re experiencing, recommend the appropriate service, and explain what to expect before scheduling your first treatment.
Still have a question?
Let’s talk about your home.
Every property and pest problem is a little different. Tell us what you’re seeing and we’ll help you figure out the right next step.
Protect My Home
Tell us what’s bugging you.
Tell us a little about your home and what you’ve been seeing. We’ll review the details and help determine the right protection for your property.
Start Here
Help us understand the issue.
Complete the fields to prepare a clear summary of what you’re seeing.
- Your property and contact details
- The pest activity you’ve noticed
- Where and when it appears