Pest Identification

Information about the most common Alberta pests, and some of their misidentified counterparts. Images are not to scale.

Common Ants

Field Ants · Pavement Ants

Small to medium-sized ants commonly encountered around Alberta homes. These ants form large outdoor colonies and enter buildings in search of food, moisture, or shelter.

Active: Spring – Early Fall

Identification

Nest outdoors under soil, pavement, stones, or along foundations
Dark brown to black bodies with a segmented waist and elbowed antennae

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Wasps

Yellowjackets · Bald-faced Hornets · Paper Wasps

Social stinging wasps commonly encountered around Alberta homes. These species live in organized colonies, defend their nests aggressively, and are most noticeable during the warmer months.

Active: Late Spring – Early Fall

Identification

Live in social colonies with queens and workers
Nest in ground voids, wall cavities, or exposed paper nests
Black, yellow, or white markings with a narrow waist and folded wings at rest

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House mouse specimen on white background

Mice

House Mice · Deer Mice

Small rodents commonly encountered in Alberta homes and outbuildings. Mice are agile climbers, active mainly at night, and often go unnoticed until signs of activity appear.

Active: Year-round (peaks in Fall)

Identification

Small body with large ears, pointed snout, and long tail
Nocturnal activity with droppings often found along walls and edges
Enter structures through very small openings while foraging for food or shelter

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Bed Bugs

Cimex lectularius

Small, nocturnal insects that feed on human blood and hide in mattresses, furniture, and wall voids. Bed bugs spread easily through travel and shared spaces and require targeted, professional treatment.

Active: Year-round (indoors)

Identification

Small, flat, reddish-brown insects
Bites often appear in lines or clusters
Common in beds, furniture, and baseboards

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German cockroach specimen on white background

German Cockroaches

Blattella germanica

The most common indoor cockroach species in Canada. German cockroaches reproduce quickly, contaminate food and surfaces, and require bait-based, integrated control methods.

Active: Year-round (indoors)

Identification

Small light-brown roaches with two dark stripes
Common in kitchens, bathrooms, and appliances
Active mainly at night

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