Information about the most common Alberta pests, and some of their misidentified counterparts. Images are not to scale.
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.
Camponotus spp.
Large ants associated with moisture-damaged wood. They excavate galleries for nesting and can indicate a water issue in the structure.
Monomorium pharaonis
Tiny indoor ants that prefer warm, hidden spaces. They can spread quickly if treated incorrectly and typically require bait-based control.
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.
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.
Isoptera
Termites are a major structural pest in many parts of the United States, but they are not established in Alberta. Concerns about termite damage here are usually related to moisture issues or other insects.
Dermestid Beetles
Small beetles whose larvae feed on natural fibers indoors. Carpet beetles are often mistaken for bed bugs, but they do not bite and do not spread person-to-person.
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