Bug FAQWhich house bugs bite?
These can bite people. 50 house and yard pests on Bug FAQ, most commonly seen first. Each line is quoted from that bug's page and its sources.
Asian Lady BeetleHarmonia axyridisCan biteAsian lady beetles can bite people, though it is more of a pinch. They are not a health threat.
Source: extension.msstate.edu, University of Minnesota Extension, Wikipedia, pestsense.cahnrs.wsu.edu
Cross OrbweaverAraneus diadematusCan biteIt bites people only when cornered or provoked. Verified bites cause pain, swelling and redness.
Source: Wikipedia, Penn State Extension
Bold Jumping SpiderPhidippus audaxCan biteBold jumping spiders may bite if handled, but bites are rare and usually cause only mild itching.
Yellow Garden SpiderArgiope aurantiaCan biteBites are very unlikely. A bite is about like a bee sting, with redness and swelling.
Source: Wikipedia, University of Minnesota Extension, Penn State Extension
Spotted OrbweaverNeoscona cruciferaCan biteIt rarely bites people, and its bites are not known to cause serious effects.
Source: Wikipedia, UF/IFAS, extension.msstate.edu
Convergent Lady BeetleHippodamia convergensCan biteThey may bite if handled, but the bite is not harmful to people.
Source: pestsense.cahnrs.wsu.edu, ohioline.osu.edu
Golden Silk SpiderTrichonephila clavipesCan biteIf handled, the golden silk spider may bite, causing only mild localized pain and slight redness.
North American Wheel BugArilus cristatusCan biteThe wheel bug can bite if handled, and the bite is intensely painful for several minutes.
Source: Wikipedia, citybugs.tamu.edu, entomology.ca.uky.edu
Dark Fishing SpiderDolomedes tenebrosusCan biteIt can bite humans, but the bite is usually no worse than a bee or wasp sting.
Source: Wikipedia, Penn State Extension
House CentipedeScutigera coleoptrataCan biteHouse centipedes may bite when handled, but the bite is usually mild and causes only localized pain and swelling.
Source: Wikipedia, arthropod.uark.edu
Triangulate CombfootSteatoda triangulosaCan biteIt is not defensive toward people, and bites on people are almost unknown.
Source: Wikipedia, lsuagcenter.com
ThripsThysanopteraCan biteSome thrips bite people. Reactions range from slight irritation to a rash with intense itching that can last several days.
Source: journals.flvc.org, Wikipedia
False Black WidowSteatoda grossaCan biteIts bite is much less severe than a true black widow's, but some bites have caused blistering and a few days of feeling unwell.
Source: Wikipedia, Penn State Extension
Furrow OrbweaverLarinioides cornutusCan biteTheir bite can cause mild pain, numbness, swelling, and rarely nausea or dizziness.
Source: Wikipedia
Common House SpiderParasteatoda tepidariorumCan biteCommon house spiders may bite if handled, causing mild pain and redness for a few hours, but they are not considered dangerous to people.
Source: Wikipedia, Penn State Extension
Leafhopper Assassin BugZelus renardiiCan biteThey can bite people, and the bite is painful like a bee or wasp sting.
Source: extension.msstate.edu
Joro SpiderTrichonephila clavataCan biteIt will bite if you push a hand at it, but its venom is weak and it does not pose a threat to people. A bite feels about like a bee sting.
Source: Wikipedia, news.uga.edu
Brown WidowLatrodectus geometricusCan biteBites are extremely rare and usually happen when a female gets trapped against the skin. Symptoms are milder than a black widow's and usually stay at the bite, but more serious symptoms have been documented.
Source: lsuagcenter.com, Wikipedia
Woodlouse SpiderDysdera crocataCan biteIt can bite if handled. The bite can leave a small, very itchy red spot.
Source: Wikipedia, Penn State Extension
Rabid Wolf SpiderRabidosa rabidaCan biteIt may bite if provoked or trapped against the skin. Expect pain and redness, maybe some swelling, usually gone within a day. The bite is not dangerous to people.
Source: Wikipedia, Penn State Extension
Northern Yellow Sac SpiderCheiracanthium mildeiCan biteIt can bite people, but the bite is usually mild with only pain, redness and occasional swelling.
Source: Wikipedia, UC IPM, Utah State Extension
Brown CentipedeLithobius forficatusCan biteIt can bite people but the bite is mild and only causes brief localized pain.
Source: Wikipedia
Wetland Giant Wolf SpiderTigrosa helluoCan biteIt may bite if handled or trapped against the skin. Expect pain and redness, maybe some swelling, usually gone within a day. It is not medically significant.
Source: Wikipedia, Penn State Extension
Giant House SpiderEratigena atricaCan biteIt bites only if provoked, and the bite is not known to pose any threat to people or pets. The usual reaction is local pain and swelling.
Source: Wikipedia, pestsense.cahnrs.wsu.edu
Masked HunterReduvius personatusCan biteIt bites if handled carelessly or trapped. The bite feels like a bee sting, followed by numbness and swelling that can last about a week.
Source: Wikipedia, University of Minnesota Extension, hort.extension.wisc.edu
Barn Funnel WeaverTegenaria domesticaCan biteIt rarely bites, and only in self-defense. The bite is unlikely to break the skin, and no bite from this spider has been documented.
Source: Wikipedia, Penn State Extension
Black Horse FlyTabanus atratusCan biteFemale black horse flies bite people and livestock, causing painful, bleeding wounds.
Source: Wikipedia, UF/IFAS, extension.umaine.edu
Southern House SpiderKukulcania hibernalisCan biteIt is reluctant to bite, and its venom is not medically significant. In two reported bites, people had pain and swelling for up to two days.
Source: Wikipedia, lsuagcenter.com, UF/IFAS
Texas Brown TarantulaAphonopelma hentziCan biteBites can hurt and may get infected.
Source: Wikipedia
Stable FlyStomoxys calcitransCan biteStable flies mainly feed on animals, but they will bite people, especially outdoors when no animal is around.
Source: journals.flvc.org, Wikipedia
Common Desert CentipedeScolopendra polymorphaCan biteThey can bite and cause painful swelling, discoloration, and numbness.
Source: UC IPM
Shore EarwigLabidura ripariaCan biteThey can give a minor defensive pinch if handled, but it is not harmful to people or pets.
Source: lsuagcenter.com
Giant Desert CentipedeScolopendra herosCan biteIts bite causes sharp, searing pain and swelling, but it has never caused a confirmed death. In one test bite the pain eased after 15 minutes and most symptoms were gone in 3 hours.
Source: Wikipedia, arthropod.uark.edu
Carolina Wolf SpiderHogna carolinensisCan biteIt can bite if handled, causing mild pain and temporary redness.
Source: Penn State Extension
Hobo SpiderEratigena agrestisCan biteHobo spiders may bite if handled or trapped.
Source: Wikipedia, montana.edu, Utah State Extension
Agrarian Sac SpiderCheiracanthium inclusumCan biteIts bite starts with moderate pain, then itching, and usually clears in 7 to 10 days. Utah State says it is less toxic than a hobo spider's bite.
Source: Wikipedia, digitalcommons.usu.edu
African Big-headed AntPheidole megacephalaCan biteThey may bite if their nest is disturbed, but the bite is not painful.
Source: UF/IFAS
Asian Bush MosquitoAedes japonicusCan biteIt bites people during the day, though it seems reluctant to. It can carry West Nile virus in lab tests, but it is not known as an important spreader of disease.
Lined EarwigDoru taeniatumCan biteThey may pinch a person.
Source: blogs.ifas.ufl.edu
Common Bed BugCimex lectulariusCan biteBed bugs bite people, causing itching and skin irritation but do not spread disease.
Sawtoothed Grain BeetleOryzaephilus surinamensisCan biteThey may nibble human skin but the bites are harmless.
Source: Wikipedia
Winter Marsh MosquitoCuliseta inornataCan biteFemale winter marsh mosquitoes bite people and other animals.
Source: UC IPM
Beautiful Deer FlyChrysops callidusCan biteFemale beautiful deer flies bite painfully and can cause itching and swelling.
Source: extension.umaine.edu, UF/IFAS
Tropical Bed BugCimex hemipterusCan biteTropical bed bugs bite people and leave itchy welts. Bed bugs have never been shown to spread disease to people.
Chicken MiteDermanyssus gallinaeCan biteChicken mites bite people, usually at night, and the bites can itch badly and raise bumps or blisters. They come from birds and bird nests and cannot live on people.
Source: Wikipedia, arthropod.uark.edu
Dog FleaCtenocephalides canisCan biteDog fleas can bite people, causing an itchy rash with small bleeding bumps.
Source: Wikipedia
Human FleaPulex irritansCan biteIts bites itch. It can carry plague and typhus germs, but it is a very poor spreader of plague, and experts list it only as a possible carrier.
Crab LousePthirus pubisCan biteCrab lice bite people to feed on blood. Most people just itch, some itch badly or get small blue-gray spots, and they are not known to spread disease.
Hen FleaEchidnophaga gallinaceaCan biteHen fleas live mostly on poultry and can attach to people, but that is uncommon. Their feeding irritates the skin, and they are not known to be important disease carriers.
Source: veterinaryentomology.org
Common ChiggerTrombicula alfreddugesiCan biteThe larval stage bites people, causing itchy welts.
Source: Wikipedia, extension.msstate.edu