This index features various insects, arachnids, and animals commonly considered pests, whose common names begin with the letter C. Click on a pest name to view detailed identification and control information.
Household & Structural Pests (C)
Cockroaches(General): An umbrella term covering several species (German, Oriental, Brown-Banded) that infest homes and businesses.
Carpenter Ants: Large ants that tunnel into wood to create nests, mimicking termite damage.
Clothes Moths: Small moths whose larvae feed on natural fibers like wool, silk, and fur.
Centipedes: Elongated, fast-moving arthropods that prefer damp environments and prey on insects.
Other common household or nuisance pests starting with C include:
Carpet Beetles: Tiny beetles whose larvae feed on carpets, clothing, and other fabrics.
Cluster Flies: Flies that invade attics and wall voids, especially in fall and winter.
Cat Fleas: Bloodsucking pests that frequently infest homes with pets.
Crickets: Known for their chirping, they can invade basements or crawlspaces.
Carpenter Bees: Wood-boring bees that create round holes in decks, siding, and eaves.
Confused Flour Beetles: Pantry pests that infest flour, cereals, and other stored foods.
Garden & Agricultural Pests (C)
Cabbage Worms: Caterpillars that feed on cabbage, broccoli, and other brassica family plants.
Cutworms: Nocturnal moth larvae that cut down young plant seedlings at the soil surface.
Cicadas (Nuisance): Large flying insects whose egg-laying habits can damage young tree branches.
Additional garden or field pests include:
Cabbage Loopers: Green caterpillars with a looping movement that chew holes in leafy crops.
Cereal Leaf Beetles: Bright beetles that skeletonize grains like wheat, oats, and barley.
Codling Moths: The classic “worm in the apple” pest damaging fruit trees.
Corn Earworms: Caterpillars that invade corn ears, tomatoes, and peppers.
Clover Mites: Tiny red pests that invade lawns and occasionally crawl indoors.
Chinch Bugs: Sap-sucking insects that leave brown patches in lawns.
Carrot Weevils: Small beetles whose larvae tunnel into carrot roots.
Couch Grass Mites: Minute pests that damage turf and wild grasses.
Coconut Rhinoceros Beetles: Large beetles that bore into coconut and palm trees.
Cane Beetles: Pests that feed on sugarcane roots and reduce crop yields.
Rodents & Wildlife Pests (C)
Chipmunks: Small, striped rodents that burrow and damage gardens and lawns.
Coyotes: Predators that can be a nuisance or danger to livestock and pets.
Other Notable “C” Pests
Crane Flies: Large, mosquito-like insects; larvae damage grass roots.
Caddisflies: Aquatic insects whose larvae create protective cases; nuisance near lights.
Cicada Killers: Large wasps that hunt cicadas; generally non-aggressive.
Checkered Beetles: Bright beetles, some predatory and beneficial.
Coconut Mites: Microscopic pests that damage coconut crops.
Cluster Flies: Known for clustering in large numbers inside homes.
Cloverleaf Weevils: Small beetles that feed on clover and alfalfa.
Quick Tip: If you find sawdust-like material (frass) near window sills or baseboards, you might have
Carpenter Ants, which are a major structural concern.
Comprehensive List of “C” Pests
Cockroaches
Christmas beetles
Carpenter Ants
Carpet Beetles
Centipedes
Cicadas
Crane Flies
Clover Mites
Crickets
Cutworms
Cat Fleas
Carpenter Bees
Cicada Killers
Corn Earworms
Cluster Flies
Caddisflies
Leafhoppers
Cereal Leaf Beetles
Clothes Moths
Codling Moths
Carrot Weevils
Cloverleaf Weevils
Couch Grass Mites
Confused Flour Beetles
Coconut Rhinoceros Beetles
Checkered Beetles
Chinch Bugs
Cabbage Loopers
Carpet Moths
Coconut Mites
Coyotes
Chipmunks
Cane Beetles
Whether you’re fighting off carpet beetles in your living room, cutworms in your vegetable patch, or chipmunks in your flower beds, this alphabetical guide to “C” pests provides a starting point for identification and control. For more in-depth details, follow the links to each pest’s dedicated page.