Tan Bugs With Wings: 12 Types
These are the 12 most common tan bugs with wings found in North America.
Quick list
How to narrow it down
Narrow it down with three quick checks. Count the legs: insects have six, spiders and ticks have eight, and centipedes and millipedes have many more. Check for wings, even folded ones. Then compare size against a coin: a US penny is 19 mm across. Our bug identifier tool does this filtering for you.
The 12 bugs
Brown-Banded Cockroach
Brown-Banded CockroachSupella longipalpaA small cockroach with two light bands across its back that prefers warm, dry spots high in rooms. It hides behind picture frames, in electronics and inside furniture.
Tell-tale sign: Two pale yellow bands across the wings and abdomen. Risk: They carry bacteria and allergens like other cockroaches but are not known to bite.
Drywood Termite
Drywood TermiteIncisitermes minorA termite that lives entirely inside dry wood such as furniture, attics and window frames, with no soil contact. It is most common in coastal California, the Southwest and Florida.
Tell-tale sign: Small piles of hard, six-sided fecal pellets. Risk: Drywood termites don't bite people; long-term colonies weaken furniture and framing.
Eastern Subterranean Termite
Eastern Subterranean TermiteReticulitermes flavipesThe most widespread termite in North America, living in underground colonies and reaching wood through mud tubes. Dark, winged swarmers emerge indoors on warm spring days.
Tell-tale sign: Creamy white, soft-bodied workers in soil and wood. Risk: Termites don't bite people but can cause costly structural damage over time.
Fruit Fly
Fruit FlyDrosophila melanogasterA tiny, tan fly with bright red eyes that hovers over ripe fruit, drains, trash and spilled drinks. It can go from egg to adult in about a week.
Tell-tale sign: Very small tan body with bright red eyes. Risk: Fruit flies don't bite; they can carry bacteria from trash onto food.
German Cockroach
German CockroachBlattella germanicaA small, light-brown cockroach that breeds rapidly in kitchens and bathrooms, especially in apartments and restaurants. Females carry their egg case until it is ready to hatch.
Tell-tale sign: Light tan to brown body about half an inch long. Risk: German cockroaches contaminate food, and their droppings and shed skins are a major asthma trigger.
Indian Meal Moth
Indian Meal MothPlodia interpunctellaThe most common pantry moth, with wings that are pale gray near the body and coppery bronze at the tips. Larvae spin silk webbing in grains, nuts, cereal, birdseed and dried fruit.
Tell-tale sign: Two-toned wings, cream at the base and rusty bronze at the tips. Risk: Pantry moths don't bite and aren't toxic; infested food should be thrown away.
Larder Beetle
Larder BeetleDermestes lardariusA dark, oblong beetle with a pale yellowish band across the front half of its back. Its hairy larvae feed on dried meats, pet food, cheese and dead insects.
Tell-tale sign: Dark, oblong body with a light tan band across the wing covers. Risk: Larder beetles don't bite, but larvae can bore into wood and they contaminate food.
Spongy Moth
Spongy MothLymantria disparFormerly called the gypsy moth, an invasive moth whose hairy caterpillars strip the leaves from oaks and other hardwoods. Caterpillars carry paired blue and red dots along the back.
Tell-tale sign: Hairy caterpillars with five pairs of blue dots and six pairs of red dots. Risk: Caterpillar hairs can cause itchy rashes, and heavy outbreaks strip trees of their leaves.
Webbing Clothes Moth
Webbing Clothes MothTineola bisselliellaA small, golden-buff moth whose larvae eat wool, silk, fur, feathers and cashmere. Adults avoid light and are more often found in closets than flying around lamps.
Tell-tale sign: Small, shiny golden-tan wings without spots. Risk: Clothes moths don't bite people; larvae damage natural-fiber fabrics.
Crane Fly
Crane FlyTipula spp.A huge, fragile, long-legged fly often mistaken for a giant mosquito. Adults barely feed, and the larvae, called leatherjackets, eat grass roots.
Tell-tale sign: Extremely long, thin legs that detach easily. Risk: Crane flies cannot bite or sting and do not eat mosquitoes, despite the nickname mosquito hawk.
House Cricket
House CricketAcheta domesticusA light yellowish-brown cricket with three dark bands on its head that chirps loudly at night. It wanders indoors in fall and can chew fabric and paper.
Tell-tale sign: Yellowish-brown body with dark crossbands on the head. Risk: House crickets are harmless, though they can damage clothing and keep you awake.
Praying Mantis
Praying MantisTenodera sinensisA large, long-bodied predator that waits motionless with its spiny front legs folded as if praying. It catches insects of all kinds, including beneficial ones.
Tell-tale sign: Triangular head that swivels to look over its shoulder. Risk: Mantises are harmless to people, though a large one may pinch if handled.
Which ones should you worry about?
0 of the 12 bugs in this guide can bite or sting. None of them are considered medically significant. The rest are harmless or simply a nuisance.
Comparison at a glance
| Brown-Banded Cockroach | Drywood Termite | Eastern Subterranean Termite | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group | Cockroaches | Termites | Termites |
| Scientific name | Supella longipalpa | Incisitermes minor | Reticulitermes flavipes |
| Size | 10–14 mm | 8–12 mm | 3–10 mm |
| Colors | Brown and Tan | Brown, Tan and Red | White, Black and Tan |
| Legs | 6 legs | 6 legs | 6 legs |
| Wings | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bites or stings | No | No | No |
| Risk | Nuisance | Nuisance | Nuisance |
| Key feature | Two pale yellow bands across the wings and abdomen | Small piles of hard, six-sided fecal pellets | Creamy white, soft-bodied workers in soil and wood |
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common one?
Among the bugs in this guide, the brown-banded cockroach and drywood termite are the ones people ask about most.
Which of these are dangerous?
None of them are medically significant, though some can bite or sting.
How can I identify a bug I found?
Use the free bug identifier tool: choose the number of legs, wings, main color, size and where you found it, and it will list the closest matches.