10 Common Household Pests Found in Conway, SC

Living in Conway means sharing the warm, humid Lowcountry with a predictable cast of pests. The good news is that most household problems here come down to the same handful of culprits, and knowing what you're looking at is the first step to dealing with it. Here are the ten we get called about most across Conway and the surrounding Horry County communities.

1. Palmetto bugs (American cockroaches)

The big reddish-brown roaches everyone in the Lowcountry calls palmetto bugs are our number-one call. They live and breed outdoors in mulch, drains, wood piles, and crawl spaces, then wander inside on warm nights, especially in summer. Because they come from the surrounding environment, controlling them means treating the exterior harborage and entry points, not just spraying indoors.

2. German cockroaches

Smaller and truly indoor, German roaches establish in kitchens and bathrooms and breed fast. A few seen usually means many hidden. They call for precision gel baiting at the source rather than broadcast spraying, which just scatters them and makes the problem worse.

3. Fire ants

Red imported fire ants blanket Horry County lawns, throwing up dome-shaped mounds that flare after rain. Disturb one and workers swarm and sting in unison. Because colonies have multiple queens and relocate when disturbed, knocking the top off a mound does nothing, real control treats the whole yard.

4. Subterranean termites

South Carolina is prime termite country, and coastal Horry County is about as active as it gets. Subterranean termites, and in places the aggressive Formosan variety, tunnel up from the soil into framing and work silently for years. Mud tubes on the foundation and spring swarmers are the warning signs, which is why annual inspection matters here.

5. Mosquitoes and no-see-ums

Standing water and humid vegetation give mosquitoes endless breeding habitat, and coastal no-see-ums (biting sand gnats) slip right through standard screens. Beyond the bites, mosquitoes carry West Nile virus and EEE risk in active seasons, so reducing standing water and treating resting zones is a health measure, not just comfort.

6. Ants (beyond fire ants)

Argentine ants, pavement ants, and odorous house ants all trail indoors after moisture and food, especially following heavy rain. A persistent trail means they've found a reliable source worth treating at the nest rather than just wiping away.

7. Rodents (roof rats and mice)

Roof rats are especially common on the coast, climbing rooflines and overhanging branches into attics, while house mice slip through dime-sized gaps along the foundation. Both gnaw wiring and foul insulation, and both keep coming until the entry points are sealed.

8. Spiders

Most spiders in Conway homes are harmless and actually helpful, they eat other insects. But recurring webs signal an available food supply of smaller pests, so a spider problem is often really a sign of a broader insect issue worth addressing.

9. Wasps, hornets, and yellowjackets

Stinging insects peak in late summer when colonies are largest and most defensive. Paper wasp nests under eaves, ground-nesting yellowjackets, and big gray hornet nests all become genuine hazards near entryways, especially for anyone with a sting allergy.

10. Wildlife (squirrels, raccoons, and armadillos)

Conway's wooded lots and riverfront put homes right up against wildlife. Squirrels and raccoons push into attics, and armadillos, now common across the Lowcountry, dig up lawns and burrow against foundations. They return to known sites unless the openings are sealed.

The common thread

Almost every pest on this list is easier to prevent than to evict, and most get in through the same gaps, moisture, and entry points that our climate keeps active nearly year-round. If you're seeing any of these regularly, a professional inspection can pinpoint why your home in particular is attractive and stop the next wave before it starts. Conway SC Pest Control serves Conway and the surrounding towns with year-round protection built around exactly this coastal cycle.