Homes attract all types of bugs and insects. Fuzzy bugs are a less common sight compared to cockroaches or mosquitoes, but they are still found indoors on occasion.
Not all fuzzy bugs are the same as they are hairy bodies are characteristic of multiple species. Some crawl while others fly.
From bugs that eat carpets to spiders that jump, fuzzy bugs are found across species that can sometimes make it indoors.
Most types of fuzzy bugs make it indoors for food or shelter. Some may even be looking to escape predators.
Some fuzzy bugs appear poisonous, as many people associate them with tarantulas and other fuzzy creatures.
While most fuzzy bugs aren’t poisonous, some may sting while others may have irritating hairs.
Here are the most common species of bugs with a fuzzy appearance you may either find in the house or the yard.
1. Carpet beetle larvae – Fuzzy Bugs in House
Carpet beetle larvae are also called Wooly bears due to their fuzzy appearance.
This type of species is a known home pest. Its caterpillars have multiple long setae which make it appear fuzzy.
Common on carpets and on other textiles in the house, these types of bugs are identified by their size first, as they are larger than adult carpet beetles.
The larvae measures 4-4.5mm, as opposed to the maximum 3.5mm size of an adult carpet beetle.
Brown coloring is specific to the body of the carpet beetle larvae. The head of the species is mostly light brown.
This fuzzy bug has a similar diet to adult carpet beetles which makes it problematic when found inside homes, mainly in spring and summer.
Carpet beetle larvae feed on animal-origin fibers inside the house.
Carpets, beds, and clothes are among the first textiles to be attacked by these small bugs.
You can’t easily find the larvae around the house as it hides in dark places. Room corners and places under furniture are among its preferred hiding spots.
This species may also be found in other old objects around the house. Boxes with old clothes or old objects might also attract the larvae.
2. Caterpillars – Fuzzy Bugs on Plants
Caterpillars are known to have a different look through various life stages. Some caterpillars have a fuzzy appearance up until pupation
- Woolly Bear (Pyrrharctia isabella)
These types of caterpillars have red and black setae that make them appear fuzzy. The caterpillars are among the species completely covered in long setae.
You can sometimes see these caterpillars in the fall as they only emerge in late summer.
Overwintering is specific to the species as Wooly bear caterpillars survive winters.
- Salt Marsh Caterpillar (Estigmene acrea)
This type of caterpillar is sometimes seen along crops or on the edges of crops.
It goes through multiple instars. Up to 7 instars are specific to the salt marsh caterpillar.
The last couple of instars shows a fuzzy caterpillar, with brown, purple, black, and white coloring.
Long setae seen on this species can be urticating.
- Hickory Tussock Caterpillar (Lophocampa caryae)
Native to Northeastern US territories, this type of caterpillar is seen on hickory and walnuts in high numbers.
A fuzzy white and black appearance is specific to the species, particularly in the first instars.
This caterpillar later turns into a tan caterpillar with fewer setae.
The size of the species also helps it stand out as it can reach a length of up to 1.7 inches.
3. Moths
Some of the most common types of fuzzy bugs are seen across multiple species of moth caterpillars. These are found both in North America and in many other parts of the world.
- Forest Tent Caterpillar Moth (Malacosoma disstria)
This type of caterpillar is only showing a fuzzy body towards its later instars.
The species has a eusocial profile in its first instars. Groups of caterpillars are seen together.
Forest Tent Moth Caterpillars are known to stick together to warm up before becoming fully independent.
- Southern Flannel Moth Caterpillar (Megalopyge opercularis)
This species is among the hairiest types of moth caterpillars.
It goes through a varying number of instars, first beginning life as a barely hairy caterpillar.
It then becomes a grown caterpillar completely covered in hair. It has a tan-gray color like a grown caterpillar.
- Garden Tiger Moth Caterpillar (Arctia caja)
This type of caterpillar is one of the multiple species also called Wooly Bears. It has black hairs all across its body with brown lateral contrasting hairs as well.
As a garden caterpillar, the species may be seen on almost any type of plant, as a generalist.
The species prefers plants with toxins, which it absorbs to defend itself.
4. Woolly Aphids – White Fuzzy Bugs
Wooly Aphids are some of the smallest types of fuzzy bugs.
They have a white fuzzy appearance and are barely visible on their own. Wooly Aphids tend to be seen in groups, particularly on plant leaves.
These small bugs may also be seen on tree bark and even on the roots of various plants and trees.
Feeding on plants can be a vector for disease. They produce honeydew which eventually covers most areas of a leaf.
This type of honeydew can sometimes lead to sooty mold, a type of mold that covers plant leaves and may even kill some leaves.
Wooly Aphids are hairy bugs with pure white color. This means they appear similar to a mass of white fuzzy textures on various hosts.
Trees such as oak and elm are among the most common hosts for the species.
5. Red Velvet Ants – Red Fuzzy Bugs
These types of bugs are some of the most common species with a fuzzy appearance and a large body.
A maximum size of up to 23mm is specific to this species.
Bugs of this genus aren’t true ants as they’re wasps.
They mimic ants in shape and movements. Females are known to be wingless and covered in red and black fuzzy hairs.
Running around without a clear direction on loose soil, this species has orange, yellow, or white color variations or morphs.
Red Velvet Ants can sting. The pain associated with their sting is intense.
In some parts of the US, these ants are known as Cow-killer ants as their sting is said to have the capacity to kill a cow.
This species is typically solitary and seeing one inside the house doesn’t mean there are others around as well.
6. Beetle Larvae
Beetle larvae may also have a fuzzy appearance, even outside common species such as carpet beetle larvae.
- Mealybug Destroyer (Cryptolaemus montrouzieri)
Mealybug Destroyer larvae are among the predatory larvae with a fuzzy appearance.
These types of larvae have tiny white fuzzy bodies and they can be seen feeding on the same young mealybugs and mealybug eggs adults of the species feed on.
A positive role in the ecosystem is associated with these tiny bugs.
Native to tropical and subtropical climates, these bugs are sometimes used in California to control mealybug invasions on citrus crops.
Wider commercial use of Mealybug Destroyer larvae is specific to greenhouses that have stable and warm temperatures.
- Mexican Bean Beetle – Yellow Fuzzy Bugs
Snap beans are among the most affected types of beans by the Mexican Bean Beetle larvae (Epilachna varivestis).
This species is known to feed on the leaves of various beans to the extent of complete host plant destruction.
Yellowing leaves are seen on bean crops following a Mexican Been Beetle invasion.
The larvae of these beetles are tiny with a fuzzy appearance and a yellow-orange color.
Orange specimens are particularly hard to spot on the dying yellow-orange leaves of beans.
7. Gall Wasps
Gall wasps are among the species known to be protected by galls as growing wasps. They are seen on a wide range of trees where they can have parasitic behavior.
- Furry Oak Leaf Gall Wasp (Callirhytis furva)
Seen on oak trees, these types of gall wasps grow to a small size of around 3mm.
They have short brown hairs creating a fuzzy gall appearance.
Furry Oak Leaf Gall Wasps are only present on oak leaves, which they use for food.
Damages to oak tree leaves are small, even if these tiny parasites live in small groups on the same leaf.
First seen in the spring, these galls eventually kill the leaf they live on without much impact on the rest of the host tree.
- Woolly Oak Gall (Callirhytis lanata)
These types of galls are seen on oak trees from the fall. They remain on the host tree leaves until spring.
Clusters of these galls are seen on oak tree leaves.
A fuzzy white-cream appearance is specific to Wooly Oak Galls.
The galls continue feeding on oak tree leaves until they are partially consumed. A considerable impact on the health of the trees isn’t noted in most cases.
- Crystalline Gall Wasp (Andricus crystallinus)
These types of galls are seen together in clusters. They have a white-pink appearance and can be seen on the underside of leaves.
These galls grow to a size of at least 7mm.
Unlike other types of oak galls, Crystalline Gall Wasps are located on the underside of leaves.
8. Bees
Bees are some of the most widespread types of fuzzy bugs in the world.
The hairs on bees vary in density, length, and color according to each species. Some have fewer hairs while others have dense hairs forming a fuzzy appearance/
- Bumblebees (Bombus family)
Various types of bumblebees are known for their fuzzy appearance.
These bees are covered in hairs and they feed on nectar. Bumblebees don’t have colonies as large as honeybees.
However, they still collect pollen for their smaller colonies to feed their young back in the nest.
- Carpenter bees (Xylocopa family)
Carpenter bees have partially hairy bodies with a fuzzy appearance. The hind legs of females are also covered in hair.
These bees don’t build nests such as honey bees or bumblebees. They live solitary lives.
Carpenter bees are further known to dig nests or galleries in wood.
- Blueberry bees (Habropoda laboriosa)
Blueberry bees such as the Southern Blueberry Bee have fuzzy upper bodies.
These rare bees are the most important pollinator of various blueberry species.
Common in warm Southeastern US habitats, the species is mostly seen just a few weeks per year whenever blueberry flowers appear.
9. Bee Flies
Bee flies are known to be parasites. Adult bee flies are mostly pollinators.
Hairs on these fuzzy flies come in all types of colors from black to yellow.
Bee flies are also known to have specialized hairs not made for collecting pollen.
Rare silver-color hairs are seen on these species. Bee flies often have flattened hairs that appear silver or golden.
These flattened hairs are believed to have a signaling role.
They can signal prospective mates of their presence.
Some theories argue flattened fuzzy hairs on bee flies are visual cues for competitor males to stay away.
Large bee-flies (Bombylius major) are some of the most common species of this genus around the world.
As the name implies, these flies are large, reaching a wingspan of up to 14mm.
The body of the Large bee fly is entirely covered in short hairs. Yellow-black hairs are specific to this species which is a generalist pollinator.
10. Jumping Spiders
Some of the most common spiders around the world are part of a group known as jumping spiders.
This group jumps and actively hunts prey, as carnivore spiders, instead of building large spider webs.
Jumping spiders can accidentally enter homes. They can also enter homes seeking food or shelter.
These spiders take advantage of cracks in walls or open doors to jump inside the house.
An Asian native, Heavy-bodied jumping spider (Hyllus semicupreus) is very common in homes, mostly because they like to live in backyards and gardens around homes.
This species prefers to eat grasshoppers which means it can be found around any vegetated area with these bugs.
Both male and female Heavy-bodied jumping spiders have hairy bodies. As a predator, this spider is still small. Some Heavy-bodied jumping spiders never grow the past size of 8mm.