SALT LAKE CITY — It probably won't surprise anyone that ants and aphids are among the most common insects in Utah, but other bugs might not be quite as familiar even though they are also large in number.

The majority of Utah's most common insects are plant and turf pests, although some can be found inside homes, according to Utah State University insect diagnostician Ryan Davis.

"We don't have huge pest pressure like other states do, just in general," he said.

Below are five of the most frequently identified insect families in the state, according to USU's pest diagnostics lab.

Carpet and warehouse beetles

Carpet and warehouse beetles, more formerly known as dermestid beetles, are by far the most common indoor pest in Utah, according to Davis. He said more people contact the lab about having these beetles in their homes than any other pest, including ants.

The beetles are known to live outdoors, but frequently come inside to infest foods and consume pet and animal hair that accumulates in bathrooms and other places, like behind the headboards of beds. They also like to feed on leather furnishings, wool sweaters and other dead insects.

"When I go to hotels and look for bed bugs, I always find carpet beetles instead because they live there behind the beds, feeding on the hair that drops down there and skin cells," Davis said.

Armyworms, cutworms and earworms

The insects known as armyworms and cutworms fall under the noctuids family. As larvae, the noctuids are often found in "hidden areas" like corn husks or just below the soil surface, according to the pest lab. Mature noctuids are brown-toned moths that fly during the night.

Armyworms and cutworms don't pose much of a problem to most people, but can be a pest for those who plant vegetable starts in the spring, according to Davis. He said the moths can find their way to where the starts are and lay eggs. If that happens, the larvae will mow down the plant starts while they are still indoors.

Longhorned and roundheaded wood borers

Thousands of insects fall into the family of longhorned and roundheaded borers, but all tend to attack trees that are really unhealthy or stressed, according to Davis. Borer larvae move throughout a tree, feeding on its wood tissues and making patterns in the bark.

"They are finishing trees off as opposed to being primary killers," Davis said.

Even though it hasn't been found in Utah yet, those who are around ash trees should keep an eye out for a related insect known as the emerald ash borer. The invasive wood eating insect was discovered in Colorado a few years ago and could be making its way to Utah.

Davis said researchers want to spot the insect as soon as it arrives in the state so the population can be controlled. So far, the emerald ash borer is believed to have killed more than 50 million trees. More information can be found on the USU pests website.

Assassin bugs

Assassin bugs prey upon other insects, using their straw-like mouthparts to push into other insects and suck out their liquid insides. Davis said the assassin bugs also excrete a substance that helps them digest their victims.

While there are some assassin bugs that pose public health concerns in places like Texas and Central America, the insects found in Utah don't pose a threat to humans. In fact, they are often considered to be beneficial since they help keep other pest populations under control.

Ground beetles

An insect that is especially timely for the fall is the ground beetle, since it tends to find its way inside people's homes during this time of year, according to Davis.

"They are completely harmless to anything inside or people, but they just kind of wander in like spiders do and then they just die in people's homes," he said.

Like assassin bugs, ground beetles are considered beneficial because they help to naturally control pests. They are even known to help combat problems with weeds. The beetles often hunt insects like root maggots and caterpillars at night and spend their days in hiding.