With over 5000 species on the planet, it is difficult to categorize lizards without bringing in some science. There are several species many people can identify.
Some of them are popular because they are great pets while others are famous because of the airtime they get on documentaries and other media.
Quick Answer: How to Get Rid of Lizards
Lizards in the house mean one of two things: an open entry point (gaps under doors, windows, or vents), or an active insect population they’re feeding on. Most US homeowners get fast results by combining a repeller (ultrasonic or spray) with a sticky trap and basic exclusion. Three options below cover every approach:
Best No-Touch Repeller
Ultrasonic Pest Repeller (1200 sq ft Coverage)
Plug-in unit that emits ultrasonic frequencies lizards and the insects they feed on find unpleasant. Best as a passive, set-and-forget deterrent — particularly useful for rooms where lizards keep returning. Safe around pets and children.
Best Spray Repellent
Lizard Defense All Natural Repellent Spray
Natural-formula spray applied around windows, doors, garages, and entry points. Creates an odor barrier lizards avoid. Apply every 30 days during active season. Best for homeowners who want a directly targeted deterrent.
Best Visual Deterrent
Design Toscano Horny Toad Lizard Statue
Predator-shaped decoy that exploits lizards’ instinctive fear of larger reptiles and birds. Place on patios, near pools, and around garden entries. Best as a layered deterrent — most effective combined with a repeller or spray, not alone.
Prices and availability change frequently — click through to Amazon for current pricing. PestsGuide.com earns from qualifying purchases (Amazon Associates).
Chameleons
Chameleons are arguably one of the most famous lizards. Their unique color changing skills make them very memorable.
Iguanas
Iguanas are a favorite as pets. They are kept in glass cases on display or as companions. Their special look and herbivorous behavior make them ideal pets.
Geckos
Geckos are found almost everywhere. These are known for their predatory habits on mosquitoes and tail regenerating capabilities.
Habits Lizards Have
Looking closely at lizards, they have smoothly arranged scales that give them a slippery look.
These cold-blooded animals lack the innate ability to regulate their body temperatures and often go out in the sun to bask and raise their internal temperatures.
Many lizards possess unique features that make them stand out from the rest. The Jesus lizards can walk on water while others can regrow body parts which break off.
Lizard Sizes
They exist in a variety of shapes and sizes.
Some are thin with long tails like the whiptail lizard while others have short chubby bodies with stubby legs.
The world’s largest lizards, the Komodo Dragon, inhabits Komodo islands in Indonesia while the smallest is the dwarf gecko. The difference in species and environments force the lizards to adapt to their surroundings these adaptations influence various aspects of their lives including their sizes.
Lizards’ Diets
Most lizards are carnivorous, feeding on insects, birds or rodents.
Larger lizards seek larger prey to satisfy their appetites. Some species seek out goats and herbivores as large as antelope as prey. The Komodo dragon is the world’s largest lizard that feeds on relatively large prey and carrion around its habitat.
Yes, there are vegetarians among lizards.
The iguana is a well-known herbivore. This lizard is incapable of digesting animal protein and must rely on plants for its nutrients. Iguanas in the wild can dive several meters down water bodies to eat algae off the rocks or on the sea bed. A majority of lizards eat insects and other small prey.
What Do Baby Lizards Eat?
Hatchlings eat exactly what adult lizards eat.
Unlike humans, there isn’t a specific baby food for them. They feed on mostly insects because these are convenient for their size. As the lizard continues to mature, so does their instincts and hunting skills.
How Long Do Lizards Live
Lizards’ life spans like humans are determined by their lifestyle choices and their environmental surroundings. Maintaining a proper diet and influence of their natural habitats influence how long they live.
Obviously, pet lizards live longer than their wild counterparts.
Because they are kept in a safe, predator-free environment, they don’t have to worry about finding food or surviving natural selection. Smaller lizards in the wild have a harder time keeping predators away. They have shorter life spans than their larger relatives. Depending on the breed, lizards can live up to 50 years.
Lizard Habitats
Except for the Polar Regions, there is nowhere you cannot find lizards.
With all the species of lizards, these reptiles are found all over the world. Some occupy isolated islands with other reptilians while others form part of delicate forest fauna. Either way, very few ecosystems lack lizards.
In the wild, lizards prefer varied types of habitats. While some like tree tops and vegetation, others like living among the rock clusters in the desert.
Lizards around civilization are neither as large nor aggressive as lizards in the wild. The often live within cracks and crevices where they can hide from excruciating temperatures or potential predators. It is common to see a lizard scurry across the wall and hid behind equipment or cracks.
How to Get Rid of Lizards
Geckos and other larger lizards are common household invaders.
Although they aren’t poisonous, they pose a health threat to you and other inhabitants.
Lizards leave behind germs that could get you very ill.
Trying to grab them while they scurry across the wall or floor is a poor control method. Some lizard species purposely allow their tail to break off, after they escape, regenerating a new one is not a problem. Here are some ways you can eradicate lizards.
Chemical Control
There are several chemical chemicals you could use to chase away lizards or kill them.
Many pesticides are designed to eradicate these home invaders. These commercial options are highly effective and kill or repel the lizards.
Fumigating your home to get rid of insects indirectly reduces the number of lizards.
If lizards keep returning despite DIY repellents, the real problem is usually an insect food source attracting them — and a pro can pinpoint and treat it: get free pest control quotes via Angi → (free, no obligation, takes about 60 seconds).
Natural Control
If you’re concerned about using chemicals around your home, there are several natural alternatives. They employ strong or pungent odors to repel the lizards.
Egg shells, pepper spray, and garlic produce smells that the lizards do not like. They often leave the space as a result and do not return.
Solutions that use coffee and tobacco powder directly kill the lizards.
Traps and Sticky Surfaces
Using traps intended for mice, you can alter the bait and ensnare the lizard invaders.
Alternatively, set up sticky traps or glue boards to get rid of the insects attracting the lizards in your home. Once their primary source of food is exterminated, the lizards will migrate elsewhere.
7 Interesting Facts About Lizards
Venomous Lizards
Several species can produce venom which they can transmit through bites.
The teeth sink some of the venom into the surrounding tissues. The venom acts as a toxin inhibiting blood clotting and slowly poisoning the victim. This is a hunting tactic used my various lizard species around the world.
Do Lizards Lay Eggs?
Many species lay eggs which hatch to produce their hatchlings.
Some species like the Slow worm, incubate their eggs inside their bodies and eventually give birth to the hatchlings. The eggs incubate for an estimated three months.
Large lizards like the Komodo dragon lay eggs which they bury in the ground. The stand guard and wait until their offspring hatch, safeguarding them against potential predators like snakes.
Whiptail Lizards
These types of lizards have extremely long tails and a pointed nose. They come in a variety of colors and patterns. Their bellies are large and square with scales arranged in transverse rows running lengthwise. They are mostly occupants of desert lands, grasslands, and woodland. These lizards are found hiding under rocks and among plant debris.
Lizards That Look Like Dragons
Lizards look like a bunch of weirdoes.
Some have crazy color combinations while others have plain dull pigments. Some species resemble dragons while others bear the title dragon as their names.
The Chinese water dragon is a unique looking lizard you could easily confuse for the mythical creature.
Mexican alligator lizards are a vibrant green color, a few shades darker and they look exactly like Smaug the dragon.
Do Lizards Have Teeth?
Contrary to what you’d assume lizard bite with teeth not fangs. These are not only useful during meals, but for attacking potential threats or competitors. The weight of their jaws come down in a compressing force and cause damage to underlying tissues and vessels.
Lizard bites are very harmful.
They might not have any venom, but some lizards introduce dangerous organism with one bite that makes the wound fester and lead to fatal infections.
How Do Lizards Mate?
Many species hold mating rituals and dances to find their perfect partner. The male takes the female from the side and holds her down by biting the neck. After successfully holding her down, he injects sperm into her reproductive parts for fertilization.
Flying Lizards
Dracos are one of the unusual species of lizards that can fly.
They have relatively small bodies that are flat. Adapted to flying, these lizards hardly ever come to the ground. In a gliding motion, they move from tree to tree in the forests that they inhabit, protecting their territories and trying to find mates.
Final Thoughts
Lizards are not aggressive household invaders, but they bring two real concerns: they leave behind germs on the surfaces they touch, and their presence usually means your home already has an insect problem attracting them. The most effective DIY approach is to remove the insect food source first, then layer a repeller, spray, or sticky trap for any remaining lizards. If lizards keep returning despite this, the next step is a professional inspection — they can identify the underlying insect issue that DIY repellents won’t solve.
If you’re seeing lizards in multiple rooms or every week, the underlying insect problem needs professional treatment, not DIY repellents alone: get free pest control quotes via Angi → (free, no obligation, takes about 60 seconds).
