A method of detecting the presence of insects, including larvae, in an indoor environment, which includes the steps of (a) obtaining a sample of volatile organic compounds (VOCs); (b) separating the sampled VOCs; (c) detecting the presence or absence of “target” VOCs from at least one category: “category 1 VOCs”—VOCs emitted independently of the support on which the insects develop and emitted only in an insect infestation VOCs, “category 2 VOCs”—VOCs emitted independently of the support but may have biological origins other than insects, and “category 3 VOCs”—VOCs emitted depending on the support and emitted only in an insect infestation; (d) calculating both an insect infestation index (“3I”) and a limit value (“VL”) based on the presence or absence of the target VOCs; and (e) comparing the “3I” and “VL” values. The environment is infested for a “3I” value strictly greater than the “VL” value.