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Termite droppings: what to look for
Compare drywood termite droppings with sawdust and other wood-pest debris. See the clues that warrant a professional inspection.
Open guide →GuideTermite mud tubes: how to recognize them
Learn what subterranean termite shelter tubes can look like on foundations and walls, and what a sighting can and cannot establish.
Open guide →GuideRoach poop and cockroach droppings
Identify likely cockroach fecal specks by their location and accompanying clues, and learn when to seek confirmation.
Open guide →GuideMouse droppings: signs and safe next steps
Learn where mouse droppings may appear, how they compare with rat droppings, and why safe cleanup matters.
Open guide →GuideBed bug eggs: appearance and hiding places
Compare bed bug eggs and other physical signs using EPA guidance before assuming an infestation.
Open guide →GuideCarpet beetle larvae: identification clues
Learn how carpet beetle larvae, cast skins, and fabric damage fit together using university extension guidance.
Open guide →GuideWhat termite damage can look like
Compare possible termite damage in wood with other causes and learn why visible marks rarely show the full extent.
Open guide →GuideTermite swarmers and shed wings
Learn what a termite swarm or pile of wings may mean and how to document it before an inspection.
Open guide →GuideTermite or flying ant? Three clues to compare
Compare the three visible features that can help distinguish winged termites from winged ants.
Open guide →GuideCarpenter ant frass: sawdust-like debris
Compare carpenter ant nesting debris with drywood termite pellets and note the clues around damaged wood.
Open guide →GuideRat droppings: compare signs safely
Document suspected rat droppings, compare with mouse signs, and follow CDC cleanup guidance.
Open guide →GuideBed bug stains and dark spots
Compare dark spots and reddish stains with other physical bed bug evidence using EPA guidance.
Open guide →GuideCarpet beetle eggs: where to look
Learn where carpet beetles lay eggs and why larvae and cast skins are often easier to recognize.
Open guide →GuideCockroach egg cases: what they look like
See a labeled American cockroach egg case, compare how four common species carry or deposit theirs, and record what a case can and cannot tell you.
Open guide →GuideBaby cockroaches: nymphs and lookalikes
Compare young cockroaches with adults and other small insects. Learn which details make a useful identification photo.
Open guide →GuideGerman cockroach: markings and indoor clues
Compare the two dark markings behind the head, indoor context, nymphs, and similar cockroaches.
Open guide →GuideAmerican cockroach: size, color, and lookalikes
Identify the features of an American cockroach and distinguish an isolated arrival from recurring indoor evidence.
Open guide →GuideOriental cockroach: dark body and short wings
Compare male and female Oriental cockroaches, damp-area sightings, and other large dark insects.
Open guide →GuideBrownbanded cockroach: bands and hiding places
Compare brownbanded roach markings and understand why inspections may extend beyond kitchens and bathrooms.
Open guide →GuideBugs that look like cockroaches: comparison guide
Use body shape, wing covers, antennae, and context to compare a suspected cockroach with other insects.
Open guide →GuideWater bug vs cockroach: what the name leaves out
Compare a true giant water bug with household cockroaches and make sense of the common nickname.
Open guide →GuideBlack carpet beetle: adults, larvae, and fabric clues
Compare an adult black carpet beetle with its larvae and connect the finding to the material nearby.
Open guide →GuideCarpet beetle vs bed bug: compare the actual insect
Compare bristly larvae, adult beetles, and bed bugs using physical evidence rather than skin symptoms.
Open guide →GuideBugs that look like bed bugs: what to compare
Compare bed bugs with carpet beetles, booklice, and closely related bat bugs without relying on bites.
Open guide →GuideTiny black bugs near windows: a starting checklist
Narrow a window-sill insect finding using size, movement, body details, and evidence elsewhere in the room.
Open guide →GuideSilverfish in a house: body shape, eggs, and clues
Compare silverfish and firebrats and learn why an intact insect is more useful than suspected eggs.
Open guide →GuidePowderpost beetles: round holes and wood powder
Compare wood powder and emergence holes with termite pellets and carpenter ant debris before judging activity.
Open guide →GuideFlea dirt: dark specks on a pet or its bedding
Understand flea dirt as a veterinary clue and document where dark specks were found without diagnosing from a stain.
Open guide →GuideSquirrel droppings: why pellets alone are not enough
Assess a suspected squirrel finding using building context and safe observations rather than a pellet-shape diagnosis.
Open guide →GuideBat droppings: guano clues and safe next steps
Document suspected bat guano without disturbing it, and compare roost context with other attic evidence.
Open guide →GuideRaccoon droppings: recognizing a possible latrine
Learn which context suggests a raccoon latrine and why uncertain wildlife waste should be left undisturbed.
Open guide →GuideLizard droppings: a dark pellet with a white portion
Compare suspected gecko or lizard droppings and understand the limits of the white-tip clue.
Open guide →GuideSpider droppings: spotting beneath a web
Assess suspected spider spotting using a visible web, prey remains, and the limits of stain-only identification.
Open guide →GuidePantry moth larvae, eggs, and food webbing
Compare larvae and webbing in dry foods and learn why a caterpillar on a ceiling may be away from its food source.
Open guide →GuideTermite eggs and young: what household clues can show
Understand the limits of identifying suspected termite eggs or immature termites from household photos.
Open guide →GuideCarpenter ant damage: galleries, debris, and moisture
Compare carpenter ant galleries with termite and beetle damage and document the surrounding evidence.
Open guide →ArticleBugs in cardboard boxes: inspect the item and its contents separately
A practical record for an insect found in stored or incoming boxes, without assuming what it feeds on.
Open article →ArticleCarpet beetle shed skins: record the object before counting pests
Understand why an empty larval skin can be useful evidence without revealing how many live insects remain.
Open article →ArticleCarpet beetles in a closet: trace the material, not just the room
A closet inspection record for larvae, shed skins, and fabric damage that avoids guessing from an adult beetle.
Open article →ArticleChecking a hotel room for bed bug evidence
A travel checklist for documenting a suspected finding and reporting it clearly to hotel staff.
Open article →ArticleChecking used furniture for bed bug evidence before bringing it home
A pre-move observation checklist focused on physical evidence, inaccessible areas, and when to pause the purchase.
Open article →ArticleQuestions to ask a pest professional before agreeing to treatment
Use the evidence record to discuss identification, scope, alternatives, and follow-up with a pest-control provider.
Open article →ArticleA cockroach in an apartment: make a useful maintenance report
Record sightings and physical evidence clearly so an apartment inspection can be coordinated.
Open article →ArticleDead bugs in light fixtures: what the collection can tell you
Interpret a collection of dead insects without assuming it identifies the source or current activity.
Open article →ArticleDiscarded wings on a windowsill: what to record first
Document a wing finding without treating loose wings as proof of termites or an indoor colony.
Open article →ArticleA household pest observation checklist you can reuse
Separate direct sightings from assumptions and build a concise record for an inspector or extension office.
Open article →ArticleHow to check for bed bugs using physical evidence
A calm observation checklist for sleeping areas, with limits on what stains, eggs, and skin marks can establish.
Open article →ArticleHow to photograph a pest clue for identification
A practical photo sequence that preserves scale, location, and uncertainty for a qualified identifier.
Open article →ArticlePossible mouse droppings in a garage: pause before moving boxes
Plan a safe evidence handoff when rodent-like pellets appear among stored items.
Open article →ArticleOld termite damage: questions that help assess current activity
Separate the age of visible damage from the evidence needed to decide whether termites are active now.
Open article →ArticlePantry moth larvae on the ceiling: follow the food evidence
Use a shelf-by-shelf record to investigate a wandering larva without assuming the ceiling is its food source.
Open article →ArticlePantry pest prevention: make stored food easier to check
Use package labels, storage dates, and a simple shelf map to make future pantry evidence easier to interpret.
Open article →ArticleHow to request an insect identification from extension
Prepare a concise image-based request and confirm sample instructions before collecting or mailing a specimen.
Open article →ArticleSmall bugs in a bathroom: record moisture and movement
Narrow a bathroom insect finding using body features and conditions instead of assuming every insect came from a drain.
Open article →ArticleSuspected insect eggs: what a household photo can establish
Avoid turning every pale speck into an egg by recording structure, location, and associated insects.
Open article →ArticleTermite damage or water damage? Separate the observations
Build a clearer inspection brief when damaged wood, staining, and possible insect evidence occur together.
Open article →ArticleA termite evidence checklist before a professional inspection
Document accessible wood clues, recent changes, and unanswered questions before an inspector visits.
Open article →ArticleUnknown droppings in an attic: prepare a wildlife assessment
Organize the location and access questions without entering or disturbing an uncertain accumulation.
Open article →ArticleWhy cockroaches come out at night—and what to record
Turn a nighttime cockroach sighting into a useful inspection record without guessing the size of an infestation.
Open article →ArticleA wood cockroach in the house: visitor or indoor pest?
Use identification and entry context to interpret a possible outdoor cockroach without assuming indoor breeding.
Open article →TopicSigns of termites in a house
Compare pellets, shelter tubes, damaged wood, swarmers, and shed wings.
Open topic →TopicSigns of cockroaches
Where to look for droppings, egg cases, and other clues around a home.
Open topic →TopicSigns of mice and rats
Document droppings and nearby signs, then use safe cleanup guidance.
Open topic →TopicPhysical signs of bed bugs
Check for eggs, shed skins, live bugs, and dark spots before relying on bite marks.
Open topic →TopicSigns of carpet beetles
Larvae, cast skins, eggs, and damage to natural fibers are useful clues.
Open topic →TopicSigns of carpenter ants
Compare sawdust-like frass, ant activity, and wood damage with termite signs.
Open topic →TopicSilverfish and related clues
Compare tapered insects, tail filaments, and moisture context.
Open topic →TopicWood-boring beetle evidence
Compare round emergence holes and wood powder.
Open topic →TopicFlea evidence around pets
Keep pet, bedding, and veterinary observations together.
Open topic →TopicWildlife evidence around the home
Document suspected wildlife waste without disturbing it.
Open topic →TopicSpider evidence and spotting
Connect visible webs and animals with nearby marks.
Open topic →TopicPantry pests and food evidence
Follow larvae and webbing back to affected stored food.
Open topic →TopicLive insects and lookalikes
Compare body features, life stages, and the place an insect appeared.
Open topic →TopicIdentify pest droppings
Compare where the material appeared, its shape, and the clues nearby before deciding what left it.
Open topic →TopicWood and wall clues
Compare pellets, mud tubes, and damaged wood without assuming every mark is a termite.
Open topic →TopicEggs and larvae in the home
Use appearance, location, and surrounding signs to narrow down what you found.
Open topic →TopicWinged insects and shed wings
Compare termite swarmers, flying ants, and wings found around doors or windows.
Open topic →ResourceOriginal photograph and case evidence record
Keep a photograph's origin, observation context, identification basis, permissions, and case timeline together before an editorial review.
Open resource →ResourceFirst pest observation worksheet
Turn an unfamiliar bug, stain, or debris pile into a clear record with photos, location, and unanswered questions.
Open resource →ResourcePhoto identification submission kit
Prepare a useful, organized photo set for an Extension service or pest professional without claiming a diagnosis.
Open resource →ResourceRenter pest observation report
Prepare a factual maintenance report with locations, dates, photographs, access details, and a follow-up record.
Open resource →ResourcePest inspection briefing worksheet
Organize evidence and questions before a pest inspection, then record the explanation, scope, and follow-up.
Open resource →ResourceRepeat observation and change log
Track comparable observations over time without treating a short quiet period as proof that pests are gone.
Open resource →ResourceEvidence standards
How we assess original photos, identification certainty, permissions, case records, and professional review.
Open resource →DefinitionAlate
A winged reproductive form of an ant or termite. “Swarmer” is a common household description. Wings alone do not establish which group produced them.
Open definition →DefinitionCast skin
The outer covering left after an arthropod molts. It records an earlier life stage; it is not a live insect or proof of current activity. Also called an exuvia.
Open definition →DefinitionCerci
Paired appendages at the rear of some insects, including cockroaches. A clear rear view may reveal them, but they are not an identification by themselves.
Open definition →DefinitionColony
A group of social insects living together, such as ants or termites. A few visible individuals do not reveal the full colony’s location or size.
Open definition →DefinitionComplete metamorphosis
Development through egg, larva, pupa, and adult stages. A carpet beetle larva looks very different from the adult beetle.
Open definition →DefinitionContext photo
A wider photograph showing where a clue sits in relation to a room, object, seam, or opening. It complements a close-up that shows detail.
Open definition →DefinitionCurrent activity
Evidence that a pest is active at the time of assessment. Old damage or debris alone cannot establish this; an inspector may need additional observations.
Open definition →DefinitionDroppings
Fecal material left by an animal. Shape and location can narrow possibilities, but visual comparison may not identify the species or make handling safe.
Open definition →DefinitionEgg case
A protective structure containing eggs. Cockroach egg cases are called oothecae. An unidentified capsule should not be labeled an egg case from color alone.
Open definition →DefinitionExclusion
Changes that reduce pest entry, such as addressing appropriate gaps or damaged screens. The right work depends on the pest, building, and any animals already inside.
Open definition →DefinitionExit hole
An opening through which an insect has emerged from a material, often used when discussing wood-boring beetles. A remaining hole does not date the emergence.
Open definition →DefinitionExuvia / exuviae
The singular and plural terms for a shed outer covering after molting. In everyday writing, “cast skin” or “shed skin” is usually clearer.
Open definition →DefinitionFecal spot
A small mark made by excreted material. The term describes a type of mark, not a confirmed species; ordinary stains can look similar.
Open definition →DefinitionFrass
A term used for insect fecal material and, in wood-pest discussions, expelled debris. Describe the actual texture and contents because different guides use the word differently.
Open definition →DefinitionGallery
A passage or hollow space made or occupied within a material. The shape and contents can help an inspector distinguish causes of wood damage.
Open definition →DefinitionHarborage
A sheltered place where a pest hides or rests. A sighting on an open floor does not necessarily locate the harborage.
Open definition →DefinitionIncomplete metamorphosis
Development through egg, nymph, and adult stages without a pupal stage. Cockroaches follow this pattern; their young are called nymphs.
Open definition →DefinitionInstar
A developmental stage between molts. Size and markings can change between instars, so compare reference images of a similar life stage.
Open definition →DefinitionIntegrated pest management (IPM)
An approach that combines identification, monitoring, prevention, and appropriate control decisions. It is a decision process rather than the name of a single product.
Open definition →DefinitionLarva / larvae
The immature stage, or stages, of insects with complete metamorphosis. Beetle and moth larvae can look very different from their adults.
Open definition →DefinitionLife stage
A position in an animal’s development, such as egg, larva, nymph, pupa, or adult. Matching life stage is essential when using a reference photo.
Open definition →DefinitionLookalike
A different organism or object that shares some visible features with the suspected pest. Comparing the feature that separates them is more useful than matching color.
Open definition →DefinitionMolt
The shedding of an outer covering during development. A pale insect immediately after a molt may look unlike its usual darker form.
Open definition →DefinitionMonitoring
Repeated, planned observations used to learn about pest presence or change. A useful record states where, when, and how the observation was made.
Open definition →DefinitionMud tube
An earthen shelter passage associated with subterranean termite activity. Its path and construction matter; an isolated smear of mud is insufficient for identification.
Open definition →DefinitionNymph
An immature insect in a group with incomplete metamorphosis, such as cockroaches or bed bugs. “Baby bug” is less precise and can mix up unrelated life stages.
Open definition →DefinitionOotheca / oothecae
The singular and plural terms for an egg case, used here for cockroaches. Species differ in whether the female carries or deposits the case.
Open definition →DefinitionPellet
A small discrete piece of material. Drywood termite fecal pellets are one example, but a pellet-shaped object alone does not identify its source.
Open definition →DefinitionPronotum
The upper plate of the first thoracic segment, just behind the head. Its markings help compare some adult cockroaches when clearly visible.
Open definition →DefinitionPupa / pupae
The stage between larva and adult in complete metamorphosis. A silk cocoon, when present, is a covering around the pupa rather than the same structure.
Open definition →DefinitionScale reference
A known measurement placed in the same plane as a photographed object. A coin or ruler far behind the object can distort the apparent size.
Open definition →DefinitionSpecimen
The actual organism or material submitted for examination. A qualified identifier may need a specimen when a photograph does not show diagnostic detail.
Open definition →DefinitionSwarmer
A winged reproductive insect seen during dispersal, commonly an ant or termite. Swarming insects should be compared using body and wing features.
Open definition →DefinitionWebbing
Silk strands or a silk-like covering. In stored food, webbing can be a useful moth-larva clue; its context matters because spiders also produce silk.
Open definition →ResourceClue finder
Choose visible features to narrow your reading list.
Open resource →ResourceCompare evidence
Side-by-side cockroach, wood damage, and bedroom comparisons.
Open resource →ResourceEvidence log
Track private case timelines, follow-up checks and inspector reports on this device.
Open resource →ResourcePhoto library
Real pest reference images with subject and license details.
Open resource →ResourcePrintable toolkits
Observation worksheets for recording evidence and preparing a handoff.
Open resource →ResourcePest glossary
Plain-language explanations of identification and inspection terms.
Open resource →ResourceResources
Find the right observation tool, reading path, or identification resource.
Open resource →