Free Pest ID From a Photo

Photos are reviewed by TJ Jackson, Associate Certified Entomologist, and the Interstate Pest Management team.

Found something on the counter, in the window track or out by the foundation and not sure what it is? Send us a photo. Our team works in homes across Oregon and Washington, and we will tell you what you have and what to do about it. It is free, and sending a photo does not sign you up for anything.

How to take a photo we can ID

  1. Get close and in focus. Tap the screen on the bug so your phone focuses on it, not the background.
  2. Put something next to it for size, like a coin or a ruler.
  3. Take one from the top and one from the side if you can. Legs, antennae and the shape of the body are what tell species apart.
  4. If it is dead, set it on a sheet of white paper in good light.
  5. Add a photo of anything around it: droppings, wings on a windowsill, sawdust, chewed wood or a nest.

Keep it safe

Do not get close to a wasp or hornet nest for a better shot. A photo from a distance is enough to start. Do not touch droppings with bare hands.

Bites on their own cannot tell us what is biting. A photo of the insect itself, or of what you are finding in the house, is what lets us identify it.

What happens next

  • Our team looks at your photo and gets back to you by text or email with what it is.
  • If it is harmless, we will say so and you are done.
  • If it needs treatment, we will explain your options. You decide if you want a visit.
  • If it is something we do not treat, we will tell you that too, along with what you can do about it.

Rather talk to someone? Call 360.382.2451, Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm. You can also browse the Pest Library to compare what you are seeing.