PestDecoderDecode a clue

Evidence library

Pest profiles built around the signs they leave

Each profile separates characteristic evidence, misleading lookalikes, a high-value next observation and the point where professional inspection becomes prudent.

31 pest profilesFilters run locally
high concern

German cockroach

Blattella germanica

Pepper-like spotting, small ridged egg cases and nighttime activity clustered near food, water and heat.

DroppingsEggs and casesShed skins
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medium concern

American cockroach

Periplaneta americana

Large droppings or dark capsules near drains and humid utility routes, often with a large fast adult sighting.

DroppingsEggs and casesShed skins
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medium concern

Oriental cockroach

Blatta orientalis

Shiny dark adults, larger droppings and egg cases concentrated in cool wet lower-level routes.

DroppingsEggs and casesOdors
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high concern

House mouse

Mus musculus

Small smooth tapered droppings along edges, fine gnawing and shredded nesting material near food routes.

DroppingsHoles and openingsSounds and movement
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high concern

Norway rat

Rattus norvegicus

Large thick droppings, broad gnawing and lower-level routes near foundations, drains or burrows.

DroppingsHoles and openingsSounds and movement
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high concern

Roof rat

Rattus rattus

Slender rat-scale droppings and nighttime movement in attics, rafters or elevated routes.

DroppingsHoles and openingsSounds and movement
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high concern

Big brown bat

Eptesicus fuscus

Crumbly droppings with shiny insect fragments below a high roost or entry, sometimes with fluttering at dusk.

DroppingsHoles and openingsSounds and movement
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medium concern

Eastern gray squirrel

Sciurus carolinensis

Daytime bounding and rolling sounds near a larger roof opening, with leaves or bulky nesting material.

Holes and openingsSounds and movementDamage and gnawing
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high concern

Drywood termite

Kalotermitidae

Uniform hard pellets in small piles directly below tiny wood openings, often recurring after cleanup.

Frass and pelletsWings and swarmersHoles and openings
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high concern

Subterranean termite

Rhinotermitidae

Mud shelter tubes, soft or hollow wood and equal-length swarmer wings near soil-connected routes.

Wings and swarmersHoles and openingsDamage and gnawing
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medium concern

Carpenter ant

Camponotus spp.

Coarse mixed wood shavings below a slit or crack, often with large ants and moisture-damaged wood nearby.

Frass and pelletsWings and swarmersHoles and openings
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medium concern

Powderpost beetle

Lyctinae and related groups

Tiny round holes with flour-like powder accumulating below unfinished or stored wood.

Frass and pelletsHoles and openingsLarvae and grubs
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high concern

Old house borer

Hylotrupes bajulus

Larger oval exit holes, coarse packed frass and feeding sounds in softwood framing.

Frass and pelletsHoles and openingsLarvae and grubs
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high concern

Bed bug

Cimex lectularius

Ink-like fecal spots, pale cast skins, eggs and flat reddish insects concentrated along bed or furniture seams.

Stains and smearsShed skinsEggs and cases
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medium concern

Cat flea

Ctenocephalides felis

Dark flea dirt and jumping laterally compressed adults concentrated around pet bedding, rugs and rest zones.

DroppingsLarvae and grubsSounds and movement
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low concern

Varied carpet beetle

Anthrenus verbasci

Hairy banded larval skins and irregular grazing damage in lint, wool, feathers or stored natural fibers.

Shed skinsLarvae and grubsDamage and gnawing
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low concern

Clothes moth

Tineola bisselliella and Tinea pellionella

Smooth pale larvae, attached silk cases or webbing and clipped natural fibers in dark garment folds.

Webbing and silkLarvae and grubsDamage and gnawing
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low concern

Indianmeal moth

Plodia interpunctella

Silk-clumped food, webbing in package seams and a two-tone adult moth in kitchens or pantries.

Webbing and silkLarvae and grubsEggs and cases
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low concern

Rice weevil

Sitophilus oryzae

Tiny dark beetles with a clear snout and round emergence holes in whole grain or seed.

Holes and openingsLarvae and grubsDamage and gnawing
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low concern

Drugstore beetle

Stegobium paniceum

Hump-backed brown adults, small package pinholes and fine product dust without obvious silk.

Holes and openingsLarvae and grubsDamage and gnawing
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low concern

Drain fly

Psychodidae

Fuzzy triangular wings, weak short flight and adults resting near one persistent wet-film source.

Larvae and grubsEggs and casesOdors
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low concern

Fruit fly

Drosophilidae

Compact tan flies hovering actively around fermenting fruit, beverage residue or recycling.

Larvae and grubsEggs and casesOdors
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medium concern

Phorid fly

Phoridae

Hump-backed side profile, erratic running and repeated emergence near hidden moist decay or plumbing defects.

Larvae and grubsOdorsEggs and cases
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low concern

Fungus gnat

Sciaridae

Long-legged dark gnats hovering close to moist plant soil, with translucent dark-headed larvae in media.

Larvae and grubsEggs and cases
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low concern

Springtail

Collembola

Large clusters of tiny specks that spring when disturbed and disappear as the moisture source dries.

Larvae and grubsSounds and movement
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low concern

Booklouse

Psocoptera

Minute pale or gray crawlers on humid books, cardboard or moldy surfaces, without jumping.

Larvae and grubsDamage and gnawing
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low concern

Silverfish

Lepisma saccharinum

Silvery tapered body, three tail filaments and irregular surface grazing in cool humid paper or storage areas.

Shed skinsDamage and gnawing
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low concern

Firebrat

Thermobia domestica

Mottled tapered insect with three tail filaments recurring near a hot, humid appliance or boiler zone.

Shed skinsDamage and gnawing
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low concern

Cellar spider

Pholcidae

Loose three-dimensional web with a very small body, extremely long legs and wrapped prey remains.

Webbing and silkEggs and cases
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low concern

House cricket

Acheta domesticus

Repeated nighttime chirping from a warm void, with a tan long-legged jumping insect nearby.

Sounds and movementDroppingsDamage and gnawing
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low concern

Cluster fly

Pollenia spp.

Slow dark flies clustering at upper windows or attics seasonally, without an indoor food or drain breeding source.

Wings and swarmersOdors
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