Identify Your Pest

illustration of magnifying glass looking at book, photo credit: NPIC

Why is identification important?

Whether your pest is a weed, insect, animal, microbe, or other organism, correct identification of your pest makes controlling it easier and often more effective. A mistake in identification can lead to improper control tactics that cost time and money. It may also lead to unnecessary risks to people or the environment.

Who can identify pests for me?

Many experts are not able to identify pests by phone or email. He or she may want to see a photograph or sample of the pest; they may even need to examine the area where the pest was found. Here are some tips to keep in mind when trying to identify a pest:

Your local Cooperative Extension Service may be able to help you identify the pest.
A pest management professional may also be able to help you identify pests.
While some of these pest identification services may be free, be aware that there may be a fee associated with some pest identification services.
There are many online resources linked below that have pest identification tools and fact sheets with information on specific pests in your area.

Resources	Experts
Fact Sheets on Pests in Your Area	Cooperative Extension
Pest Identification Guides and Tools	Pest Management Professionals

Once you have identified your pest, these resources should be helpful:

If you have questions about this, or any pesticide-related topic, please call NPIC at 1-800-858-7378 (8:00am - 12:00pm PST), or email us at npic@ace.orst.edu.

Additional Resources:

TickEncounter Resource Center - University of Rhode Island
IDmyBUG - IdentifyUS, LLC
Pests in Homes, Gardens, Landscapes, and Turf - University of California Statewide IPM Program
Plant Pest Identification Aid - Texas A& M University
Plant Disease and Insect Identification Pests Leaflet Series - WSU Puyallup Research and Extension Center

Last updated June 22, 2015

Related Topics:

What are pests?

What are pesticides?