What photographs help identify a pest?
Take several well-lit photographs without using digital zoom. Start with the whole specimen, then capture useful body details and a wider view of the exact location. Add a ruler or familiar object for scale, and photograph separate physical signs before cleaning or moving them when it is safe to do so.
- 1
Photograph the whole insect, rodent or other specimen from directly above without cropping off the legs, antennae, wings or tail.
- 2
Add a side view or close detail when body shape, waist, wings, antennae, ears, feet or tail proportions may matter.
- 3
Place a millimetre ruler, coin or familiar object beside the specimen. Do not estimate size from memory.
- 4
Take a wider photograph showing the room, surface, furniture joint, pipe gap, food area or exterior point where it was found.
- 5
Document related evidence separately: droppings in place, cast skins, eggs, dark spots, gnawing, trails, damaged packaging or nesting material.
Reusable checklist
Download the pest photo evidence checklist
Use this one-page checklist to capture scale, body details, location and related evidence before requesting identification.
Download the English checklist (PDF)Reusable under CC BY 4.0 with credit to EXTERMINATOR.GE and a link to this guide. Third-party images are excluded.What details should accompany the photographs?
Identification improves when the request records where and when the evidence appeared, whether it repeats and what else changed nearby. These details help distinguish insects with similar outlines and separate an isolated outdoor visitor from activity connected to food, moisture, sleeping areas, animals, storage or building gaps.
Exact location
Name the room, floor, surface and nearby object or opening. A kitchen cabinet, mattress seam and balcony light point to different comparisons.
Time and repetition
Record the date, approximate time, number seen and whether activity occurs by day, at night or after a room was unused.
Matching signs
Describe droppings, stains, skins, eggs, damage, sounds, trails or animal-resting areas without treating one sign as proof.
Property context
Mention recent travel, used furniture, deliveries, leaks, renovation, neighbouring activity, pets or changes in food and waste storage when relevant.
What cannot be confirmed from one photograph?
A blurred image, colour alone, one dropping or a skin reaction may support possible comparisons but cannot establish a species, source or infestation level. Some identifications require several views, a safely contained intact specimen, magnification or an inspection of physical evidence and the property context.
- Bites, itching or a rash do not identify the responsible pest by themselves.
- A distant dark speck cannot reliably separate fleas, ticks, beetles, small flies or debris.
- One pellet or a sound inside a wall cannot by itself confirm a rat, mouse or current activity level.
- A photograph normally cannot determine the hidden source, affected extent or treatment required for the property.
An identification suggestion is not a medical diagnosis and does not replace an on-site assessment when the evidence remains uncertain.
How should evidence be handled safely?
Keep people and animals away from uncertain evidence and avoid direct contact. Do not disturb an active nest, handle a biting or stinging specimen, sweep dry rodent contamination or apply a pesticide based only on a guess. Follow current public-health and product-label guidance for the specific situation.
- Do not hold an unknown insect or spider in your hand to improve a photograph.
- Do not approach, strike or open an active nest to obtain a closer view.
- Do not sweep or vacuum dry rodent droppings, urine residue or nesting material.
- Seek appropriate medical or emergency advice for concerning symptoms, allergic reactions, poisoning or chemical exposure.
Compare the evidence with detailed pest guides
Use the closest evidence-based guide as a comparison, not as proof from appearance alone.