Pest Identification

What Bug Is This? Kansas City Pest Identification Help

Identification comes first, because the fix depends entirely on what the pest is. Send us a photo and tell us where you found it — we'll tell you what it is and whether it needs anything at all.

How to take a photo we can identify

• Get close and in focus — tap the screen on the bug before you shoot.
• Put a coin or ruler next to it so we can judge size.
• Shoot from the top and the side if you can; the side view shows the waist and antennae.
• For wings, droppings or damage, photograph those too.
• Tell us where you found it and how many you're seeing.

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The look-alikes people mix up most

Flying ant or termite swarmer?

Termite swarmers have straight antennae, a thick waist and four wings of equal length. Ants have elbowed antennae, a pinched waist and a longer front pair of wings.

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Brown recluse or just a brown spider?

A recluse is uniformly tan with no leg bands, a dark violin shape on the front body section, and six eyes in pairs. Most brown spiders fail at least one of those.

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German cockroach or American cockroach?

German roaches are about half an inch with two dark stripes behind the head and live in kitchens. American roaches are up to two inches, reddish-brown, and come up from drains and basements.

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Carpenter ant or field ant?

Both are big and dark. Carpenter ants leave sawdust-like frass and trail indoors at night; field ants build dirt mounds in the lawn.

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Boxelder bug or stink bug?

Boxelder bugs are black with red-orange lines; brown marmorated stink bugs are mottled brown and shield-shaped. Both overwinter in walls and neither breeds indoors.

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Bed bug or carpet beetle?

Bed bugs are flat, reddish-brown and apple-seed sized, found in mattress seams. Carpet beetles are tiny, round and speckled, usually on windowsills.

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Browse the full Kansas City pest library with photos →