Field tool · not a lab ID

Identify your pest

Answer the questions you can. The tool suggests likely matches from Pest Kill’s directory using identification notes already on those pages. It does not photograph the animal, and it will not tell you it is “definitely” one species.

Uncertainty is the point. Many insects and rodents share a color. If two answers conflict, treat the result as a shortlist and open the species pages. For a bite, sting, or possible rabies-vector contact in the United States, that is medical or public-health care — not this form. Poison control: 1-800-222-1222.

2. About how large was it?

A US dime is about 18 mm. A house mouse is a few inches long without the tail.

Skip Tiny — smaller than a grain of rice Small — rice grain to a dime Medium — dime to a large paperclip Large — bigger than a paperclip, still an insect or spider Mammal, bird, or other vertebrate

3. How did it move?

Skip Flew or hovered Crawled Ran quickly Jumped or hopped Climbed walls, vines, or wires Came from soil, a burrow, or a hole in the ground

4. What color was it?

Skip Brown or tan Black or dark Gray Red, reddish, or rust Yellow, gold, or amber White, pale, or translucent Green Banded, spotted, or more than one color

6. What evidence or damage did you see?

Skip Droppings or pellets Bites, stings, or itching Wood damage, tubes, or sawdust-like frass Infested food, fabric, or stored goods Grease marks, gnawing, or runways A nest, mound, web, or hive Just the live animal — no other evidence yet

7. Where in the building or garden was it spotted?

Skip Along a floor, baseboard, or wall edge Mattress, bed frame, or nearby furniture Drain, sink, or wet pipe On a plant, in soil, or on fruit Overhead — rafter, wire, tree, or roof In soil, turf, or a burrow On skin, hair, or pet fur

If you already know the group

Comparison guides split look-alikes the form cannot see in a photo: house centipede vs millipede, small flies, termite groups, widow look-alikes, and yard rodents.

Matching rules live in a maintainable dataset and only use traits already supported by the species articles. Gaps are listed in the editorial notes for human follow-up — this tool does not invent measurements.