Oriental cockroachCucaracha oriental
Large dark roaches, often called water bugs, that live in damp basements, drains and crawl spaces.
Pest ID · English & Español
Pest ID
Found something crawling, flying or chewing in your home? Pick where you found it and what it looks like to see the most likely New Jersey pests, or text us a photo and we’ll tell you what it is.
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How to Send a Good Photo
A clear photo lets us identify most pests right away:
- Get close and tap the screen to focus.
- Put a coin next to it so we can see the size.
- Take 2 or 3 shots from the top and the side.
- Tell us where you found it and your town.
- Photo the signs too: droppings, holes, sawdust or bites.
How do I identify a bug in my house?
To identify a pest in New Jersey, note where you found it and what it looks like, compare it with the photos in the Pest Finder below, or text a clear close-up photo with a coin for size to 973-510-2585 and we’ll tell you what it is. Where you find it matters as much as how it looks: a small brown roach in the kitchen and a large one in the basement are usually different species with different treatments.
Pest Finder
Pick one or both. We’ll show the pests that match.
1 Where did you find it?
2 What are you seeing?
German & American cockroachesCucarachas alemanas y americanas
German roaches spread fast in kitchens and apartments; American roaches come up from basements and sewers.
Wood cockroachesCucarachas de madera
Outdoor roaches that live under bark and leaf litter. Males fly to porch lights and wander inside, but they don’t breed indoors.
Bed bugsChinches
Small blood-feeding bugs that hide in mattress seams and furniture. Bites and blood spots on sheets are common signs.
Subterranean termitesTermitas subterráneas
They build mud tubes up foundations and eat wood from the inside. Swarms of winged insects in spring are a warning sign.
Carpenter antsHormigas carpinteras
Large black ants that nest in damp or damaged wood. Piles of sawdust-like shavings mean a nest is nearby.
House antsHormigas
Pavement and odorous house ants follow scent trails to food in kitchens and bathrooms.
Yellow jacketsAvispas chaqueta amarilla
Aggressive stinging wasps that nest in the ground, walls and eaves. Colonies are largest in late summer.
European hornetsAvispones europeos
Large hornets that nest in hollow trees, walls and attics, and fly at night toward lights.
Honey beesAbejas
Important pollinators that sometimes build hives inside walls. A hive in a wall should be handled by a professional.
Carpenter beesAbejas carpinteras
Large bees that bore round holes into decks, fascia and wooden siding to lay eggs.
Cicada killersAvispas asesinas de cigarras
Very large wasps that dig holes in lawns and sandy soil. They look scary, but the males can’t sting.
House fliesMoscas
Common flies that breed in garbage and spread bacteria onto food and counters.
Fruit fliesMoscas de la fruta
Tiny flies with red eyes that breed in overripe fruit, drains and recycling.
Drain fliesMoscas de drenaje
Small fuzzy moth-like flies that breed in the slime inside sink, tub and floor drains.
Phorid fliesMoscas fóridas
Small humpbacked flies that breed in drains, garbage and broken sewer lines. They often run across surfaces before flying.
FleasPulgas
Tiny jumping insects that ride in on pets and lay eggs in carpets and pet bedding.
Deer ticksGarrapatas
Ticks that can carry Lyme disease. They wait in tall grass and leaf litter for people and pets.
Asian tiger mosquitoesMosquitos tigre
Striped mosquitoes that bite during the day and breed in small amounts of standing water.
Black widow spidersArañas viuda negra
Venomous spiders with a red hourglass mark. They hide in garages, woodpiles and crawl spaces.
House spidersArañas domésticas
Mostly harmless spiders that build webs in corners, basements and windows.
Brown marmorated stink bugsChinches apestosas
Shield-shaped bugs that crowd into walls and attics in fall and smell when crushed.
Asian lady beetlesMariquitas asiáticas
They gather on sunny walls in fall and overwinter indoors. They can bite and stain surfaces.
Pantry mothsPolillas de despensa
Small moths whose larvae infest flour, cereal, rice and pet food in kitchen cabinets.
Clothing mothsPolillas de la ropa
Their larvae eat wool, silk, fur and other natural fibers in closets and stored clothing.
SilverfishPececillos de plata
Fast, silver insects that live in damp bathrooms and basements and feed on paper and starch.
Camel cricketsGrillos camello
Humpbacked, jumping crickets that gather in damp basements and garages.
Boxelder bugsChinches del arce
Black and red bugs that gather on sunny walls in fall and slip inside to spend the winter.
MillipedesMilpiés
They crawl in under doors and through basements after heavy rain, then die quickly indoors.
EarwigsTijeretas
Insects with rear pincers that hide in damp mulch and come into bathrooms and basements.
SpringtailsColémbolos
Tiny jumping insects that gather in damp basements, bathrooms, potted plants and new construction.
House miceRatones
Mice slip in through gaps about the width of a dime as the weather cools, then nest in walls and attics.
Norway ratsRatas
Large rats that burrow along foundations and get in through gaps around pipes and doors.
ChipmunksArdillas listadas
They burrow next to foundations, patios and walkways and can get into garages and sheds.
VolesTopillos
Small mouse-like rodents that tunnel through lawns and gardens and chew roots and bark.
RaccoonsMapaches
Strong climbers that tear into roofs, chimneys and attics, especially when raising young.
SquirrelsArdillas
They chew roof edges and vents to nest in attics, and can chew wiring.
OpossumsZarigüeyas
They shelter under decks, sheds and porches and raid garbage and pet food.
SkunksZorrillos
They dig under decks, sheds and foundations, and spray when cornered.
BatsMurciélagos
Protected animals that roost in attics and walls. They must be excluded legally, not trapped.
PigeonsPalomas
They roost and nest on ledges, roofs and signs, leaving droppings that damage buildings.
StarlingsEstorninos
Birds that nest in dryer vents, exhaust vents and gutters, which can block airflow.
House sparrowsGorriones
Small birds that nest in dryer vents, exhaust vents, signs and gutters.
SnakesCulebras
Garter snakes and eastern rat snakes are common and harmless, and often follow mice into basements.
No match for that combination. Text us a photo at 973-510-2585 and we’ll tell you what it is.
Still not sure? Browse all 44 pests in our pest library or text us a photo.
Seeing signs but not the pest?
Most pests hide during the day. What they leave behind often tells you more than the bug itself.
Droppings
Mouse droppings look like grains of rice with pointed ends. Rat droppings are bigger, about the size of a raisin. Roach droppings look like ground pepper or coffee grounds. Bat droppings crumble to a shiny powder.
Bites
Itchy bites in a line or cluster after sleeping often mean bed bugs. Bites around the ankles, especially with pets in the house, often mean fleas. Bites outdoors at dusk are usually mosquitoes.
Noises in walls or ceiling
Scratching at night usually means mice or rats. Running and rolling sounds in the early morning or evening point to squirrels. Heavy thumps at night can mean a raccoon.
Holes or sawdust in wood
Perfectly round holes about half an inch wide under deck rails, fascia or eaves are carpenter bees. Piles of fine sawdust near wood mean carpenter ants. Mud tubes on the foundation mean termites.
Holes in clothes
Small holes in wool, silk or fur clothing, often with fine webbing, point to clothing moth larvae. Webbing or worms in flour, cereal or pet food point to pantry moths.
Holes in the lawn
Small mounds of dirt with a hole in sandy or bare soil in July and August are often cicada killers. A steady stream of wasps going into one hole in the ground is a yellow jacket nest. Stay back.
Look-alike guides
Some pests are easy to mix up, and the treatment is different for each one.
Know what it is? Get a free quote
Tell us what you found and where. If you’re not sure what it is, describe it or text a photo to 973-510-2585 and we’ll identify it first.
- We reply with what it likely is and what treatment it needs
- Same-day service is often available
- Calls are fastest: 973-510-2585
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Pest ID questions
How can I identify a bug in my house?
Start with where you found it and what it looks like, then compare it with the photos on this page or in our pest library. The fastest way is to text a clear, close-up photo with a coin next to the bug for size to 973-510-2585, and we’ll tell you what it is and whether it needs treatment.
Can I text you a picture of a bug?
Yes. Text the photo to 973-510-2585 and tell us your town and where in the house you found it. A few photos from different angles, with a coin for size, help the most.
What leaves small black droppings in the kitchen?
Droppings shaped like grains of rice with pointed ends are usually from mice. Tiny specks that look like ground pepper or coffee grounds, often in cabinet corners and hinges, are usually from cockroaches. Don’t sweep or vacuum droppings dry; wear gloves, spray them with disinfectant first, then wipe them up.
What is biting me at night?
Bites that show up after sleeping, often in a line or small cluster, are most often bed bugs. Look for small blood spots on sheets and dark specks along mattress seams. Bites mostly around the ankles, especially in a home with pets, point to fleas. An inspection is the surest way to know.
Is it a termite or a flying ant?
Flying termites have straight antennae, a thick waist and two pairs of wings that are the same length. Flying ants have bent antennae, a pinched waist and front wings that are longer than the back wings. Termite swarmers indoors in spring are a sign to call for an inspection.
¿Hablan español?
Sí. Envíenos una foto del insecto por mensaje de texto al 973-510-2585, díganos en qué parte de la casa lo encontró y le decimos qué es, en español.
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Updated October 2026