Cockroaches
Recurring nighttime activity, droppings, shed skins, egg cases, or insects appearing around food, warmth, and moisture may warrant inspection.
Other Household Pests · MetroWest Massachusetts
Not sure what kind of pest you are seeing? Start with the evidence.
Location, time of day, movement, damage, droppings, webbing, shed skins, food contamination, and moisture can help narrow the possibilities before an inspection.
What kind of evidence are you finding?
- Live insects
- Dead insects
- Droppings
- Shed skins
- Egg cases
- Webbing
- Holes or damaged packaging
- Fabric damage
- Wood damage
- Odor
- Bites or skin concerns
- Activity near moisture
- Activity near food
- Activity around windows or doors
Skin marks or symptoms should not be used as the sole basis for pest identification. Medical concerns should be discussed with a qualified healthcare professional.
Common household pests homeowners ask about
Pantry and stored-product pests
Small beetles, moths, larvae, webbing, or damaged packaging may originate in dry foods, pet food, seeds, or stored products.
Flies and drain-associated insects
The location and breeding material matter. Activity may be connected to drains, organic debris, waste, moisture, plants, or an exterior source.
Spiders
Spider sightings may reflect shelter and the availability of other insects. Web type, location, and recurring activity may help document the situation.
Silverfish and moisture-associated pests
Activity around bathrooms, basements, stored paper, cardboard, or humid areas may point to moisture and shelter conditions.
Beetles and occasional invaders
Some insects enter seasonally or accidentally, while others may be connected to wood, fabric, stored food, plants, or exterior conditions.
Bed bugs
Bites alone cannot confirm bed bugs. Physical evidence, location, travel history, and professional identification may be needed.
What to document
- Room or exterior area
- Exact surface
- Time of day
- Frequency
- Approximate size
- Color
- Wings
- Number observed
- Speed or movement
- Nearby food
- Nearby water
- Nearby plants
- Photographs
- Recent travel or used furniture where relevant
- Prior products used
Free homeowner resource
Turn an uncertain sighting into useful information.
The Household Pest Evidence and Identification Worksheet helps you organize photographs, locations, timing, physical evidence, and property conditions before requesting an inspection.
- Where activity is occurring
- Type of evidence found
- Describing what you see
- Timing and frequency
- Food, water, and shelter conditions
- Photograph checklist
- When to request an inspection
Delivered directly to your inbox. Requesting the worksheet does not request pest-control service.
Read the guide on this siteWhen may an inspection be appropriate?
Request an inspection when activity continues, spreads between areas, involves food contamination, appears connected to moisture or structural materials, cannot be identified confidently, or causes concern that cannot be resolved through observation alone.
Request a Professional InspectionNo obligation. Requests are stored and reviewed, and we explain the next step for your area.
Professional provider availability is currently being established for MetroWest.
Frequently asked questions
Educational information only. Online information cannot definitively identify every pest or confirm whether an infestation exists. Signs described here overlap between species and can also be caused by non-pest household conditions.