OBSERVATION KIT / 02

Put the clues side by side.

Look for a combination of features. A mismatch is a reason to keep the identification open.

COMPARISON FILE / 01

Common cockroaches

Compare the life stage as well as the species. The brownbanded reference photo shows a nymph; the other three show adults.

Common cockroaches: features and limits
Comparison	Visible feature	Context to record	What can mislead
German cockroach: markings and indoor clues →Source: UF/IFAS: German Cockroach	Paired lengthwise marks behind the adult head	Exact indoor hiding place	Asian cockroaches can look very similar
American cockroach: size, color, and lookalikes →Source: UF/IFAS: American Cockroach	Large reddish body; pale border behind the head	Interior sightings and possible exterior access	Young stages differ from the adult
Oriental cockroach: dark body and short wings →Source: Penn State Extension: Oriental Cockroaches	Dark shiny body; reduced adult wing coverage	Damp and ground-level locations	An adult female can look wingless
Brownbanded cockroach: bands and hiding places →Source: Penn State Extension: Brown-banded Cockroaches	Bands across the body	Furniture, shelving, and sighting height	Adult wings can obscure the band pattern

COMPARISON FILE / 02

These clues help frame an inspection question. They cannot date the damage or establish structural condition.

Wood debris and damage: features and limits
Comparison	Useful clue	Context to record	What can mislead
Termite droppings: what to look for →Source: UC IPM: Drywood Termites	Firm, distinct fecal pellets	An opening in wood above the pile	Old pellets can be displaced
Carpenter ant frass: sawdust-like debris →Source: UC IPM: Carpenter Ants	Expelled wood fragments and debris	An accessible gallery or actual ants	Ordinary sawdust can look similar
Powderpost beetles: round holes and wood powder →Source: University of Kentucky: Powderpost Beetles	Round exit holes with powder	The affected wood item and any recent movement	Old holes and old powder can remain
Termite mud tubes: how to recognize them →Source: UC IPM: Subterranean and Other Termites	Continuous earth-colored shelter tube	Its route across foundation or wood	Mud alone is not a confirmed tube

COMPARISON FILE / 03

Start with the specimen. Skin symptoms do not settle an insect identification.

Bedroom insects and signs: features and limits
Comparison	Useful clue	Context to record	What can mislead
Carpet beetle larvae: identification clues →Source: UC IPM: Carpet Beetles	Hairy larva or bristly cast skin	The material where it was found	A cast skin is not a live larva
Black carpet beetle: adults, larvae, and fabric clues →Source: UC IPM: Carpet Beetles	Dark adult beetle with wing covers	Window sighting versus affected material	An adult does not locate the larval source
Bugs that look like bed bugs: what to compare →Source: Penn State Extension: Biology, Habitat, and Management of Bed Bugs	Intact bug and detailed body features	Sleeping furniture or possible wildlife context	Closely related bat bugs may need magnification
Bed bug stains and dark spots →Source: US EPA: How to Find Bed Bugs	Marks accompanied by other physical signs	The exact seam or furniture join	An isolated stain is not diagnostic

Still uncertain?

Save the features that fit and those that do not. A qualified identifier may need a specimen or a different view.