Pest ID flowchart and treatment prep checklist

First observations

Question	Notes
Where did you first notice activity?
What did you see?	Live insects / droppings / damage / noise / odor / nest / bites / other
When is activity highest?	Morning / afternoon / night / after rain / after food prep / seasonal
How many pests did you see?	Single / a few / many / recurring
Are pets, children, food, water, or sensitive people nearby?
Have products already been applied?

Basic ID flow

Sign	Common direction to investigate	Notes
Tiny insects near food or pantry	Pantry pests, ants, fruit flies, drain flies
Droppings, gnaw marks, or scratching	Rodents or wildlife
Mud tubes, damaged wood, or swarmers	Termites or wood-destroying insects
Itchy bites and dark mattress specks	Bed bugs or fleas
Trails entering from gaps	Ants or other crawling insects
Activity near moisture or drains	Drain flies, cockroaches, moisture pests
Nesting around eaves or ground holes	Wasps, bees, or other stinging insects

Photo and sample log

Photo/sample	Location	Date/time	What it shows	Follow-up

Prevention and monitoring checklist

• Store food in sealed containers and remove crumbs or spills.
• Reduce standing water, leaks, and damp clutter.
• Seal obvious entry gaps where appropriate.
• Move firewood, debris, and dense vegetation away from the structure.
• Use monitoring traps when label directions and placement are appropriate.
• Keep notes on where activity continues after sanitation and exclusion.

Treatment-prep checklist

Prep item	Done	Notes
Pest identification is reasonably confirmed
Label directions match the pest and treatment site
Pets, children, food, and water sources are protected
Required PPE is available and understood
Reentry, ventilation, and cleanup directions are clear
Professional help is scheduled if risk is high

Call a professional or extension office when

• You suspect termites, bed bugs, widespread rodents, stinging insects in a structure, or wildlife.
• Pests are near electrical equipment, medical areas, nurseries, food prep, or vulnerable occupants.
• You cannot identify the pest after gathering photos and monitoring notes.
• Activity keeps returning after sanitation and exclusion.
• Label directions are unclear or the needed product is not labeled for the site.