Bug Identification Blog
Guides on identifying household bugs, garden pests, venomous species, and beneficial insects.
The 10 Most Venomous Spiders in the World (Ranked)
Funnel webs, wandering spiders, widows and recluses: how strong their venom is, where they live and how often they actually hurt people.
Common House Spiders: 12 Types You Will Find Indoors
Cobweb, cellar, funnel web and hunting spiders: which ones live in your home, where they hide and which few deserve a closer look.
Orb Weaver Spiders: Identification, Common Types and Webs
From pumpkin orange marbled spiders to spiky hard shelled ones, meet the garden spiders that spin round webs and learn why they are harmless.
Black Spider With White Spots on Its Back: What Is It?
Most are friendly bold jumping spiders, but a few other black and white spiders look similar. Here is how to tell them apart.
Hobo Spiders: Identification, Size and Are They Dangerous?
Once called the aggressive house spider, the hobo spider turns out to be shy and far less dangerous than its reputation. Here is what to know.
Brown Recluse Spider Facts: Size, Where They Live and Where They Hide
How big brown recluse spiders get, which states they live in, what the babies and nests look like, and what a recluse in your home really means.
Black Widow Spiders: Types, Habitat and Facts
Meet the southern, northern, western, brown and red widows, see how females, males and babies differ, and learn where widows hide.
Wolf Spiders: Identification, Types and Are They Dangerous?
Big eyes, fast legs and babies on their backs. Learn the common wolf spider species, why they wander indoors and how risky their bite really is.
Jumping Spiders: How to Identify Them, Common Species and Facts
Meet the bold, regal, zebra and peacock jumpers, learn how they see and leap, and find out if these curious little spiders are safe.
25 Common Spiders: Types, Names and Pictures
From orb weavers and wolf spiders to tarantulas and funnel webs, meet the 25 spiders you are most likely to see and learn which ones matter.
The Biggest Insects in the World by Length, Wingspan and Weight
The biggest insect depends on how you measure it. Compare the longest, widest and heaviest insects alive today in one top 10 size table.
How to Identify Crickets: House, Field, Spider and Mole Crickets
Tell common crickets apart, from house and field crickets to spider crickets, Jerusalem crickets and lawn-damaging mole crickets.
Walking Stick Insect Guide: Common Species and How to Spot Them
How to find these twig-shaped insects, the species people ask about most, and the Lord Howe Island comeback story.
Is a Bee an Insect? Butterflies, Ants, Caterpillars and More Explained
Bees, butterflies, ants and caterpillars are all insects, but spiders are not. Here is the simple 6-legs, 3-body-parts test that settles it.
Bee Identification: Bumblebees, Honey Bees and Carpenter Bees
How to tell a fuzzy bumblebee from a honey bee or a carpenter bee, what their nests look like, and which ones can sting.
Insect Anatomy: The 3 Parts of an Insect Explained With a Diagram
Head, thorax and abdomen: a plain-language guide to insect anatomy, with labelled diagrams of legs and antennae that help you identify what you found.
Types of Caterpillars: How to Identify Them and Avoid the Asp Caterpillar
Identify common caterpillars by colour, hairs and host plant, learn which fuzzy ones sting, and see the egg-to-butterfly life cycle.
Is an Insect an Animal? Where Insects Sit in the Animal Kingdom
Yes, insects are animals. See exactly where they fit in the animal kingdom, from Kingdom down to species, in plain language.
Scale Insects on Plants: Soft Scale, White Scale and How to Treat Them
Spot soft scale, armoured scale and white mealybugs on your plants, understand the sticky honeydew they leave, and treat them step by step.
State Insects of All 50 States, Including the Texas State Insect
Forty-eight states have an official insect or butterfly. See the full list, the most popular picks, the strangest choices, and the two states that never named one.
Black Spiders and Brown Spiders: Not Every One Is Dangerous
Black widow and brown recluse are not the only black or brown spiders out there. See the other common species that share their color, and how to tell them apart.
Do Spider ID Apps Tell You If It's Dangerous?
A species name alone does not tell you what to do next. See which spider identifier apps actually include a danger rating, and which just guess the name.
What Insect Is This? 20 Commonly Misidentified Insects
Twenty insects people constantly mix up, from hoverflies mistaken for wasps to click beetles mistaken for something dangerous, explained side by side.
Apps and Tools for Identifying Insect Eggs and Larvae
Eggs and larvae look nothing like the adult insect, which makes them the hardest thing to identify by app. See which tools actually handle this well.
Bug Photo Gallery: Common Bugs Identified by Picture
Browse the most commonly searched house bugs, garden bugs, spiders, and flying insects, each with a quick identifying feature and a danger note.
Best Free Bug Identifier Apps for Android and iPhone
Compare the most used free bug and insect identifier apps for Android and iPhone, and see where a no-download browser tool works just as well or better.
How to Identify Flying Bugs in Your House
Gnats, fruit flies, drain flies, or moths? Identify the small flying bugs in your home by where they hover and what they land on.
Carpet Beetles: Complete Identification and Removal Guide
Identify carpet beetles at every life stage, tell them apart from bed bugs, and follow a full step-by-step removal process that finishes the job.
Bug Nests and Stings: Identify What's Living Near Your Home
Identify wasp, hornet, bee, and ant nests by their shape and location, and work out which insect stung you based on where and how it happened.
How Long Do Praying Mantises Live?
See how long a praying mantis lives at every life stage, what shortens or extends its lifespan, and how captive mantises compare to wild ones.
What Do Ladybugs Eat? A Complete Diet Guide
Ladybugs eat far more than aphids. See what wild and pet ladybugs eat at every life stage, what to feed one you're raising, and what they will not touch.
Complete Garden Insect Identification Guide: Friend or Foe
Identify the most common garden bugs by appearance, and learn which ones help your plants and which ones damage them.
How to Check Your Home for Bugs: A Room by Room Guide
A practical room by room bug search checklist covering the exact spots pests hide, the signs to look for, and what to do when you find something.