ScanaBug publishes bug, spider and insect identification guides and a free photo identifier. This page explains who is responsible for the content, how guides are researched and checked, and what we will not do.
Who is responsible
ScanaBug is owned and operated by Attique Ahmed Abbasi, an individual. He is responsible for everything published on this site, including the guides and the identifier tool. Each guide shows an "Edited by" credit and the date it was last updated.
We are not a team of licensed entomologists or pest control professionals, and we do not claim to be. Our guides summarize information from established public sources and link to them, so you can check the original and decide for yourself.
How a guide is made
- Choose a topic based on questions people commonly ask about bugs they find at home, in the garden or outdoors.
- Research the topic against the sources ranked below.
- Write the guide in plain language, with the practical identification clues first.
- Edit and fact-check. Names, sizes, ranges, bite and sting facts, and treatment statements are compared with the sources before publishing.
- Publish with a publication date and a list of sources at the end of the guide.
- Review periodically. Guides are re-checked and updated when official guidance changes, and the "Last updated" date is changed to match.
Sources we rely on
We rank sources in this order:
- University extension and entomology programs, such as Penn State Extension, UC IPM and Ohio State Extension.
- Government health and environment agencies, such as the CDC and the EPA.
- Taxonomic and biodiversity databases, such as ITIS and GBIF.
- Museum and research institution pages.
- Curated identification communities, used for appearance and geographic range only, never for medical claims.
We do not use other pest control company blogs as the basis for health or safety statements. When reliable sources disagree, we say so instead of choosing silently.
How the photo identifier fits in
The identifier uses AI image recognition to suggest the most likely match for the bug in your photo. It is a suggestion, not a verdict, and it can be wrong. You can read how it works, what it can and cannot do, and what happens to your photos on the How Our Identifier Works page.
Health and safety content
We do not diagnose bites, stings or reactions, and we do not tell anyone that a bite can safely be ignored. Where a bug could be medically significant, we use the more cautious wording. If you have severe symptoms, see a doctor or call your local emergency number. See our Disclaimer for details.
Statements about when to seek medical care are based on public health sources such as the CDC and the NHS and are cited in each guide. We do not write treatment plans.
Corrections
If you find a mistake, email support@scanabug.com with the page address, the sentence in question and, if you can, a source. We handle corrections before new content. When new evidence changes a recommendation, we update the guide itself and change its "Last updated" date. If your report leads to a change, we will credit you if you would like that.
Advertising and independence
ScanaBug displays, or may display, advertising served by Google AdSense. Ads are placed around the content, we do not write them, and advertisers have no say over our guides or identification results. We do not accept payment to change an identification, a safety rating or a recommendation, and we do not accept payment for links inside guides. Any sponsored content would be clearly labeled. We do not currently use affiliate links. See the Advertising Disclosure for details.
What we will not do
- Diagnose medical conditions.
- Recommend risky do-it-yourself treatments or unregistered pesticides.
- Invent credentials, reviews or testimonials.
- Copy or republish another site's content.
- Use fear to drive clicks. Most bugs people find are harmless, and we say so.
Contact
Questions about this policy: support@scanabug.com