Pest Identification Service in NYC

Trusted extermination services to keep your home, business, and customers pest-free

NYC Pest Identification – Get a Definitive Answer From an ACE-Certified Entomologist

New York Exterminating offers expert pest identification across NYC for homeowners, renters, building managers, restaurants, and businesses. If you have found an insect you cannot name, or you are being bitten by something you cannot see, the single most valuable first step is correct identification, and that is exactly what we provide.

Most failed pest control starts with a wrong guess. Treating the wrong pest, or the right pest in the wrong place, wastes money and lets the problem grow. An accurate identification by a trained entomologist tells you what you actually have, where it is coming from, and what it will truly take to solve, before you spend a dollar on treatment.

New York Exterminating is led by an Associate Certified Entomologist (ACE), credentialed by the Entomological Society of America and licensed in structural and food-establishment pest control, with training across more than 100 pest species, including the complex, commonly misidentified ones. When you ask us what this bug is, the answer comes from a qualified entomologist.

Email or text a clear photo and we will identify it. Call +1 (347) 210-4646 or request service online. Open 24/7. Se habla español.

Related services and resources: Bird & Rat Mite Treatment · Bed Bug Treatment · All Pest Control Services · Brooklyn Pest Control


Pest Identification – Quick Answers

What is this bug? Can I just send a photo?

Yes. A clear photo is often enough for our entomologist to identify common pests. For tiny specimens like mites, a physical sample gives a definitive answer.

Something invisible is biting me, what is it?

It may be a tiny ectoparasite such as a bird or rodent mite, or it may not be a pest at all. We examine a sample to determine which, so you get a real answer.

Who actually identifies my pest?

An Associate Certified Entomologist, not a call-center script or a guess from a technician.


Commonly Confused NYC Pests – and How We Tell Them Apart

Most do-it-yourself failures come from treating the wrong look-alike. These are the confusions we resolve most often:

  • Bed bug or carpet beetle? Both turn up near beds; one bites, one eats fabric. Entirely different treatments.
  • Clothes moth or pantry moth? One eats wool, one eats food. The location and the damage tell the story.
  • Drain fly, fruit fly, or phorid fly? Each breeds in a different place, a drain, ripe produce, or a broken sewer line.
  • Springtail, flea, or mold mite? All tiny and jumping or crawling near moisture; only one bites.
  • Bird mite, scabies, or no pest at all? The invisible-biting puzzle, where an honest answer matters most.
  • Flying ant or termite swarmer? A five-second look at antennae and wings changes everything about the response.

Each pair requires a different solution. Get the identification right and treatment becomes straightforward; get it wrong and you can spend months on the wrong thing.


Why Identification Is the Most Important Step

Pest control done well is a diagnostic discipline. The same hole in a sweater can be a clothes moth or a carpet beetle; the same small fly can signal a drain, ripe fruit, or a sewage leak; the same nighttime bite can be a bed bug or a bird mite from a nest on the building. That is why we lead with identification, especially in NYC, where dense, attached, and multi-unit housing produces a constant stream of unidentified pests and invisible-biting cases.


What We Help Identify

Invisible & Biting Pests

Bird mites, rodent mites, and other tiny ectoparasites that generalists routinely miss, plus an honest assessment when no infestation is present.

Structural & Wood-Destroying Pests

Termites, carpenter ants, carpenter bees, and powderpost beetles, identified and distinguished so the right structural response follows.

Food-Establishment & Stored-Product Pests

Stored-product beetles and moths, cockroaches, and drain-breeding flies relevant to restaurants and food businesses, where misidentification can mean a failed inspection.


How It Works

Step 1: Send What You Have

Email or text a clear, close-up photo of the insect or the damage, with something for scale. If you have a specimen, even better, we will tell you how to collect it safely.

Step 2: Expert Identification

Our ACE-certified entomologist reviews the photo, and examines a physical sample under magnification when needed, to confirm the species or rule out a pest.

Step 3: A Clear, Honest Answer

You receive a plain-English explanation of what it is, where it comes from, and what solving it would involve, or confirmation that there is nothing to treat.

Step 4: A Plan, Only If You Need One

If treatment is warranted, we lay out the options. If it is not, we say so. No upselling a problem that is not there.


How to Take a Useful Photo

  • Get as close as your camera will focus while staying sharp.
  • Include something for scale, a coin or a ruler.
  • Photograph the damage too, not just the insect.
  • If you can safely capture a specimen in a sealed bag or clear tape, keep it for examination.

Authoritative References

EPA: Identify Your Pest Problem · Entomological Society of America: ACE Certification


Pest Identification FAQs

What information helps you identify a bug the fastest?

A clear, close-up, in-focus photo with something for scale (a coin or ruler), plus where you found it and whether you are being bitten. A photo of the damage helps too. For very small specimens like mites, a physical sample examined under magnification gives the most definitive answer.

Can you identify a bug that is already squashed?

Often, yes. Even a damaged or partial specimen usually retains enough features for an entomologist to identify under magnification. Save it in a sealed bag or a piece of clear tape and we will work from that.

Do you identify pests for landlords, tenants, or property managers?

Yes. We regularly identify pests for tenants documenting a problem, landlords confirming what they are dealing with, and managers needing an objective answer before deciding on treatment across a building.

What if my bug turns out to be harmless or not a pest at all?

Then we tell you plainly, and that is a valuable answer. A large share of nighttime-biting and invisible-pest cases turn out not to be an infestation. Confirming there is nothing to treat saves you from spending on treatments you do not need.

Can you tell me whether it is a bed bug from a photo?

In most cases, yes. Adult bed bugs and their telltale signs are identifiable from a clear photo. We can confirm a bed bug, point you to look-alikes such as carpet beetles or bat bugs, and tell you the right next step.

What happens after you identify the pest?

You get a plain-English explanation of what it is, where it likely comes from, and what solving it would involve, or confirmation that there is no infestation. If treatment is warranted, we lay out the options; if not, we say so.

New York Exterminating, Inc.
1115 E 13th St, Brooklyn, NY 11230
ACE-Certified · Licensed in Structural & Food-Establishment Pest Control · Since 2010

Stop guessing. Send a photo and get a definitive answer from a certified entomologist, then decide what to do next.

request a free estimate

Popup form

Trusted by New Yorkers

See how homeowners and businesses rate our pest control services across New York.

Your shield Against pests

Our expertise goes beyond simple extermination. Backed by certified specialists and proven methods, we combine science, precision, and care to deliver pest solutions that last. Every treatment is designed with your safety, comfort, and environment in mind.

 

Many of our clients have remained with us since 2010, demonstrating strong trust and long-term satisfaction.

Licensed by NYSDEC – Reg. #15140

Why Choose Us

Trusted by Institutions Since 2010

Serving property managers, senior facilities, shelters, affordable-housing programs, and businesses across NYC since 2010 — many long-term clients trust our work.

Eco-Friendly and Client-Focused Service

Botanical/organic options, German-cockroach elimination and rodent-exclusion programs, full bilingual support (EN/ES), plus a client portal with reports, photos, and chemical logs for total transparency.

Fully Licensed, Certified & Compliant

NYSDEC Registered — Reg. #15140 — with fully licensed technicians (Jorge Bedoya, Tomas Cusati, Jason Mendoza). We follow all regulations for safe, legal treatments.

Science-Driven Pest Control Expertise

Led by an Associate Certified Entomologist (Jorge Bedoya) and technicians trained in urban entomology, we use IPM and proven methods for lasting results.

from inspection to protection

From first inspection to final follow-up, our science-based process ensures every pest problem is solved with precision, safety, and lasting protection

frequently asked questions

Find quick answers to common questions about our services, safety practices, and customer support

Are your pest control treatments safe for pets and children?

Yes. We use eco-friendly and low-toxicity treatments designed to protect your family, pets, and the environment.

Yes. We offer bilingual services in English and Spanish to ensure clear communication and support for all our clients across New York City.

We proudly serve all five boroughs of New York City — Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island — as well as surrounding areas.

You can access all your service reports, invoices, and treatment details through our secure online Client Portal. Simply log in anytime to view records, photos, and chemical logs for full transparenc

We specialize in removing rodents, insects, raccoons, and other common pests, providing thorough inspections and effective solutions to keep your home or business pest-free.

your neighberhood Experts

We proudly serve residential, commercial, and institutional clients throughout:

Providing reliable pest control solutions for homes, businesses, and institutions across the NYC metro area

Man in grey jumpsuit with reflective stripes and a headlamp squatting near a stainless steel wall.

request a free estimate

Popup form