Pestbugs is an independent guide to household pests. We help you identify the bug or bite in front of you, understand what it means, and choose a treatment that works, from simple fixes you can do yourself to what professional treatment involves and costs.
What we cover
- Identification: pictures and plain descriptions of bed bugs, termites, spiders, cockroaches, stink bugs, earwigs, moths, mites and more.
- Bites and health questions: what common bites look like, how long they last, first aid, and when to see a doctor or vet.
- Getting rid of pests: step-by-step methods, what works, and what doesn’t.
- Treatment costs: typical price ranges for professional pest control, so you know what to expect before you call.
Who writes our guides
Our guides are published under the Pestbugs Editorial Team byline. The team researches each topic from university, government and medical sources, writes in plain English, checks every fact, figure and safety point against those sources before publishing, and reviews guides when the science, products or prices change. Each article lists its sources so you can check them yourself.
How we research and write
- We base our articles on trusted sources: university extension services, government agencies such as the EPA and CDC, medical references and peer-reviewed research. We link our sources at the end of each article so you can check them.
- We answer the question first, in plain English, then add detail.
- We say when something doesn’t work, including popular home remedies.
- Cost figures come from published cost guides and are labeled with the year. Local prices vary.
- We update articles when the facts change and show the updated date.
Pestbugs is for general information. It is not medical, veterinary or professional pest control advice. For a bite or reaction that worries you, contact a doctor or vet. For an active infestation, especially termites, get an inspection from a licensed pest control professional.
Read our full editorial policy for how we choose sources, check facts and handle corrections.
Sources we rely on
- University extension services: University of California IPM, University of Minnesota, University of Kentucky Entomology, Penn State Extension, UF/IFAS
- Government agencies: US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Medical references: Merck Manuals, Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic, American Academy of Dermatology
- Industry and cost data: National Pest Management Association, Angi, HomeGuide
How Pestbugs is funded
Pestbugs is free to read. We cover our costs in two ways:
- Display advertising, served through Ezoic and its advertising partners.
- Affiliate links. Some links go to Amazon or other retailers. As an Amazon Associate, Pestbugs earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. These links are marked.
Advertisers and retailers have no say in what we write. Unless an article says otherwise, product suggestions are based on research and published information, not on hands-on testing.
Popular guides
- What bed bugs look like
- How to get rid of bed bugs
- What termites look like
- Termite treatment cost
- Wolf spider bite
Corrections
We work to keep every guide accurate. If you spot an error or something out of date, please tell us and we will review it and correct the article.
Contact us
Email [email protected] or use our contact page. We can’t give individual pest control or medical advice by email, but we read every message and use your questions to improve our guides.