We get quite a few requests to identify a pest or diagnose a problem from a digital photo. Emailing a photo of a pest sample rather than finding a container, catching it and bringing it into our office can help you:

1. Identify the pest.
2. Contribute to the body of science by logging your sample in a larger data base like iNaturalist.
3. Save considerable time and money… because not all bugs are pests that you need to control!

A good photo is one that is in focus, one which includes identifying physical characters of the pest. This can be as simple as the overall shape or as detailed as the presence or absence of wings, hairs, pits, segments or clubs on a specific body part. With spider identification, it is helpful to count the number of eyes and note the eye arrangement in order to positively identify the family.

Bed Bug: The length of the hair on the pronotum (structure right beyond the eye) is what can differentiate a bed bug from a bat bug.

Bat Bug: The length of the hair on the pronotum is much longer than the diameter of the eye, therefore this is specimen is determined to be a bat bug.

Tips on using your camera phone:

1. Turn off the flash.
2. Do NOT zoom in. It changes the resolution of the picture. Let the viewer zoom in on a high-quality photo.
3. Do not shoot the specimen in the shadow.
4. Get close, but not out of focus. Tap your screen to adjust the focus on your specimen.
5. Take bursts or multiple shots of moving specimens. You’ll have more photos to choose from.
6. Record a short video if necessary.
7. Use a macro lens designed for cell phones. You can purchase one online on Amazon or pick one up in places where they sell cell phone accessories. (One thing to keep in mind is how it will fit your phone. How does it attach to the phone? Will it fit over the camera properly? Can it be used with or only without your protective phone case?)

An entire kit with 3 different lenses including a macro lens for $9.99 at the grocery store.

Neither of these lenses had great magnifying power. The large one is the only macro lens to clip on over top of my phone’s protective case. The Easy-Macro was a tiny lens on rubber band.

Variety of clip on macro lenses for cell phones. Some are glass, some plastic, some clip on, and some have a set of lenses to increase magnification.

10x-20x macro lens to help magnify small objects (~$15 on Amazon).

Tips on taking pictures of bugs:

1. Dead bugs are easier to photograph than live, moving ones.
2. If you want to kill a specimen, put it in the freezer. Do not smash it.
3. Place specimen on contrasting background.
4. Include something of a known dimension in the photo for scale. (A ruler or coin is best, NOT a finger, hand, or foot).
5. It is better to have more pictures than too few.
6. If you can’t get a picture of the critter, feel free to send a picture of damage or signs of a pest such as frass (poop), holes, shed skins (exoskeleton), or any other signs of infestation.
7. Do NOT send photos of skin lesions, rashes or bites as everyone has their own immune system and reacts differently to a stimulus. Nobody can identify an organism based on a skin reaction.

Even if the photo isn’t the greatest quality, the information you can provide about the pest and the damage can help.

The first step to solving your pest problems at home is to identify the pest. With good pictures and keen observation, you may be able to identify specimens yourself using identification keys and field guides from reputable authors (look for websites that end with .edu or .org).

If you have a photo of your specimen and would like it identified or know more about it, please consider using our fabulous resources in Nebraska.

Nebraska Resources:

The UNL Digital Diagnostic Network is available on your computer as well as a free app on your phone. Please submit photo(s) and also as much useful information as possible for our experts to help you out.

You are also welcome to locate and email your local extension office that may have educators who may have experience with entomology and/or horticulture.

For specimens found in the home and garden during the months of April to August, feel free to send an email Backyard Farmer (email: BYF at UNL dot edu). and to help take better picture to submit to Backyard Farmer Show watch this video.

Websites:  iNaturalist ALSO get the free app for your cell phone!

Twitter: For spider ID, especially if you want to know if it is a brown recluse spider, tweet @RecluseOrNot

Facebook Groups: Entomology, Insect Identification, and Caterpillar Identification in North America just to name a few good ones

If you are in need of pest control or extermination of a pest, please contact a local Pest Management Professional. If you do hire a professional or need to bring your sample to the Extension office or a diagnostic lab, find an acceptable container (with a lid or seal) to safely transport your specimen. Try your best to keep the specimen intact without wading it up in tissue paper or sticking it to tape.

Macrophotography: If you don’t have a pest, take a good picture of your new “friend” and appreciate it for what it may contribute to the ecosystem. Remember that macrophotography is also a great hobby and 4-H Project.

For a great article about taking pictures of insects in the field, check out this post from Entomology Today.

Jody Green, PhD

Extension Urban Entomologist at Nebraska Extension

Jody Green is the extension urban entomologist at Nebraska Extension in Douglas-Sarpy Counties. She specializes in structural, household, and health-related insect pests.