How we work
- Start from what you noticed. Our case files begin with the clue: a noise, droppings, bites, holes or insects. Not with a species name you may not know.
- Honest verdicts. Every result says plainly whether it's usually a DIY job, one to handle with care, one for a professional, or something the law says to leave alone.
- UK-specific. Our advice reflects UK species, UK products and the differences in law between England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
- No cookies, no tracking. We don't use cookies or tracking scripts, and we don't know who you are.
Where our advice comes from
Our guides draw on guidance from UK trade bodies including the British Pest Control Association and the National Pest Technicians Association, government and nature agency guidance, the NHS, and conservation charities such as the Bat Conservation Trust and the British Beekeepers Association. We review every page regularly and date each review.
How the diagnosis tools work
Each case file asks a handful of questions and weighs your answers against the typical signs of each pest. It's a guide, not a certainty. The full line-up at the end shows how close the alternatives were, so you can check the guides for more than one.
How we're funded
In future, some pages may link to products or to professional services. If we earn from a link, we'll say so. It will never change a verdict: we'll still tell you to leave the bats alone and to skip the gadgets that don't work. See our affiliate disclosure.
Corrections
If you spot something wrong or out of date, we want to know. Email [email protected] and we'll check it and update the page.