Case files
Start from what you've noticed
You don't need to know what it is. Pick the clue you have, answer a few quick questions, and we'll tell you the most likely culprit, whether you can deal with it yourself, and when the law says hands off.
Each case file weighs your answers against the typical signs of every likely suspect, then shows the full line-up so you can see how close the alternatives were. Your answers stay in your browser and aren't sent anywhere.
Scratching, thumping or buzzing overheadScratching or thumping in the loft? Five quick questions to tell if it's mice, rats, squirrels, birds, bats, wasps or just your pipes.Case file 01 →Droppings in the loft, kitchen or cupboardsFound droppings? Compare them at true life size on your screen with mouse, rat, squirrel, bat, cockroach, bed bug and bird droppings.Case file 02 →Itchy bites with no obvious causeWaking up with bites, or itchy ankles after sitting on the sofa? Five questions to work out if it's bed bugs, fleas, mosquitoes, mites or not bites at all.Case file 03 →Holes in clothes, rugs or carpetHoles in jumpers or bald patches in the rug? Five quick questions to tell clothes moths, carpet beetles, silverfish and wear and tear apart.Case file 04 →A nest, or stripy insects you can't placeIs it a wasp, a bee, a hornet or a harmless hoverfly? Five quick questions to identify stinging insects and nests, including how to spot an Asian hornet.Case file 05 →Tiny bugs in food, cupboards or on worktopsTiny beetles in the cupboard, ant trails on the worktop, or something scuttling when you turn the light on? Identify kitchen bugs in five quick questions.Case file 06 →
How our verdicts work
- DIY
You can usually sort this yourself with the right method.
- DIY with care
Doable yourself, but there's a risk or a common mistake to avoid.
- Call a pro
Usually needs professional treatment or proofing to fix properly.
- Hands off
The law limits what you can do. Get advice or report it.
- Low risk
Harmless or not a pest. Usually no treatment needed.