Insect Identification
Queries on unknown insects by the general public will be handled through a web-based site called CityBugs. There are thousands of species of insects found in California. Realistically, only several dozen are considered economic pests of urban environments. The CityBugs web site is designed to assist homeowners in their quest for insect identification and the problems they pose in homes and structures.
The CityBugs website does not provide identification or informational retrieval for spiders, mites, and medically important arthropods. A web database containing commonly encountered spiders of California can be found at this page created by UC Berkeley Entomology Graduate Student Steve Lew.
For those using the CityBugs website, please submit high quality digital photos of your insect in question to the site Webmaster. Requests will be answered in the order received. Photos that are received and identified may be included on the UPMC website for the public to view. Please view the photo salon first for your insect in question before contacting the Webmaster for help.
For those who have physical samples and want identifications for garden and landscape pests, the Master Gardeners help desk is available in most of the State counties. These are volunteers working with University of California Cooperative Extension County Offices. The University website list has contact information for all county Cooperative Extension Offices. For those wishing to submit samples of household and structural insects to CityBugs, the Webmaster will forward these requests to staff entomologists for review and consideration on a case-by-case basis.
For information on pests of home garden and landscape, please go to UC Davis Pest Notes series.
For mites and medically important arthropods please see your local State Public Health Office or look for the Mosquito and Vector Control Association of California district local to your area.
For insects and other arthropod requests from states outside California, please consult your local State university, county agent, or State Department of Agriculture. CityBugs is not equipped to handle international requests for insect or arthropod identifications. Please contact your local university, museum, or ministries of agriculture and environment.
California insect diversity
Pinning of southern California insects & spreading wings.
Collection of Wood Destroying insects
