Insect & Other Arthropods Identification

  • close up of an insect on a leaf

Whether you are concerned about the potential for an insect to cause harm to you, your home or the environment, or if you are simply curious to know what species an insect is, the Insect Identification Service can identify insects, spiders, ticks and other arthropods that you deliver to the lab by mail or in person.


Identification Submission Form $10.00 fee per specimen
Location, Hours and contact information

Accurate identification of an insect is easiest when the specimens are in good condition. Refer to our best practices for submitting your insect for identification to help ensure that your specimen arrives in good shape.

The UNH Insect Identification Lab does not test for tick-borne illnesses. If you need a tick tested for disease, please use TickReportTM.


Articles

An Intro to Mothing
It’s not too late to go out and see some moths. Moths are generally most active in spring and summer. But like butterflies, some moth species will fly... Learn More
Delusional Infestation (DI) is a psychological disorder in which an individual believes they have insects on or under their skin against all medical e... Learn More
This soil-dwelling caterpillar may be an emerging pest for many vegetable and strawberry growers in the region.
This soil-dwelling caterpillar may be an emerging pest for many vegetable and strawberry growers in the region. Learn More

Events

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Resources

New Hampshire homeowners, gardeners, hikers, hunters, landscapers and anyone else who works or plays outdoors can now have ticks identified and tested... Learn More
What are bed bugs?

Bed bugs have tormented people throughout human history. They are now increasingly becoming a problem within residen... Learn More
About the brown marmorated stink bug...

This invasive insect presents two types of problems: it can be a significant household nuisance... Learn More
There are between 10 and 20 thousand species of insects in New Hampshire, so identifying an insect, spider or tick is often the crucial first step tow... Learn More
Form needed to submit an insect, tick or other arthropod to the Insect Identification Service. Directions on packaging and sending a specimen are on p... Learn More
Introduction

Several species of insects invade our homes in fall and remain through winter, often hidden inside walls. When temperature... Learn More