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Happy New Year y'all! It's been a while since JPB made our excellent reference sticky post, and this seems to be a good time for some updates and reminders since reddit has changed a bit and we have lots of new users in the sub. Please feel free to add anything I've missed and I'll update this post accordingly.
For Everyone
When you see someone respond with "Probably," "Appears to be," "Looks like" etc., don't mistake that as uncertainty or lack of confidence in the ID. Most of the submitted pics don't have enough detail to definitively verify an ID, so it's best to leave some room for error.
Don't link to google search results - they automatically go into spam.
Mobile reddit apps are still pretty dodgy. Sometimes it takes a few minutes for posts and/or image links to show up, so be patient.
"Bug" is a pretty broad term. We allow a lot of wiggle room from submitters, but we do need to draw the line somewhere. Creepy crawlies like lizards and snakes will probably get to stay, but fish, birds and mammals will be removed.
For Submitters
PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION. Note that geotags on apps only show up for app users, so anyone using a desktop browser (or even another app) will not see the tag.
Belly shots (pics of the underside of the bug) and extreme close ups (macros) almost always make ID more difficult.
Posting multiple bugs in one submission is fine, but please label/title each bug or image so people can refer to a specific one when responding.
If asking for a school assignment, be upfront about it and post only after making an effort to ID the bug yourself. We're happy to point you in the right direction but no one is going to do your homework for you.
DON'T DELETE YOUR POST after getting an ID (some subs will ban you for this). We're all here to learn and someone else could benefit from your submission. Now, if you didn't use a throwaway and those things on your mustache get IDed as Pubic Lice, then deleting the post is acceptable.
Please do not ask in the form of "Is this what I think it is?!" There are many smart people here but Professor X is not among them.
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ArchivedStickied post
ATTENTION!#
Nearly all reduviids (assassin bugs) are NOT vectors of Chagas disease. Know the difference between triatomines (kissing bugs) and other reduviids and heteropterans.
Be aware of common identification mistakes.
The purpose and value this subreddit provides is accurate identification of arthropods.
Be precise in your use of words. Entomology, and especially taxonomy, is a complex subject, so precision is even more critical if we are to effectively communicate complex ideas.
We rely on teamwork to get the job done, which means we rely on everyone to upvote accurate IDs and downvote inaccurate IDs. If we don't enforce this together, then we allow inaccuracy to be allowed. This diminishes the value this subreddit provides. Mere intentions does not justify inaccuracy. If one values accuracy, one should be thankful, not upset, for being corrected. We are a fun bunch, but let's not compromise our core values--accuracy, rigor, and discipline.
You don't have to be an expert to participate! If you're uncertain, qualify your ID. Example: "Ah, an old anti-favourite, Cimex, and perhaps of C. lectularius fame." Note how this ID is not overconfident by stopping at genus, and then suggesting a likely species ID.
Take the time to learn the incredible diversity of arthropods, especially before commenting on a taxon you're unfamiliar with. This alone will curb many entomological pet peeves like conflating all heteropterans as either stink bugs or assassin bugs, or making overconfident guesses (e.g. making a blind species ID without considering whether the genus has other possible species).
Don't forget to tell us the geographic location where your bug was found. This can mean the difference between narrowing down 100,000 possibilities to 5. Or in this example, geographic location was able to narrow down 2,000 possible coreids to 1.
There are reasons why we don't have a SOLVED flair:
quaoarpower:
We get this question about once every 6 months. The reason we don't have it is because "giant waterbug" is a valid determination, but "Lethocerus" is even more correct, and "Lethocerus griseus" is still more accurate. We don't want to close the door on the progressively-more-accurate process.
Joseph_P_Brenner:
This is why I don't want a SOLVED flair.
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Community Details
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Bug identification! All insects, spiders, crustaceans, etc. welcome!
Welcome to r/whatsthisbug!
Got a photo of a bug you'd like identified? Submit it here and we'll try to figure it out!
I don't need an ID, but can I share a cool bug? Yes! This subreddit is also a community for any arthropodic discussion.
Before you post, we are not going to kill it with fire, so don't ask!
Refrain from posting bites unless you saw the bug biting the person. We CANNOT diagnose injuries or identify insects/spiders that allegedly caused bites. Seek medical advice before our advice if you didn't see a bug biting you.
If your submission does not appear in the "NEW" bucket, message the mods to check the spam filter.
Submission Guidelines
Indicate the geographic location.
Take the clearest and most detailed photo possible.
Indicate the size excluding antennae - the more precise the better.
Provide any other information you feel could help!
Identification Guidelines
ID guides tend to be regional. While BugGuide.net is popular, it only pertains to arthropods in the U.S. and Canada. For bugs outside the U.S. and Canada, try to search for a guide specific to that region. For example, if you want to ID a butterfly from Brazil, this would be a great guide.
In BugGuide.net, click on the "Browse" tab to switch to an ID-friendly, taxonomic view.
Don't make blind/random guesses. Our goal is to provide positive leads; false leads are counter-productive, e.g. "similar looking" is rarely good enough at the species level. If one is unfamiliar with the taxon, practice diligence, e.g. check other members of the taxon, as well as those of higher taxa. Especially for medically significant bugs, if you aren't 100% sure, leave the ID to someone more knowledgeable.
Cite/Link a source whenever possible.
ID Guides by Region
Central and South America
- Butterflies of America
- Coleoptera Neotropical
- Generic Guide to New World Scarab Beetles
- Neotropical Butterflies
Europe
- Beetles of Poland (in Polish)
- British Lepidoptera
- European Coleopterans (in German)
- European Heteropterans (in German)
- Moths and Butterflies of Europe and North Africa
- Orthoptera of Europe, The
- UKMoths
U.S. and Canada
- BugGuide
- Butterflies of America
- Generic Guide to New World Scarab Beetles
- Insect Identification (work in progress)
- Moth Photographers Group
- Pacific Northwest Moths
Worldwide
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Salticidae, baby!
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