this post was submitted on 28 Mar 2025
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What are good resources to learn about bug identification? (sh.itjust.works)
submitted 9 months ago by FRYD@sh.itjust.works to c/bugs@lemmy.world
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For years I’ve gone hiking and camping and do a lot of photography. Some of my favorite photos have been macros of various bugs doing their thing. This year I wanted to focus on finding more bugs and trying to take pictures of as many different species in my region as possible.

I’ve been looking for an arthropod equivalent of a birding guide for my area (New York), but have only found a single book that’s 13 years old. It’s “Insects of New England and New York” by Tom Murray. Is this one good? Are there any others I’m not finding? Do these books become outdated? I imagine this book doesn’t feature the infamous spotted lantern fly, so I wonder if it’s missing anything else. It’s also limited to insects, so I’d need something else for spiders and other non-insect bugs.

I’ve found a few websites too, but the best one I’ve found is also limited to insects. So any resources or tips would be greatly appreciated.

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[–] PlantJam@lemmy.world 3 points 9 months ago (1 children)

The iNaturalist app is pretty good to at least get you a family or genus at minimum. It works for plants, animals, bugs, pretty much anything. I once used it to identify some pink foamy caviar looking stuff, which it identified as snail eggs.

[–] data_lore@lemmy.world 1 points 6 months ago

On this, I really like seek (an app by iNaturalist) for plants and the like.

[–] ReiRose@lemmy.world 2 points 7 months ago

The Peterson first guide to caterpillars of north America is easy to use and compact for travel. Obviously just does caterpillars pupa and moths/butterflies

[–] ReiRose@lemmy.world 2 points 7 months ago (1 children)

This one is very easy to use for identification, a little bulkier but still could fit into the side pocket of a backpack. It is not great as far as learning a great deal about the bugs, but you would at least know what it was to look it up later.

[–] FRYD@sh.itjust.works 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Thanks for the suggestions! I actually found the National Wildlife Federation field guide like two or three weeks ago and it’s been helpful. Do you think there’s a significant difference? I’ll definitely try to get my hands on the other book you recommended too.

[–] ReiRose@lemmy.world 2 points 7 months ago

I haven't tried the NWF one, but i bet the NAS one is at a library nearby

[–] data_lore@lemmy.world 2 points 6 months ago

You should check out bigguide.com!