Something's been bugging me - Democratic Underground

Orrex

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Sat Aug-09-08 12:50 PM
Original message

Something's been bugging me

Can someone recommend a site that helps the user identify insects? My knowledge of formal insect descriptions would fit in a grasshopper's spiracle, so I'm hoping for some kind of interactive interface, rather than a bunch of pictures and technical lingo.

Any suggestions?

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RushIsRot

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Sat Aug-09-08 04:27 PM
Response to Original message

1. whatsthatbug.com

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Orrex

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Sat Aug-09-08 04:40 PM
Response to Reply #1

2. Wow--that looks promising!

I took pictures of the bugs in question, so I'll see what I can find out.

Thanks for the tip!

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RushIsRot

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Sat Aug-09-08 04:48 PM
Response to Reply #2

3. Glad to help out! Enjoy.

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stuntcat

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Sat Aug-09-08 07:30 PM
Response to Reply #2

6. that site ROCKS

I sent them a picture once but they didn't write me back.. they have disclaimer-like stuff somewhere that says they can't get to everyone's bugs :( but the pictures and descriptions posted there are great! It can take some time to look through but it's totally interesting.

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mike_c

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Sat Aug-09-08 04:50 PM
Response to Original message

4. here's a partial list....

I got most of these just googling. I can recommend lots of more narrowly directed sources too, but I gather you're looking for general identification help.

http://www.einsteins-emporium.com/life/animal-info/insects/insect_identification.htm

http://www.whatsthatbug.com/ (not so much an online guide as an identification service)

http://www.insectidentification.org/identifying.asp

http://davesgarden.com/guides/bf/ (gardening focus)

http://pick4.pick.uga.edu/20/q?guide=Insect_orders

http://www.sci.sdsu.edu/classes/bio462/easykey.html#onepair

http://www.amnh.org/learn/biodiversity_counts/ident_help/Text_Keys/arthropod_keyA.htm

http://www.wvu.edu/~agexten/ipm/identify/insectid.htm

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Orrex

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Sat Aug-09-08 04:51 PM
Response to Reply #4

5. Thanks!

That's quite a list! I was reluctant to Google, for fear of getting an avalanche of (to me) indistinguishable sites. Thanks for compiling these for me!

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Kali

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Sat Aug-09-08 08:10 PM
Response to Original message

7. post the pictures!

Or at least what you come up with. (I love this stuff)

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Orrex

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Sun Aug-10-08 07:11 AM
Response to Reply #7

8. Here you go (2 pics ~ 100k each)

These were both taken this past Tuesday in western PA south of Pittsburgh.

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stuntcat

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Sun Aug-10-08 10:05 AM
Response to Reply #8

9. the yellow one's a sulpher!

Can NOT believe I remembered the name, I can't remember anything usually. I don't know the name for the moth though.

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Kali

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Sun Aug-10-08 10:46 AM
Response to Reply #9

10. the brown one might be a fritilary (spell?)

I'm not too good with lepidoptera.

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XemaSab

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Sun Aug-10-08 10:56 AM
Response to Reply #10

13. Aren't they usually pretty ornate?

:shrug:

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Kali

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Sun Aug-10-08 11:23 AM
Response to Reply #13

14. I am more than likely wrong!

I can't find my butterfly book this morning and I am worse at them than LGBs or LYCs!

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Kali

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Sun Aug-10-08 10:48 AM
Response to Reply #8

11. nice shots

did you get them ID'd? I'm not too good with lepidoptera and can't find my butterfly book this morning. I prefer the bizarre and venomous arthropods.:rofl:

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XemaSab

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Sun Aug-10-08 10:56 AM
Response to Reply #8

12. The brown one's tough

Elfin, Copper, Hairstreak, Blue, or Skipper would be my guesses. :shrug:

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