So if it isn't really a field guide, then why is it featured here? That's because some sites can still be used in the same way a field guide is used, and this is a fine example of that. Keep reading to find out how.
So you found a bug and want to know more about it. You have no expensive books to help you, but you have good internet access. So where do you go from here? We will use two sites together for this. One is a site called Bug Guide. "What's That Bug?" is the other. The link to our Bug Guide article explains that site in detail. We'll explain "What's That Bug?" now.
The first thing you see when you get there is a familiar blog style setup. Each post features a different bug. Sometimes you'll find the same bug on more than one post because this is all mostly a casual discussion on bugs rather than a technical field guide. The value here is that we can find the names of our bug on this site. That casualness helps us to understand our bug very well.
So now we need to find out on which post our bug is located. This will take some work, but you do want to find your bug, right? Type in a short description of your bug in their search box at the top left corner, such as the colors you see, or whatever you notice about your bug. That will bring you all relevant posts. Look through the pictures of each post to see if you find something familiar. That's it.
If you don't find your bug at first, then try searching a different description. It seems a bit like hit and miss, but I have found my bug here every time so far. You will most likely do the same. And if you can't find it here then there is always Bug Guide, which I use together with this one to find as much information as I can.
I will say that this is the way I use "What's That Bug?". I'm sure there are other ways of doing this. You'll have to go to the site yourself to find out your way of doing things. After you go, come back here and tell us your special technique. Maybe it might help other readers.
What's That Bug?
We are still looking for more online field guides every day, especially those for outside of North America. If you know of a good site with information on any feature of nature, share the link with us in the comments section. You may also leave a link to your own site if you have one. We like to give credit to the person that shares the link to a guide if and when we write the article for it. We are looking for guides from all over the world, so one for your area would be very helpful.
I use my Kaufman field guide and then rely on the net if i have problems or want more info. This is a good site to use.
ReplyDeleteI have visited this site and have found it hard to leave. Bugs are so dang interesting....and there are so many to look up!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely one to let my Nephew check out...thanks!
ReplyDeleteThanks, everybody, for your comments. I've been waiting for months to feature this excellent site. I didn't want to do it until the weather warmed up a bit.
ReplyDeleteI have used this site and was later referred to BugGuide.net by the author. I am one of the editors there now, and we have probably a wider expertise to offer, just because we are a larger team. If you have time, visit both sites, you'll get a lot of info. If you have bu questions, post a picture, and the answer is often there within minutes. Have fun bugging!
ReplyDelete@Margarethe Brummermann
ReplyDeleteThank you for the excellent advice. I've been using BugGuide.net and What's That Bug? for awhile now. Two of my very favorite websites. We wrote a whole article like this one on BugGuide.net a few articles before this one.