How to Identify an Unknown Insect

There are more than 1 million recognized species of insects and an estimated 5 million more yet undiscovered. Identifying an unknown insect isn't always as easy as asking someone; however, there are ways to identify the insect by its shape, size and other factors. Whether you've been bitten by an unknown insect or think you might have discovered a new species, it's easy to narrow down the possibilities and identify the insect.

Things You'll Need

  • Magnifying glass
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Instructions

    • 1

      Capture the insect alive if possible. For proper identification, you need a detailed description of the insect. Rather than capturing it, you could take high-resolution photographs, but this might not provide you all the details you need.

    • 2

      Determine whether the animal is an insect at all. Closely related arthropods may look like insects but may in fact be arachnids, crustaceans or other invertebrates. Adult insects have six legs and at least two sets of wings. An insect's body consists of three distinct sections, the abdomen, thorax and head. If the creature you've found has more or fewer legs, it is most likely not an insect.

    • 3

      Use an insect identification guide or chart to narrow down the possibilities for what the bug may be. Books are widely available with photographs and charts, but there also are many websites, such as the Amateur Entomologists' Society and Bug Guide that offer identification questions to help you narrow down the type of insect. Answer the identification questions about wings, body shape and other physical characteristics to identify the unknown insect.

    • 4

      Contact an entomologist or insect expert at a zoo or university to make a more conclusive identification if you cannot adequately identify the insect. If you've discovered an unknown species, you may be able to help name it.