North America is home to hundreds of thousands of insect and spider types - the perfect stage for casual observation, photography, research and education.
The term 'bug' is often misused to represent all manner of insect (bug refers to an insect that can only use its mouthparts to bite or suck). With over 80,000 species categorically identified throughout the world, the term "bug" does not apply to insects as a whole.
Insects can be both harmful and helpful for humans for they pollinate plants or make honey and even keep pest populations under control while they can also infect individuals, destroy crops and kill livestock. The circle of life, therefore, becomes a complicated formula and one can agree that there is more going on than meets the eye. As such, insects represent a vital part of our active ecosystem which requires respect.
All 1,682 found in the InsectIdentification.org database a showcased below representing several decades of work in identifying the various species of insects found across North America with a primary focus on the United States. When attempting to identify an insect, pay close attention to color variations and body shapes when trying to identify a species. To remove entries from the results below, simply click on the 'X' in the red box of each respective insect.
