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What bug is this?

A macro photograph of the head of the beetle _Oedemera nobilis_.

Face to face with the beetle Oedemera nobilis.

If you have found an unknown insect (or other invertebrate) and would like to identify it then the AES can help you.

There are roughly one million described species of insect and experts estimate that there are probably another five million species that are yet to be identified. If you combine that total with the millions of species of invertebrate that are not insects (e.g. spiders, scorpions, centipedes, millipedes, ticks etc.) you'll realise that no one person can ever be an expert in any more than a relatively small area.

The society provides an identification service for members of the society. If you are not a member of our society then entomologists from our society are active on a number of online forums and we have provided a list of places where you can get identification help.

This section includes:

Introduction to arthropods - what are the differences between insects, spiders, centipedes etc.
Key to adult insects - if you have found an adult insect this may help you identify it
If you think you know what your insect is, why not view information on that insect group?
The Mystery Fly - an example of how experts identify insects
Identification services for AES members
Identification services for non-members

Want to know more?

If you want to know more about insects and other creepy-crawlies then join the AES today.