Identify Any Bug or Insect from a Photo
From the spider in your bathroom to the beetle on your tomato plant, our AI bug identifier names insects, arachnids, and other small creatures in seconds. Get the species, habitat, behavior, and safety information you need to decide what to do next.
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Bug is a catch-all people use for almost any small creature with legs, from true insects to spiders and beyond. Identifying one comes down to counting legs and body segments, then noting wings, antennae, and color. A close photo captures enough to name it and tell you whether it bites, stings, damages your home, or is completely harmless.
Below are the kinds of bugs people most often try to identify around the house and yard. Scan yours to find out exactly what it is and what to do about it.
Common types of bugs
A quick reference to the ones people ask about most. Not sure which you have? Snap a photo above and let the AI name it.
Beetles
Hard wing covers and a huge range of shapes. The largest insect group, from ladybugs to pests. See the beetle identifier for detail.
Ants
Social insects in long trails, with a pinched waist and elbowed antennae. The ant identifier separates harmless from wood-damaging.
Spiders (not insects)
Eight legs and two body parts, so technically arachnids, not bugs. Useful to flag the few with a dangerous bite.
Flies, gnats, and mosquitoes
A single pair of wings and large eyes. Some are just a nuisance, others bite or spread disease.
Bees and wasps
Pollinators and stingers. Telling a fuzzy bee from a smooth wasp decides whether to leave it alone or take care.
Household pests
Cockroaches, silverfish, and pantry bugs that turn up indoors. Identifying them points you to the source.
Why identifying bugs matters
Knowing what bug you found tells you whether to worry. Most bugs are harmless or beneficial, but a few bite, sting, or damage homes and gardens. Identifying first prevents both panic and unnecessary pesticide use.
What helps identify bugs
Body Segments and Legs
Insects have six legs and three body parts. Spiders have eight legs and two parts. Centipedes and millipedes have many. Counting legs is step one.
Wings and Antennae
Wing presence, shape, and venation distinguish flies, bees, beetles, and moths. Antenna length and shape further narrow the family.
Color and Pattern
Stripes, spots, and metallic sheens are often warning signs (aposematism) or species-diagnostic markings.
Size and Habitat
Where and when you found the bug (indoors, garden, water, summer, winter) helps narrow possibilities dramatically.
Insect or arachnid?
The fastest sort is leg count. Insects have six legs and usually three body segments, often with wings and antennae. Arachnids like spiders, ticks, and mites have eight legs, two body segments, and never wings or antennae. So a spider or tick is not technically a bug at all, and the AI flags which group your photo shows.
Photo tips for the best identification
- 1Get as close as possible without scaring the bug away. Use macro mode if available.
- 2Capture the bug from above for body shape, then a side view for legs and antennae.
- 3Include a finger or coin for scale if the bug is small.
- 4Note where you found it. Indoors vs outdoors, on a plant vs on a wall, makes a big difference.
Frequently asked questions
Is this bug dangerous?
Most bugs you encounter are harmless. The AI flags species known to bite, sting, or be venomous in your region, and notes when caution is warranted.
Can it identify spiders?
Yes. Common house spiders, garden spiders, jumping spiders, and dangerous species (black widow, brown recluse) are all recognized.
What about garden pests?
Aphids, beetles, caterpillars, mites, and other common garden pests are identified, along with whether they are harmful to your specific plants.
Identify bugs on the go
Get the What Is This app for unlimited scans, offline mode, and a history that syncs.
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Ticks identifier
Snap a photo and find out the species, the diseases it can carry, and what to do next. Deer tick, dog tick, lone star, brown dog, and the harmless look-alikes.
Butterflies identifier
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Bees identifier
Snap a photo of a bee and AI tells you what it is. Identify honey bees, bumblebees, carpenter bees, and bee-mimics, and tell bees from wasps.
Ants identifier
Snap a photo of an ant and AI names the species. Identify carpenter ants, fire ants, odorous house ants, and more, and learn if they bite or damage wood.
Moths identifier
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Beetles identifier
Snap a photo of a beetle and AI names the species. Identify ladybugs, June bugs, ground beetles, and pests like the Japanese beetle in seconds.
Cockroaches identifier
Snap a photo of a roach and AI names the species. Tell German, American, Oriental, and harmless wood roaches apart and learn how to respond.