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How to identify an insect from a photo: a simple guide

A good photo answers most questions about a bug: what it is, whether it is dangerous and what to do next. Here is how to take one safely and what to look for.

Stay safe first

Never get close to an insect or spider you do not know. Use your camera zoom instead of moving your hand closer, and keep at least one metre away from anything that could sting or bite.

How to take a clear photo

Fill the frame with the bug using zoom, not by moving closer.
Use daylight or a bright room; avoid flash glare on shiny insects.
Tap the bug on your screen to focus before you shoot.
Take one photo from above and one from the side if you can.
Put a coin or ruler nearby (not touching the bug) to show its size.

Not sure what bug you found?

Take a photo and Insect Scanner tells you its name, whether it is dangerous and what to do. Your first scans are free.

📷 Identify a bug from a photo

Count the legs and body parts

Insects have six legs and three body parts: head, thorax and abdomen. Spiders and scorpions have eight legs and two main body parts. Ticks and mites also have eight legs. Centipedes and millipedes have many more.

Look at wings, colour and markings

Wings and their shape separate big groups: beetles have hard wing cases, flies have one pair of clear wings, bees and wasps have two pairs, and butterflies and moths have scaly, patterned wings. Markings such as the red hourglass of a black widow or the violin shape of a brown recluse can be decisive.

Let the app do the hard part

Insect Scanner checks the shape, colour and markings in your photo and tells you the name, whether it is harmful, what it means for children and pets, and what to do. If the result is unsure between two species and one is dangerous, it will tell you to be careful.

Frequently asked questions

Can an app identify any insect from a photo?

Apps can identify most common insects and spiders from a clear photo, but no app is perfect. For bites, stings or health worries, always contact a doctor or poison centre.

What if my photo is blurry?

Use more light, zoom in rather than moving closer, and hold the phone steady with both hands or against something solid.