Looking up an insect to figure out exactly what it is? You're in the right place. Whether you found a strange bug at home, on a plant, or on your skin, the fastest way to identify it is the free AI bug identifier — snap a photo, get the species name in seconds. This page is your starting point.
Three ways to look up an insect
1. By picture (fastest)
Take a clear photo of the bug, then upload it. Our AI matches it against a library of 20,000+ species — beetles, spiders, ants, bees, butterflies, caterpillars, roaches, mosquitoes, bed bugs, and many more. You'll get the common name, scientific name, harm level, habitat, and recommended next steps in under 10 seconds.
Best for: "What is this bug?" "Picture insect lookup." "Name this bug by photo."
2. By symptom (if you've been bitten)
If you can't find the bug but you have bites, rashes, or welts, identify by what bit you instead. The bug bite identifier works the same way — describe or photograph the bite — and our visual bite chart shows you what each common bug bite looks like side by side.
Best for: "What type of bug bit me?" "Identify a bug bite from a photo."
3. By browsing (when you want to learn)
Browse the full bug encyclopedia by name, type, or category. Useful when you remember some details but not the species, or when you just want to learn about insects in general.
Common insect lookups by category
Spiders
Spiders deserve their own focused tool. The spider identifier covers 600+ species and tells you immediately if you're looking at a venomous one (brown recluse, black widow) or a harmless garden visitor. Curious about size? See how big a wolf spider can get.
Bugs in the house
- Black insects in the house — by size, location, and species
- Little black bugs in the house — carpet beetles, springtails, weevils
- Small black bugs identification + treatment
Bed bugs
Beetles vs roaches (the big confusion)
People mix these up constantly. Read click beetle vs cockroach for a side-by-side breakdown of antennae, body shape, and behavior.
Garden and plant pests
- Tiny white bugs on tomato plants
- White bugs on plants — full pest guide
- Beneficial insects gardeners should know
Insect droppings + signs of infestation
Sometimes you see the poop before the bug. The insect droppings identification guide walks through every common pest's poop signature.
Tips for the most accurate insect lookup
- Photo quality matters. Good light, focused, fill the frame. The clearer the bug, the more accurate the AI.
- Capture multiple angles for ambiguous species — top and side both help.
- Note the location. Outdoor garden, indoor pantry, on a pet — context narrows possibilities.
- Don't try to crush first — squashed bugs are harder to identify (and stink bugs particularly bad).
What you'll get from any insect lookup here
- Common name and scientific name
- Color-coded harm level (none / low / medium / high / critical)
- Habitat and behavior notes
- Treatment and prevention recommendations
- Links to related species and pest-control products if relevant
Everything is free. No signup. No ads in the result. Just the bug name and what you need to know.
Most insects are most active in warm months (spring through fall). However, many household pests like cockroaches, bed bugs, and silverfish are active year-round indoors.
Yes. Cockroaches can trigger asthma and allergies. Mosquitoes transmit diseases like West Nile and Zika. Ticks carry Lyme disease. Fleas can transmit tapeworms.
Bees are fuzzy with thick bodies and collect pollen. Wasps are smooth, slender with narrow waists. Bees can only sting once, while wasps can sting multiple times.
Upload a clear photo to BugAnalyzer for instant AI identification. The result includes a harm level rating and treatment recommendations if the insect is dangerous.
Start by observing key physical features: body shape, number of legs, wing presence, color patterns, and size. AI-powered tools like BugAnalyzer can match your photo against thousands of species in seconds.
Get Your Full Insect Report
Receive a detailed PDF report with identification details, treatment options, and prevention tips.
