Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
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Photos of insects and people from the 2024 BugGuide gathering in Idaho July 24-27

Moth submissions from National Moth Week 2024

Photos of insects and people from the 2022 BugGuide gathering in New Mexico, July 20-24

Photos of insects and people from the Spring 2021 gathering in Louisiana, April 28-May 2

Photos of insects and people from the 2019 gathering in Louisiana, July 25-27

Photos of insects and people from the 2018 gathering in Virginia, July 27-29


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This is a primarily textual guide designed to follow identification based on typical color patterns. It is strictly non-technical in the sense that microscopic traits are avoided when not absolutely necessary. As such, it does not replace a true species key but instead should suffice to introduce the range of color patterns found both across species and within species.

Each species entry is divided into sections including:
• body color (general pattern)
• diagnosis (detailed traits that typically suggest that species)
• similar species (a list of species that share similar coloration as well as traits that can separate them, when visible)
https://www.inaturalist.org/posts/12014-paper-wasps-quick-guide-to-us-polistes-species

fantastic job
you should have added this here years ago...

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