Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar

TaxonomyBrowseInfoImagesLinksBooksData
Photo#2082145
Paectes pygmaea? - Paectes pygmaea

Paectes pygmaea? - Paectes pygmaea
Lewis County, West Virginia, USA
June 3, 2021
Smaller than P. oculatrix, though I did not use a ruler to confirm that.

Moved
Moved from ID Request.

OK to move
When one of our experts like Aaron confirms an ID, feel free to move to species. In case you are not familiar with how to do this, just click on the 'tag' for your image, go to the species page in question and to the 'images' menu for that species, and then click on 'untag image'. To be sure it was one of our experts that commented on your photo, click on their name and at the top of the page that comes up for them it should say 'contributing editor'.

 
My bad!
This first attempt at instructions told you to 'untag' the image to move it. Instructions below are correct in telling you to click on 'move tagged images' at bottom of page to move.

 
Sorry
I'm sorry, I'm not grasping the process.
The "tag for your image" refers to the blue hyperlink "tag" below the photo?

 
step by step
Yes, click on the 'tag' below the photo. It is not a hyperlink. It just selects your image to be moved. It will now show up at the top left with a link to 'untag'. Do not click on 'untag' unless you want to start over. Next, type in the species name that your insect has been identified as in the search box at the top right and hit search. The next page will typically show three sections - matching images, matching guides and matching comments. Select your species from matching guides section and click on it. The species page usually opens under the 'Info' menu. You need to open the 'Images' menu showing near the top and then you will be given the option to 'move tagged images' showing at the bottom of your screen.

 
Done
I would not have figured that out in a million years. Thanks for walking me through it.
Question: Does the expert identifier have to be a bugguide volunteer for me to move my images into the correct category? For example, Sabourin and other niche experts have now identified some on iNaturalist that I submitted first here (which remain unidentified here).

 
clarification
By the way, I mostly focus on moths, so my comment below sort of reflects that. Expectations for posting of other insects on BugGuide and getting an ID can be a bit different. You will figure this out as you go along.

 
a step up the learning curve
Glad you got that figured out! It is really easy after you have done it a few times. You can always place your images directly to species without seeking an expert ID on BugGuide, but you are expected to be fairly certain of the ID. I am not familiar with the experts at iNaturalist, but I would only trust an identification provided by somebody that I respect as an expert. It appears you are pretty darn good yourself with identification. If you are not already doing this, always check under the 'info' section on BG for a species to see if there are any 'see also' similar species. And it is a good practice to go thru the plate series at Moth Photographers Group, both spreadwing and live, to see if there might be other species that need to be considered for an ID. Also, many times BugGuide and Moth Photographers Group provide links to research documents such as Moths of North America (MONA) Fascicles that can be very helpful for identification. If one of our experts like Aaron or Bob have reviewed an image and only moved to genus, it is probably for a good reason. Feel free to question them if you think it needs to go to species, but be ready to back up your claim.

 
Good suggestions
Thank you for your helpful comments. I am doing everything you suggested before uploading. For moths I don't recognize, I usually start with https://leps.fieldguide.ai/figures as I find their AI to be the most accurate. With the caveat that location has to be noted for each suggested species, because unlike iNaturalist, they don't factor that in to their suggestions. I use BOLD when I draw a blank on the other sources. The "Walk Through the Moths" on MPG is great for getting familiar with families. And locally, the Maryland Diversity project has been great. I've been collecting scientific papers of ones that particularly interest me, like the Olethreutine moths.

 
field guide
Appreciate your mention of the field guide. Was not aware of a good one for moths.

 
Thank you
I've never seen anything identified and not moved. I didn't know I could move things myself. I'll see if I can follow the directions you kindly gave. Thanks

Paectes pygmaea
Yes

Comment viewing options
Select your preferred way to display the comments and click 'Save settings' to activate your changes.