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How to Identify Flying Insects in the Woods

With untold species that call the woods home, venturing into the forest can be a greatly rewarding experiencing for entomologists and amateur insect collectors. Many of these creatures spend their entire life cycles near the woods, from the larval stage to adulthood. Identifying them can be tricky, particularly with winged insects that constantly escape visual identification by perpetually flitting around. And once you do catch sight of them, you're faced with the equally daunting task of trying to distinguish one from the seemingly infinite number of other species. There are, however, a few tricks to doing just that.

Instructions

- 1
  Jot down all of your notes neatly in a bound notebook that's free of other writing. Although you'll likely be making most of your notes on the fly, try to write legibly so you will be able to decipher your own handwriting if you need to refer to it. You also can try using a portable voice recorder to store your observations.
- 2
  Identify the insect's habitat. Ask yourself where you saw it land, and where it built its nest. Ask yourself questions such, "Was the insect burrowing inside a tree or did it tend to gravitate towards water?" Also, note the time of day it appears to be the most active.
- 3
  Try taking a picture of the insect as it's resting on a leaf or other surface where it stands out against the background. You also can try using a magnifying glass to get a closer look.
- 4
  Take note of some of its features, such as its head, thorax and abdomen. Examine the antennae closely to see if they have any distinguishing features. Also, write down the color and shape of the wings.
- 5
  Compare your notes with a pictorial database of winged insects. If you're still unsure of what type of species it is, seek out a professional entomologist to help you identify it.

Insects & Science