Ask the Inverter
Dear Bugeyed Bernie,
“I posted insect images on iNaturalist quite some time ago, but I still have not seen confirmation of the identifications. Can I rely on the iNaturalist top suggestion as the correct ID?”
— Signed, “What’s My Name?”Dear What’s My Name,
Your question brings to mind the famous line from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet: “What’s in a name?” Juliet suggests that a name is only a label—that a rose would smell just as sweet by any other name. Yet names still carry meaning. They shape identity, connect us to history, and influence how we understand the world.
The same is true for insects.
Correct identification matters because a name opens the door to understanding. Once an insect is identified, you can begin learning about its habitat, behavior, host plants, life cycle, and ecological role.
Can You Trust the iNaturalist Top Suggestion? 
The short answer: sometimes—but not always.
The iNaturalist computer vision system suggests identifications based on visual similarities to images already in its database. It is often helpful, but it is not infallible.
Think of the AI suggestion as a research launchpad, not a final answer.
Computer vision can be highly accurate, especially when photographs are clear and common species are involved. However, errors happen frequently when:
- Photos are blurry or poorly lit
- Key identifying features are missing
- Species are rare or poorly documented
- Closely related species look nearly identical
- Insects require microscopic features for confirmation
Insects within the same genus or family often share similar traits, making misidentification common. Rare species are especially vulnerable to being labeled as their more common lookalikes.
Human Identifiers Are Still Essential
Once you upload an observation, other members of the iNaturalist community may review it. These users can include:
- Naturalists
- Taxonomic specialists
- Researchers
- Regional experts
- Skilled community scientists
However, there is no guarantee of how quickly an observation will be reviewed. Some receive feedback within hours, while others may sit unreviewed for weeks—or longer.
A knowledgeable identifier may only confirm an insect to:
- Family
- Genus
- Species
Not every insect can be identified to species level from photographs alone.
Avoid Guessing at Species-Level IDs
When uploading observations, it is usually best to remain conservative.
If you are uncertain, identify to the broadest level you feel confident about. For example:
- “Beetles” rather than a specific species
- “Hover Fly” rather than a species name
- “Leafhopper” rather than forcing an uncertain identification
Overconfident identifications can create confusion and may take longer to correct.
What Are Your Goals for Using iNaturalist?
Your answer may depend on why you use the platform.
Many people use iNaturalist for multiple purposes, including:
Identification and Taxonomy
Learning how an organism fits into biological classification:
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Class: Insecta
- Order
- Family
- Genus
- Species
Learning About Insect Life
Once identified, you can explore:
- Behavior
- Host plants
- Nesting or habitat preferences
- Seasonal activity
- Ecological role
- Life history
Building a Personal Nature Journal
iNaturalist creates a searchable digital record of your observations over time.
Contributing to Scientific Research
Your records may support:
- Biodiversity mapping
- Range expansions
- Climate-related distribution changes
- Pollinator monitoring
- Conservation projects
Exploring Biodiversity
You can examine observations from:
- Your backyard
- Your town
- Vermont
- Other regions worldwide
Improving Identification Skills
Watching how experts revise or refine IDs is one of the best ways to learn.
You may begin noticing details such as:
- Wing venation
- Antenna shape
- Facial markings
- Leg structure
- Host plant association
- Geographic range
Community Engagement
iNaturalist allows you to:
- Join projects
- Participate in BioBlitz events
- Connect with specialists
- Compare findings with other observers
And perhaps most importantly:
Have Fun
For many people, iNaturalist transforms a simple walk outdoors into a process of discovery.
Field Guides Still Matter
If your primary goal is faster or more accurate identification, field guides remain essential.
Both printed guides and online references help users learn insect groups in a structured way.
Field guides provide:
- Reliable visual comparisons
- Expert-reviewed information
- Offline access in the field
- Behavioral notes
- Habitat clues
- Distribution maps
As noted by Iowa Extension & Outreach:
“Field guides are essential for insect identification because they provide organized, reliable, and portable visual references that work offline, allowing users to identify specimens in their natural habitat.”
Field guides also help build long-term identification skills rather than relying entirely on automated suggestions.
Useful iNaturalist Features You May Be Overlooking
Many users focus only on the identification box and miss the deeper tools available on each observation page. How to: Go to a posted observation, select the name of the observation (plant, animal, or other) at the top of the page, and page down to select one of the tabs.
The About Tab
Provides information such as:
- Morphology
- Life history
- Distribution
- References
- Conservation status
Taxa
Shows species commonly confused with your observation.
This is especially useful when trying to distinguish lookalikes.
Map View
Allows you to see where a species has been recorded around the world.
Additional Filters
Explore observations by:
- Seasonality
- Life stage
- Sex (male/female)
- Observation history
Project Tab
Projects allow users to explore focused biodiversity efforts.
Examples include:
- Vermont biodiversity rankings by town
- Vermont Wild Bee Survey
- Butterfly Atlas projects
- Pollinator Interactions on Plants (PIP)
- And many more
Final Thoughts
iNaturalist is an outstanding tool, but it works best when viewed as a collaboration between technology and people.
AI can point you in the right direction. Community experts can refine or confirm identifications. Field guides deepen understanding.
The real value of iNaturalist is not simply naming an insect—it is learning to observe the natural world more carefully.
Every observation becomes a question, and every identification becomes part of a larger conversation about biodiversity.
iNaturalist:
Building a science community, mapping each community's biodiversity, discovering and documenting nature together - a meeting point between science and society.
It is not just about data.
It's about people, curiosity, and community.
