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If you've ever seen a strange insect in your backyard, in nature, or even inside your home and wondered what kind of creature it was, you should know that today's technology can help answer that question. Using your cell phone's camera, it's possible to identify insect species with great precision, thanks to apps that use artificial intelligence.
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These tools are ideal for people who enjoy observing nature, students, teachers and even environmental professionals. More than just satisfying curiosity, identifying insects can also be useful for learning about biodiversity, understanding ecosystems and even preventing health risks caused by poisonous or invasive species.
In this blog post, you will learn about two free apps available for Android and iOS that help with this task: Search by iNaturalist and the Picture Insect. Both work based on photographs and are very simple to use.
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Why use an app to recognize insects?
Insects are everywhere and represent one of the greatest diversities on the planet. There are millions of species, and many of them are difficult to distinguish just by appearance. In this context, trying to identify an insect manually or through books can be time-consuming and require technical knowledge.
Identification apps use algorithms and neural networks to compare images taken by the user with databases containing thousands of species. With this, they can accurately indicate the name of the insect and provide additional information, such as habitat, behavior and degree of risk.
This is a practical way to turn your cell phone into an educational tool. It can also help with school activities, academic research, or simply fuel your interest in learning more about the environment.
Seek by iNaturalist: Visual Recognition and Scientific Learning
O Seek is a free app created by iNaturalist, a project supported by National Geographic and the California Academy of Sciences. It was developed with the goal of connecting people to nature and encouraging observation of the world around them.
When you open the app and point the camera at an insect, Seek analyzes the image in real time and presents identification suggestions. The better the image quality, the greater the chance of a correct identification. When it recognizes the species, the app shows details such as the scientific name, family and common geographic location.
One of Seek's distinguishing features is that it doesn't require a login for basic use, which makes access easier. In addition, the app keeps a history of identified species and offers small challenges to encourage learning.
Key Features:
- Automatic image recognition
- Intuitive interface, ideal for children and adults
- Does not require real-time internet connection
- Personal history of discoveries
- Detailed information about each identified species
Seek can also be used to identify plants, birds, amphibians and other living things. But its performance with insects is particularly impressive, thanks to its extensive database and constant updates.
Picture Insect: Accuracy Based on Saved Photos
The second application that deserves to be highlighted is Picture Insect, a tool with excellent performance for those who want to identify insects based on photographs already taken. Unlike Seek, which uses the camera in real time, Picture Insect works best when the user uploads an image of the insect.
You can take a photo at the time of sighting or select an image from the gallery. Within seconds, the app analyzes the image and returns information with the name of the insect and details about its behavior, life cycle and possible risks to humans or pets.
The interface is simple and the identification process is quick, ideal for those looking for a direct and objective experience.
Key Features:
- Recognition by gallery images
- Classification of insects by categories
- Hazard, toxicity and behavior information
- History with previously identified species
- Available for free on Android and iOS
This app is very useful for everyday situations, such as identifying insects found at home, in the garden or while hiking. In addition, it can help prevent accidents by alerting you to potentially dangerous species.
Which of the two is best for you?
The choice between the two applications will depend on your usage style and objective.
O Search by iNaturalist It is ideal for those who enjoy observing nature in real time. It is educational, intuitive and allows you to create a diary of discoveries. Perfect for learning while playing, alone or with your family.
Already the Picture Insect It is more practical for those who just want to find out the name of an insect that has already been photographed. It is objective, works well even with common photos and provides additional information useful for the user's safety.
Of course, there’s nothing stopping you from using both together. That way, you’ll have the best of both worlds: live observation and image-based research.
How to take good photos for identification
Regardless of the application, a few tips can improve identification accuracy:
- Take the photo in good lighting, preferably natural light.
- Focus closely on the insect's body, especially the wings, legs and antennae.
- Avoid shadows and confusing backgrounds
- Approach carefully so as not to scare the insect.
- Use your camera's macro mode if available
These precautions increase image clarity and allow applications to perform more effective analysis.
Conclusion
Identifying insects has never been easier. With the right apps, your phone can become a powerful tool for learning and discovery. Seek and the Picture Insect are two free, accessible and reliable options for those who want to explore the world of insects with more awareness and curiosity.
Whether for educational use, for safety, or just for pure interest, these apps are worth trying out and making your outdoor walks or moments in the backyard even more interesting.
Now it's up to you: choose your favorite app, get your camera ready and start unraveling the mysteries of the insect world.
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