Great advice! And yes, it is true that most insects need to be identified using a microscope. However, I would encourage people who can to go get a microscope! In the old days, it was common for 'amateur' entomologists to describe species and make real contributions to the science. A lot of the technical literature has also been scanned and is available online for those who want learn! A great resource is https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/.
I just installed Merlin, a free bird ID app from Cornell University with an add on specific to my location in SW Queensland. Looking forward to learning more about the birds I’ve been watching here.
As a native plant gardener, I use a plant ID app called Picture This, which I like quite a bit. I find over time that it trains my eye and brain to recognize things without it, and I've become confident about plants that were previously unknown to me.
I try to get invasives out of my garden and encourage natives, so it's nice to learn what a white avens looks like, that the invasive star of bethlehem has that evil little white line, and there are such things as native orchids.
Great advice! And yes, it is true that most insects need to be identified using a microscope. However, I would encourage people who can to go get a microscope! In the old days, it was common for 'amateur' entomologists to describe species and make real contributions to the science. A lot of the technical literature has also been scanned and is available online for those who want learn! A great resource is https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/.
I just installed Merlin, a free bird ID app from Cornell University with an add on specific to my location in SW Queensland. Looking forward to learning more about the birds I’ve been watching here.
Have fun, it is pretty good and gets better then more people use it.
https://apps.apple.com/au/app/merlin-bird-id-by-cornell-lab/id773457673
As a native plant gardener, I use a plant ID app called Picture This, which I like quite a bit. I find over time that it trains my eye and brain to recognize things without it, and I've become confident about plants that were previously unknown to me.
I try to get invasives out of my garden and encourage natives, so it's nice to learn what a white avens looks like, that the invasive star of bethlehem has that evil little white line, and there are such things as native orchids.