An Unofficial REST API for BugGuide.net

Explore the data-set of 40511 insects!

Based on json-server and bugguide.net’s multiple .txt sets, I created an API to deliver insects’ data in JSON format. At present, the API only delivers the common name, genus, species, family, order, bug_guide_id, and bugguide.net URL information.

API Endpoint

https://bugs.verfasor.com/api

Documentation

Data can be parsed as JSON. Access to the bugs.verfasor.com doesn't require a token-based authentication. Please use it for development and testing only. And kindly avoid sending too many requests to Vercel, who's hosting the REST API.

Examples

White space between the words are fine, mmkay.

Query Type	URL
General query	`GET https://bugs.verfasor.com/api?q=Soldier%20Beetle`
Query a Common Name	`GET https://bugs.verfasor.com/api?q=Soldier%20Beetle`
Query a Genus	`GET https://bugs.verfasor.com/api?Genus=Chauliognathus`
Query Species	`GET https://bugs.verfasor.com/api?Species=pensylvanicus`
Query a Family	`GET https://bugs.verfasor.com/api?Family=Cantharidae`
Query an Order	`GET https://bugs.verfasor.com/api?Order=Coleoptera`
Query a Bug Guide ID	`GET https://bugs.verfasor.com/api?BugGuideID=438`
Query combination and filter	`GET https://bugs.verfasor.com/api?Order=Coleoptera&q=beetle`

Get a random bug info in Python

import requests
import json
import random

seed = random.randint(0, 40510)
print(seed)

# API
link = 'https://bugs.verfasor.com/api'

# Request data
data = requests.get(link).text

# Print stuff you like
number = json.loads(data)
print("%s" % (number[seed]["Number"]))

genus = json.loads(data)
print("%s" % (genus[seed]["Genus"]))

species = json.loads(data)
print("%s" % (species[seed]["Species"]))

family = json.loads(data)
print("%s" % (family[seed]["Family"]))

order = json.loads(data)
print("%s" % (order[seed]["Order"]))

bugguideid = json.loads(data)
print("%s" % (bugguideid[seed]["BugGuideID"]))

url = json.loads(data)
print("%s" % (url[seed]["URL"]))

commonname = json.loads(data)
print("%s" % (commonname [seed]["CommonName"]))

Alpha disclaimer