API for Bug Guide | bugguide.net Unofficial API

Explore the data-set of 40511 insects!

Based on 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.deadauthor.org doesn’t require a token-based authentication. Kindly avoid sending too many requests. Consider donating if you plan to actively use the API.

Examples

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`

API Usage Example (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

The Insects JSON REST API is actually in the alpha stage, which implies that “bugs” and issues may still remain undiscovered until this phase of testing is complete. The alpha stage also means that the data may be corrupted, is not 100% validated or complete, and is subject to change. Finally, services may have downtime and the API schemas and calls are subject to change

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