r/whatsthisbug (about 1.3M members, directory rank #838) is for bug identification — insects, spiders, crustaceans and similar. Non-bug mysteries and spider-specialist rooms fit better elsewhere.
See also whatsthisbug vs whatisthisthing on SubMouse.
How to choose
Stay on whatsthisbug for arthropod ID. Use whatisthisthing for unknown objects that are not bugs, spiders for arachnid-focused ID and discussion, and whatsthisplant for plant ID.
Starting point: r/whatsthisbug
r/whatsthisbug
— Bug identification! All insects, spiders, crustaceans, etc. welcome!
- Members: 1.3M
- Directory rank: #838
- 7-day growth: +606
Bug identification! All insects, spiders, crustaceans, etc. welcome!
Curated alternatives
For the identification of mysterious objects
- Members: 3.2M
- Directory rank: #331
When to choose it: Mysterious objects that are not bugs.
Why it is here: Paired on whatsthisbug vs whatisthisthing; listed as related. Public description: identification of mysterious objects (about 3.2M members, rank #331).
How it differs from r/whatsthisbug: General object ID versus bug-specific ID.
Spiders
- Members: 1.2M
- Directory rank: #905
When to choose it: Spider and arachnid ID, photos and discussion.
Why it is here: Listed as related (about 1.2M members, rank #905).
How it differs from r/whatsthisbug: Spider-specialist room versus general bug ID.
What's This Plant
- Members: 1.8M
- Directory rank: #600
When to choose it: Plant identification rather than insects.
Why it is here: Sibling ID-room neighbourhood (about 1.8M members, rank #600).
How it differs from r/whatsthisbug: Plant ID versus bug ID.
Related comparisons
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Members and public descriptions come from SubMouse's safe-for-work directory (as of 2026-11-02 UTC); 7-day growth measured from 2026-10-26. Posts/day and culture claims appear only when we have them — missing fields stay n/a. Directory rank is listing order. Communities outside the published Top 100 open in the info tool instead of a full community page. Guide updated 2026-11-07.