About Identification

Note about izeltlabuak.hu (arthropods)

The izeltlabuak.hu website primarily focuses on arthropods found in Hungary. This entry also deals with Hungarian fauna.

Suggested Identifications

When you record an observation, you can make a suggested identification for it. You can only specify a taxon, not developmental stage, sex, or other data. These can be set by identifiers during the identification submission.

Suggested identifications make the work of identifiers easier, because they can approve it with one click if they find it good, or make a new identification.

You can also make a suggested identification when editing an observation, or modify what you previously provided.

When recording an observation, you must specify a main category. This serves to group observations for identifiers. Most identifiers know one group better and monitor observations arriving in that group. Their work is simplified if observations are pre-grouped for them.

The Identifiers

Identifications are performed by experienced users with identifier privileges who know a particular taxon well, who help users with their knowledge on the izeltlabuak.hu interface. A special interface appears for identifiers on observation displays. On these they can approve the suggested identification, or make a new identification, where in addition to specifying the taxon, they can provide other data such as developmental stage, sex, or notes for the identification.

Active identifier users with identifier privileges can be viewed on the users page.

Active identifiers for a given higher category can be seen on the main categories page. E.g. large butterflies.

Observation Identification

An observation enters the Hungarian arthropods and our user's observed categories when it has been approved or identified by an identifier.

Identifiers are needed because this way we can ensure the reliability of identifications.

Identifier Privileges

Identifiers are users who have identifier privileges, thus they have access to the website's identifier functions.

Their assumed task is to use their professional knowledge to help users identify their recorded observations on the izeltlabuak.hu website.

Accessing Observations to be Identified

Identifiers can usually submit identifications anywhere one or more observations are displayed.

For identifiers, an 'Identification' button appears on the observation displays, which can be used to perform the identification.

To access observations awaiting identification, it is recommended to use the observation lists provided by the website and their sorting and filtering.

The recommended process is to select the group we know well, then use the identification level filter to select that only observations identified to higher categories are displayed. This way we get those observations that have not yet been identified.

All large butterfly observations can be accessed for example like this: izeltlabuak.hu → 'Browse arthropods' button → clicking on 'Large butterflies Macrolepidoptera' name link → 'Observations' tab This is the arrival page:

https://www.izeltlabuak.hu/csoport/nagylepkek/talalatok?o=2&v=1 This link can also be used directly to access the subpage.

On this page you can further filter according to what taxonomic level the observation has already been identified to using the 'Identification level' slider that appears when clicking the 'Display Settings' button. E.g. large butterflies not identified to species level can be filtered by setting the slider to 'large butterflies - genus'. Direct link for this: https://www.izeltlabuak.hu/csoport/nagylepkek/talalatok?o=2&v=1&dr=1_3

The Identification Process

For identifiers, the 'Identification' button that appears on observation displays can be used to submit identifications.

identification button on an observation display

If the recorder has provided a suggested identification for the observation, an 'I accept' button also appears. If the identifier agrees with the suggested identification, they can accept it with a single click.

acceptance button on an observation display

If someone else has already submitted an identification for the observation, the 'Identification' button text will become 'Modify identification'.

modify identification button on an observation display

Clicking the Identification button opens an identifier interface where identification details can be specified.

identifier interface

In the 'Identified as (family, genus, species):' section, when starting to type the name to be specified during identification, a list of possible names appears. From here the desired value can be selected

• on an observation page.
• on a given taxon page in the observations listing.

identification search

Rules to Follow for Identifiers

For the reliability of identifications and for the sake of collaborative work, the following should be followed by every identifier:

• only identify those in which they are certain, to the level that can be reliably identified based on the photographs. If it can be identified to family or genus level, then to that level.

• reasoning can be provided in comments during identification. When downgrading, e.g. when downgrading from species to genus, it can be written that the characteristics necessary for species identification are not visible.

• in some observations it occurs that species-level identification was done by examining the specimen. This is described in the observation description or in the identification notes. This should be taken into account during possible downgrading.

• when changing species-level identification to another species, it should preferably be justified in comments as well.

• in case of identification disagreement with another identifier, identifiers should handle the situation cooperatively and constructively. In such cases, they should set the narrowest common taxonomic group (genus, family). In certain groups it occurs that two different renowned experts are convinced of different opinions.

• if the identification cannot be made to species level, but the identification can be narrowed down to two species, there is the possibility to create a species pair. E.g. https://www.izeltlabuak.hu/faj/lygaeus-equestris-simulans The need for creating a species pair can be indicated in a letter written to info@izeltlabuak.hu.

• if the taxon does not change during identification, the name of whoever identified it first should preferably remain. If we only change the developmental stage, not the taxon, the identifier should remain the previous one, probably only the stage (e.g. larva) setting was missed.

• there is currently no possibility for confirmation. If an observation has already been identified to a particular taxon, confirmation cannot be made, only change if necessary. This is due to the limitations of the current identification system, in the future this will also be possible.

• we cannot provide compensation in exchange for identifications.

The identification system will change in the future. The main difference will be that multiple people will be able to express their opinions about an observation.