Frequently asked questions.
Plain answers about who runs this, what it costs (nothing), what happens to your details, and what we can and cannot help with.
Who is behind this?
One kooky entomologist. Not a company, not a startup. You can email him at . He likes bug jokes.
Why the Ommatidium Project at entofacet.org?
Because ommatidium.org was about $5000 to register and no one can spell it. Now, will people confuse entofacet and entofact? Time will tell.
Asking a question
Can I ask anything I want?
Yes, within reason. One of the entomologists, acarologists, and invertebrate specialists we have available may not be able to answer everything.
What kinds of questions suit this best?
Identification, natural history, research pointers. Curiosity is welcome.
Do I need to make an account?
No. There is no password and no profile. Everything stays tied to the email you gave when you made the request.
Is an AI going to answer me back?
No, these are real entomologists, acarologists, and invertebrate specialists donating their time to speak to you. We just route questions.
How long will it take?
It depends. These are real people with day jobs, teaching loads, and field seasons. Some questions get picked up quickly. Some sit for a while.
What if no one can answer?
We will close the request and tell you honestly we cannot find someone to help.
Can you identify an insect from my photo?
Often yes, if the photo is decent. Sometimes it is not enough and an expert will tell you so. We are happy to take photo requests, we are just not built for speed. If you want an answer today, try Reddit’s r/whatsthisbug. They will be faster. Come to us when you want a considered answer from someone who works on the group. Please understand some groups only have maybe one or two taxonomists left, and they may be over 98 years old and living in Australia. We are not kidding.
Will my question be posted in public?
No. It goes to one entomologist, acarologist, or invertebrate specialist, not onto a feed. Fret not, that fake eyelash you thought was a caterpillar stays between us.
What we are not
I was bitten or stung. Can you help?
Not medically. If you feel unwell, contact a doctor or emergency services, not an entomologist. We can talk about the animals we work on. We are not people doctors, we are bug doctors.
Do you do pest control?
No. We can tell you what an insect is and will likely refer you to an article by a university extension group on its control. (Seriously, Google your pest plus “university extension” for good articles.)
Can you do my homework or my coursework?
No. Ask about the science and you will get a real answer. Ask for the answer key and you will not. The bug knowledge is good for you, padawan.
Can you value or authenticate my specimen?
No. We do not appraise, and we will not help with anything that looks like trade in protected species. This is not a pawn shop for bugs. We do not trade in them.
Trust, money, and motive
Is this a scam?
No, it is a project by an entomologist who saw an issue and wanted to explore it. His name is on the website and registered to the domain and data controller. He intentionally chose a name that is original and thus not found on Google just yet. Email him personally at if you have any concerns.
Why does barely anything come up when I search your name?
The project is new and growing and search results are still catching up. Google is slow and thinks the Ommatidium Project is an art project.
Are you trying to make money off of my information?
No, quite the contrary. By the very nature of how this project was made and the resources it obtained, it cannot generate income for anyone. Doing so would violate several legal clauses of the founding of the project.
Is this a freemium trap?
No. By nature of the funding and setup of this project it cannot generate income. There is no paid tier waiting behind a door.
Can I donate? Can I tip the expert who helped me?
No. We cannot take donations, tips, subscriptions, or payment of any kind, from anyone, for anything. There is nowhere to send money and no way to set one up under the terms this project was founded on. If a person ever asks you for money in our name, it is not us.
Is this data scraping and lead generation via a predatory journal?
No. The system is built so only an expert who has been routed your question can ever see your email, and only if the request was relevant to them in the first place.
Your data
Where is my data kept?
On servers in London under access controls with the founder as the registered data controller. The full detail is in the privacy notice.
Who can actually see my email address?
Only the expert who takes your request. Nobody browses a list of addresses.
Can I have my data deleted?
Email with the request and it will be purged. Every email we send also carries its own remove-me route.
For experts
I am an entomologist, malacologist, or acarologist. Can I take part?
Yes, that is the point. Get in touch.
I do not think I am qualified enough to help. Is this only for professors and academics?
No, not at all. Sometimes the best guide for a question is a student currently at a university or institution.
Do I have to use my real name?
No. You can appear under a handle. Your call.
Do I have to answer everything sent to me?
No. Routing is never an order. You take what you want and leave the rest. We only ask that you tell us promptly when you cannot.
Will I be buried in requests?
No. Routing is targeted, and signing up lets you set hard limits on what reaches you.
What do I get out of it?
Recognition, and automated reports of what you have contributed to the wider community. A sense of helping people get into this field.
Can I stop at any time?
Yes. Tell us and you are out. It is quick, and we purge you from the system.