221 Amazing Bugs and Insects Encyclopedia

Common name : Zimmerman pine moth Scientific name : Dioryctria zimmermani Family : Pyralidae Native to : Canada & United States Interesting fact : This moth is considered the primary pest of pine trees in the Midwest. 37 mm of wingspan, the zimmerman pine moth is grey with brownish reddish zig-zag markings. The larvae, which

Common name : Zebra caterpillar Scientific name : Melanchra picta Family : Noctuidae Native to : United States Interesting fact : When threatened or disturbed, the zebra caterpillar rolls up, falls to the ground and plays dead. While the moth has a wingspan of 40 mm, and has purplish brown wings with whitish hind wings,

Common name : Yellow striped armyworm Scientific name : Spodoptera ornithogalli Family : Noctuidae Native to : The American sub-continent Interesting fact : The 2 stripes running the length of the larva’s body give it the name ‘yellow striped armyworm’. The moth has a wingspan of 32-44 mm, and has a dark brownish forewing and almost pale

Common name : Eastern yellow jacket Scientific name : Vespula maculifrons Family : Vespidae Native to : North America Interesting fact : The Eastern yellow jacket receives its scientific                         name from the Latin words ‘macula’ (meaning spot) and ‘frons’ (meaning forehead). Smaller than other wasps in size, the Eastern yellow jacket ranges in size from

Common name : Yellow garden spider Scientific name : Argiope aurantia Family : Araneidae Native to : United States, Central America, South Canada, Mexico and Hawaii Interesting fact : The yellow garden spider has a unique web, which is circular with a dense zig-zag webbing running through the centre of the web. About 19-28 mm

Common name : Yellow admiral caterpillar Scientific name : Vanessa itea Family : Nymphalidae Native to : New Zealand, Australia, Norfolk Islands and Howe Islands Interesting fact : This butterfly has a local Maori name ‘kahukowhai’ which means ‘yellow cloak’. A medium-sized butterfly, the yellow admiral’s size varies from region to region, but essentially is between 48-55

Common name : Wool carder bee Scientific name : Anthidium manicatum Family : Megachilidae Native to : Europe, Asia, North Africa and North America Interesting fact : The wool carder bee gets its name from its behaviour of scraping hair of leaves, and then carrying the hair bundled behind its body to use as a

Common name : Sirex wood wasp Scientific name : Sirex noctilio Family : Siricidae Native to : Europe, Asia and North Africa Interesting fact : The wood wasp is an invasive pest, which has become a problem for pine trees in many part of the world. 9-36 mm in body length, the wood wasp has

Common name : Wolf spider Scientific name : Anoteropsis sp. Family : Lycosidae Native to : Worldwide distribution    Interesting fact : Due to agility, robustness and excellent eyesight, the family name for these spiders originated from the Greek word meaning ‘wolf’. The various species of wolf spiders vary in size, ranging from 10 mm to 35 mm.

Common name : Western giant ichneumon Scientific name : Megarhyssa nortoni Family : Ichneumonidae Native to : Western North America Interesting fact : The name ‘ichneumon’ is derived from the ancient Greek word which means ‘track, footstep’.    36 mm in length, the female wasp is known to have an ovipositor which is 50-76 mm

Common name : Polka dot wasp moth Scientific name : Syntomeida epilais Family : Arctiidae Native to : Caribbean Interesting fact : This moth is also popularly known as the Oleander moth, since the larvae of this insect feed on the Oleander plant. These moths are dark blue colour with white polka dots on the tips

Common name : Western corn rootworm Scientific name : Diabrotica virgifera virgifera Family : Chrysomelidae Native to : North America Interesting fact : This insect is considered to be the worst possible pest for corn in North America. Only 6.4 mm in length, the adult western corn rootworm feeds on corn silk, pollen, kernels from corn

Common name : Water boatman Scientific name : Sigara arguata Family : Corixidae Native to : New Zealand Interesting fact : Unlike a backswimmer, water boatman is an aquatic insect that swims near the bottom of a stream or pond. 5-6 mm in length, the water boatman does not necessarily fly. However, some adults have

Common name : Vinegar fly Scientific name : Drosophila melanogaster Family : Drosophilidae Native to : Worldwide Distribution Interesting fact : Since almost 75% of the human disease genes match the genome of the vinegar fly, these flies are also used as genetic models for the testing of many diseases. Yellow-brown in colour, the vinegar flies

Common name : Viceroy butterfly Scientific name : Limenitis archippus Family : Nymphalidae Native to : North America Interesting fact : The orange and black pattern of this butterfly mimics that of the monarch butterfly. With a wingspan ranging from 53-81 mm, the viceroy can be differentiated from the monarch by its size and also by