221 Amazing Bugs and Insects Encyclopedia

Common name : Chrysanthemum lace bug Scientific name : Corythucha marmorata Family : Tingidae Native to : Asia, North America Interesting fact : Due to their delicate lace-like wings, these insects are known as ‘lace bugs’. 1/8th inch in length, this bug has a creamy white colour. They reside on ornamental plants like sunflowers, tansies, […]

Common name : Chorus cicada Scientific name : Amphipsalta zelandica Family : Cicadidae Native to : New Zealand Interesting fact : These insects make a specific ‘cicada’ sound, which can reach deafening proportions when they are at the peak of their population. 2 cm in length, the chorus cicada has a wing-span of 6 cm. Among

Common name : Cheese mite Scientific name : Tyrolichus casei Family : Acaridae Native to : Australia Interesting fact : These mites are used on cheeses like Milbenkase to improve the taste and texture of the cheese! Only 0.7 mm in length, these tiny bugs are famous for thedistinctive taste they lend to various varieties

Common name : Cattle tick Scientific name : Rhipicephalus microplus Family : Ixodidae Native to : Asia, parts of Australia and Madagascar, Caribbean, South and Central America and Mexico Interesting fact : Apart from infesting cattle, the cattle tick is also known to infest sheep, goats, camels, buffaloes, llamas and deer. The cattle tick stays

Common name : Caterpillar of bamboo moth Scientific name : Artona martini efetov Family : Zygaenidae Native to : South-East Asia, Japan, Taiwan, China and Vietnam Interesting fact : Due to its diet which consists of bamboo plant, especially the ornamental kind, this bug is known as the ‘bamboo moth’. The caterpillar of the bamboo

Common name : Varied carpet beetle Scientific name : Anthrenus verbasci Family : Dermestidae Native to : Europe, North Africa, Nearctic Ecozone, East Palearctic Ecozone Interesting fact : Due to its weird appearance, the larvae of the carpet beetle are known as the woolly bears! 3.5 mm in length, the carpet beetle has a spherical

Common name : Cooktown birdwing Scientific name : Ornithoptera euphorion Family : Papilionidae Native to : Australia Interesting fact : This butterfly has undergone a genetic mutation where the female was pale, and the male was a bright golden green. Up to 150 mm in wingspan, the cairns birdwing is a brightly coloured butterfly, with

Common name : Cochineal Scientific name : Dactylopius coccus Family : Dactylopiidae Native to : South America and Mexico Interesting fact : Carminic acid is extracted from this bug. This acid is then used as a dye worldwide in cosmetics, food colours, clothing dye, etc. 5 mm in length and having a deep red colour,

Common name : The small white Scientific name : Pieris rapae Family : Pieridae Native to : Europe, North Africa, Asia, Great Britain Interesting fact : The small white butterfly’s caterpillar is a huge pest to most mustard family crops and to cabbage plants, hence the name cabbage white.    The butterfly is a smaller

Common name : Burnt pine longhorn beetle Scientific name : Arhopalus tristis Family : Cerambycidae Native to : Europe (North Island, Northern South Island) Interesting fact : At 30 mm in length, this beetle is relatively larger than its brethren. Their colouring ranges from dark brown to black. Their diet is comprised of wood from

Common name : Slender burnished brass Scientific name : Thysanoplusia orichalcea Family : Noctuidae Native to : Indonesia Interesting fact : Due to its beautiful metallic gold colouring, this moth is known as the ‘burnished brass’. 44 mm in length, the burnished brass moth is considered a pest specifically for vegetable crops. They are polyphagous

Common name : Bumble bee Scientific name : Bombus spp. Family : Apidae Native to : Worldwide distribution Interesting fact : This insect came to be named so, because of its buzzing and droning about. The term bumble bee was first used in 1530. 16 mm in length, these bees are rather plump and furry.

Common name : Bullet ant Scientific name : Paraponera clavata Family : Formicidae Native to : Nicaragua, Honduras, Paraguay Interesting fact : This ant is named such because of its extremely venomous and powerful sting, which causes severe pain the day after the sting. Their height ranges from 18 to 30 mm. Reddish black in

Common name : Brown house moth Scientific name : Hofmannophila pseudospretella Family : Oecophoridae Native to : Asia (but has become pandemic now) Interesting fact : These creatures are considered to be big-time pests inside the house, especially since the larvae feed on any and all available food sources. The brown house moth has an

Common name : Brown garden snail Scientific name : Cantareus aspersus Family : Helicidae Native to : Mediterranean region, Africa, Asia Minor, British Isles and Western Europe. Interesting fact : Its speed does not exceed 1.3 cm per second, and this creature also has excellent homing instincts. This snail is about 40 mm wide and