221 Amazing Bugs and Insects Encyclopedia

Common name : Orange tip Scientific name : Anthocharis cardamines Family : Pieridae Native to : United Kingdom Interesting fact : The caterpillars of the orange tip are known to be cannibalistic and only one caterpillar survives on each Cuckooflower (the host plant). With a wingspan of 42-52 mm, the orange tip butterfly is appropriately […]

Common name : Red soldier wasp Scientific name : Netelia ephippiata Family : Ichneumonidae Native to : Australia, Java and New Zealand Interesting fact : Unlike most wasps, the female of the red soldier wasp can sting, if threatened. The sting is extremely painful. Reddish in colour and 20 mm in length, this wasp is

Common name : Onion aphid Scientific name : Neotoxoptera formosana Family : Aphididae Native to : East and South-East Asia Interesting fact : Unlike most insects, the onion aphid does not alternate beyond host plants, but rather spends its entire life on one onion plant either on the bulb or the leaves. Hardly 2.3 mm

Common name : New zealand mantis Scientific name : Orthodera novaezealandiae Family : Mantidae Native to : New Zealand Interesting fact : The New Zealand mantis is a smart predator and is said to be a very active mantis. 35mm to 40 mm in length, this praying mantis is bright green in colour with 2

Common name : Native bush cockroach Scientific name : Celatoblatta spp. Family : Blattidae Native to : New Zealand Interesting fact : Unlike a lot of other species of cockroaches, the native bush roach is not a household pest. Only 15 mm in length, this cockroach is smaller than other species. Its habitat consists of

Common name : Antennal-waving Wasp Scientific name : Tachysphex pechumani Family : Sphecidae Native to : Canada and United States Interesting fact : These insects have created nests not once but twice inside an aircraft’s pilot tubes, causing both aeroplanes to crash. Varying in length based on their species, the mud dauber is between 0.5 to 1

Common name : Mosquito Scientific name : Culicidae Family : Culicidae Native to : Worldwide distribution, excepting Antarctica Interesting fact : The term mosquito is derived from the Spanish word ‘mosca’ and its meaning is ‘little fly’. The size of the mosquito varies based on its species, but is usually more than 16 mm in length.

Common name : Monarch butterfly Scientific name : Danaus plexippus Family : Nymphalidae Native to : United States, Australia, Hawaii and Pacific Islands Interesting fact : One of the most familiar butterflies in North America, the monarch butterfly is easily identifiable by its orange and black pattern. With a wingspan of about 10 cm, the

Common name : Millipede Scientific name : Diplopoda Family : (class) Diplopoda Native to : Worldwide distribution Interesting fact : While they actually have only 40 to 200 legs, these bugs are very often known as ‘thousand leggers’. From 2 mm to 40 cm, the millipede is a lot like a centipede; the only differentiating

Common name : Mercury island tusked weta Scientific name : Motuweta isolate Family : Anostostomatidae Native to : Mercury Islands Interesting fact : This species of weta has huge tusks on its head, which it uses to fight other males and makes noises. A total of 60 mm in body length, the mercury island tusked

Common name : Mealybug ladybird Scientific name : Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Family : Coccinellidae Native to : Australia Interesting fact : This insect received its name because of its fondness for mealybugs as a food source. Unlike other bugs of this family, the mealybug ladybird is brown and spotless in appearance. Once it hatches, the larvae

Common name : Potter wasp Scientific name : Eumeninae Family : Vespidae Native to : Worldwide distribution Interesting fact : It is believed that the Native Americans might have based many of their pottery designs on the nest patterns of the potter wasp. 9-20 mm in length, the potter wasp feeds on flower nectar and also

Common name : Malachite Scientific name : Siproeta stelenes Family : Nymphalidae Native to : Central America and Northern South America Interesting fact : Named after the colour of the same name, the malachite is bright green and black on the upper side and a beautiful olive green on the underside. The malachite has a

Common name : Magpie moth Scientific name : Nyctemera annulata Family : Erebidae Native to : New Zealand Interesting fact : The larva/caterpillar of the magpie moth is known as the ‘woolly bear’ caterpillar on account of its appearance. With a wingspan of 35-45 mm, the magpie moth is diurnal, as a result of which

Common name : Maggot Scientific name : Calliphoridae Family : (order) Diptera Native to : Worldwide distribution Interesting fact : The term maggot is not a technical term, but the maggot is the larva of the brachyceran fly such as houseflies, cheeseflies and blowflies. The larva of a fly, maggots are small whitish-greyish worms that