221 Amazing Bugs and Insects Encyclopedia

Common name : Tree lobster Scientific name : Dryococelus australis Family : Phasmatidae Native to : Lord Howe Island Group, Ball’s pyramid Interesting fact : Known to be the rarest insect in the world, there were only 24 insects left in the wild on the Ball’s pyramid island. They have been bred successfully in captivity […]

Common name : Long horn beetle Scientific name : Cerambycidae Family : Cerambycidae Native to : Hemisphere Interesting fact : These beetles are easily identifiable by their long antennas, which are most often longer than their bodies. The largest of these beetles can have a body length of 16.7 cm. Quite a few of them

Common name : Migratory locust Scientific name : Locusta migratoria Family : Acrididae Native to : Worldwide distribution Interesting fact : Throughout history, there have been records of locust plagues, where a huge swarm of locusts appear almost instantly with a slight change in wind direction or weather. Locusts are nothing but short-horned grasshoppers that

Common name : Lesser grass blue Scientific name : Zizina otis Family : Lycaenidae Native to : South Asia Interesting fact : Very often mistaken for the common grass blue butterfly this specific butterfly is pale blue with a brownish outline and a silvery shine which makes it look glazed in certain lights. A wingspan

Common name : Great grey slug Scientific name : Limax maximus Family : Limacidae Native to : Europe Interesting fact : Due to their speckled appearance, these slugs are popularly known as leopard slugs. Almost 8 inches in length, the leopard slug has 4 tentacles on its head, and has leopard-like markings from its head all

Common name : Citrus tree borer Scientific name : Oemona hirta Family : Cerambycidae Native to : New Zealand Interesting fact : The lemon or citrus tree borer damages a variety of trees, specifically citrus trees. 15 to 30 mm in length, the larva is only 2 mm long, but it is the larva and

Common name : Leech Scientific name : Hirudinea Family : (subclass) Hirudinea Native to : Worldwide distribution Interesting fact : Leeches have been used for drawing blood from patients, and as a medical practice for a very long time. With its internal structure divided into 32 segments and body surface divided into 102 annuli, leeches

Common name : Light brown apple moth Scientific name : Epiphyas postvittana Family : Tortricidae Native to : Australia Interesting fact : So as to provide a secure hiding place for itself, the caterpillar rolls and ties the leaves with a silken thread, thus giving it the name ‘leafroller’. About 10-18 mm in length, the

Common name : Large white Scientific name : Pieris brassicae Family : Pieridae Native to : Europe, North Africa, Asia and Himalayas Interesting fact : When threatened, the large white caterpillar emits a foul odour to threaten its predators. 5 to 6.5 cm of wingspan, the large white caterpillar has white wings with black tips.

Common name : Giant centipede Scientific name : Cormocephalus rubriceps Family : Scolopendridae Native to : Australia, Solomon Islands, New Guinea, Indonesia, South-East Asia and China Interesting fact : The giant centipede uses modified claws (located on its head) to puncture quickly and deliver venom into its prey. Almost 7.5 to 16 cm in length,

Common name : Ladybug Scientific name : Coccinellidae Family : Coccinellidae Native to : North America (now worldwide distribution) Interesting fact : Its scientific name has been derived from a Latin word meaning ‘scarlet’, on account of its colouring. Hardly 8 to 18 mm in length, these small rounded bugs are not considered ‘true bugs’

Common name : Convolvulus hawk-moth Scientific name : Agrius convolvuli Family : Sphingidae Native to : New Zealand Interesting fact : The kumara moth in the caterpillar stage is quite distinguishable with its horns. This moth is large and has a wingspan of 80-105 mm. Its diet is comprised of flowers and various plants, which

Common name : Kowhai moth caterpillar Scientific name : Uresiphita polygonalis maorialis Family : Pyralidae Native to : New Zealand Interesting fact : While the moth looks like most other moths, the caterpillar of the kowhai moth is distinctive with its speckled appearance and hair-like structures all over its body. While the moth has a

Common name : Kissing bug Scientific name : Triatominae Family : Reduviidae Native to : America, Asia, Australia and Africa Interesting fact : Also known as assassin bugs, these insects are well known for sucking the blood of vertebrate creatures. As an adult, the kissing bug has 2 sets of wings, which it acquires after

Common name : Kawakawa looper Scientific name : Cleora scriptaria Family : Geomitridae Native to : New Zealand Interesting fact : The caterpillar of the Kawakawa moth is known as the kawakawa looper because of the loop-like motion it moves in. While the moth has a wingspan of 40-50 mm, the looper is green and