Bugs Read online

  This magnificent moth has iridescent colourations on its wings, and feeds on nectar from mostly white-flowered plants, such as almond, tea, and loquat.

  Sylphina angel

  Chorinea sylphina

  Wingspan: 35mm

  Found in Ecuador, Bolivia and Peru

  This butterfly lives in the cloud forests of South America and feeds on the nectar of flowering forest plants.

  Bhutan glory

  Bhutanitis lidderdalii

  Wingspan: 110mm

  Found across India and southern Asia

  This swallowtail butterfly lives at altitudes of nearly 3,000 metres in the mountains of India and Bhutan.

  Tailed jay

  Graphium Agamemnon

  Wingspan: 95mm

  Found across India and southern Asia

  The tailed jay is another swallowtail butterfly that is particularly energetic – it often continues to flap its wings even when it has landed on a plant to feed.

  Rajah Brooke’s birdwing

  Trogonoptera brookiana

  Wingspan: 170mm

  Found across southern Asia

  The beautiful Rajah Brooke’s birdwing is endangered as its natural habitat is being destroyed to create farmland and urban areas.

  Painted lady

  Vanessa cardui

  Wingspan: 80mm

  Found worldwide

  Female painted lady butterflies lay many eggs for their size, and their species migrates from Africa to the Arctic Circle and back, over successive generations.

  Citrus swallowtail

  Papilio demodocus

  Wingspan: 110mm

  Found across sub-Saharan Africa and the Arabian Peninsula

  This species gets its name because the female adult lays her eggs on the leaves of citrus trees, which are then eaten by the hatching larvae. It is also known as the Christmas butterfly, because it is most frequently spotted during the month of December.

  TRUE BUGS

  True bugs are a group of insects that form the order hemiptera. It is a diverse group, with a great variety of scale, shape and adaptation on display.

  All true bugs have pierce-sucking mouthparts, allowing them to extract sap from plants or, in some cases, blood from larger animals. Some hemipterans are predatory and feed on other insects and creatures.

  Whilst most are harmless to humans, certain species cause great problems for farmers, as they can devastate crops and spread fungal plant diseases. Other species are beneficial for pest control, by eating pest hemipterans like aphids.

  Green shield bug

  Palomena prasina

  Length: 15mm

  Found across Europe

  This species is also known as the green stink bug because, like many other shield bugs, it can excrete a very smelly liquid to frighten off potential predators.

  It is very common, and easy to spot in the summer months.

  Giant mesquite bug

  Thasus neocalifornicus

  Length: 35mm

  Found in the southwestern US and Mexico

  This colourful bug gets its name because it feeds on the young leaves, sap and seed pods of the mesquite tree.

  Candy-striped leafhopper

  Graphocephala coccinea

  Length: 8mm

  Found in North and Central America

  This brightly-coloured bug feeds on sap from trees such as elm and oak.

  Large milkweed bug

  Oncopeltus fasciatus

  Length: 18mm

  Found across North and Central America

  The milkweed bug’s bright patterns act to warn off potential predators, as the bug contains toxic chemicals.

  Cotton harlequin bug

  Tectocoris diophthalmus

  Length: 20mm

  Found in Australia and the Pacific Islands

  This bug lives in rainforests and coastal regions, and feeds on nectar from hibiscus flowers.

  Jewel bug

  Pachycoris torridus

  Length: 15mm

  Found in northern South America

  Jewel bugs often cluster together in groups for defence from predators.

  DRAGONFLIES AND DAMSELFLIES

  Dragonflies and damselflies make up the order odonata. This order contains around 6,000 species.

  The members of the order are characterised by their features for hunting in flight. They are all efficient hunters, with spiny legs for catching prey and excellent eyesight thanks to their large compound eyes.

  They also have two pairs of long wings, and their flying abilities are impressive. Certain dragonfly species can reach speeds of over 90 kilometres per hour – they can even fly backwards and upside-down!

  Emperor dragonfly

  Anax imperator

  Wingspan: 120 mm

  Found across Europe, North Africa and Asia

  This species is fairly common in the UK, where it is typically spotted hovering over ponds, streams and marshy ground.

  Its favoured prey includes small butterflies, aquatic insects and smaller dragonflies.

  Flame skimmer

  Libellula saturata

  Wingspan: 85mm

  Found across western North America

  This dragonfly favours warm desert locations and is usually found near rivers and hot springs.

  Broad-bodied chaser

  Libellula depressa

  Length: 45mm

  Found across central and southern Europe, the Middle East and central Asia

  This medium-sized dragonfly is fast and aggressively territorial. It feeds on small insects which it catches around well-vegetated shallow ponds.

  Prince baskettail

  Epitheca princeps

  Length: 75mm

  Found across eastern North America

  This large, highly active dragonfly often feeds in swarms, with 10 - 30 individuals congregating around swamps, ponds and slow-moving streams.

  Illinois river cruiser

  Macromia illinoiensis

  Wingspan: 105mm

  Found across North America

  This large dragonfly is found near wide, fast moving rivers and lakes.

  Ebony jewelwing

  Calopteryx maculata

  Wingspan: 80mm

  Found across North America

  This damselfly is usually found in secluded streams and small, plant-rich ponds. It’s a relatively slow flyer and is quite large for a damselfly.

  FLIES

  Flies are a group of insects that make up the order diptera. There are around 125,000 known species, although there are estimated to be many more.

  True to their name, they are accomplished flyers, with excellent manoeuvrability. Many of them also have very well-developed sensory functions, with good eyesight and efficient smell and taste receptors.

  Flies are crucial in the pollination of many flowering plants and in the clearing of waste, making them valuable members of the ecosystem. The larvae (maggots) are efficient consumers of dung, dead animals and dead plant matter.

  Bluebottle fly

  Calliphora vomitoria

  Length: 14mm

  Found worldwide

  The bluebottle is a very common fly responsible for the spread of some unpleasant illnesses. The adult female lays her eggs on rotting meat and animal waste. Sometimes she can pick up dangerous germs when she does so, and these may spread when she lands on your lunch!

  Dark giant horsefly

  Tabanus sudeticus

  Length: 25mm

  Found across Europe

  The female of this large biting fly species feeds on the blood of horses, cattle and deer. She also sucks juices from dead, rotting animal carcases.

  Pied hoverfly

  Scaeva pyrastri

  Length: 15mm

  Found across Europe, North Africa and Asia

  This common hoverfly feeds on nectar and pollen, particularly from bramble flowers.

  Common house mosquito

  Culex pipiens

  Length: 7m
m

  Found worldwide

  Like many mosquito species, the blood-sucking female Culex pipiens can spread diseases including meningitis and West Nile virus.

  Melon fly

  Bactrocera cucurbitae

  Length: 8mm

  Found across southern Asia, Africa and Hawaii

  The melon fly gets its name because it is a major pest, damaging fruit and vegetable crops such as melons, cucumbers and pumpkins.

  St Mark’s fly

  Bibio marci

  Length: 12mm

  Found across Europe

  The St Mark’s fly is often found around hawthorn hedgerows and gets its name because the adults emerge around St Mark’s Day – 25 April.

  MANTIDS, STICK AND LEAF INSECTS

  Mantids are members of the order mantodea. They are effective predators, with adaptations including accurate eyesight, strong grasping forelegs, and sharp mouthparts. They typically feed on other insects, as well as small reptiles, amphibians and birds.

  Stick and leaf insects are members of the order phasmatodea. They blend in well with their environment, displaying some of the most impressive camouflage in the animal kingdom. The order contains the longest known insect, the giant Chinese stick insect - Phryganistria chinensis Zhao.

  Orchid mantis

  Hymenopus coronatus

  Length: 60mm

  Found in tropical southeast Asia

  The orchid mantis has evolved an amazing appearance, mimicking tropical orchid flowers. Its appearance means that smaller flying insects approach it, expecting a meal of nectar, and are instead eaten by the mantis.

  Cryptic mantis

  Sibylla pretiosa

  Length: 45mm

  Found across southern Africa

  The cryptic mantis lives in forest habitats, on tree bark, and predates on smaller flying insects such as flies and moths.

  Giant rainforest mantis

  Hierodula majuscula

  Length: 110mm

  Found in Australia

  This aggressive predatory mantis feeds on a wide variety of other insects, spiders, and even some small lizards and amphibians.

  Giant Malaysian leaf insect

  Phyllium giganteum

  Length: 95mm

  Found in the Malaysian rainforest

  This species is camouflaged to blend into its jungle habitat, and it has even evolved a swaying walk to mimic the movement of a leaf moving in the wind.

  Thorny devil

  Eurycantha horrida

  Length: 130mm

  Found in the rainforests of Papua New Guinea

  Unlike most stick insects, which employ camouflage for defence against predators, the thorny devil has sharp spines on its legs and abdomen which it uses aggressively to protect itself.

  Mediterranean stick insect

  Bacillus rossius

  Length: 80mm

  Found across southern Europe

  This species is nocturnal, and typically feeds on the leaves of plants including ivy, laurel and myrtle. Its main defence against predators is camouflage and playing dead.

  GRASSHOPPERS, LOCUSTS AND CRICKETS

  Grasshoppers, locusts and crickets are members of the order orthoptera. They typically have long bodies with large hind legs, which allow them to jump long distances. Some species can produce sounds by rubbing these legs against their wings.

  The majority of them are herbivores, and they can cause problems for farmers. Certain species of locust travelling in large swarms are able to wipe out entire crop plantations in a single day.

  Rainbow grasshopper

  Dactylotum bicolor

  Length: 35mm

  Found in North America and Mexico

  The rainbow grasshopper’s bright colour is a defensive adaptation – it functions to mimic other brightly-coloured poisonous bugs so it doesn’t get eaten.

  Green milkweed locust

  Phymateus viridipes

  Length: 70mm

  Found across southern Africa

  This locust species migrates in huge swarms, travelling for long distances across Africa.

  Foaming grasshopper

  Dictyophorus spumans

  Length: 80mm

  Found across Africa

  This grasshopper species gets its name because of the toxic foam that it produces in glands in its thorax. It uses this foam to deter potential predators.

  African cave cricket

  Speleiacris tabulae

  Length: 35mm

  Found in central and southern Africa

  This species lives in caves and other dark, cool places and feeds on lichen.

  Speckled bush-cricket

  Leptophyes punctatissima

  Length: 16mm

  Found across central and southern Europe and the Middle East

  This small cricket species is usually found on the edges of woodland areas and in hedgerows.

  Cook Strait giant weta

  Deinacrida rugosa

  Length: 70mm

  Found in New Zealand

  Despite its relatively large size, the giant weta is preyed on by many birds and reptiles, and protects itself by kicking its spiky legs above its head, and making a clicking sound by rubbing its upper abdomen plates together.

  COCKROACHES AND TERMITES

  Cockroaches and termites are members of the order blattodea. The order contains around 8,000 species in total.

  Both cockroaches and termites are social insects. Termite society is highly structured; whereas cockroaches have a less sophisticated system, mainly just living and eating together.

  Because they like to eat wood, termites can cause serious damage to wood-framed buildings and other wooden structures.

  Madagascar hissing cockroach

  Gromphadorhina portentosa

  Length: 70mm

  Found on the African island of Madagascar

  This cockroach gets its name because it is able to use an internal sac to force air through the spiracles on its abdomen to produce a characteristic hissing sound.

  Formosan subterranean termite

  Coptotermes formosanus

  Length: 5mm

  Found in east Asia, South Africa and North America

  The Formosan subterranean termite is very destructive, and colonies are able to consume huge quantities of wood material, including timber buildings and boats.

  Giant burrowing cockroach

  Macropanesthia rhinoceros

  Length: 80mm

  Found in Australia

  The giant burrowing cockroach is the heaviest of its order, and typically feeds on rotting eucalyptus leaves.

  Darwin termite

  Mastotermes darwiniensis

  Length: 12mm

  Found in northern Australia

  This primitive species of termite is very similar in appearance to a small cockroach. It nests in tree trunks and stumps.

  Smooth cockroach

  Symploce pallens

  Length: 30mm

  Found in the southern USA, Mexico, South America and southeast Asia

  This fast-breeding cockroach species has become a problem pest in southeast Asia where it often infests houses, shops and restaurants.

  Domino cockroach

  Therea petiveriana

  Length: 30mm

  Found in southern India

  The domino cockroach has evolved to mimic the appearance of the well-defended six-spot ground beetle, which helps it to avoid the attention of predators.

  THE BIGGEST BUGS AND THE SMALLEST BUGS

  Just as bugs show a huge range of diversity in colour, shape and pattern, they are also found in a very wide range of sizes.

  The longest insect is the giant Chinese stick insect – Phryganistria chinensis Zhao – which was first discovered in Guangxi, China, in 2014. It can grow to 624mm in length!

  The smallest beetle and also the smallest free-roaming insect is Scydosella musawasensis, a featherwing beetle which is just 0.3mm fully grown.

  The Gol
iath beetle – Goliathus goliatus – is not only one of the biggest beetles, but perhaps the most bulky and heavy insect, reaching over 110mm in length and over 100g in weight.

  The smallest butterfly is the western pygmy blue – Brephidium exilis – which has a wingspan of just 12mm!

  The largest insect in the dragonfly and damselfly order is the helicopter damselfly – Megaloprepus caerulatus – which has a wingspan of up to 190mm.

  The largest ant is the queen driver ant – Dorylus helvolus – which can reach a massive 80mm in length.

  The biggest butterfly is the Queen Alexandra’s birdwing – Ornithoptera alexandrae – which can reach a wingspan of over 250mm.

  The largest fly is the mydas fly – Gauromydas heros – which has a wingspan of 100mm.

  THE MOST DANGEROUS BUGS

  Despite their small size, some insects can be very dangerous. The deadliest bug in the world isn’t itself poisonous at all, but it carries a very serious disease that kills hundreds of thousands of people every year. This bug carries malaria, and is the anopheles mosquito – Anopheles gambiae. Malaria is an infectious disease found in a broad band around the Equator, where it is caused by tiny organisms called PROTOZOA that are carried by the female anopheles mosquito. They don’t make the mosquito ill at all. Organisms that transmit diseases in this way are called VECTORS.