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, […]
The Phoenicopterus (scientific name) is a genus comprising of flamingos. Out of the 6 species of flamingos, four are found in America and two are Old World birds. Approximately 42 inches in height, a flamingo has pinkish-reddish body plumage. The legs are long and stilt-like and it enjoys standing on one leg with the other
The Struthio camelus (scientific name) or ostrich is native to Africa. 6.0-9.5 feet in height, these large flightless birds have mostly black plumage (grey in females). The primaries and tail feathers are white. It has long feet and a long thin neck, which is nearly bare excepting for a thin layer of down which is
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
The Bombycilla (scientific name) genus of birds is comprised of three species known as waxwing which has a cosmopolitan distribution and visible in the UK, in winters. 7-8 inches in length, it is known for its silky soft plumage, pointed wings and short legs. The overall plumage is mainly brown, with a black line that
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
Common name : Bronze beetle Scientific name : Eucolaspis brunnea (fabricius) Family : Chrysomelidae Native to : Europe Interesting fact : Due to its beautiful bronze colouring this beetle is known as the ‘bronze beetle’. 5 mm in length, the bronze beetle is considered to be a pest in gardens and fruit trees. They
Common name : Common Brimstone Scientific name : Gonepteryx rhamni Family : Pieridae Native to : Europe, North Africa, South America, Asia Interesting fact : The name ‘butterfly’ is said to have been derived from the brimstone butterfly, by the British, because of its sulphur-coloured upperside. While the females are greenish in colour, the males
Common name : Brahmin moth Scientific name : Brahmaeidae Family : Brahmaeidae Native to : India, Bhutan, Myanmar, China, Taiwan and Japan Interesting fact : One of the spookiest looking caterpillars in the world, the brahmin moth caterpillar has a white skeleton-like covering with black ridges. The brahmin moth butterfly is a beautiful moth with
Common name : Boxelder bug Scientifc name : Boisea trivittata Family : Rhopalidae Native to : North America Interesting fact : This bug is given its name because it is found specifically in boxelder tree, maple tree and ash tree. Not more than 12 mm in length, these bugs have a dark brown black colour