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
The Phalacrocoracidae (scientific name) or cormorant is found along the coastline and rocky shores of the UK. There are various species within this family, and subsequently their size varies from 18 inches to 40 inches in length. With its long neck and bare colourful facial skin, this bird has a very primitive look. Most of
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,
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