221 Amazing Bugs and Insects Encyclopedia

Common name : Golden birdwing Scientific name : Troides aeacus Family : Papilionidae Native to : South and South-East Asia and Australia Interesting fact : Due to its unique colouring, which is comprised of black forewings and golden yellow hind wings, this butterfly is known as the ‘golden birdwing’. With a wingspan of 15-16 cm, […]

Common name : Glowing cockroach Scientific name : Lucihormetica luckae Family : Blaberidae Native to : Ecuador Interesting fact : The back shell of the glowing cockroach resembles the famous star war characters known as Jawas. At 2.5 cm in length, this cockroach is considered to be one of the biggest in the cockroach family.

Common name : Wandering glider Scientific name : Pantala flavescens Family : Libellulidae Native to : Worldwide distribution Interesting fact : First described in 1789, this dragonfly is considered to be the most widespread dragonfly in the world. At 4.5 cm in length and having a wingspan of at least 7 cm, the globe skimmer has

Common name : Glass winged butterfly Scientific name : Greta oto Family : Nymphalidae Native to : Mexico, Panama, Columbia Interesting fact : The reason that this butterfly has ‘glass’ like wings is due to the low absorption, reflection and scattering of light on the surface of the wings. With a wingspan of 6 cm,

Common name : Gisborne cockroach Scientific name : Drymaplaneta semivitta Family : Blattidae Native to : Australia Interesting fact : After it was introduced to New Zealand, this cockroach was first discovered in the town of Gisborne, hence the name ‘Gisborne cockroach’. After it was introduced to New Zealand, this cockroach was first discovered in

Common name : New Zealand giraffe weevil Scientific name : Lasiorhynchus barbicornis Family : Brentidae Native to : New Zealand Interesting fact : This particular insect has an extremely elongated snout, which resembles the neck of a giraffe, hence the name ‘giraffe beetle’. Almost 85 mm in length, the male stands taller than the female

Common name : Giant weta Scientific name : Deinacrida Family : Anostostomatidae Native to : New Zealand Interesting fact : The giant weta is not so social as the other weta. Its scientific name means ‘fierce grasshopper’ in Greek. At least 10 cm only in body length, the giant weta weighs around 35 g. In

Common name : Toe-biter Scientific name : Belostomatidae Family : Belostomatidae Native to : Worldwide distribution Interesting fact : In Asian cuisine, this insect is an extremely popular food. While most of the species of giant water bugs are about 2 cm in length, the lethocerus genus of this species is at least 12 cm

Common name : Giant katydid Scientific name : Stilpnochlora couloniana Family : Tettigoniidae Native to : Cuba Interesting fact : The largest of the tettigoniidae family, the giant katydid’s appearance resembles that of a large leaf. With an average size of 4-6 cm in length, many in this species grow as big as 15 cm

Common name : Japanese giant hornet Scientific name : Vespa mandarinia japonica Family : Vespidae Native to : Japan Interesting fact : The Japanese giant hornet is the world’s largest hornet. More than 4.5 cm in length, it has a wingspan of 6 cm. Their diet is comprised of varied insects, and also corn pests.

Common name : Bush giant dragonfly Scientific name : Uropetala carovei Family : Petaluridae Native to : New Zealand Interesting fact : In New Zealand, there is a specific name in the Maori language for this insect–kapokapowai, which means water snatcher; a name attached to the larvae of these insects. 86 mm in length, the

Common name : German wasp Scientific name : Vespula germanica Family : Vespidae Native to : Europe, North Africa and temperate parts of Asia Interesting fact : In spite of its name, this wasp is actually a native of England. About 13 mm in length, the German wasp is also popularly known as ‘yellow jacket’

Common name : German cockroach Scientific name : Blatella germanica Family : Blattellidae Native to : South-East Asia Interesting fact : This cockroach has been named ‘German cockroach’ because of the fact that it was initially mistakenly assumed to have originated in Europe. Hardly 1.6 cm in length, this tiny cockroach is tan to brownish

Common name : Garden soldier fly Scientific name : Exaireta spinigera Family : Stratiomyidae Native to : Australia Interesting fact : This insect is given the name ‘soldier fly’ because of the family it belongs to. The word ‘stratiomyidae’ comes from Greek literally meaning ‘soldier fly’. The garden soldier fly is only 14 mm in length. It

Common name : Garden orbweb spider Scientific name : Eriophora pustulosa Family : Araneidae Native to : Australia, New Zealand Interesting fact : This spider has 5 clearly visible distinctive spines on its back. Varying vastly in size and length, the garden orbweb spider is a nocturnal hunter. It creates a circular web which is