Common name : South African praying mantis Scientific name : Miomantis caffra Family : Mantidae Native to : South Africa Interesting fact : This species is also known to be extremely aggressive with the male being eaten after it has mated. The South African praying mantis is about 32-60 mm in length. Their diet consists of […]

Common name : Small tortoiseshell Scientific name : Aglais urticae Family : Nymphalidae Native to : Europe and Asia Interesting fact : Droughts have an adverse effect on this butterfly, especially since droughts affect the leaves of the Nettle plants (the host plant for the larvae). 4-6 cm in wingspan, the small tortoiseshell butterfly has

Common name : Slater Scientific name : Porcellio scaber Family : Porcellionidae Native to : Europe Interesting fact : Grey in colour, the rough woodlouse is commonly known as ‘slater’. 17 mm in length, the slater is usually found in dark, damp places under debris, stones and barks of trees. Its diet is comprised of decaying

Common name : Fishmoth Scientific name : Lepisma saccharina Family : Lepismatidae            Native to : Worldwide distribution Interesting fact : Wingless, and silvery grey in colour, this bug is known as a silverfish because of its fish-like movements. 13-25 mm in length, the silverfish have tapering abdomens that give them a fish-like appearance. Its diet is

Common name : Sigmoid fungus beetle Scientific name : Cryptophagus varus Family : Cryptophagidae Native to : Worldwide distribution Interesting fact : Hardly 2-3 mm in length, this beetle is extremely small with a thorax that is sculptured with teeth. Small and reddish-brown in colour, the sigmoid fungus beetle infests cereal, grains, bran, rice, oats, dried

Common name : Safari ant Scientific name : Dorylus Family : Formicidae Native to : Central & East Africa Interesting fact : Taken from one of the regional Bantu languages, the term ‘Saifu’ is a word from Swahili, and is used for describing the different species of this ant. An extremely large genus of army

Common name : Scarab Scientific name : Scarabaeidae Family : Scarabaeidae Native to : Worldwide distribution Interesting fact : Charles Darwin has described this species of beetle as ‘the sacred beetles of the Egyptians’. With body length ranging from 1.5 mm to 160 mm, the scarab beetle has a stout body and is usually of

Common name : Sapho longwing butterfly Scientific name : Heliconius sapho Family : Nymphalidae Native to : Mexico, Ecuador Interesting fact : While the origins of the name of this butterfly is not certain, many believe it to have been named after the mythological Queen Sapho, as it was named so by Dru Drury in

Common name : Blackfly Scientific name : Austrosimulium sp. Family : Simuliidae Native to : New Zealand & Australia Interesting fact : There are 31 species of black flies distributed in Australia and New Zealand. With a body length of 3.6-4.8 mm, the blackfly is a small, biting, and bloodsucking fly. Its bite creates rashes

Common name : Red harvester ant Scientific name : Pogonomyrmex barbatus Family : Formicidae Native to : South-West United States Interesting fact : The red harvester ants are known for their foraging behaviour. The ant workers are divided into 3 groups–nest patrollers, trail patrollers and foragers. 5-7 mm in length, these ants are very often mistaken

Common name : Green rose chafer Scientific name : Cetonia aurata Family : Scarabaeidae Native to : Southern & Central Europe Interesting fact : This insect is known as the rose chafer because of its diet, which amongst other things includes prominently and predominantly, the rose plant. 20 mm in length, the rose chafer has a