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

Common name : Borneo walking stick Scientific name : Phobaeticus kirbyi Family : Phasmatidae Native to : Borneo Interesting fact : The borneo walking stick is the second longest stick insect in the world in terms of body length. With a body length of 12.9 inches, the Borneo walking stick insect resembles twigs or thin

Common name : Bot flies Scientific name : Oestridae Family : Oestridae Native to : Worldwide distribution Interesting fact : These flies are known such specifically because their larvae live within the bodies of mammals, as parasites. Essentially parasites, these insects lay their eggs on the skin of any mammal either directly or with the

Common name : Great eggfly Scientific name : Hypolimnas bolina nerina Family : Nymphalidae Native to : West Madagascar, South & South-East Asia, South Pacific islands, Australia, Japan and New Zealand Interesting fact : The male and the female in this species look completely different. The butterfly is given the name ‘blue moon’ because of

Common name : Greenbottle Scientific name : Calliphoridae Family : Calliphoridae Native to : Worldwide distribution Interesting fact : This insect got its name from an old term for meat. If the meat had eggs laid on it, it was known as ‘fly blown’. The blowfly is extremely colourful and has metallic blue green colouring.

Common name : Jumping spider Scientific name : Trite planiceps simon Family : Salticidae Native to : New Zealand Interesting fact : These spiders hunt their prey in the dark with the help of vibratory signals rather than eyesight. Ranging from 6 to 13 mm in length, the black-headed jumping spider has elongated front legs.

Common name : Black widow Scientific name : Latrodectus mactans Family : Theridiidae Native to : Temperate climates (U.S.A., Southern Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, South America) Interesting fact : They are known as black widow spiders not only because of their appearance but also the queer fact that the female kills and eats the male

Common name : Black tunnelweb spider Scientific name : Porrhothele antipodiana Family : Hexathelidae Native to : New Zealand & Chatham Islands Interesting fact : This spider is said to be the inspiration behind the portrayal of the scary ‘SHELOB’ in the movie ‘Lord of the Rings’. Over 50 mm in length, including the legs,