Fun facts to know

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

Common name : The richmond birdwing Scientific name : Ornithoptera richmondia Family : Papilionnidae Native to : Australia Interesting fact : The Richmond birdwing is the second  smallest species of birdwing butterfly. An extremely strong flyer, the richmond birdwing flies high in the rainforest canopy. The males are known to chase after the females during courtship, which

Common name : Mexican red rump Scientific name : Brachypelma vagans Family : Theraphosidae Native to : Mexico Interesting fact : Due to the prominent red hair on its abdomen this spider has been named the ‘red rump tarantula’. This tarantula can grow up to 5 inches in legspan. The male is smaller and thinner

Common name : Red admiral Scientific name : Vanessa atalanta Family : Nymphalidae Native to : Asia, temperate Europe & North America Interesting fact : The males in this species are territorial and can be found in the same area day after day. 45-50 mm of wingspan, the red admiral is a beautiful colourful butterfly.

Common name : Hoverfly, Rat-tailed maggot (larva), Dronefly (adult) Scientific name : Eristalis tenax Family : Syrphidae Native to : Europe Interesting fact : The larvae of the hoverfly or dronefly, are known as rat-tailed maggots because of their affinity for sewers, drainage ditches, manure piles, etc.    The hoverfly has a 15 mm wingspan,

Common name : Rajah brooke’s birdwing butterfly Scientific name : Trogonoptera brookiana Family : Papilionidae Native to : Australasia, Indo-Malaya ecozone Interesting fact : Black and electric green in colour, the pattern on its wings is extremely unique to this butterfly alone.    With a wingspan of 15-17 cm, this butterfly is a protected species.

Common name : Rainbow shield bug Scientific name : Calidea dregii Family : Scutelleridae Native to : Worldwide distribution Interesting fact : The colouring of the rainbow shield bug varies depending on the way in which the light falls on its body and is reflected. 14 mm in length, this bug has a beautiful iridescent

Common name : Question mark butterfly Scientific name : Polygonia interrogationis Family : Nymphalidae Native to : North America Interesting fact : Due to a unique pattern on the underside of its hind wings, which resemble a ‘?’ this butterfly is popularly known as the ‘Question mark butterfly’. With a wingspan of 4.5-7.5 cm, the question

Common name : Puriri moth Scientific name : Aenetus virescens Family : Hepialidae Native to : North Island, New Zealand Interesting fact : The largest moth found in New Zealand, the puriri moth has a wingspan of 150 mm. As mentioned, the puriri moth has a wingspan of 150 mm, and is green with brown