Pocket Genius

Bugs

FACTS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS

 DK DELHI
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First American Edition, 2012
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 contents
4 What are arthropods? 74 True flies
6 What is not an arthropod? 82 Caddisflies
8 Life cycle 84 Moths and butterflies
10 Feeding habits 98 Sawflies, wasps, bees,
12 Habitats and ants
14 Studying bugs
108 ARAcHnIDs
18 Insects 110 What are arachnids?
20 What is an insect? 112 Scorpions
22 Silverfish and bristletails 116 Ticks and mites
24 Mayflies 120 Spiders
26 Damselflies and 128 Sun-spiders and
dragonflies pseudoscorpions
30 Stoneflies and 130 Other arachnids
rock crawlers
32 Stick and leaf insects 132 otHeR ARtHRoPoDs
36 Earwigs 134 Myriapods, crustaceans,
and non-insect hexapods
38 Mantises
136 Myriapods
40 Crickets and
grasshoppers 142 Non-insect hexapods
42 Cockroaches 144 Crustaceans
44 Termites and thrips
46 True bugs 146 Record breakers
54 Lice 148 Incredible bugs
56 Alderflies and relatives 150 Glossary
58 Lacewings and relatives 152 Index
60 Beetles 156 Acknowledgments
72 Scorpionflies and fleas

Scales and sizes

The book contains profiles of animals
with scale drawings to show their size.

6 in 1½ in
(15 cm) (4 cm)

Ants
4 | BUGS

What are arthropods?

Insects are arthropods, which are a type of invertebrate (animal
without a backbone). Most of the arthropods on Earth are insects
and they can be found almost all over the planet. Arthropods live
in most habitats on land as well as in water. This book explores
the world of land-based arthropods, many of which are commonly
known as “bugs.”

ARACHNIDS MYRIAPODS

This is a group of Myriapods have eight

wingless arthropods or more pairs of legs.
with four pairs Each segment of
of legs and the body bears
mouthparts one or two pairs
for biting and of legs. Centipedes
sucking. It and millipedes
includes spiders are myriapods.
and scorpions.

body structure
All arthropods share certain Thorax Wings are
Head has
features. A tough covering, present only
eyes and
or exoskeleton, protects their in insects
antennae
body, which is divided into
segments—head, thorax, and
abdomen are the segments of
an insect. The legs of arthropods
have joints and are attached
to the thorax. Most insects Jointed Abdomen
also have wings. leg attached
to thorax
 WHAT ARE ARTHROPODS? | 5

The mouthparts of non-insect

This simple “tree” hexapods, such as this eyeless
shows the divisions within dipluran, are hidden in pouches
the arthropod group below their heads.
of animals.

ARTHROPODS
NON-INSECT
HEXAPODS

Arthropods
HEXAPODS with six legs are
called hexapods.
CRUSTACEANS

This group contains mainly

aquatic arthropods
with four antennae.
Land-dwelling
Insects form the majority
crustaceans include INSECTS of hexapods. All have
woodlice, which have
visible mouthparts and
seven pairs of legs.
most have wings.

Insects that undergo Insects that undergo

complete metamorphosis incomplete metamorphosis

In many The young of these

insects, such insects—such as
as butterflies, grasshopper
the young nymphs—look
change shape like miniature
completely over versions of the
several stages adults. They grow
before turning by shedding their
into adults. exoskeleton.
6 | BUGS

What is not an arthropod?

Tentacle Many of the creepy crawlies
you might think of as bugs
are not true insects. Some
are not even arthropods, but are
different kinds of invertebrates—ranging
from unmoving anemones
on the ocean floor to
worms wriggling
through rainforests.
Muscular
foot

Mollusks
This invertebrate group
includes snails, mussels, and
squid. Many mollusks use their
flat, muscular feet to move.
Some mollusks have calcium-
rich shells covering their
bodies, which protect
them from predators.

Shell

A snail is a
shelled mollusk
 WHAT IS NOT AN ARTHROPOD? | 7

Cnidarians
The aquatic animals that make up this group of
invertebrates have tubelike bodies with an opening
at one end. Some cnidarians, such as jellyfish, float
freely, while others, such as anemones, are attached
to the ocean floor or to rocks under water. Sea
anemones feed using their tentacles, which are
lined with special structures that sting passing prey.

Worms
Flaplike extensions These soft-bodied, fleshy invertebrates lack
on the body help the an exoskeleton and do not have jointed legs. The
worm to move
green paddle worm has flaplike extensions that help
it to slither around rocks as well as to swim in water.

Green paddle
worm

Echinoderms
Echinoderms are sea-dwelling creatures that lack a well-defined
head or tail. They have spiny bodies with a range of shapes—
feathery, cylindrical, or with many arms. Sea cucumbers have
cylindrical bodies and feed using their tentacle-shaped
feet. The feet grab floating
algae and tiny food
particles from the
ocean floor and
put them in the
organism’s mouth.

Red-lined sea
cucumber
8 | BUGS

Life cycle
Arthropods begin life as eggs.
After the young hatch, they
grow by shedding their
exoskeleton at regular intervals. Mature adult
has a bright red
This is called molting. exoskeleton
Myriapods and arachnids with black
spots
molt all their lives. Insects
go through several stages
of growth in a process
called metamorphosis
before turning
into adults. Most
adult arthropods
Young adult
reproduce emerges from pupa
by mating.

Larva stops feeding and attaches itself

to a leaf. Its outer skin hardens, and
inside it begins to change into an
Complete adult. This stage of growth
metamorphosis is called a pupa.
Insects such as wasps,
butterflies, flies, and beetles go
through complete metamorphosis.
In these insects, the young, or
larvae, look nothing like the
adults they will become. The Larva molts several times
larvae change into adults over and keeps renewing its
several stages of growth. exoskeleton as it grows
 LIFE CYCLE | 9

Incomplete Azure damselfly

lays eggs in pairs
metamorphosis on the stems of
Insects such as grasshoppers and aquatic plants
damselflies go through incomplete
metamorphosis. Their young, or
nymphs, look like smaller, wingless Egg hatches into
a nymph, which
versions of adults. The nymphs
lives underwater
molt several times and and molts
gradually turn into adults. several times

Nymph climbs out

Newly formed of water before its
wings are not yet final molt and,
Adult later, a young adult
seven-spot ready for flight
emerges from the
ladybugs skin of the nymph
mate to
reproduce

Mature adult
Eggs laid has fully developed
on a leaf wings and a bright
green body

Asexual reproduction
In some arthropods, the females
Larva hatches
from an egg give birth without mating with a male.
Females may also lay unfertilized eggs.
These hatch into tiny young that look
just like their mother, as in the case of
this cottony cushion scale insect.
10 | BUGS

Feeding habits
Arthropods eat a wide range of
food—dung, blood, plants, other
arthropods, and even their own kind.
Many arthropods have mouthparts Plant-eaters
that help them to feed on particular Many arthropods feed on parts
kinds of food. Butterflies, for example, of plants, including fruits, leaves,
and sap. The larvae of moths and
have straw-shaped mouthparts that
butterflies—called caterpillars—eat
suck nectar from flowers. leaves using their mandibles (jaws).

Hunters
Spider-hunting Predatory arthropods hunt other arthropods,
wasp and some can even kill small mammals,
such as rats. Spiders are good
predators, but can fall prey to
the spider-hunting wasp,
which paralyzes the spiders
with its venom.
 FEEDING HABITS | 11

Feeding on wood
Wood-eating arthropods range from pests
that feed on trees to those that eat rotting
wood. These species, such as woodlice,
grow slowly because wood is not as
nutritious as other kinds of food.

Woodlice feed
on rotting wood Eating dung
Some beetles breed in the dung of other
animals. Dung beetles roll cattle dung into
balls and lay eggs in it; the dung provides
food for their larvae when they hatch.

Recycling dead remains

Many arthropods are scavengers and feed on
decaying organic matter—the remains of dead
plants and animals. Many lay eggs on the remains
to provide food for their larvae. Sexton beetles,
for example, bury carcasses (bodies of dead
animals) in soil to feed their larvae.

PARASITISm
Abdomen of castor Parasites Parasitoids
bean tick is swollen A parasite attaches Braconid wasp larvae
with host blood itself to a larger are parasitoids—they
animal—called a grow by feeding on
host—and feeds a living host, such
on the host’s as a caterpillar, and
blood, before then kill the host.
falling off. It does
not kill the host.
12 | BUGS

Habitats
The environment in which In Alaska and other snowy regions
an organism lives is called in the northern hemisphere, where
temperatures are low and there
its habitat. Arthropods is almost no vegetation, winter
are found in all kinds of gnats survive even when there
is snow on the ground.
habitat on land, including
extreme places such as
dry deserts and freezing
polar regions.

North
America

South
America
Urban habitats Grasslands support many arthropods,
including dung beetles, which live
Some arthropods have among the tall grasses of these
adapted to life in human open areas and lay eggs in
settlements, which are the dung of cattle.
also called urban habitats.
For example, cockroaches The heat and humidity of
are often found crawling rainforests help them
around houses in search to support the largest
number of arthropods
of bits of food. on Earth. This morpho
butterfly is found in the
rainforests of Ecuador.
 HABITATS | 13

Rivers and wetlands—

areas flooded with
water—provide ideal
Habitat map
living conditions for This map shows the world’s
many species. These major land habitats—tropical
include the long-tailed forests, temperate forests,
mayfly, which breeds coniferous forests, deserts,
and spends a major
part of its life cycle
grasslands, wetlands,
in the water. mountains, and polar regions.

Europe

Asia

Africa

Insects living in dark

caves usually have
poor eyesight, but
they use other senses
Australia
to move around. For
instance, the giant
Deserts receive cave cricket uses
little rain and have its antennae.
scarce vegetation,
but desert scorpions KEY
flourish in them Polar regions Mountains
by burrowing in Tropical forests Rivers and wetlands
sand or hiding
under rocks to Temperate forests Grasslands
avoid the heat. Coniferous forests Deserts
14 | BUGS

Studying bugs
One of the best ways to learn about bugs is to study them
close up, either by observing them in their natural habitats or
by capturing one for a short time to study it even more closely.
When studying bugs, it is important to keep a record of where a
bug was found, as well as its appearance, behavior, and habitat.

Study kit
People often catch bugs using nets and trays. They then
use a set of simple tools to study them, including pooters, Tweezers with fine
tips for holding a bug
tweezers, and brushes. Bugs are often released unharmed
after observations are made.

Brush for picking up and

Fishing net collects moving small insects
bugs from ponds

Tray for holding

bugs collected from
ponds and rivers
 STUDYING BUGS | 15

Reading the signs Do not collect

Sometimes, it is difficult to spot certain types of bug.
However, it is possible to tell whether the bugs have
visited a place recently by identifying the typical
feeding and nesting signs they leave behind.

Leaf beetle
Some bugs are poisonous and
can be harmful to humans.
The larvae of this leaf beetle, for
example, produce a harmful toxin.
Gall wasps produce Leaf beetle larvae produce
swellings called galls these patterns when
on oak leaves eating leaves

Spanish
Moon moth
is protected
by law in
Spain

Endangered species cannot

be collected legally. However,
Froghopper nymphs produce Web shapes can be used
specimens of these species
protective coverings that to identify types of spider
look like froth
can be studied in museums.

Insect is sucked
Intake
into longer tube
tube to
suck in air A notebook is a
Homemade pooter— great way to
made from tubes and quickly record a
Gauze a glass jar—helps to new observation.
suck up and hold It can be used
small bugs. A piece to draw a bug
of gauze tied to the and record
end of the intake tube its features.
prevents bugs from
being sucked into it.
16 | BUGS

Army Ants
These ants are a good example of insects that live
and work together. At dawn, army ants emerge in
their millions and march noisily along the forest floor
in South America. Worker ants hold on to each other,
forming “ant bridges,” which allow other members of
the colony to move quickly across cracks and streams.
 BUGS | 17

A swarm of army
ants can kill

100,000
insects, spiders,
and even small
mammals in a day
18 | BUGS
 INSECTS | 19

Insects
Insects make up nearly three-quarters of
all animal species on Earth. They are small
in size, breed rapidly, and flourish in almost
all habitats on land—from mountains to
seashores—as well as in fresh water and
even on the ocean surface. Robber flies (left)
are found worldwide, and they are among
the many insects that can fly. Winged insects
were the first animals to evolve powered
flight, around 350 million years ago.

reproductIon
Some insects, such as
aphids, can reproduce
without mating. An
adult female produces
many offspring that
are identical to it.
20 | INSECTS

What is an insect?
Like all arthropods, insects have jointed legs and a hard exoskeleton.
The bodies of insects are divided into three sections—the head, thorax,
and abdomen. All insects have six legs, and most also have wings.
Winged insects are the only arthropods that can fly.
Wing

Compound
Head eye Anatomy
An insect’s body is divided into
Nectar is three segments. The head carries
stored in the mouthparts, antennae, and
the gut
Antenna eyes. The thorax has three parts,
each of which has a pair of legs,
as well as wings in the case of
flying insects, such as this honey
bee. In some flying insects, the
Thorax forewings are hard wing cases
called elytra.

Mouthparts
suck nectar

Abdomen Segment
Sting
of leg
injects
venom

Flight 1. Preparing to fly

Insects were the first animals to As the cockchafer
evolve powered flight, which allows beetle prepares to
them to look for food and escape fly, its elytra begin
to open. It then uses Elytra
quickly from danger. Most flying its hind wings to fly. protect soft
insects have two pairs of wings and hind wings
can fold their wings when at rest.
 WHAT IS AN INSECT? | 21

Why are insects

widespread?
Insects have been around for
about 400 million years and are
widespread. They breed rapidly
and flourish in most habitats on
Earth, filling the tiniest spaces in
a habitat because of their small
size. A tough exoskeleton protects
insects from predators and keeps
them moist, letting them live in dry
areas. The ability of most insects Millions of termites live together in a single mound
to fly allows them to find new
habitats and sources of food.

Antennae spread Elytra do not

out like a fan and flap in flight
check wind direction
Hind wings
beat rapidly

Large,
delicate
hind wing
3. In flight
The beetle holds its legs outstretched,
ready to catch hold of a surface on
landing. The hind wings beat
continuously to push the insect
forward and steer it through the air.

2. Taking off
As the elytra open up, joints in the hind
wings unfold, and they spread out fully. In
flight, the open elytra provide a lifting force,
just like the wings of an airplane.
22 | InSEcTS

Silverfish and
focuS on...
bristletails Starch
Silverfish often
These wingless insects have a scaly body feed on items
containing sugars,
with three tails. Silverfish and firebrats make such as starch.
up the order Zygentoma, while bristletails
form the order Archaeognatha.

common silverfish Firebrat

Lepisma saccharina Thermobia domestica

female firebrats can lay eggs only at

temperatures between 90ºf (32°c) and 106ºf
Silverfish have three
tails of the same length (41ºc). for this reason, they are found in warm
places, such as bakeries, as well as near ovens,
fireplaces, boilers, and furnaces.

size ½ in (1–1.5 cm) long

diet Materials rich in sugar
and proteins
The common silverfish can be spotted moving habitat Rocky areas, leaf litter,
around at night in damp places, such as houses, and buildings
kitchens and bathrooms. Its body is covered
distribution Worldwide except
in silver scales and tapers at the end, making
polar regions
it look like a fish. It also seems to wiggle
like a fish while moving. Scales similar
to those on
silverfish
size ½ in (1.2 cm) long
diet Decaying organic matter and
materials rich in sugar
habitat caves, houses, and buildings
distribution Worldwide except
polar regions
 sILVERfIsH AnD BRIsTLETAILs | 23

▲ Silverfish can be found feeding on egg cartons, ▲ Silverfish tend to damage books, feeding on
which contain starch. the starch-rich paper.

Jumping bristletail
Petrobius maritimus

Bristletails arch their

thorax upward and
then snap their tail
against the ground to
spring up to 12 in
(30 cm) in the air.

unlike silverfish, jumping bristletails have three size ½ in (1.2 cm) long
tails of unequal size, of which the middle tail
diet Algae, lichen, mosses,
is the longest. Bristletails also have large
and plant debris
eyes that touch each other, unlike the widely
separated eyes of silverfish. habitat Rocky coastal areas
distribution northern hemisphere
24 | INSECTS

Mayflies Blue-winged olive

Serratella ignita
About 3,000 species
Males of this species have specially shaped
of mayfly make up eyes. The upper part of the eye is enlarged
Ephemeroptera—an order so they can see clearly above them.
This is useful in large mating swarms.
of primitive winged insects. When a female enters the swarm,
a male spots her easily from
Mayflies spend most of their below and grabs her, prior
lives as aquatic nymphs—the to mating.

underwater nymphs can live

for 1–2 years. These turn into
short-lived adults that often
die within a day.

Mayfly
Ephemera danica

The underwater nymphs

of this species feed in the Long front
silt at the bottom of rivers legs held
and lakes. A 2011 study has forward
shown that rising temperatures
in parts of northern England have
caused the nymphs to eat more and grow
faster. They now molt into adults within a
year, instead of the previous two-year period.
size ¾–1 in
(1.7–2.5 cm) long
diet Nymphs feed on
dead and living algae; adults
Three tails of do not feed
equal length
habitat In and on vegetation
near freshwater bodies
 MAYFLIES | 25

Pond olive
Cloeon dipterum

Nymphs and adults

both have a pair of long tails
Segmented that aids movement in the
abdomen absence of hind wings.
The adults have a pair
of elongated forewings.

size 2¾–4½ in
(7–11 cm) long
size 1⁄3–½ in diet Nymphs feed on plants;
(8–12 mm) long adults do not feed
diet Nymphs feed on dead habitat Ponds, ditches,
matter; adults do not feed and water troughs
habitat Fast-flowing streams distribution Europe
distribution Northern
Europe

Summer mayfly Large dark olive

Siphlonurus lacustris Baetis rhodani

Summer mayflies are among the first This is one of the most widespread
species to create colonies in newly species of mayfly in Europe. Its cigar-shaped
formed pools and puddles. Rising nymphs are active swimmers and can dart
water temperatures are warming about quickly in water by flicking
its habitats, forcing the insect their abdomen and tails in an
to move to higher up and down motion.
altitudes.

size 1
⁄8–½ in
(4–12 mm) long
size ½–¾ in (1.2–1.8 cm) long diet Nymphs feed on
diet Nymphs feed on dead and algae; adults do not feed
living algae; adults do not feed habitat Ditches,
habitat Mountain streams pools, and streams
and upland lakes distribution
distribution Mostly in Europe
the northern hemisphere
26 | InsEcTs

Damselflies and
fOcus On...
dragonflies DIFFERENCES
Damselflies and
These fast-flying aerial hunters have long dragonflies look
quite similar, but
bodies and large eyes. There are about 5,600 there are several
species, and they make up the order Odonata. key differences.

Emerald damselfly Banded demoiselle

Lestes sponsa Calopteryx splendens

The slim nymphs of this insect have a

light green or brown body, and they mature into
strong adults with a body that is brilliant metallic
green. This damselfly is also known as spread-
winged because, unlike most damselflies, it
rests with its wings held out at an angle.

size 1½ in (3.6 cm) long

diet flies, mosquitoes, midges, and beetles
habitat slow-moving or still water in pools,
lakes, streams, and canals
distribution Europe and Asia
This species gets its name from the dark
patches on the large wings of the male. An
Large compound eye adult male uses claspers at the tip of its
helps in spotting prey abdomen to hold a female during mating.

size 1¾ in (4.6 cm) long

diet nymphs feed on aquatic insects;
adults do not feed
habitat swamps, ditches, pools, and
slow-moving streams with muddy bottoms
distribution northern and western Europe
 DAMsELfLIEs AnD DRAGonfLIEs | 27

◀ A damselfly has ◀ A dragonfly has

a slender body with a a stouter body and a
broad head and eyes narrower head, which
that are set apart from is rounded, and has
each other. When a a pair of large eyes
damselfly rests, its that touch each other.
wings are folded back It rests with its
against its body. wings open.

Azure damselfly Prince baskettail

Coenagrion puella Epitheca princeps

Adult azure damselflies frequently mate Although this dragonfly can hunt near
and lay eggs. An adult male will grasp a female treetops, it usually flies near the water surface,
during mating and continues to do so during where it patrols for prey. It spends most of its
egg-laying. The female uses her ovipositor life airborne rather than at rest on plants.
(egg-laying organ) first to slit the stems of aquatic
plants and then lay pairs of eggs in the slits.

Wing has a
size 1½ in (3.5) cm long yellow tip
diet nymphs feed on small aquatic
animals; adults feed on small flying insects
habitat Ponds, streams, and brackish water
distribution Britain; central
and southern Europe to
central Asia

size 3 in (8.5 cm) long

diet Mosquitoes

Males have a habitat Ponds, lakes, creeks, and rivers

blue or black distribution north America
abdomen
28 | INSECTS

Plains clubtail Flame skimmer

Gomphus externus Libellula saturata

Dragonflies of the genus Libellula are

often called darters because they fly
very quickly, changing direction rapidly.
Female has a
The dragonfly warns off its rivals by
striking black
and yellow suddenly darting toward them from
pattern on a resting position.
its body

size 3 in (7.6 cm) long

diet Larvae feed on
mosquito and mayfly larvae,
freshwater shrimp, small fish, and
tadpoles; adults feed on small flying
insects, such as midges and mosquitoes
habitat Warm ponds, streams, and hot springs
distribution Southwestern US

Nymphs buried
in mud under water
breathe by pumping
water in and out Broad-bodied chaser
through the upturned, Libellula depressa
exposed tip of their
Adults can be seen flying over ponds
abdomens.
and lakes in June and July to breed. Mature
males are powder blue, while the females
are brown. The females dip the tips of their
Clubtails get their name from the clublike abdomens in water to lay eggs.
shape of their abdomen. The abdomen of the
plains clubtail has a slight swelling just before
the tip, which is more distinct in the females size 1½–1¾ in (4–4.5 cm) long
than in the males. diet Nymphs feed on aquatic insects;
adults eat flying insects
habitat Forests
size 2½ in (6 cm) long
and near slow-flowing
diet Nymphs feed on aquatic insects; adults streams and ponds
feed on flying insects
distribution
habitat Near large, slow-moving, muddy Central
streams and rivers Europe
distribution US and Canada
 DAMSELFLIES AND DRAGONFLIES | 29

Southern hawker
Aeshna cyanea

The southern hawker is a powerful

Wingspan is larger flier. The males are fiercely competitive during
than body length the mating season, and they fly at speeds of
up to 19 mph (30 kph) when fighting over
their breeding territories.

size 2¾ in (7 cm) long

diet Nymphs feed on aquatic insects, tadpoles,
and small fish; adults eat flying insects
habitat Lakes and ponds with
aquatic vegetation
distribution Europe

Male has large

blue eyes

Illinois river cruiser

Macromia illinoiensis

The Illinois
river cruiser
spends most
of its time
patrolling Green
near gravelly streams. Its body abdomen
has distinctive stripes and ends in a
blue tip
its abdomen has a large
spot near its tip.

size 3 in (7.6 cm) long

diet Nymphs eat other aquatic nymphs and
water beetle larvae; adults eat small flying insects
habitat Rocky streams and rivers
distribution North America
30 | INSECTS

Stoneflies and rock crawlers

About 3,000 species of slim-bodied, winged insect called
stoneflies make up the order Plecoptera. While the nymphs
often feed on other insects, the adults do not eat and may only
live for a day or two. The unrelated rock crawlers form the order
Grylloblattodea. These tiny wingless bugs live in cold regions.

Small brown stonefly

Nemoura cambrica

Indent on
hind wings

Thin, dark
body

This stonefly has short, strong legs and size ¼–½ in (0.6–1.5 cm) long
distinctive curved bristles (hairlike structures)
diet Nymphs feed on debris and algae;
on its hind legs. When at rest, the bristles can
adults do not feed
be seen clearly and the transparent wings
are held rolled around the insect’s body. habitat Fast-flowing streams and lakes
distribution Europe
 STONEFLIES AND ROCK CRAWLERS | 31

Pale stonefly
Perla bipunctata

Adult stoneflies are weak fliers and often rest on size ¾–1 in (2–2.8 cm) long
stones near the water’s edge. The males of this diet Nymphs feed on caddisflies, larval
species are about half the size of the females mayflies, and non-biting midges; adults do
and have much shorter wings. The forewings not feed
of the females have ladderlike patterns made of
habitat Stony streams in upland regions
numerous veins crossing each other.
distribution Europe and Africa

Females have larger

wings than males

Yellow sally Northern rock crawler

Isoperla grammatica Grylloblatta campodeiformis

Nymphs of this stonefly live under Cylindrical abdomen

stones where predators, such as fish, cannot
find them. Unlike in most other stoneflies, the
nymphs of this species turn into winged adults
during the day. Flying adults appear as a yellow
blur in sunlight. This nocturnal insect is found
on many mountains in North
America. Its reproductive cycle is
quite long—the female lays her eggs two
months after mating, and the nymphs take
about five years to mature.

size ⁄3–½ in (0.9–1.3 cm) long

1

diet Small insects and dead matter size ½–1¼ in (1.2–3 cm) long
habitat Gravel-bottomed streams and diet Dead insects, mosses, and plant matter
stony lakes habitat Rocks near glaciers, limestone caves
distribution Europe distribution US and Canada
32 | INSECTS

Stick and Macleay’s spectre

Extatosoma tiaratum

leaf insects Adult females of this

species are wingless, as
The order Phasmatodea seen here, and are larger
than the males. An adult
is made up of about 3,000 female lays about a dozen
eggs every day and
species, which are usually scatters them around by
active at night. These insects flicking them away with
her abdomen.
have evolved remarkable
shapes resembling leaves size 1–11½ in (2.5–29 cm) long

and sticks, which help hide diet Leaves of eucalyptus trees

habitat Forests, grasslands,
them in their forest habitats. and rainforests
distribution Australia and
New Guinea

Two-striped stick insect Stick insect

Anisomorpha buprestoides Pharnacia sp.

When threatened, this stick insect These insects are known as

squirts a foul-smelling liquid from the front of walking sticks because of
its thorax. This liquid contains a chemical that their extremely long and
irritates the eyes of the attacker. slender bodies. The female
stick insect is wingless and
can hold its legs close to its
body, making it look even more
like a twig.

size 1–1¼ in
(2.5–2.9 cm)
size 1½–2¾ in (4.2–6.8 cm) long diet Foliage
diet Leaves of shrubs and trees habitat Shrubs
and trees
habitat Tropical regions
distribution India
distribution Southern US
 STICK AND LEAF INSECTS | 33

Jungle nymph stick insect

Heteropteryx dilatata

This bug is called the jungle nymph

stick insect because the females
have short, stubby wings like an
immature nymph. They
do not fly. The females
are quite aggressive and
will hiss and splay their
hind legs if attacked. This female has
non-overlapping
wing pads,
size Up to 6 in (15.5 cm) long which identifies
diet Foliage of a wide variety it as a young
of plants nymph

habitat Tropical
forests
distribution Malaysia Strong claws help
in defense and
give a firm grip

Javanese leaf insect

Phyllium bioculatum

Leaf insects mimic

leaves effectively and
are not often spotted by
predators. This species
Long, looks like a dead, wrinkled
fan-shaped leaf, and it even sways in
hind wing the breeze, which adds to
its disguise.

size 2¾–3¾ in (7–9.4 cm) long

diet Leaves of fruit trees, such as
guava and rambutan
habitat Tropical rainforests
distribution Southeast Asia
Abdomen has
leaflike veins
34 | BUGS

walking leaf
Adult females of this
species have wider
abdomens than the
males. The abdomen
has two pale spots
that look like faded
holes on a leaf,
which adds to the
insect's camouflage.
 INSECTS | 35

Walking leaf insects mimic

their surroundings so well that
other leaf insects often try to

take bites
out of them
36 | INSECTS

Earwigs Two-spotted earwig

Anechura bipunctata
There are about 1,900 species
of earwig. These plant-eating
and scavenging insects form
the order Dermaptera. Most
have short forewings and
fanlike hind wings that can
be folded. The abdomen
ends in a pair of pincers,
which are called forceps.

Tawny earwig
Labidura riparia

This is the
largest earwig
in Europe. It is a lighter brown than most other
earwigs, giving it the name “tawny.” When
threatened, it releases a foul-smelling fluid
from glands in its abdomen.

In many species of earwig, female parents

size ¾ in (1.8 cm) long often make good mothers. The females of this
diet Decaying matter wingless species lay eggs in soil and take care
habitat Sandy river banks and coastal areas of them until they hatch. They protect the eggs
with their slender pincers and also feed the
distribution Worldwide except polar regions
nymphs after they hatch.
 EARWIGS | 37

Common earwig
Forficula auricularia

The forceps of this earwig are long and

curved and have sharp structures on their
inner sides. The earwig uses its forceps in
defense and also to fold away its
delicate hind wings, which
are used in flight.

size ½ in
(1.4 cm) long
diet Plants and decaying organic matter
habitat Woodlands and gardens
distribution Worldwide except polar regions

Lesser earwig
Labia minor
Females of this
species take care of The lesser earwig is the smallest
their eggs by licking dirt European earwig. It is a strong flier with
fully developed wings that are reddish
and fungal spores
brown in color.
off them to keep
them clean.
size Less than ¼ in (7 mm) long
diet Decaying plant material
habitat Compost heaps and
rotting vegetation
distribution Europe
size ½ in (1–1.5 cm) long
diet Small insects, decaying plants,
and animals
habitat Woodlands
distribution Europe
38 | InsEcTs

Mantises
The order Mantodea is made up of more than focus on...
2,300 species of mantis. They have triangular Defense
Mantises defend
heads, large compound eyes, and flexible themselves in many
necks. Mantises are the only insects that can different ways.
turn their heads around to look behind them.

Orchid mantis Common praying mantis

Hymenopus coronatus Mantis religiosa

Mantis resting All mantises have the same resting pose—they

on flower hold their front legs up and together, as if in
prayer. The forward-facing eyes of this species
help the mantis to judge the distance to its prey
accurately before it attacks.

Leaflike
forewing

The body and legs of the

orchid mantis resemble
petals and help it to
mimic the shape of an orchid flower. Lurking
among the flowers, it is almost invisible as it
waits to catch unsuspecting insects. As soon
as prey arrives, the mantis quickly snatches
it out of the air.

size 1¼–2½ in (3–6 cm) long

diet nymphs feed on small insects; adults
feed on crickets, moths, and butterflies
habitat Rainforests
distribution southeast Asia
 MAnTIsEs | 39

◀ The head, thorax, ◀ When threatened,

and abdomen of the the dead leaf mantis
leaf mantis mimic startles predators by
the appearance of raising its front legs and
a leaf. This helps lifting its wings. This
to camouflage, or reveals bright markings
disguise, the insect. on its underside.

Conehead mantis
Empusa pennata

Large This species is easily identified by

compound the distinctive crest on top of its head. The
eye conehead mantis has a slim body, and parts
of its abdomen have leaflike extensions, which
help to camouflage the insect. females have
extremely thin antennae.

size 2½ in (6 cm) long

diet small flies
habitat Grasslands and scrublands
distribution southern Europe

Small lobe
on leg

Spiny forelegs help

to attack and hold prey

size 2–3 in (5–7.4 cm) long

diet Moths, crickets, grasshoppers, and flies
habitat Trees and shrubs
distribution central and southern Europe
40 | INSECTS

Crickets and grasshoppers

Most crickets and grasshoppers have large wings, but instead of
flying away when threatened, they tend to jump away using their
powerful hind legs. Many adult males rub their legs or wings
together and “sing” to attract mates. More than 25,000 species
of these two groups of insect form the order Orthoptera.

Desert locust House cricket

Schistocerca gregaria Acheta domestica

Desert locusts are grasshoppers that This cricket is only active at night.
form swarms. After heavy rainfall, solitary Males make chirping songs by rubbing their
locusts come together to feed. Crowding together forewings against each other. Females are
stimulates them to release pheromones (scent attracted to louder chirps, since they are usually
chemicals) that cause the locusts to fly together made by larger males, which are more likely
in large swarms of up to 10 billion individuals, to produce strong, healthy offspring.
which can strip fields of crops within hours.

size Up to 3 in (7.5 cm) long

diet Grasses, crops, and other vegetation
habitat Deserts, grasslands, and farmlands
distribution North Africa and the
Middle East
Dull brown
Strong hind coloration
legs aid in
Mottled wings jumping
size 1 in (2.4 cm) long
diet Organic matter
habitat Forests and grasslands
distribution Southwestern Asia, Northern
Africa, and Europe
 CRICKETS AND GRASSHOPPERS | 41

Foaming grasshopper
Dictyophorus spumans

Vivid colors on the body

of this grasshopper warn Warty surface
predators that it tastes
foul. When threatened,
it can also ward
off predators by
producing toxic foam
from glands in its thorax.

size 2½–3¼ in (6–8 cm) long

diet Milkweed
habitat Rocky areas with
low vegetation
distribution South Africa

African cave cricket Mole cricket

Phaeophilacris geertsi Gryllotalpa gryllotalpa

The African cave cricket is wingless and

has long hind legs. This scavenger has very
long antennae, which are useful in sensing its Like a
surroundings and predators in the darkness miniature
of the caves where it lives. mole, this
insect uses its strong forelegs to dig burrows
in soil for shelter. It uses its hind legs for
size ¾ in (2 cm) long pushing soil away while it digs. Mole crickets
diet Plants feed underground in the day and on the
habitat Caves, humid surface at night.
areas, and under logs
and stones
size 1½–1¾ in (4–4.5 cm) long
distribution
diet Plant roots and invertebrates
Democratic
Republic habitat Meadows and river banks
of Congo distribution Europe
42 | InsEcTs

Cockroaches
focus on... These scavenging insects have flat, oval
HABITATS bodies that enable them to squeeze through
cockroaches have tight spaces. Their sensitivity to vibrations
adapted to survive
in a wide range allows them to detect predators early and
of habitats. so evade them. Around 4,600 species of
cockroach make up the order Blattodea.

Long-winged great cockroach

▲ The American Megaloblatta longipennis
cockroach lurks around in
houses, usually where This insect is the largest winged
there is a lot of food. cockroach in the world and has
a wingspan of 8 in (20 cm).
females tend to be very
fertile, breeding five to six
times a year. They produce
about 40 eggs each time
and about a thousand
eggs in a lifetime.
▲ Cockroaches of the
Desmozosteria genus
are fast-running daytime Thin, long
species found in deserts antenna
in western Australia.

size 2½ in (6 cm) long

diet Plant materials
habitat Woodland litter,
debris, and buildings
▲ Gyna laticosta is a
distribution Peru,
species that lives on
the floor of a rainforest Ecuador, and Panama
in Cameroon. It is
disguised as a yellow leaf.
 COCKROACHES | 43

Dusky cockroach American cockroach

Ectobius lapponicus Periplaneta americana

Dusky cockroaches run very fast. The

males and females are active at different times
of the day—the males in the afternoon and the
females after sunset.

Originally from Africa, this species has spread

size ⁄3–½ in (0.8–1.3 cm) long
1
worldwide by stowing away on ships. The
diet Decaying organic matter cockroach’s antennae are almost as long
habitat Leaf litter and foliage as its body.
distribution Europe; introduced
to US size 1¾ in (4.4 cm) long
diet Decaying organic matter; stored or
spilled food
habitat Houses, stores, and food warehouses
distribution Worldwide except in
polar regions

Madagascan hissing cockroach

Gromphadorhina portentosa

Unlike most cockroaches, the Madagascan

hissing cockroach is wingless. True to its
Males use the
name, it startles predators by squeezing
air out of its spiracles (respiratory openings “humps” on their thorax
on the body of an insect), which produces to engage in combat
a loud hiss. with rival males.
Spiracle

“Hump”
size 2½–3¼ in
(6–8 cm) long
diet Dung
habitat Tropical
regions
distribution
Central America
44 | INSECTS

Termites and thrips

Termites are social insects that live in colonies, which may include
more than a million termites. About 2,900 species of termite form
the order Isoptera. The 7,400 species of thrip make up the
order Thysanoptera. These tiny insects have two
pairs of narrow wings lined with hair.

Formosan termite Harvester termite

Coptotermes formosanus Macrotermes sp.

These termites forage for food by Termites in the genus Macrotermes

tunneling through soil, traveling up to 300 ft are the farmers of the insect world. They
(100 m) if needed. Large colonies made up of cultivate gardens of fungi inside their massive
several million termites can feed on about mounds. The fungi grows on chewed pieces
13 oz (400 g) of wood in one day. This of wood and plant matter brought back by
can severely damage structures the adult termites.
made of wood.

size ⁄8–½ in (4–14 mm) long

1

diet Fungi grown in nest

habitat Tropical forests, rainforests,
and grasslands
distribution Africa and Asia

size ¼ in
(6–7 mm) long
diet Wood and materials containing cellulose,
such as paper and cardboard
habitat Tropical and subtropical regions
distribution China and Japan; introduced
to US and South Africa
 TERMITES AND THRIPS | 45

Pacific dampwood termite Gladiolus thrip

Zootermopsis angusticollis Thrips simplex

Unlike most termites that live on or

near dry wood, this species needs wet
conditions. It builds colonies in damp
wood, such as rotting stumps
and logs. About 4,000 termites
make up a colony. The gladiolus thrip is found wherever gladiolus
plants are grown. This insect uses its sucking
mouthparts to feed on the plant sap, which
size 1 in (2.4 cm) long deforms and discolors the flowers.
diet Damp, decaying
wood
size Less than 1⁄16 in (2 mm) long
habitat Humid,
woody regions diet Plant sap
distribution habitat In leaf litter, and on leaves,
Pacific coast of flowers, and fruits of gladiolus plants
North America distribution Africa, Asia, Europe,
and North America

Flower thrip
Frankliniella sp.

Flattened
body Segmented
antenna

A female flower thrip uses its sawlike size ⁄32–1⁄16 in (1–1.5 mm) long
1

ovipositor (egg-laying organ) to cut into a leaf,

diet Plant sap
stem, or fruit of a plant before laying a single
egg in each slit. The eggs stay protected within habitat Areas with vegetation and
the plant. After hatching, the nymphs feed human settlements
on the plant’s juices. distribution Worldwide except polar regions
46 | INSECTS

True bugs
This diverse group of insects is made up of 100,000 species,
which include cicadas, hoppers, aphids, and water bugs.
All the insects in this order—Hemiptera—have a beaklike
mouthpart used for sucking plant sap, dissolved body
tissues of prey, or blood.

Wart-headed bug
Phrictus quinquepartitus

A wart-headed bug has colorful hind wings. size 2¼ in (5.5 cm) long
Their bright, flashy colors startle or confuse diet Plant sap
approaching predators. A greenish-
habitat
yellow pattern on the forewings helps
Woodlands
this bug to blend in well with its
and forests
leafy surroundings.
distribution
Costa Rica, Panama,
Colombia, and parts
Distinctive of Brazil
pattern on
forewing
 TRUE BUGS | 47

Indian cicada
Angamiana aetherea

Cicadas are noisy creatures. The male Indian cicada size 1½ in (3.5–4 cm) long
sings loudly to attract females as well as to deter diet Plants and roots
rivals. It does this by rapidly vibrating a pair of
habitat Trees and shrubs in warm regions
drumlike organs on the side of its abdomen to
produce a series of loud clicks. distribution India

Froghopper Thorn bug

Cercopis vulnerata Umbonia crassicornis

The upper part of this

These brightly insect’s body has a Pronotum
(upper
colored bugs sharp, pointed shape, surface
have strong which protects the of thorax)
legs that help to slender bug by
make them good camouflaging
jumpers. The it. To a predator,
females lay eggs this bug looks
in soil or on plants. Once hatched, the nymphs like a thorn
produce a foamlike substance that covers them on a plant.
in a protective layer and keeps them moist.

size ½ in (1–1.2 cm) long

size ½ in (1–1.2 cm) long diet Plant sap
diet Plant root sap habitat Woodlands and forests
habitat Grassy areas and meadows distribution North and South America, and
distribution Europe and Asia Southeast Asia
48 | INSECTS

American lupin aphid Giant water bug

Macrosiphum albifrons Lethocerus grandis

Thousands of aphids are often seen

sucking on a single plant. Female aphids can
produce hundreds of young without mating.
The high rate of reproduction of aphids makes Hairs on hind
these plant eaters very destructive to crops. legs aid in
swimming

size ¼ in
(5 mm) long
diet Plants
habitat Wild and
cultivated plants in
northern temperate Pair of
regions appendages
distribution North used to
breathe
America and Europe
underwater

Pear psylla Common pond skater

Cacopsylla pyricola Gerris lacustris

The pear psylla is a pest of pear The long legs of

trees. The females lay eggs on, or in, these this insect spread
plants. Both the nymphs and the adults its weight over the
feed on the sap of the pear plants. water surface, helping
it to “walk” on water. It
finds prey by using
size 1
⁄16–¼ in (1.5–5 mm) long special sensitive hairs
diet Plant sap on its legs that detect
habitat Pear trees ripples created by
its victims.
distribution Europe, Asia, and US

size ½ in (1–1.2 cm) long

diet Other insects
habitat Ponds, streams, rivers, and lakes
distribution Worldwide except polar regions
 TRUE BUGS | 49

Water scorpion
Nepa cinerea

The giant water bug is one of A water scorpion rubs its legs against
the largest bugs in its order. It its body to produce a squeaky noise for
uses its pincerlike forelegs attracting females. Its front legs help it to catch
and toxic saliva to capture and grip prey firmly, and its hind legs help it to
prey as large as frogs and crawl near the edges of shallow pools.
fish. It is eaten by humans
in some parts of Southeast Asia.
size ¾ in (1.8–2.2 cm) long
diet Other insects
size 3¼–4 in (8–10 cm) long
habitat Still or slow-moving water and
diet Frogs, fish, and other insects shallow pools
habitat Subtropical distribution Europe
and tropical regions
distribution Worldwide
except polar regions
Foreleg is armed Strong
with a sharp claw front legs

Common backswimmer
Notonecta glauca

These spindle-shaped bugs usually swim

upside down under the water surface, using
their long hind legs as oars. They use their sight
to find prey, which they grab with their forelegs.

Oval, The water scorpion

flattened body
breathes under water
size ⁄8 in (1.7 cm) long
5 by using its long tail
diet Tadpoles, small fish, and insects as a breathing tube,
habitat Ponds, lakes, canals, and ditches like a snorkel.
distribution Europe
Long tail
50 | INSECTS

Bed bug Leaf-footed bug

Cimex lectularius Bitta flavolineata

Bed bugs are parasites that feed on The legs of this insect mimic the
the blood of humans and other warm-blooded shape of leaves, helping to camouflage it from
mammals. They feed only at night and go predators. The leaf-footed bug lives for only
back into hiding during the day. This insect three weeks. After the nymphs hatch, they take
is wingless and has a flat body. around two weeks to turn into adults in the
same plant where the eggs were laid.

size 1⁄8–1⁄4 in
(4–5 mm) long Long
diet Blood antenna
habitat Body of
host animals, nests,
caves, and buildings
distribution
Worldwide size ¾ in (1.8 cm)
diet Plants
habitat
Areas with
dense vegetation
distribution
Common green capsid Central and South
Lygocoris pabulinus
America
Common green capsids belong
to the largest family of true
bugs. They are a serious pest
of fruit crops, such as pears,
apples, and raspberries.
Raised, wartlike spots are
left on fruits after this bug
has finished feeding.

size ¼ in (6 mm) long

diet Sap of fruit and
vegetable plants
habitat Areas with
dense vegetation and Leaflike
field crops hind leg
distribution Europe
 TRUE BUGS | 51

Scarlet shield bug

Eurydema dominulus

Bold colors on the body of this

bug warn predators that it has a
foul taste. Also known as the brassica Red and black pronotum
bug, this insect is a serious pest (upper part of thorax)
of brassica plants, such as cabbage
and turnips.

Large black patch on

scutellum (triangular
structure behind pronotum)

size ⁄3 in (8 mm) long

1

diet Plants
habitat Woodlands and fields of cabbage
and turnips
distribution Europe

White-spotted assassin bug Thistle lace bug

Platymeris biguttata Tingis cardui

This assassin bug

spits out toxic
saliva when deterring
predators, sometimes
even causing them to
go blind temporarily. The fine
pattern on
the wings and
size 1½ in (4 cm) long upper body of this small insect give it a lacelike
diet Other insects appearance. Its body is covered in powdery
habitat wax, which makes it look pale gray.
Tropical regions
distribution size ⁄8–3⁄16 in (3–4 mm) long
1
West Africa
diet Spear, musk, and marsh thistles
habitat Grasslands
distribution Western Europe
52 | BUGS

SCARLET Some Mexican

SHIELD BUG
True to their name,
the creatures of the salsas have a

special
shield bug family have
a tough exoskeleton
that looks a bit like
a shield. Their leathery
forewings and thin
hind wings are not

ingredient—
very flexible and
rattle when beating
together in flight.

scarlet shield bugs

INSECTS | 53
54 | INSECTS

Lice Human head louse

Pediculus humanus capitis
The 5,200 species of louse
The human head louse spends its life
in the order Phthiraptera are on the human scalp. An adult female lays
wingless and live on birds about 9–10 eggs a day and attaches
each egg separately to a strand of
and mammals as parasites, hair using a gluelike secretion.
Once in place, the eggs are
using sucking mouthparts difficult to remove.
to feed on their blood. The
related barklice and booklice
are scavengers that belong
to the order Psocoptera and Claw grips
number around 5,600 species. tightly to
hair shaft

Chicken body louse

Menacanthus stramineus

This insect can cause feather loss and

infection in poultry. It lives near the base of
the feathers on the body of the birds and holds
on tightly with the claws on its strong legs.
Flat,
pear-shaped
body

size 1⁄16–1⁄8 in
(2–3 mm) long
size ¼ in (5 mm) long diet Blood
diet Feather fragments, blood, and habitat On humans
skin secretions
distribution
habitat On poultry Worldwide except
distribution Worldwide except polar regions polar regions
 LICE | 55

Goat louse Flour louse

Damalinia limbata Liposcelis liparius

The goat louse Needing high levels of

infests goats and sheep. moisture to survive, flour
It feeds on fat secretions lice live in damp areas. If
on the skin of the host conditions get very damp,
mammal. It also causes they multiply and become
irritation on the skin of pests, damaging stored
these animals and even grain and books.
damages wool in sheep.
A single infected goat or
sheep can spread the size ⁄8 in (1.5 mm) long
5

lice to an entire herd. diet Fungi and

decaying organic matter
habitat Damp and
size 1
⁄32– ⁄16 in (1–2 mm) long
1
dark areas in human
diet Skin, hair, secretions, and blood settlements
habitat On goats and sheep distribution Worldwide
distribution Worldwide except polar regions except polar regions

Bark louse
Psococerastis gibbosa

Unlike parasitic lice, the bark louse size ¼ in (6 mm) long

has wings, which are held rooflike diet Fungi, decaying organic matter,
over its body while it rests. This pollen, and algae
insect is commonly seen resting on
habitat On deciduous and coniferous trees
trees and lays its eggs in the bark.
distribution Europe and Asia

Large,
bulging
eyes
56 | InsEcTs

Alderflies and
focus on...
ocelli relatives
Many arthropods The 300 species of alderfly and the related
have ocelli, or simple
eyes, in addition dobsonfly are weak fliers. They make up the
to their compound order Megaloptera. Their aquatic larvae are
eyes. The ocelli
only sense light. predatory, while the adults do not feed.

eastern dobsonfly
Corydalus cornutus

The males of this species have long, weak

mandibles (jaws), which they use to grip the females
during mating. The females have short, powerful
mandibles and can deliver a painful bite if
disturbed or threatened.
▲ Dobsonflies have three
ocelli, arranged in a triangle
on the head. These detect
the horizon, allowing the
insects to fly level.

Wings are held like

a roof over the body
when at rest

size 4 in (10 cm) long

diet Larvae feed on small aquatic insects and
▲ Alderflies lack ocelli and worms; adults do not feed
so are unsteady fliers. habitat streams, especially in temperate regions
distribution north America
 ALDERFLIES AND RELATIVES | 57

Fish fly
Chauliodes sp.

Fish flies have rounded heads and

smaller mandibles than other dobsonflies.
Feathery In the summer, newly hatched fish flies can
antenna rise into the air in massive
numbers—about a billion
have been seen on the
Upper Mississippi River.

size 1–3 in (2.5–7.5 cm)

diet Larvae feed on small
aquatic insects; adults
do not feed
habitat Running water
in temperate regions
distribution North America
Large wings
with pale marks

Alderfly
Sialis lutaria

Female alderflies can lay up to 2,000 eggs in a size ½–¾ in (1.4–1.8 cm) long
batch. The eggs are laid on twigs or leaves near diet Larvae feed on small aquatic insects
water. The larvae drop into the water once they and worms; adults do not feed
hatch. As they mature, they crawl out of the
habitat Muddy ponds, canals, and
water and pupate in damp soil nearby, before
slow-moving water
turning into adults.
distribution Worldwide except polar regions
Smoky colored
wings
Long antenna
58 | INSECTS

Lacewings and relatives

The 7,000 species of lacewing and related bugs that make
up the order Neuroptera have large eyes, chewing mouthparts,
and long antennae. They all also hold their pairs of net-veined
wings over their bodies when at rest.

Green lacewing Spoon-winged lacewing

Chrysopa perla Nemoptera sinuata

Adult green lacewings can be identified These insects are active only during
by their blue-green body and the black veins the day. After hatching, the egg-shaped
on their wings. They are predators of aphids larvae stay hidden in sand and can detect
and lay eggs near aphid colonies. Their the movement of prey by sensing vibrations
predatory larvae also feed on aphids. with their antennae.

size ½ in (1–1.2 cm) long

diet Pollen, nectar, aphids, and honeydew
habitat Deciduous woodlands
distribution Europe

Long
Veins antenna Long hind
arranged wing
in a netlike
pattern

size 1½ in
(4 cm) long
diet Larvae feed on insects;
adults feed on nectar and pollen
habitat Woodlands and
open grasslands
distribution Southeastern Europe
 LACEWINGS AND RELATIVES | 59

Owlfly Antlion
Libelloides macaronius Palpares libelluloides

Owlflies can often be seen flying on

warm sunny days, particularly during twilight.
Adults are agile fliers and can catch flying
insect prey in midair. Antlions are slender
insects that look like
damselflies. Their
size 1¼ in larvae dig cone-
(3 cm) long shaped pits in sandy
diet Other insects Organ in male for soil to trap ants and
habitat Grasslands and clasping female other small insects.
warm, dry woodlands
distribution Southern size 2–2¼ in (5–5.5 cm) long
and central
diet Pollen, small insects, and spiders
Europe,
and Asia habitat Rough grasslands and warm
scrubby regions
distribution Mediterranean region

Mantisfly
Mantispa styriaca

The mantisfly belongs to a family of

insects called mantispids. Their front legs When capturing
resemble those of mantises and are used prey, the mantisfly’s
to grab prey. This insect’s body lightning-fast strike takes
has bright colors that just 60 milliseconds.
deter predators.

size ½ in (1.4 cm) long

diet Small flies
habitat Woodlands
distribution Southern and
central Europe
60 | INSECTS

Beetles
foCuS oN... This group forms the largest order of insect,
SIZE Coleoptera, which contains about 370,000
Beetles range in species. Beetles are found in many habitats
size from tiny insects
to tropical giants. on land and in fresh water. They have tough
front wings, called elytra, which fold over their
thinner hind wings like a protective case.

Violin beetle
Mormolyce phyllodes

This insect’s body is shaped like the musical

instrument from which it gets its name.
Its flat abdomen and thorax
let it squeeze into tight
spaces in tree bark to hide
from predators. When
threatened, it runs away
quickly on its long, thin legs.
▲ The adult male titan
beetle is 61⁄2 in (17 cm)
Long,
long and is one of the
threadlike
largest of all beetles. antenna

size 31⁄4–4 in
(8–10 cm) long
diet Insect
larvae and snails
habitat Tropical
forests
▲ At about 1⁄32 in
(0.6–0.7 mm) long, distribution
Actidium coarctatum Southeast Asia
is one of the smallest
beetles in the world.
 BEETLES | 61

Great diving beetle Devil’s coach horse

Dytiscus marginalis Staphylinus olens

When in water, these Unlike other beetles, whose bodies are

beetles breathe air stored fully covered by their wing cases, part of
under their wing cases. this beetle’s abdomen is exposed. If disturbed,
Their hairy legs propel them it curves its abdomen upward like a scorpion
quickly through the water, about to sting, which scares off predators. It
but occasionally can also run fast and gets its name from
they float up, its speed and an Irish myth in which it
tail first, to add to was believed to be the devil in disguise,
their air supply. out to eat sinners.

size 11⁄3–11⁄2 in (3.5–4 cm) long size 11⁄4 in (3 cm) long

diet Small aquatic invertebrates, fish, diet Other insects
and tadpoles habitat Woodlands and garden
habitat Ponds and shallow lakes in tundra leaf litter
regions, wetlands, and urban areas distribution Europe, North
distribution Europe and northern Asia America, and Australia

Bombardier beetle
Brachinus crepitans

The bombardier beetle has a unique way

of defending itself. When threatened, it releases
puffs of a hot scalding acid, with a loud popping
sound. It can move its tail under its body and
to either side to spray acid on a predator.

size ⁄3–1⁄2 in (0.6–0.9 cm) long

1

diet Larvae of other beetles

habitat Woodlands and grasslands
distribution Europe
62 | INSECTS

Minotaur beetle
Typhaeus typhoeus

Male and female minotaur beetles work together to size ½–¾ in (1.5–2 cm) long
dig tunnels in sandy soil for their nests. They also diet Sheep and rabbit droppings
cooperate when feeding their young—the males
habitat Sandy areas in shrublands
gather the droppings of sheep and rabbits, which
the females then shape into small, sausage-shaped distribution Western Europe
portions for the larvae to eat.

Horn

Male beetles
have bull-like horns
like those on a
minotaur—a half-man,
half-bull creature in
Greek mythology.

Hercules beetle Gold beetle

Dynastes hercules Chrysina resplendens

Relative to its size, this beetle is one of The beetle’s color

the strongest creatures on Earth. It can carry does not come
850 times its own body weight—this feat of from a gold or yellow
strength is equal to a human pigment on its body,
carrying 12 buses. but is due to its elytra
reflecting sunlight in a
way that makes it look
size 2½–6½ in like polished metal.
(6–17 cm) long The glinting shine often
diet Larvae feed on confuses predators
decaying organic matter; in the dark forests in
adults feed on rotting fruit which the gold
habitat Rainforests beetle lives.
distribution
Central and Strong claws
South America
 BEETLES | 63

Stag beetle Flower chafer

Lucanus cervus Neptunides polychrous

The stag These beetles are robust, with square,

beetle lays eggs in flattish bodies. They have hornlike projections
the decaying stumps on their head and spines on their legs. Flower
or roots of trees. It chafers are generally green, but the body
spends 3–7 years color can vary.
as a larva, feeding
on rotting wood,
before pupating Large
in cells of chewed horn-shaped
structure
wood fibres.

size ⁄8–3 in (2.2–7.5 cm) long

7

diet Larvae feed on decaying wood; adults

feed on oozing sap or fallen fruit
habitat Deciduous woodlands
distribution Southern and central Europe

Shiny elytra

size ¾ in
(2 cm) long
diet Dung,
decaying wood,
and fungi
size 1¼–1½ in (3–3.5 cm ) long
habitat Tropical
forests and plantations diet Larvae feed on dead wood; adults feed
on pollen, nectar, and fruit
distribution Costa
Rica and Panama habitat Tropical forests
distribution East Africa
64 | INSECTS

Common red soldier beetle Red-spotted longhorn beetle

Rhagonycha fulva Batocera rufomaculata

Adults of this species can be found on This beetle’s larvae tunnel through trees,
top of fully bloomed flowers, where they feed eating away at the wood. They are known
on nectar and other insects. The larvae live in the to attack mango and fig trees, which is
soil and leaf litter, eating other small invertebrates, why the insect is also called the mango
such as springtails, aphids, and fly larvae. borer or fig borer.

size ½ in (1 cm) long size 2–2½ in (5–6 cm) long

diet Larvae eat small soil-dwelling diet Larvae feed on wood;
invertebrates; adults feed on pollen and nectar adults feed on sap, pollen,
habitat nectar, and leaves
Meadows and habitat On ground, in soil, and in leaf
margins of litter in tropical forests and plantations
woodlands distribution India and Southeast Asia
distribution
Europe and
North America

Larder beetle Yellow longhorn beetle

Dermestes lardarius Phosphorus jansoni

Larder beetles lay Like other longhorn beetles, this has

their eggs in the very long antennae—longer, in fact,
flesh and bones of than its entire body. It
dead and decaying is also brightly colored
animals. In houses, and is often spotted on
they infest stored cola trees, which are
food, especially attacked by its larvae.
animal products,
such as ham, bacon,
and cheese. size 1¼–1½ in
(2.8–3.6 cm) long
diet Larvae feed on
size 1
⁄3–½ in (8–10 mm) long wood; adults feed on sap,
diet Animal remains, dried meat, stored cheese, nectar, and leaves
fur, hair, bones, and abandoned nests of birds habitat Tropical forests
habitat Buildings, houses, and woodlands distribution
distribution Worldwide except polar regions West Africa
 BEETLES | 65

Sexton beetle
Nicrophorus investigator

Using its antennae, this beetle is able

to sense dead animals from a distance. After it
finds a carcass, usually that of a small mouse
or bird, the beetle buries it in the ground. Eggs
Long,
are then laid on the decaying animal, which
slender, provides food for the larvae when they hatch.
segmented
antenna
size 1 in (2.6 cm) long
diet Dead and decaying animals
Spotted elytra
habitat Woodlands and grasslands
distribution
Northern
hemisphere

Last segment of leg

has two lobes

Blue fungus beetle

Gibbifer californicus

These shiny, black-spotted

beetles are very
common during the
summer, especially in
the rainy season. They
are often seen feeding
on patches of fungi on
tall trees.

size ¾–1 in (1.8–2.2 cm) long

diet Fungi on live trees or
decaying wood
habitat Moist woodlands
distribution Southwestern US
66 | INSECTS

Seven-spot ladybug Tortoise beetle

Coccinella septempunctata Aspidomorpha miliaris

This is one of the most common A tortoise beetle’s body

beetles in Europe. Its bright elytra warns is covered by a shieldlike
predators that it is poisonous. To deter “shell.” Like a tortoise,
its attackers further, it oozes its foul-tasting this insect withdraws
blood from its leg joints. its head and feet under its
shell when threatened.
It then firmly attaches
size ¼–1⁄3 in its shell to a leaf.
(6–9 mm) long
diet Soft-bodied
insects, such
as aphids
habitat Woods,
parks, and gardens
distribution
Europe, Asia, and
North America

Twenty-two spot ladybug

Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata

Most ladybugs are

short-legged with brightly
colored bodies, which
are spotted or striped.
Twenty-two spots
dot the elytra
of this small
beetle—11 on
each forewing.

size 1
⁄8–¼ in (3–5 mm) long
diet Fungi, such as mildews
habitat Meadows
distribution Europe
 BEETLES | 67

Jeweled frog beetle

Sagra buqueti

size ⁄8 in (15 mm) long

5
Strong hind legs similar to those of
diet Plants of the Ipomea genus a frog have inspired the name of this
beetle. The way its elytra reflect sunlight
habitat Corn and sweet potato plantations
make it look like a green-red jewel.
distribution Southeast Asia

Circular “shell” size 1¼–1½ in

(3–3.5 cm) long
diet Larvae feed on
stems, foliage, and roots;
adults feed on leaves
habitat
Tropical forests
distribution
Thailand and Malaysia

Black oil beetle

Meloe proscarabaeus

Black oil beetles lay eggs on flowers

visited by bees. After hatching, the larvae attach
themselves to bees and hitch a ride to the nest,
where they feed on the larvae of the bees.

size 1–1½ in (2.4–3.4 cm) long

diet Larvae feed on pollen, nectar, and bee
larvae; adults feed on plants and nectar
habitat
Warm
meadows,
heaths, and
coastal areas
distribution
Europe
68 | INSECTS

Click beetle Fog-basking darkling beetle

Chalcolepidius limbatus Onymacris candidipennis

Powerful muscles in As moisture-laden fog rolls in from the

the thorax of the click beetle Atlantic Ocean, this beetle lowers its head and
jerk suddenly to propel raises its elytra. Droplets of water from the fog
it into the air. As it then collect on its forewings and drip into its
leaps, the insect mouth. This amazing technique helps it collect
makes a loud enough water to survive in the Namib Desert.
“click” sound,
which frightens
its predators. size ¾ in (1.8–2 cm) long
diet Larvae feed on
plant roots; adults eat
size 1¼–1½ in (3–4 cm) long decaying organic matter
diet Larvae feed on plant roots, tubers, habitat Deserts
and other insects; adults feed on other
distribution
insects and plant matter
Southwestern coast
habitat Woodlands and grasslands of Africa
distribution South America

Ant beetle Giraffe-necked weevil

Thanasimus formicarius Trachelophorus giraffa

Ant beetles hunt bark beetles and their This strange-looking weevil gets its name
larvae on dead and fallen coniferous trees. from its very long, giraffelike neck. The neck
They use their strong mandibles to attack is 2–3 times longer in males than in females.
their tough prey. Ant beetles can move The males use their long necks for
quickly when on the hunt. head-bobbing contests to impress
females. The females use
their shorter necks to
size ¼–½ in (7–10 mm) long roll leaves into tubes,
diet Bark beetles, larvae, and eggs laying a single egg
habitat Coniferous forests in each tube.
distribution Europe
and northern Asia
 BEETLES | 69

Jewel weevil
Eupholus linnei

Beetles of the Curculionidae family are

also called weevils. The heads of these
insects are extended to form a
structure called the rostrum, which
carries the mandibles. This weevil
uses its mandibles to chew through its
favorite food—yams (the starch-rich
tubers of some climbing plants).

size ¼–1 in (2–2.6 cm) long

diet Plant tubers
habitat Woodlands and grasslands
distribution Eastern Indonesia

Segmented
antenna on
small head

The giraffe-necked
weevil has the longest
neck of any insect.
size 1 in (2.6 cm) long
diet Plant matter
habitat Rainforests
distribution Madagascar
70 | BUGS

In medieval times, people believed

that stag beetles carried hot
embers in their jaws, causing

house fires
 INSECTS | 71

STAG BEETLE
Battles between male stag beetles are
common during the mating season. Rivals wrestle
each other for females or for territory. They grab
one another with their powerful mandibles,
which look like the antlers of stags.
72 | INSECTS

Scorpionflies and fleas

A slim, scorpionlike abdomen is a feature of all 550 species of
scorpionfly that form the order Mecoptera. They are either predators
or scavengers of decaying matter. In contrast, the 2,400 species of
flea are all parasites of mammals or birds and suck on
their blood. They make up the order Siphonaptera.

Common scorpionfly
Panorpa communis

Slender
antenna

Downward-
Mottled wing pointing
beak

The wings of common scorpionflies are not very size ¾ in (1.8 cm) long
strong, and so they rarely fly very far. They can
diet Larvae feed on decaying organic matter;
be spotted resting on leaves between May and
adults feed on live and dead insects
September. The males have a pair of upturned
claspers at the tips of their abdomens, which habitat Shady hedgerows and margins
look like the sting of a scorpion. They use the of woodlands
claspers to grab females during mating. distribution Western Europe
 SCORPIONFLIES AND FLEAS | 73

Snow scorpionfly Rabbit flea

Boreus hyemalis Spilopsyllus cuniculi

This insect lives at high altitudes, often Special rubbery pads

in snowy conditions. Its short, nonfunctional on the hind legs store
wings are hairlike in the males and scalelike energy and help these
in the females. Although the snow scorpionfly wingless fleas to leap
does not fly, it can jump short distances using onto host animals. Rabbit
its strong hind and middle legs. fleas are found near the
ears of rabbits. They
feed on rabbit blood,
size 1
⁄8–¼ in (3–5 mm) long but can survive for many
diet Mosses months away from their host.
habitat Cold and
mountainous regions
size Under 1⁄8 in (3 mm) long
distribution
diet Blood of rabbits
Europe
habitat On rabbits and wild hares
distribution Northern hemisphere

Cat flea
Ctenocephalides felis

These fleas are usually found on

domestic cats. Although a single
cat may have only a few adult
fleas feeding on it, thousands
of flea larvae may live where the
cat rests. Hungry cat fleas can
leap up to a distance of 13½ in
(34 cm) and will bite humans.

size 1
⁄8 in (3 mm) long
diet Blood of mammals, such
as cats, dogs, and humans
habitat On cats
distribution Worldwide except
polar regions
74 | InsEcTs

True flies
focus on... These insects belong to the order Diptera
ImporTance and have only a single pair of wings. Their
True flies play hind wings have evolved into organs called
important roles
as pollinators, halteres that help with balance during
predators, and flight. There are about 150,000 species
decomposers.
in this order.

Fungus gnat
Platyura marginata

small, delicate, and mosquitolike in appearance,

this species is commonly found in human settlements,
▲ Hover flies visit flowers usually near plants in houses.
to suck nectar. Grains of
pollen stick to their bodies Humped thorax
and are dispersed to other
flowers, pollinating them.

▲ Parasitoid flies lay

eggs on caterpillars, which size 1
⁄16–1⁄8 in (1–2 mm) long
are crop pests. The fly diet Larvae feed on small insects
grubs eat the caterpillars in rotting wood; adults do not feed
from inside and emerge habitat Woody areas
to form chrysalises (as
shown above). distribution Western Europe
 TRUE FLIES | 75

Farmyard midge
Culicoides nubeculosus

Also called a biting midge, the farmyard midge size ⁄16 in (2 mm) long
3

has strong, short legs and piercing mouthparts diet Larvae feed on other insects and plants;
that help it to suck blood. A bite from this insect adults feed on the blood of horses and cattle
can cause irritation to the skin.
habitat In dung or sewage
distribution Europe

Mouthparts help
in sucking blood
from host

Mosquito
Culex sp.

The most dangerous pests in the world, female

mosquitoes spread many deadly diseases, including
malaria. They pierce the skin of large animals with Long
syringelike mouthparts and feed on their hind leg
blood. Females of the Culex
genus spread diseases
such as Japanese size ¼–1⁄3 in
encephalitis (6–9 mm) long
and filariasis. diet Males feed on flowers;
females feed on the blood of
mammals and birds
Long proboscis habitat Near water, in warm
(syringelike and humid tropical regions
mouthpart) distribution Worldwide
except polar regions
76 | INSECTS

Apple maggot Stalk-eyed fly

Rhagoletis pomonella Achias rothschildi

The apple maggot is a fruit fly. It is an

apple pest but also attacks other fruits. Long eye
Female flies lay their eggs in unripe fruit, stalk
and the larvae eat the fruit from the core.
This causes the fruit to decay, making it
unsuitable for humans to eat.

size ¼ in
(5 mm) long
diet Fruit
habitat
Orchards
distribution
North America
Distinct black
and white
stripes on wing

Dance fly
Empis tessellata

Mating swarms of this species

fly around in a “dance.” As part of
the mating ritual, the males
court the females by offering
dead prey as food.

size ½ in (1–1.2 cm) long

diet Larvae feed
on soft-bodied prey;
adults feed on small
flies and nectar
habitat Meadows
and hedgerows
distribution
Europe and Asia
 TRUE FLIES | 77

Giant blue robber fly

Blepharotes splendidissimus

These flies are

usually found
at an altitude of
4,500 ft (1,400 m). Males Platelike tuft
of hair
have distinctive long eye stalks,
which help them to attract
mates. Males with shorter eye
stalks tend to be submissive
when fighting with other males.

size 5
⁄8–¾ in (1.5–1.8 cm) long
diet Larvae feed on other insects
and decaying organic matter;
adults do not feed
habitat Tropical forests
distribution Papua New Guinea

Drone fly
Eristalis tenax
Stout
leg
This insect belongs
to the family of hover
flies. The drone fly
looks like the stinging
honey bee and flies like Giant blue robber flies have a sharp, forward-
the bee as well, but does pointing proboscis (long, sucking mouthpart),
not have a stinger. The which they use to stab prey and inject a
resemblance helps to paralyzing saliva. They then suck up the
ward off predators. body fluids of the disabled prey.

size ½ in (1.1–1.3 cm) long size 1½–2 in (3.5–5 cm) long

diet Pollen and nectar diet Beetles and flies; larvae also eat
habitat Grasslands, woodlands, mountains, decaying matter
deserts, and tropical forests habitat Tropical and subtropical regions
distribution Europe; introduced to distribution Eastern Australia
North America
78 | INSECTS

Bluebottle Yellow dung fly

Calliphora vicina Scathophaga stercoraria

These are often the first flies to arrive at As the name suggests, these flies
the bodies of dead animals, including are often spotted on the dung of cattle
humans. They breed in the decaying flesh, and horses. The dung serves as their
where their whitish breeding ground and provides food
larvae, called for the growing larvae. The adults,
maggots, however, are predatory and hunt
grow quickly. other insects attracted to the dung.

size ⁄3–½ in (8–11 mm) long

1

size ½ in (1–1.2 cm) long diet Larvae feed on dung; adults

diet Larvae feed on decaying carcasses; prey on other insects
adults feed on nectar and liquids from rotting habitat On and near animal dung
organic matter
distribution Northern
habitat On and near decaying organic matter hemisphere
distribution Europe and North America

Flesh fly
Sarcophaga carnaria

Flesh flies breed in decaying carcasses

and even inside of wounds on mammals. They
are ovoviviparous—larvae hatch from eggs
inside the body of the female before emerging.

size ½–¾ in (1.4–1.8 cm) long

diet Larvae feed on decaying carcasses; adults
feed on nectar and liquids from rotting matter
habitat On and near decaying organic matter
distribution
Europe and
Asia
Bristles
cover the
entire body
 TRUE FLIES | 79

House fly
Musca domestica

Common in homes around the Large

world, the house fly seems quite compound eye
harmless, but can spread bacterial
and viral diseases while it feeds. It
uses its spongelike mouthparts to
lap up liquids easily. When feeding
on solid food, it uses its saliva to
soften the food before eating.

size 1
⁄3–½ in (8–10 mm) long
diet Feces, garbage, decaying organic
matter, and liquids from rotting matter
habitat Human settlements Red-
distribution Worldwide orange
wing
base

Forest fly Savanna tsetse fly

Hippobosca equina Glossina morsitans

The forest fly is Well-developed biting mouthparts

a parasite of horses and are used by the tsetse fly to feed on the
other animals. Once it blood of a number of mammals, including
finds a host, it grabs humans, antelope, cattle, horses, and pigs.
on tightly with In humans, the fly spreads diseases, such
its claws and as elephantiasis and sleeping sickness.
is difficult to remove.
It uses its piercing
mouthparts to suck blood. size ⁄3–½ in (0.9–1.4 cm) long
1

diet Larvae are nourished inside the

mother’s body before emerging; adults
size ⁄3 in (8 mm) long
1
feed on mammal blood
diet Larvae are nourished inside the mother’s habitat Savanna, grasslands,
body before emerging; adults feed on blood and farmlands
from horses, deer, and cattle
distribution
habitat Woodlands Africa
distribution Europe and Asia
80 | BUGS

ROBBER FLY
The robber fly is a
good hunter. With its
flexible neck, it can
turn its head to look
directly at its prey. It
often chases flying
insects, steering
skillfully with its long,
narrow wings. It uses
its spiny legs to grab
prey midair, which
it then pierces with
its powerful beak.
 INSECTS | 81

With as many as

8,000
lenses
in each compound
eye, the robber fly has
extremely clear vision
82 | INSECTS

Caddisflies Mottled sedge

Glyphotaelius pellucidus
Mothlike in appearance,
The mottled sedge breeds around
caddisflies have slim, ponds and lakes. The females
hairy bodies and long, thin lay eggs coated with a jellylike
substance and stick them on
antennae. They are abundant leaves hanging above the
surface of water. When
in freshwater habitats, where the eggs are ready to
their aquatic larvae often hatch, they fall into the
water, where the larvae
build themselves protective emerge. The larvae make
a protective case out of
cases. About 13,000 species pieces of dead leaves.
of caddisfly make up the
order Trichoptera. At rest, the wings
lie close to the
body in an
upside-down
V-shape

Salt and pepper microcaddis

Agraylea multipunctata

The larvae of this small caddisfly swim

freely around their watery habitats until they are
almost fully grown. They then build a protective,
Long
purselike cocoon of silk and sand for pupating.
antenna

size ¾ in
(1.6–1.7 cm) long
diet Larvae feed on
size 1
⁄8–3⁄16 in (3–4.5 mm) long plant matter; adults are
diet Larvae feed on algae; adults are thought not to feed
thought not to feed habitat Ponds, lakes, and
habitat Ponds and lakes still water in rivers
distribution North America distribution Europe
 CADDISFLIES | 83

Dark-spotted sedge
Philopotamus montanus

Caddisfly larvae cannot

survive in polluted water,
so their presence
indicates good
water quality.

Silk, sand, gravel, and plant materials are size ½ in (1.1–1.3 cm) long
used by the larvae of this species to build
diet Larvae feed on plant matter and algae;
protective underwater nets, which they attach
adults are thought not to feed
to the undersides of rocks. Plant particles and
algae filter through these nets, providing habitat Fast-flowing rocky streams
food for the growing larvae. distribution Europe

Great red sedge Marbled sedge

Phryganea grandis Hydropsyche contubernalis

This is the largest species of caddisfly Like the larvae of the dark-spotted
in the UK. The females are smaller than the sedge, the larvae of the marbled sedge also
males and have a dark stripe on their forewings. weave underwater nets. The nets protect the
larvae and catch particles of food in the water.

size 1¼ in (3 cm) long

diet Larvae feed on plant matter, other
insects, small fish, and decaying organic
matter; adults are thought not to feed
habitat Weedy lakes and slow-moving
streams and rivers
distribution Europe size ½ in (1.4 cm) long
diet Larvae feed on plant matter and algae;
adults are thought not to feed
habitat Streams and rivers
distribution Worldwide except polar regions
84 | InsEcTs

Moths and
focus on...
butterflies DIFFERENCES
Moths are generally
The 165,000 species of moth and butterfly dull in color and
fly at night, while
are members of the order Lepidoptera. Their colorful butterflies
bodies and wings are covered with many tiny fly during the day.
colored scales.

Garden tiger
Arctia caja

This moth usually rests with its hind wings size 2–3 in (5–7.5 cm) wingspan
hidden under its forewings. If threatened, it diet Larvae feed on low-growing plants and
flashes its bright hind wings and flies off. This shrubs; adults feed on nectar
helps it to startle and ward off predators.
habitat Woods, parks, and gardens
distribution Europe, north America,
and Asia
Furry, brown
thorax

Black spots
on hind wings
 MoTHs AnD BuTTERfLIEs | 85

◀ Like many moths, ◀ Butterflies

the Cecropia moth have thick-tipped,
from North America clublike antennae,
has large, feathery as seen on this
antennae. swallowtail butterfly.

Snout moth Silk-worm moth

Vitessa suradeva Bombyx mori

The larvae of butterflies and moths are

called caterpillars. When the caterpillars of the
Yellow and
silk-worm moth pupate, they cover themselves
black color
pattern in a cocoon of raw silk produced from their
on thorax salivary glands. This cocoon is used as the
raw material for producing silk commercially.
silk-worm moths have been bred in captivity
for thousands of years.

unlike other related moths, the snout moth is

brightly colored. The striking patterns on the
wings and the flashy orange tip of the tail signal
to predators that the moth has a foul taste.

size 1½–2 in (4–5 cm) wingspan size 1½–2½ in (4–6 cm) wingspan
diet caterpillars feed on the leaves of diet White mulberry leaves
poisonous shrubs; adults do not feed habitat Bred in captivity; not found in the wild
habitat Rainforests distribution china; introduced worldwide
distribution India, southeast Asia,
and new Guinea
86 | INSECTS

Giant agrippa
Thysania agrippina

Zigzag patterns
Very slender on forewing
antenna
The giant agrippa
has the largest
wingspan of any
moth. The pattern
on its wings mimics
the appearance of
a tree trunk, helping
it to avoid predators.

size 9½–12 in (24–31 cm) wingspan

diet Caterpillars feed on shrubs of
the legume family; adults do not feed
habitat Tropical forests
Double-scalloped distribution Central and
lines along
South America
wing margin

Coppery dysphania Clara’s satin moth

Dysphania cuprina Thalaina clara

The brilliant orange and black colors of This moth has

this moth’s wings indicates to birds that white wings with
it tastes unpleasant. The moth also a satinlike sheen.
avoids predators by flying during the Its caterpillars
day with other similarly colored are green with
butterflies, such darker green rings
as the Oriental between each body
monarch. segment. The colors
and shape of their bodies help them
to stay hidden among leaves.

size 2¼–3 in
(7–7.5 cm) wingspan size 1¼–2 in (4–5 cm) wingspan
diet Shrubs and herbs diet Caterpillars feed on acacia leaves;
habitat Woodlands adults do not feed
distribution Southeast Asia habitat Temperate forests
distribution Australia and northern Tasmania
 MOTHS AND BUTTERFLIES | 87

American Moon moth

Actias luna

Adult American Moon moths

live for only a week. During Light feathered
this time, they usually fly antenna
at night. They have very
long, tapering hind wings,
which look like long
tails. The wings have size
large spots that confuse 2¾–4½ in
predators, who mistake (7–11 cm)
them for the eyes of wingspan
larger creatures. diet Caterpillars
feed on a range of
deciduous trees;
adults do not feed
Plump, habitat Tropical and
furry body subtropical forests
distribution North America

Wallich’s owl moth

Brahmaea wallichii

The Wallich’s owl moth gets its name from the size 4–6½ in (10–16 cm) wingspan
large spots at the base of its forewings that diet Caterpillars feed on the leaves of trees
resemble an owl’s eyes. Adults rest on tree and bushes; adults do not feed
trunks or on the ground during the day, and
habitat Tropical and temperate forests
the dull brown color of their wings blends
with the color of the trunks and the soil. distribution Northern India, China, and Japan

The caterpillars
Large spot of this moth have
on forewing strange extendable
stalks sticking out
from their heads
and tails.
88 | INSECTS

White plume moth Elephant hawk moth

Pterophorus pentadactyla Deilephila elpenor

The wings of this distinctive moth are Pointed

divided into fine, feathery segments. These forewing
are clearly visible when the moth holds its
wings to the sides while resting.

size 1–1¼ in (2.5–3 cm) wingspan

diet Caterpillars feed on hedge bindweed;
adults feed on nectar
habitat Dry grasslands,
waste grounds, and
gardens
distribution
Europe

Hornet moth Six-spot burnet

Sesia apiformis Zygaena filipendulae

Yellow and brown stripes on the body, This insect is most

transparent wings, and a pointed abdomen likely to be seen flying
help the hornet moth to mimic the appearance on hot days between
of a sting-bearing hornet. Predators tend to June and August. Six
leave them alone, fearing a sting. bright red spots are
clearly visible on each
wing when it flies. These
size 1¼–1¾ in (3–4.5 cm) wingspan warn predators that the
diet moth is poisonous.
Caterpillars
bore into the
trunks of willow size 1–1½ in (2.5–3.8 cm)
and poplar trees; wingspan
adults do not feed diet Caterpillars feed on bird’s foot
habitat Temperate forests trefoil and clover; adults feed on nectar
distribution Europe habitat Meadows and woodlands
and Asia distribution Europe and Asia
 MOTHS AND BUTTERFLIES | 89

Madagascan sunset moth

Chrysiridia rhipheus

Hawk moths are fast

fliers. The spectacularly colored
adults of this species are often
seen in early summer. The moth
is named for its caterpillars, which In 19th-century Pointed
have eyelike marks on their bodies. forewing
England, the colorful
The marks become prominent when a wings of this moth
caterpillar expands the back of its head.
were used to
This makes the front part of its body look
like an elephant’s trunk. make jewelry.

size 2¼–2½ in (5.5–6 cm) wingspan

diet Caterpillars feed on bedstraw
and willow herbs; adults feed on nectar
habitat Temperate lowlands
distribution Europe and Asia

Hind wing has

three tail-like
structures

When this moth was discovered, scientists

mistook it for a butterfly because of the brilliant
colors of the adults. Its caterpillars are not
harmed by the toxins in the shrubs they feed on.

size 3–3¾ in (7.5–9.5 cm) wingspan

diet Shrubs of the spurge family
Dark margin habitat Woodlands and forests
on hind wing distribution Madagascar
90 | INSECTS

Indian leaf butterfly

Kallima inachus

The upper surface of this butterfly’s wings are size 3½–4¾ in (9–12 cm) wingspan
brilliantly colored, while the undersides are dull diet Larvae feed on plants; adults feed on
brown and look like a dry leaf. When it rests, its juices of rotting fruit
wings are folded in such
habitat Tropical forests
a way that only the
undersides are visible. distribution Southeast Asia, between
This often saves India and Japan
the butterfly from
predators, since
they mistake it
for a dead leaf. Pointed forewing

Tail-like structure
on hind wing
 MOTHS AND BUTTERFLIES | 91

Monarch butterfly Owl butterfly

Danaus plexippus Caligo idomeneus

Known for their spectacular long- The owl butterfly has large spots
distance migrations, some monarch butterflies on the undersides of its hind wings
undertake an incredible journey of 2,800 miles that look like eyes. Many predators
(4,500 km) from get scared of these spots and leave
Canada to Mexico the butterfly alone.
in the late summer.
They fly back north
in the spring. size 4¾–6 in (12–15 cm) wingspan
diet Leaves
of banana plants
size 3–4 in
habitat Tropical
(7.5–10 cm) wingspan
forests
diet Caterpillars feed on milkweed plants;
distribution
adults feed on nectar
South America
habitat Fields, meadows, and gardens
distribution North America, New Zealand,
Australia, Canary Islands, and Pacific islands

Common morpho
Morpho peleides

Millions of tiny scales lining the upper

surface of this butterfly’s wings reflect sunlight
in a particular way to produce a brilliant blue
color. However, the undersides of the wings are
brown and help the butterfly to blend in with its
surroundings, making it almost invisible to
predators. When it flies, it beats its wings and
flashes the blue and brown colors. Predators
get confused because it seems to appear and
disappear in flight.

size 3¾–6 in (9.5–15 cm) wingspan

diet Larvae feed on plants; adults feed
on juices of rotting fruit
habitat Tropical forests
distribution Central and South America
92 | INSECTS

Green dragontail Spanish festoon

Lamproptera meges Zerynthia rumina

While
Zigzag wing pattern
flying, the green warns off predators
dragontail beats
its wings rapidly,
allowing it to dart in
different directions
or even hover in
one place. Its long
tails and rapid
flight make it
look like a
size 1½–2 in dragonfly.
(4–5 cm) wingspan
diet Larvae feed on leaves;
adults feed on nectar
habitat Tropical forests
distribution South and Southeast Asia

Queen Alexandra’s birdwing

Ornithoptera alexandrae

Females have
broader wings

All birdwings
are large, but size 8–12 in
this endangered (20–31 cm) wingspan
species is the largest diet Larvae feed
butterfly in the world. on leaves; adults
The females are larger feed on nectar
than the males and habitat Tropical forests
have brown and yellow
distribution
markings. Only the
Forests of the Oro
males are bright
province in southeastern
blue and green.
Papua New Guinea
 MOTHS AND BUTTERFLIES | 93

Cleopatra
Gonepteryx cleopatra

The caterpillars of the The green caterpillars of this

Spanish festoon deter predators species transform into yellowish
by releasing an unpleasant fluid adults. The females are the color
from an organ behind their head. of straw, while the males
The adults can also ward off are bright yellow
predators—their striking colors and orange.
dazzle the attacker, leaving them
confused about where to strike.
size 2–2¾ in
(5–7 cm) wingspan
size 1¾–2 in (4.5–5 cm) wingspan diet Larvae feed on
diet Larvae feed on birthwort plants; buckthorn; adults feed
adults feed on nectar on the nectar of
habitat Scrublands and meadows knapweed and thistles
distribution Southeastern France, habitat Open woods and scrublands
Spain, Portugal, and northern Africa distribution Southern Europe, northern
Africa, and Turkey

Black-veined white Tiger pierid

Aporia crataegi Dismorphia amphione

Black veins on whitish wings Tiger pierid butterflies are commonly

make this butterfly easy to seen flying along the edges of forests.
identify. The wings of the The black
females tend and orange
to be more patterns on
transparent their wings mimic
than those similarly colored,
of the males. but foul-tasting,
butterflies.

size 2¼–3 in
(5.5–7.5 cm) wingspan size 1½–1¾ in (4–4.5 cm)
diet Larvae feed on blackthorn and diet Caterpillars feed on plants;
hawthorn; adults feed on nectar adults feed on nectar
habitat Orchards and bushes habitat Tropical forests
distribution Europe, northern Africa, distribution Southern Mexico, the
and Asia Caribbean, and northern South America
94 | INSECTS

Hewitson’s blue hairstreak

Evenus coronata

The distinct black border on the

wings of this butterfly is darker in
the females. The blue color of the
wing is also brighter in the females,
and only the females have a red
patch on their hind wings.

size 1¾–2½ in (4.5–6 cm) wingspan

diet Caterpillars feed on plants
and small insects; adults feed on nectar
habitat Tropical forests
distribution South America

Tail-like structure
on hind wing

Duke of Burgundy fritillary

Hamearis lucina

The easiest way to tell the difference Bright orange spots are
between the males and females typical of this species
of this species is to count
the legs—females have six,
while males have only four.
The males are also much
more aggressive, fighting
each other for territory.

size 1¼–1½ in (3–4 cm) wingspan

diet Cowslip and primrose
habitat Flower meadows, grasslands,
and woodlands
distribution Central Europe
 MOTHS AND BUTTERFLIES | 95

Sonoran blue
Philotes sonorensis

Scales on the wings

reflect sunlight in a
particular way, giving
the wings their metallic
blue color

This spectacularly colored butterfly is active size ¼–1 in (2–2.5 cm) wingspan
early in the year and is often spotted flying
diet Stonecrops
through the canyons of the Sierra Nevada
mountains. It is one of the few blue-colored habitat Rocky cliffs and creeks in deserts
butterflies to have orange spots on the upper distribution Southwestern US
surface of its wings.
96 | BUGS

The cocoons of the Atlas

moth are so big, they are
used in Taiwan as

purses
 INSECTS | 97

atlas MOtH
The males of this species, one of the largest moths
in the world, have broad, feathery, comblike antennae.
Special receptors on each antenna help the male to
detect pheromones (scent chemicals) released by the
females—even from several miles away.
98 | InSEcTS

Sawflies, wasps,
focuS on...
honey bees, and ants
beeS Sawflies, wasps, bees, and ants number
A honey bee society around 150,000 species and make up the
is divided into drones,
female workers, and order Hymenoptera. Bees and ants are
a queen. mostly social and live in colonies.

▲ Drones are male bees horntail

that mate with the queen. Urocerus gigas
There can be a few
hundred drones in a hive. Although the horntail looks
like a sting-bearing insect,
the “horn” at the end of
this sawfly’s abdomen is
made up of a harmless
spine. The females of
this species have a long,
pointed ovipositor, which
they use to drill holes
▲ Worker bees are into pine trees in
females that cannot which they
reproduce. They build lay eggs.
the hive and make honey.
There can be 80,000
workers in a hive. Smoky
brown
wings

size 1½ in (3.5–4 cm) long

▲ In each colony, only diet fungus and wood
one female grows into the
habitat Deciduous, coniferous, and temperate forests
queen. She mates with
several drones and lays distribution Europe, Asia, northern Africa,
up to 2,000 eggs in a day. and north America
 SAWFLIES, WASPS, BEES, AND ANTS | 99

Oak apple gall wasp Stem sawfly

Biorhiza pallida Cephus nigrinus

The females of this species lay their Stem sawfies are serious pests
eggs on the leaf buds of oak trees. After the of crops. The females use
larvae hatch, they release chemicals into the tree, their sawlike ovipositor
which leads to the formation of galls (hard, lumpy to cut into the stems of
growths of plant tissue) around the larvae. The grasses and lay eggs
galls provide food and protection. in the slits. Once the
larvae hatch, they
bore downward
size ⁄8–¼ in (5–6.5 mm) long
1
inside the stems,
diet Larvae feed on gall tissue; adults are feeding rapidly.
thought not
to feed
size ¼–1⁄3 in (7–9 mm) long
habitat
Oak trees diet Stems of grasses
distribution habitat Pastures, meadows, and farms
Europe and Asia distribution Western Europe

Leaf-rolling sawfly Tiphiid wasp

Acantholyda erythrocephala Methoca ichneumonides

Female leaf-rolling sawflies deposit The wingless females hunt the ground-
their eggs on leaves. After hatching, the larvae dwelling larvae of scarab, longhorn, and tiger
feed on the leaves and produce a chemical beetles. They sting the larvae to paralyze them
that causes the leaves to roll into tubes, before laying a single egg on each larva. When the
which provide shelter for the larvae. wasp larvae hatch, they have a source of food.

size ⁄3–½ in (9–11 mm) long

1

diet Larvae are parasites on beetle larvae;

adults feed on nectar
habitat Sandy areas
size ¼–1⁄3 in (7–9 mm) long distribution Europe
diet Leaves of plants
habitat Temperate forests
distribution Europe, Asia, and Canada
100 | INSECTS

Braconid wasp European hornet

Bathyaulax sp. Vespa crabro

Braconid wasps lay eggs on hosts, such This wasp is a social insect and lives in
as caterpillars and the larvae of beetles and colonies made up of workers, males, and a
flies. After the wasp larvae hatch, they feed on queen. European hornet colonies have only
the hosts and most pupate inside their hosts. a few hundred workers.
These wasps build
their nests in
size ⁄8–½ in (3–10 mm) long
1
hollow trees.
diet Larvae are parasitoids on caterpillars and
larvae of beetles and flies; adults feed on nectar
habitat Forests, woodlands, and grasslands
size 1–1½ in
distribution Africa (2.5–3.5 cm) long
and Southeast Asia
diet Other insects,
fallen fruit, and carrion
habitat Woodlands
distribution Europe
and Asia

Splendid emerald wasp

Stilbum splendidum

The bright metallic green color of this

wasp’s body makes it look like an emerald.
Its hard body surface protects it from the
stings of bees and other wasps.

size ¾ in (1.8–2 cm) long

diet Larvae are parasitoids
on the larvae of solitary
mud-nesting wasps;
adults feed on nectar
habitat Woodlands,
grasslands, and deserts
distribution
Northern Australia
 SAWFLIES, WASPS, BEES, AND ANTS | 101

Giant wood wasp Mammoth wasp

Rhyssa persuasoria Scolia procer

Found commonly in pine forests, these The males of this species are much
large wasps drill into tree trunks and logs using smaller than the females. The females
their ovipositor and lay their eggs on the larvae sting larvae of rhinoceros beetles to
of horntails and some beetles. The wasp paralyze them before laying eggs
larvae then feed on their host victims. on them. After the wasp larvae
hatch, they feed on the
beetle larvae.
size 1½ in (3.6–4 cm) long
diet Larvae are parasitoids of horntail
larvae and some beetles; adult feeding
habits are unknown
habitat Temperate forests
distribution Northern hemisphere

Female’s
ovipositor
is 1½ in
(4 cm) long

Tarantula hawk
Pepsis heros
Hairy hind
Tarantula spiders are hunted by this
leg
wasp. The female wasp stings and paralyzes a
tarantula spider and then drags the spider to its
nest. It buries the spider and lays a single egg on
the spider’s abdomen.
After hatching, the larva
feeds on the spider.

size 2¾–3¼ in size 1¾–2¼ in (4.5–5.5 cm)

(7–8 cm) long diet Larvae are parasitoids on
diet Tarantulas the larvae of rhinoceros beetles;
habitat Tropical and adults feed on nectar
subtropical regions habitat Tropical regions
distribution South distribution Java, Borneo, and Sumatra
America
102 | INSECTS

Buff-tailed bumble bee Orchid bee

Bombus terrestris Euglossa asarophora

Bumble bees are social insects that Special brushlike

live in small underground nests. A colony structures on the hind legs
consists of worker females, male drones, of male orchid bees
and an egg-laying queen. Their fur keeps collect oils and resins
the bumble bees warm, so they can survive from orchids that the bees
in cooler regions. visit. In an extraordinary
courtship ritual, the bees
combine these items with
size 1 in (2.3–2.5 cm) long Hairy
special fats in their legs to
body
diet Pollen and produce fragrances that
nectar attract mates.
habitat Temperate
regions
size ½ in (1.2–1.4 cm) long
distribution
diet Pollen and nectar
Worldwide except
sub-Saharan Africa habitat Rainforests
and polar regions distribution Panama and Costa Rica

Honey bee Great carpenter bee

Apis mellifera Xylocopa latipes

Originally from Asia, the honey bee is The great carpenter bee is the largest
now bred all over the world and people use bee in the world. Although huge in size, this bee
it for the commercial production of honey. It is quite harmelss. It gets its
was first domesticated by the ancient Egyptians name from its
more than 4,500 years ago. behavior of
making nests in
wood. It chews
size ½–¾ in (1.2–1.8 cm) long holes in wood with
diet Pollen and nectar its jaws or deepens
habitat Forests, mountains, grasslands, burrows made
and urban areas by beetles.
distribution
Worldwide size 1¼–1½ in (3.3–3.6 cm) long
except polar
diet Pollen and nectar
regions
habitat Woodlands and grasslands
distribution Southeast Asia
 SAWFLIES, WASPS, BEES, AND ANTS | 103

Wool carder bee Sweat bee

Anthidium manicatum Halictus quadricinctus

Carding is part of the process of

preparing sheep wool for spinning into Sweat bees
threads. The wool carder bee is often seen pollinate many
“carding” on mint plants. It scrapes off woolly wildflowers.
hairs from the plants, collects a roll of these, Their common
and then lines its nest with it. name comes from the
fact that they sometimes
feed on the liquid and
size 3
⁄8 in (1 cm) long minerals in the sweat
diet Pollen and nectar produced by mammals.
habitat
Gardens,
size ½–5⁄8 in (1.3–1.5 cm) long
meadows,
and fields diet Pollen, nectar, and sweat of mammals
distribution habitat Temperate regions
Europe distribution Southern Europe and
the Mediterranean

Plasterer bee
Colletes daviesanus

This bee burrows in soil or

in mortar in old brick walls and
then covers the
walls of its nest
cells with a substance that
it oozes from its abdomen. Once
dry, it turns into a hard lining that
waterproofs the nest burrow.

size ½ in (1.1–1.3 cm) long

diet Pollen and nectar
habitat Temperate forests
and grasslands
distribution Northern hemisphere
104 | INSECTS

Wood ant
Formica rufa

An aggressive fighter, this ant is capable of size ⁄3–½ in (8–10 mm) long
1

spraying a stinging substance called formic diet Aphids, flies, caterpillars, beetles,
acid from its abdomen to ward off an attacker. and honeydew
If a nest is disturbed, the ants swarm out in
habitat Temperate and coniferous forests
great numbers to attack the intruder.
distribution Europe
and Asia

Wood ants “milk”

aphids for food by
stroking them until they
release drops of sweet
honeydew. In return,
the ants protect
the aphids.

Army ant Driver ant

Eciton burchellii Dorylus nigricans

Army ants move from place to place. Up The predatory

to 700,000 ants form a colony, which moves in a driver ants form
narrow column, like an army, through the jungle. some of the
Each time they find an area with food, the ants largest colonies
make a temporary nest with among all social
their bodies, linking leg to insects—with
leg from a branch or rock. millions of individual
ants. When they
emerge from their nests
size 1
⁄8–½ in in swarms, animals as large as elephants
(4–12 mm) long feel threatened and tend to run away.
diet Insects
and other arthropods
size ⁄8 in (1.5 cm) long
5
habitat Tropical
rainforests diet Insects and small animals
distribution Central and habitat Tropical rainforests and savanna
South America distribution West Africa and Congo
 SAWFLIES, WASPS, BEES, AND ANTS | 105

Leaf-cutter ant
Atta laevigata

These ants have strong mandibles

(jaws) that they use to cut leaves
into tiny pieces. These
are then carried back to
their vast underground
nests. There, they farm
a special fungus on
chewed pieces of
leaves for food.

size ⁄8 in (1.6 cm) long

5

diet Fungus
habitat Tropical regions
and rainforests
distribution Central and
South America

Australian bulldog ant

Myrmecia sp.

Bulldog ants hunt independently. They size ¾ in (2.1 cm) long

have large eyes and long, thin mandibles that diet Honeydew, nectar, seeds, fruits,
deliver a powerful bite. Once prey has been and small insects
caught, it is carried back to the nest for the
habitat Urban areas, forests,
ant larvae to feed on.
woodlands, and heathlands
distribution Australia
106 | BUGS
 INSECTS | 107

The potter wasp brings

home live insects for
its larvae—its sting

paralyzes
caterpillars, but does
not kill them

POTTER WASP
The mason wasp, or
potter wasp, builds
special nurseries for
its larvae using wet
mud collected from
puddles and the edges
of streams. It shapes
the clay into nests that
look like tiny pots stuck
to rocks or tree trunks.
Some Native American
tribes mold their
pottery to look like
the wasps’ nests.
108 | BUGS
 ARACHNIDS | 109

Arachnids
This class of arthropod includes not just
predatory spiders and scorpions, but also
scavenging mites and bloodsucking ticks.
Arachnids are found worldwide, mostly in
a range of habitats on land. Spiders are
unique among arachnids for their ability
to spin webs of silk, which are used to trap
prey. A spiny bellied orb web spider can be
seen here, hanging in its web while patiently
waiting for a flying insect to get caught.

scorpion sting
Of the 1,500 species of
scorpion, only about
25 have venom that is
dangerous to humans.
The sting on a scorpion’s
tail injects the venom.
110 | ARACHNIDS

What are arachnids?

Arachnids come in a diverse range of sizes—
from tiny mites that cannot be seen with First
the naked eye to large, hairy tarantula walking
leg
spiders. Unlike insects, arachnids have just
two body segments—the cephalothorax, which
is made up of the head and thorax, and the
abdomen. Arachnids lack antennae.

Chelicerae
Anatomy
The cephalothorax supports six pairs
of structures. The first pair are
called chelicerae. These carry
the fangs and may be used to
inject venom. The next pair may be clawlike
in some arachnids and help in feeding. The other four
pairs are walking legs. The abdomen of spiders has
silk glands, and in scorpions, it extends into a tail.

Cephalothorax
Luring prey
Most arachnids are predatory Second
walking leg
hunters, but a few lure prey to them.
The bolas spider attracts moths by
Long hairs on
producing a scent similar to the leg sense air
chemicals released by moths during movement
mating. It catches the insects from
the air by throwing sticky threads Third
at them as they fly past. walking leg Mexican
red-kneed
tarantula
 WHAT ARE ARACHNIDS? | 111

Silk from spiders

Spiders produce silk to catch prey, to make cocoons
for protecting eggs, or to weave themselves a place
to rest. Glands in the abdomen produce the silk and
contain a number of tubes called spinnerets that
secrete a special liquid. As the spider pulls this out
with its hind legs, the liquid thickens into strong,
elastic threads of silk.

Defense
If threatened, arachnids
often first defend themselves
Fourth by warning the predator. As
walking leg
a defense tactic, the Sydney
funnel-web spider rears up
on the ground with its front
legs and fangs facing
forward to ward
off its attacker.

Abdomen has glands Sting

that produce silk on tail

Pedipalp
Half-eaten
blowfly

Attacking prey
Some arachnids, such as the northern
scorpion, do not spin webs to trap prey. Instead,
they hunt by grabbing small insects with
their clawlike pedipalps. They only use their
venomous sting to overpower larger prey.
112 | ARACHNIDS

Scorpions Common European scorpion

Buthus occitanus
All scorpions share two
distinct features—a pair
of pedipalps (large, clawlike
structures near the mouth)
and a tail that bears a sting. Sting

These creatures hunt at night Vesicle

stores
and usually sense their prey venom
by touch. The 1,500 species
of scorpion belong to the
Pedipalp
order Scorpiones.

Chilean burrowing scorpion

Centromachetes pococki

Most scorpions hide in rock crevices

and under loose bark, stones, and logs,
but burrowing scorpions make their own
shallow burrows in soil up to 2 in (5 cm) deep.

Scorpions can use their venom to poison

size 4 in (10 cm) long prey, but they also use it for defense. The
diet Insects venom of the common European scorpion
habitat Temperate forests is deadly and can paralyze the heart and
lungs of small animals.
distribution South America

size 1¼–1½ in (3–4 cm) long

diet Insects
habitat Scrublands
distribution Northern Africa, the
Mediterranean region, and western Asia
 SCORPIONS | 113

Yellow thick-tail scorpion African rock scorpion

Androctonus amoreuxi Hadogenes troglodytes

Yellow thick-tail scorpions are mostly A broad, flat abdomen, slender

small in size and carry neurotoxins in their legs, and a thin tail allow rock
venom. These toxins can seriously damage scorpions to squeeze into
the nervous system of mammals, including slim cracks in
humans, and can even cause death. rocks, where
they spend
most of their
size 2¾–4 in (7–10 cm) long time hunting
diet Insects or hiding.
habitat Deserts, scrublands
distribution size 4–7 in (10–18 cm) long
The Sahara and the
diet Other scorpions, spiders, and insects
Middle
East habitat Between cracks in rocks
in scrublands
distribution Namibia and South Africa

Imperial scorpion
Pandinus imperator

Sensory hairs cover the

tail and pincers of the large
imperial scorpion. These detect
the vibrations produced by the
movement of prey in the air or on A male Imperial
the ground, helping the scorpion scorpion holds the
to find its victims. pincers of a female
and moves around
with her in a “dance”
size 6–10 in
(15–25 cm) long before mating.
diet Lizards, insects,
and spiders
habitat Tropical forests
and savanna
distribution Central and
West Africa
114 | BUGS

SCORPIONS
Most scorpions,
including this desert
scorpion, carry around
20–50 babies on their
backs until the young
are old enough to
fend for themselves.
The young have a soft
exoskeleton and are
vulnerable. They feed
on bits of food left
by their mother.
 ARACHNIDS | 115

Some desert scorpions

warn off predators with a

hissing
sound
made by rubbing
their sting along the
backs of their bodies
116 | ARACHNIDS

Ticks and mites

The order Acari is a diverse group of more than 48,200 species
of tick and mite. They are mostly found on land. These arachnids
range from scavengers and crop pests to bloodsucking parasites
of mammals, birds, and reptiles.

Flour mite
Acarus siro

This mite
feeds and
breeds in places
with a good supply
of flour, grains, and
stored cereals. Food
contaminated by this
mite may cause allergic
reactions in humans.

size 1⁄64–1⁄32 in
(0.2–0.5 mm) long
diet Flour, grains,
seeds, stored
cereals, and grass
habitat Flour mills
and storehouses
distribution
Worldwide except
polar regions
 TICKS AND MITES | 117

Varroa mite Common velvet mite

Varroa cerana Trombidium holosericeum

Varroa mites are These mites are named after the dense,
parasites of both wild and velvetlike “fur” that covers their bodies. They
domestic honey bees. Young start life as parasites, feeding on other arthropods,
mites suck out body fluids but as adults they are predators of insect eggs.
from bee grubs in the nest.
The adult mites hitch rides
on the bees and spread size 1
⁄8–¼ in (3–5 mm) long
to other nests. diet Young mites feed on other arthropods;
adults eat insect eggs
habitat Temperate
size ⁄16 in (1–2 mm) long
1
regions
diet Body fluids of bee
distribution
larvae and adult honey bees
Europe and Asia
habitat On honey bees
distribution Worldwide except polar regions

Lone star tick

Amblyomma americanum

The lone star tick is a parasite of a

number of host animals. Its soft, flexible
abdomen expands in size to let it feed on a
large amount of a host’s blood. The tick’s saliva
can cause redness and irritation on the skin of
the host animal and may spread diseases.

Characteristic white
spot on body

size 1
⁄16–½ in (1–12 mm) long
diet Blood of mammals and birds
habitat Woodlands and scrublands
distribution US and Mexico
118 | ARACHNIDS

Chigger mite Two-spot spider mite

Neotrombicula autumnalis Tetranychus urticae

Chigger mites lay The mouthparts of

eggs on low-growing this mite help it to
plants. After hatching, the suck up plant sap.
larvae climb onto animals After feeding, it
passing through the leaves pale spots
vegetation and attach and scars on leaves.
themselves to a host’s skin. It can spread
The larvae dissolve tiny diseases to plants.
areas of skin on the host
and suck on the nutrients.
size 1
⁄64 in
(0.5 mm) long
size ⁄16 in (2 mm) long
1
diet Plant sap
diet Larvae feed on skin tissues of animals; habitat Temperate
adults feed on small invertebrates regions
habitat Forest, woodlands, and coastal areas distribution Worldwide
distribution Worldwide except polar regions except polar regions

Red velvet mite

Eutrombidium sp.

Females of this species can lay a

batch of up to 4,000 eggs. Newly hatched
larvae attach to other insects and suck their
body fluids for 1–2 days. Then they drop off
and burrow into the soil.

size ⁄64–¼ in (0.5–5 mm) long

1

diet Larvae feed on the body fluids

of insects; adults feed on insects
and insect eggs
habitat Scrublands, deciduous
forests, and woodlands
distribution Worldwide
except polar regions
 TICKS AND MITES | 119

Mange mite
Sarcoptes scabiei

Like the chigger mite,

this species feeds on the
skin tissues of animals.
Adults mate on the
body of a host, and
the females burrow
into the host’s skin
before laying eggs. This
mite causes a disease
called mange in dogs.

size ⁄64 in (0.5 mm) long

1

diet Larvae feed on the

roots of hair; adults feed
on skin tissues of animals
habitat On the skin or
in the roots of hair
in mammals
distribution
Worldwide except
polar regions

Mange mites lack

an internal system
for breathing and
so breathe through
their skin.
120 | ARAcHnIDS

Spiders
focuS on... More than 42,000 species of these predators
trapS form the order Araneae. Spiders usually
Some spiders have eight eyes—a few have six—and their
spin webs to
catch prey, while mouthparts (called chelicerae) are tipped
others hunt. with fangs, which are used to inject venom.

Crablike spiny orb-weaver

▲ The stickiness of the Gasteracantha cancriformis
large webs spun by this
decoy spider helps it to female orb-weavers spin circular
catch many flying insects. Spiny
webs with sticky lines going
projections
from the center outward. on abdomen
These webs are visited by the
males during courtship, and
they pluck the threads
of the webs to attract
the females.

▲ The net-casting spider

spins a sheet of silk and
holds it between its legs to
trap an approaching insect.

size female
– ⁄3 in (5–9 mm); male
¼ 1

1
⁄16–1⁄8 in (2–3 mm)
diet Insects
habitat Woodland
edges and shrubs
▲ A trapdoor spider digs
distribution
a burrow with a lid. Prey
passing on top alerts the Southern uS and
spider, which rushes out the caribbean
to pull in its victim.
 SPIDERS | 121

Cave spider Northern spitting spider

Meta menardi Scytodes thoracica

The cave spider carries This sluggish spider traps its prey in a
its large egg sac under its unique way—it squirts two streams of
abdomen. The sac contains sticky fluid from its chelicerae. The
hundreds of yellow-colored eggs. fluid is poisonous, paralyzing
Once the spider finds a secure dark the prey and
place, it suspends holding it in
the sac in a place while the
corner and spider eats it.
Large guards it
abdomen until the
eggs hatch. size 1
⁄8–¼ in
(3–6 mm) long
diet Insects
habitat Temperate regions
distribution North America, Europe,
northern Africa, northern Asia, Australia,
and some Pacific islands

Woodlouse spider
Dysdera crocata

The woodlouse spider lives in damp

areas and stays hidden during the day in its
silk web under rocks. It comes out only at night
to hunt woodlice. Its sharp fangs easily slice
through the tough shell of the woodlice.

size ½ in (1–1.2 cm) long

Egg sac diet Woodlice
habitat Woods and
gardens
size ½ in (1.2 cm) long distribution
diet Insects and woodlice
Europe
habitat Caves and tunnels
distribution Europe
122 | ARACHNIDS

Daddy long-legs spider Mexican red-kneed tarantula

Pholcus phalangioides Brachypelma smithi

This large, hairy spider can

hunt small mammals and
Extremely reptiles. Like many tropical
long legs American tarantulas, it
defends itself by rubbing
its hind legs against its
body. This releases barbed,
stinging hairs from its body.
These hairs irritate the eyes,
nose, and mouth of a predator.
Eggs

size 2–3 in (5–7.5 cm) long

diet Large insects
habitat Tropical deciduous forests
distribution Mexico

Females of
this species
carry their eggs Goliath tarantula
in their jaws. Theraphosa blondi

Daddy long-legs spiders spin irregular, tangled

webs and quickly wrap prey in silk before biting
it. The webs are commonly found in the corners Fang-bearing
of ceilings. When disturbed, the spiders vibrate chelicerae
the webs, making themselves appear blurred. point forward
This makes it hard for predators to catch them.

size ¼–½ in (7–10 mm) long

diet Insects and other spiders
habitat Caves and houses in tropical and
temperate regions
distribution Worldwide except polar regions
 SPIDERS | 123

Northern widow spider

Latrodectus mactans

Although small in size, this spider

is very venomous. Its venom affects
the nervous system of its victims,
paralyzing them. Its bite is very
painful, but rarely fatal to humans.

size 1
⁄8–½ in
(4–13 mm) long
diet Insects and
other invertebrates
Hairs on legs are habitat Grasslands
sensitive to air distribution
movements and North America
help the spider
to sense prey

European wolf spider

Pardosa amentata

The Goliath tarantula is one Wolf spiders do

of the largest spiders on Earth. It lives not spin webs but
in burrows and can sense vibrations on instead hunt prey on
the ground, which helps it to detect prey. the ground.
It fends off predators with stinging hairs They stalk prey
released from its body. Adult females patiently before
often surround their eggs with these jumping on their
hairs as a way of protecting them victims with a
from attackers. burst of speed.

size 4¾–5½ in (12–14 cm) long size ¼–1⁄3 in (5–8 mm)

diet Insects, lizards, frogs, and long
small mammals diet Insects
habitat Rainforests habitat Woodlands, grasslands, and gardens
distribution South distribution Europe
America
124 | ARACHNIDS

Goldenrod crab spider Brown jumping spider

Misumena vatia Evarcha arcuata

Females of this species can change their Jumping spiders have excellent eyesight.
color from white to yellow to disguise themselves Their eight eyes allow them to sense
among the flowers on which they rest. Insects movement from any direction to avoid
visiting these flowers fail to notice the camouflaged predators. Their large, forward-facing
spiders and end up as food for them. eyes also allow them to judge
distance accurately to pounce on
prey. Before leaping, a jumping
size ⁄8–½ in (3–11 mm) long
1
spider produces a safety line of
diet silk just in case it misses its target.
Nectar-feeding insects
habitat Grasslands,
size ⁄8–¼ in (5–7 mm) long
1
woodlands, and
gardens diet Insects and other spiders
distribution habitat Grasslands
North America distribution Europe and Asia
and Europe

Grass crab spider

Tibellus oblongus

This spider is found among tall,

dry grasses. It lies with its legs
outstretched along the length of
a blade of grass while waiting to
ambush prey.
 SPIDERS | 125

Elegant jumping spider

Chrysilla lauta

This jumping spider often attacks

ants—it pounces on its victim and bites
it, injecting venom, but then retreats and
waits. It repeats this process and moves
in to feed only when the ant is paralyzed.

size ⁄8–1⁄3 in (3–9 mm) long

1

diet Ants
habitat Rainforests
distribution Eastern Asia

Brightly
colored body

size ¼–½ in (7–10 mm) long

diet Insects
habitat Meadows, gardens, and coastal areas
distribution Northern hemisphere
126 | BUGS

Bites from the tarantula spider

were believed to be poisonous in
16th-century Taranto, Italy, and
the remedy involved a form of

wild dancing
called the tarantella
 ARACHNIDS | 127

tarantula
A large, hairy South American tarantula may look
venomous, but it is actually harmless to humans.
When threatened, a tarantula will first rear up
on its hind legs and raise its fangs in an
aggressive posture to scare off its attacker.
128 | ARACHNIDS

Sun-spiders and
pseudoscorpions
Sun-spiders belong to the order Solifugae and number around 1,100
species. The unrelated scorpion-shaped pseudoscorpions form the
order Pseudoscorpiones, which consists of about 3,300 species.

American sun-spider
Eremobates durangonus

Although found commonly in deserts, this size 1–1¼ in (2.5–3 cm) long
arachnid tends to hide from sunlight. It prefers diet Insects and other small animals
to stay in shaded corners, only coming out at
habitat Deserts and mountains
night to hunt. It lacks venom and kills prey with
its large mandibles (jaws). distribution Parts of northern
and Central America

Segmented
abdomen Small eyes

Large jaws
 SUN-SPIDERS AND PSEUDOSCORPIONS | 129

Maritime pseudoscorpion
Neobisium maritimum

Pedipalp When underwater,

this arachnid’s silk
nest traps air,
allowing it to breathe.

Cephalothorax (front
part of the body made
up of head and thorax)

Olive-green
legs

Found mostly in coastal areas, this species size 1⁄8 in (3 mm) long
lives in holes in rocks and under stones, where
diet Insects
it hunts small insects. The tiny predator catches
small prey with its pedipalps and releases a habitat Coastal regions
venom to paralyze its victims, before shredding distribution Europe
them to pieces with its chelicerae.
130 | ARACHNIDS

Other arachnids
The lesser-known relatives of spiders and scorpions include the
whip-scorpions, whip-spiders, and harvestmen. Whip-scorpions form
the order Thelyphonida, which includes about 100 species. Whip-
spiders form the order Amblypygi and number around 160 species.
About 6,125 species of harvestman make up the order Opiliones.

Whip-scorpion Whip-spider
Thelyphonus sp. Phrynus sp.

Female whip-spiders carry eggs in a

Whip-scorpions pouch under their abdomens for several
usually hunt at days until they hatch. The hatchlings
night. Of their climb on to their mother’s back and
four pairs of legs, are carried around for 3–6 months
the three pairs until they can take care
at the rear are of themselves.
used for walking. The
Long, sensory
longer, thinner pair at front legs
the front act
like antennae,
helping these
arachnids to sense
their prey at night.

size ¾–1 in
(2–3 cm) long
diet Worms,
insects, slugs,
and millipedes size 1¼–1½ in (3–4 cm) long
habitat Leaf litter diet Spiders
and rotten wood habitat Barks, leaf litter in wooded areas,
Whiplike tail in tropical regions and in caves in tropical regions
distribution Asia and distribution North America, the Caribbean,
North and South America and South America
 OTHER ARACHNIDS | 131

Horned harvestman
Phalangium opilio

Like other
harvestmen, the eyes
Second pair
of this species are located
of legs is
close together on a “turret” very long
above the body. The eyes are
simple and cannot see well, but help
these arachnids to sense light from
their surroundings for moving around.

When attacked, the

size ⁄8–1⁄3 in (4–9 mm) long
1
horned harvestman
diet Aphids, caterpillars, detaches its legs,
leafhoppers, and decaying organic matter which continue to
habitat Woods, meadows, and gardens twitch, confusing
distribution Native in Europe and Asia; its predator.
introduced in North America, northern Africa,
and New Zealand

Say’s harvestman
Vonones sayi

This harvestman
defends itself in an unusual way.
When threatened or disturbed, it
produces a fluid from its mouth, which
mixes with toxic secretions from special
abdominal glands. It then uses its long
legs to smear this toxic mixture on its
attacker, warding it off.
Small pedipalps

size ½–5⁄8 in (1–1.5 cm) long

diet Insects
habitat Under stones and logs
in tropical regions
distribution North and
Central America
132 | BUGS
 OTHER ARTHROPODS | 133

Other
arthropods
Aside from insects and arachnids, arthropods
also include smaller groups of invertebrates,
such as crustaceans, myriapods, and non-
insect hexapods. Most crustaceans live in water,
but a few live only on land. The tiny non-insect
hexapods and the multilegged myriapods crawl
around in moist leaf litter on forest floors. On the
left is a myriapod called the giant red millipede.
Tiny hooked claws on its feet help it to grip the
ground while moving, as well as to climb trees.

MOLTING
Like most arthropods,
water springtails mature
by shedding their
exoskeleton at
regular intervals.
134 | OTHER ARTHROPODS

Myriapods, crustaceans,
and non-insect hexapods
The wingless non-insect hexapods move around on six legs,
while the wormlike myriapods—including centipedes and millipedes—
run along on many legs. Myriapods have a hard exoskeleton like the
crustaceans, but it is not waterproof, which means these bugs
need to stay in damp surroundings.

Myriapods
As a defensive tactic, A myriapod’s body is divided
millipedes coil up into a into a head and trunk, and there
tight ball when disturbed. is no separate thorax or abdomen.
Centipedes have a single pair of legs on
each trunk segment, which they wiggle
rapidly to move. Millipedes have two pairs
of legs per segment, which they move in
a gliding, wavelike sequence to push
themselves forward.

Trunk is divided into

many segments

Millipede Bright red leg

 MYRIAPODS, CRUSTACEANS, AND NON-INSECT HEXAPODS | 135

Domed
exoskeleton
Crustaceans
The hard exoskeletons of arthropods
are made of a substance called
chitin, but in crustaceans it is
made stronger by a mineral called
calcium carbonate. The body of
the woodlouse, one of the few
crustaceans to live on land, is
divided into 14 segments.

Woodlouse

NON-INseCt HeXAPODs
Hexapods (which means “six-footed”) include
not only insects but also three other groups—
Each trunk springtails, proturans, and diplurans—known
segment has collectively as non-insect hexapods.
two pairs of legs
Insects have eyes
and antennae that
allow them to see
and sense their
Head has
surroundings.
mandibles
Many have wings.
and one pair
of antennae Insects have clearly
visible mouthparts.
Honey bee

Non-insect
hexapods lack
wings, and some do
not even have eyes
or antennae. Their
mouthparts are
hidden in a pouch
Exoskeleton protects below the head.
body parts Water springtail
136 | oTHER ARTHRoPoDS

Myriapods
foCuS oN... This group of land-living arthropods includes
feeding centipedes, millipedes, and other related
Although similar in species. About 3,000 species of centipede
many ways, most
millipedes are plant- make up the class Chilopoda and all can run
eaters or scavengers, fast. The slow-moving millipedes of the class
while centipedes
are predatory. Diplopoda number around 10,000 species.

White-rimmed pill millipede

Glomeris marginata

▲ The mouthparts of black

millipedes are short and
stout, for nibbling plants,
roots, and decaying wood.

Millipedes have between 36 and 450 legs, two pairs

growing from each body segment. Pill millipedes are a short,
squat species with only 11–13 body segments. Like all pill
millipedes, this one rolls itself into a ball when attacked by
a bird or ants. It looks quite similar to a pill woodlouse.

▲ Giant desert centipedes

hunt lizards, frogs, and size ¼–¾ in (0.6–2 cm) long
insects. They kill prey with diet Decaying leaves
their venomous claws. habitat Soil and leaf litter in broad-leaved forests
distribution Europe, parts of Asia, and Northern Africa
 MYRIAPODS | 137

Tanzanian flat-backed millipede

Coromus diaphorus

Flat-backed millipedes are less size 1½–2½ in (4–6 cm) long

rounded than other millipedes diet Dead leaves, other decaying
and can be mistaken for plant matter, roots, and fruit
centipedes, which are
habitat Tropical forests
usually flat in shape. The
tough flattened body distribution Africa
of this millipede allows
it to squeeze under logs
and stones to hide in the
leaf litter of the forests
in which it lives.

Shiny body is
covered in grooves

African giant millipede

Archispirostreptus gigas

The African giant millipede is the largest of all

millipedes. This species defends itself from
predators in two ways. It can curl up into a
spiral ball exposing only its hard exoskeleton,
which makes it difficult for predators to bite it.
It can also ooze a toxic fluid from its body to
deter predators.

size 8–11 in
(20–28 cm) long
diet Decaying organic
matter
habitat Tropical forests
distribution Africa
138 | OTHER ARTHROPODS

Tiger giant centipede Banded stone centipede

Scolopendra hardwickei Lithobius variegatus

Commonly found near deciduous trees, this

This centipede gets species has strong limbs, which help it to
its name from the tigerlike climb trees in search of food. A flattened body
markings on its body allows the predator to hunt in tight spaces for
Claw and its predatory nature. small insects and woodlice. In summer, it sticks
It hunts at night and can to feeding in leaf litter, limiting its movement in
overpower and catch order to conserve body moisture.
prey larger than itself,
including mice. The
centipede attacks size ¾–1¼ in (2–3 cm) long
prey with the claws diet Small arthropods, such as
on its first trunk woodlice and millipedes
segment, which habitat In leaf litter and on trees in temperate,
carry venom. tropical, and coniferous forests
distribution Europe

Bright colors
on its body
warn off Yellow earth centipede
predators Geophilus flavus

Soil centipedes are a family of

centipede that live in the soil and under
rocks. The short legs and rectangular head
of this centipede allow it to move quickly
size 8–10 in through soil and leaf litter.
(20–25 cm) long
diet Large
insects and small size ¾–1½ in (2–3.5 cm) long
mammals diet Small, soil-dwelling invertebrates
habitat Under habitat Soil in forests and coastal areas
rotting wood, loose distribution Europe, Australia, and
bark, and leaf litter North and South America
in rainforests and
grasslands
distribution
Southeast Asia
 MYRIAPODS | 139

Brown stone centipede

Lithobius forficatus

Unlike many millipedes

that roll into a ball when
threatened, the brown stone
centipede runs away quickly.
It is mostly found in the upper
layers of soil, particularly
under rotting logs.

size ¾–1¼ in (2–3 cm)

diet Woodlice, spiders,
mites, and insects
habitat Forests, gardens,
and coastal areas
distribution Worldwide
except polar regions

House centipede
Scutigera coleoptrata

The antennae of this centipede are very sensitive size 1–2 in (2.5–5 cm) long
to smell and touch, allowing it to sense prey diet Spiders, bedbugs, termites, cockroaches,
even in complete darkness. Once it finds silverfish, ants, and other insects
prey, it pounces with its legs, stinging
habitat Caves and houses
them with its powerful venom.
distribution Worldwide except polar regions

The house
centipede’s long
antennae resemble
its hind legs, making it
difficult to make out
its head.
140 | BUGS

As they grow, millipedes

shed their exoskeleton
regularly and

eat it
for extra energy
 OTHER ARTHROPODS | 141

madagascan fire millipede

The vibrant colors on the body of this millipede
warn predators that it may be poisonous. If a
predator continues to threaten it, it rolls up into
a ball and oozes out toxic chemicals that
may burn the predator’s skin.
142 | OTHER ARTHROPODS

Non-insect hexapods
Three small groups of arthropods—springtails, proturans, and
diplurans—are known as non-insect hexapods. The class
Collembola includes about 8,100 species of springtail, the
class Protura has about 750 species of proturan, and
the class Diplura contains around 1,000 species of dipluran.

Water springtail
Podura aquatica

This water-dwelling species is often found size Up to 3⁄16 in (2 mm) long

on the surfaces of ponds and puddles. It diet Decaying organic matter
has a long, fork-shaped organ called a furcula
habitat Freshwater ditches, puddles,
attached to the underside of its abdomen. It
ponds, canals, and bogs
releases its furcula like a spring to jump around.
distribution Northern hemisphere

When many water

springtails gather
together in ponds and
streams, they can turn
the surface of the
water dark.
 NON-INSECT HEXAPODS | 143

Pale springtail Barred springtail

Onychiurus sp. Entomobrya sp.

Unlike the water springtail, these

species lack a furcula and are unable to
jump away from predators. Most pale springtails
also lack eyes and sense their environment with
a pair of antennae instead.
These springtails graze on algae
and lichen on tree trunks, rocks,
size ⁄16–1⁄3 in (2–9 mm) long
3
buildings, and cliffs. They can feed
diet Plants, decaying organic matter, and fungi in these exposed places because they are more
habitat In soil and leaf litter in scrublands, resistant to water loss than most other springtails.
woodlands, and mountains
distribution size ⁄16–1⁄3 in (1–8 mm) long
1
Worldwide
diet Algae and lichen
habitat Tree barks, rocks, and buildings
distribution Worldwide except polar regions

European proturan Long-tailed dipluran

Eosentomon delicatum Campodea fragilis

Proturans live in soil and leaf litter. They

lack body pigment (coloring), eyes, and
antennae. They use their front legs as
sensory feelers, and walk using their
middle and hind legs.

The dipluran is blind and has a long body

and antennae. It uses its long pair of flexible,
tail-like structures called cerci like a second
pair of antennae.

size ⁄64–1⁄8 in (0.5–2 mm) long

1

diet Decaying organic matter and fungi size ⁄8–1⁄4 in (3–6 mm) long
1

habitat In soil and leaf litter in forests diet Decaying organic matter and fungi
and woodlands habitat Soil and leaf litter
distribution Europe distribution Worldwide except polar regions
144 | OTHER ARTHROPODS

Crustaceans Black-headed woodlouse

Porcellio spinicornis
Most crustaceans live in the
This woodlouse can
sea, some live in freshwater, easily be identified by its
but a few, such as woodlice, black head and the row
of yellow blotches on
live only on land. There are either side of its body. Like all
woodlice, it does not produce
about 3,000 different species urine and instead releases
of woodlouse, which form smelly ammonia gas as waste.

part of the order Isopoda.

size 4–4¾ in
(10–12 cm) long
diet Decaying organic matter
habitat Tropical forests,
woodlands, and grasslands
distribution Europe and
North America

Common pill woodlouse

Armadillidium vulgare

The segmented body covering of this woodlouse

works like a shell to protect it. When threatened,
the common pill woodlouse rolls itself into a hard
and tight ball, which protects its softer body
parts from predators.

size ½–¾ in (1–1.8 cm) long

diet Decaying organic matter,
algae, and lichen
habitat Calcium-rich
soils in forests and
coastal areas
distribution
Eurasia and
North America
 CRUSTACEANS | 145

Common shiny woodlouse

Oniscus asellus

The common shiny woodlouse has a gray body with

irregular yellow patches, which store calcium. The
woodlice living in calcium-poor soils will eat
the shed exoskeleton after molting. This
recycles the calcium, which strengthens
their body covering.

size ½ in–¾ in
(10–16 mm) long
diet Decaying
organic matter
habitat In leaf litter and
under logs in temperate
woods and gardens
distribution Europe and
North and South America

Ant woodlouse
Platyarthrus hoffmannseggi

Ant woodlice have a close relationship

Oval body to ants, which is beneficial to both insects.
The woodlice live in the nests of ants and
feed on ant droppings. They also help to keep
the nests clean, which is of benefit to the ants.

size Up to 1⁄8 in (4 mm) long

diet Ant droppings
habitat Ant nests in
woods and gardens
distribution
Europe, North
Africa, the Middle
East, and North
America
146 | BUGS

Record breakers
biggest bugs • The Atlas moth (Attacus atlas)
is the largest moth in the world—
• Chan’s megastick (Phobaeticus its wings cover an area of
chani) is the world’s longest stick insect. 62 sq in (400 sq cm).
It can grow up to 22½ in (56.7 cm) long,
including its legs. Not including its legs, • The giant African millipede
it can be 14 in (35.7 cm) long, which (Archispirostreptus gigas) is the longest
means it is also the insect with the millipede in the world, reaching lengths
longest body. of up to 11 in (28 cm).

• Queen Alexandra’s birdwing • The longest beetle in the

(Ornithoptera alexandrae) is the world’s world is the Hercules beetle
largest butterfly and has the longest (Dynastes hercules) found in
wingspan of any insect, measuring up Central America. It can measure
to 12 in (30 cm) from the outer edge of up to 6½ in (17 cm) in length.
one wing to the other.

stRongest bugs longest jumps

❶ The orbatid mite (Archegozetes ❶ A cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis)
longisetosus) is a tiny, soil-dwelling mite; it can can jump a distance up to 150 times
carry 1,180 times its own weight—equal to a its body length.
human being lifting 80 tons (73 metric tons).
❷ The froghopper (Philaenus spumarius)
❷ A horned dung beetle (Onthophagus is 60 times heavier than a cat flea, but
Taurus) can pull 1,141 times its own body can jump a distance 70 times its own
weight. This is equal to a man lifting two body length.
fully loaded 18-wheel trucks.
❸ jumping spiders can jump over a
❸ A leafcutter ant (Atta laevigata) distance of about 14 in (35 cm). They
can carry leaves weighing up to 50 use their rear legs to spring toward
times its body weight. their prey.
 RECORD BREAKERS | 147

LONGEST LIFESPANS LArGEST GrOuPS

A North American cicada called ❶ Lake flies (Chaoborus edulis Edward),
Magicicada septendecim lives underground found commonly over Lake Victoria in
for 17 years as a nymph, and just a few central Africa, form swarms containing
hours or days as an adult. trillions of flies. These hover over the lake
and the surrounding villages as dark clouds.
A honeypot ant queen of the
Myrmecocystus genus was found ❷ Desert locusts (Schistocerca gregaria)
to have lived for 11 years. form incredibly large swarms, which
may contain as many as
Two larvae of the golden jewel 10 billion individuals.
beetle (Buprestis aurulenta) “Cakes” made of
found in timbers in a Canadian lake flies are eaten ❸ Leafcutter ants
building were 51 years old. by villagers living (Atta cephalotes) form
around Lake Victoria. some of the largest
The average lifespan of a They are very rich colonies in the insect
butterfly is 3–6 weeks, but the in protein. world, with up to
monarch butterfly (Danaus 8 million individuals
plexippus) can live for up to a year. in each nest.

HEAVIEST buGS LONGEST mIGrATIONS

❶ The Goliath bird-eating spider ❶ Monarch butterflies (Danaus
(Therophosa blondi) is the heaviest plexippus) undertake the biggest insect
species of spider and can weigh more migration, when 250 million of them fly
than 5 oz (150 g). nearly 3,100 miles (5,000 km) from
Canada to Mexico to spend the winter
❷ A grub of the Goliath beetle (Goliathus in warm sheltered valleys amid Mexico’s
giganteus) can weigh up to 3.5 oz (100 g) pine-covered mountains.
when fully grown. It is the heaviest known
beetle grub. ❷ Each year, dragonflies migrate from
India to the Maldives, Seychelles, and
❸ The giant weta (Deinacrida finally East Africa, covering a distance
heteracantha), a type of cricket, of 2,175 miles (3,500 km).
weighs in at 2.5 oz (71 g).
148 | BUGS

Incredible bugs
amazIng numbers HarmfuL bugs
• About 1 million species of insect had • Female Anopheles mosquitoes carry
been identified globally by early 2012. the parasite that causes malaria. The disease
kills around 665,000 people every year.
• About 80 percent of known insects
undergo complete metamorphosis. • Of all sting-bearing hornets, the giant
Japanese hornet delivers the greatest
• Beetles form the biggest insect order amount of venom in a single sting. It is the
with about 350,000 species, which make most dangerous animal in Japan, killing
up 35 percent of all insects. more than 40 people each year.

• The nests of some social insects • Driver ants set out in search of food in
contain millions of members. A termite their millions and can consume almost every
nest in South America was found to animal in their way.
contain about 3 million individuals.
• The sting of the fire ant carries a venom
• Some termite queens in East Africa containing a substance called piperidine.
can lay one egg every two seconds, which This produces an intense burning sensation
adds up to 43,200 eggs each day. on human skin.

• Although spiders look • The deathstalker scorpion is the most

creepy, only 30–40 of the venomous scorpion on Earth, but
50,000 known species are the mixture of toxins in its venom
dangerous to humans. is usually only dangerous to
The jaws of small children, the elderly,
• Jumping spiders driver ants are so or sick people.
make up the largest strong that some
family of spiders in tribes in East Africa • The Brazilian huntsman
the world (Salticidae), use the jaws for is the most poisonous spider in
which has about 4,400 stitching wounds. the world. Only 0.00000021 oz
known species. (0.006 mg) of its venom
is needed to kill a mouse.
 INCREDIBLE BUGS | 149

PRODUCTS Silk
fROm inSeCTS This shiny fabric is woven
from the threads of
In 2011, about
Honey silk moth cocoons.
200,000 tons (180,000
Honey bees are bred in metric tons) of honey
captivity to produce honey. was consumed in Lac
Beekeepers collect surplus the US. Some scale insects
honey from honeycombs produce a resinous
and sell it. secretion called lac, which
is used to dye wool, as a violin
Beeswax varnish, and as a medicinal drug.
Wax produced by young worker honey
bees is commonly used to make candles, ink
varnishes, and food preservatives. The galls (swellings on leaves) produced
by the oak wasp contain tannins, a major
Royal jelly ingredient of iron gall ink, which was widely
This is made from a fluid secreted by used by writers from the Middle Ages
worker honey bees and is believed to to the 19th century because of its
have medicinal properties. waterproof nature.

food for humans Jewelry

Humans eat about 500 species of The brightly colored wings of butterflies and
insect. Stir-fried crickets are a delicacy hard elytra (wing cases) of beetles are made
in some nations. into brooches and pendants.

STUDyinG BUGS
Many different scientists study the • Colepterology—beetles
various orders and families of bugs.
Some common fields of study are • myrmecology—ants
listed here.
• Acarology—ticks and mites
• entomology—all insects
• Arachnology—spiders, scorpions,
• Apiology—bees and related species

• Dipterology—flies • Parasitology—parasites
150 | BUGS

Glossary Compound eye An eye

made up of many smaller
units, each of which
Genus A group that
contains closely related
species of animals.
can receive light and
Antennae A pair of Camouflage Colors or “see.” Arthropods have Habitat The environment
sensory organs on patterns on an animal’s compound eyes. in which an animal lives.
the heads of some body that allow it to blend
invertebrates, such with its surroundings. Coniferous Describes Haltere In two-winged
as insects, used to trees, including pine and flies, a small pin-shaped
detect vibrations, Caterpillar The wingless fir, that lack flowers and organ that takes the
smells, and tastes. larva of a butterfly or fruits and produce cones place of hind wings.
moth. It has legs and containing their seeds. Halteres help flies to
Appendage A limb or powerful jaws. balance themselves
other sensory organ, Courtship Behavior in flight.
such as an antenna, on Cellulose A complex that helps to form
the body of an insect. sugar found in plants. a bond between a Honeydew A sweet
male and a female substance produced by
Aquatic Living or Cephalothorax The front before mating. plant-sucking aphids.
growing in or near water. part of the body of an
arachnid, which is made Deciduous Describes Host An animal on which
Arthropod An up of the head and thorax. trees that shed leaves a parasite feeds.
invertebrate with in the fall and grow
an exoskeleton, a Cerci A pair of long new ones in spring. Invertebrate Any animal
segmented body, tail-like structures on the without a backbone.
and jointed legs. abdomen of some insects. Elytra The forewings of
some insects that fit like Larva The immature,
Asexual reproduction Chelicerae The first pair of a protective case over often wormlike, form that
A form of reproduction structures on an arachnid’s the thin hind wings. hatches from the eggs of
in which an animal cephalothorax, nearest many insects and other
produces offspring to its mouth. They may Endangered species A invertebrates.
without mating with carry fangs or teeth at species that is in danger
another animal. the tips, which arachnids, of becoming extinct, such Life cycle The stages
such as spiders, use to as the Queen Alexandra’s that an animal goes
Brackish Water that inject venom. birdwing butterfly. through from birth
is partly salty and to death.
partly fresh. Brackish Chrysalis The hard case Exoskeleton A hard,
water is found in of a butterfly pupa. outer skeleton that Maggot Legless larva of
coastal swamps and surrounds an arthropod’s flies and other insects.
river mouths, where Class A large group body and gives it
fresh water mixes that contains many shape and protection. Mammal A vertebrate
with seawater. closely related orders that has hair or fur and
of animals. Family A group that feeds its young on milk.
Brood cell A tiny contains closely related
space in the nest of a Cocoon A silk case made genera (singular, genus) Mandibles A pair of jaws
bee or wasp where by larvae of many insects of animals. that many arthropods use
a single egg is laid. in which they pupate. to bite, cut, or carry food.
Gall Hard, lumpy growth
Bug An informal term Colony A group of of plant tissue, triggered Metamorphosis A major
for many land-dwelling animals of a species by chemicals from some change in an animal’s
arthropods. that live together. insects, such as wasps. body shape during its
 GLOSSARY | 151

life cycle. Caterpillars turn Organism A life-form, Predator An animal and polar regions that
into butterflies or moths such as a plant, fungus, that hunts, kills, and is neither too hot nor
through metamorphosis. or animal. eats other animals. too cold.

Migration A journey Ovipositor A tubelike Prey An animal that Terrestrial Living only
undertaken by an organ in the females is hunted, killed, and on land.
animal due to seasonal of some animals, eaten by a predator.
changes, usually to used for laying eggs. Territory An area
find food or to breed. Proboscis Straw-shaped defended by an
Ovoviviparous Producing mouthparts of insects, animal from others
Mimic To resemble eggs that hatch inside the such as butterflies, that of its own species.
something, such as a leaf mother’s body. are used for sucking food.
or another animal. This Thorax The middle part
helps in camouflage. Parasite An animal Pupa The stage in of an arthropod’s body,
that lives on, or inside, the life cycle of certain between the head and
Molting Shedding of the body of another insects in which the abdomen. It bears the
the exoskeleton by an species, known as larva stays protected wings and legs.
arthropod after regular the host. It feeds on within a special case as it
periods of time that and harms the host, transforms into an adult. Tropical Relating to the
allows its body to grow. but does not kill it. hot region of the world
Rainforests Dense spanning the equator.
Nectar A sugary liquid Parasitoid An animal tropical forests that It is a broad band
produced by flowers on that grows by feeding receive heavy rainfall. around the middle
which many insects feed. on a living host and part of the globe.
eventually kills it. Rostrum Slender,
Nervous system A beak-shaped mouthparts Tubers Short, fleshy
system in an animal’s Pedipalps The second that some insects use to underground stems
body that is mainly made pair of structures on the pierce and suck up food. or roots of plants
up of fibers called nerves, cephalothorax of some such as potato.
which send and receive arachnids. They may Savanna Grassland
signals to and from be clawlike. with widely spaced Tundra A vast, frozen,
various body parts. trees found in hot treeless region lying
Pheromones Chemicals regions of the world, north of the Arctic Circle.
Nocturnal An animal that released by an animal such as Africa.
is active at night. to attract a member of Vertebrate Any animal
the opposite sex of the Scavenger An animal with a backbone.
Nymph An early stage same species. that feeds on the dead
of development of an remains of others. Wetlands An area
invertebrate that generally Pigment A substance of land that remains
looks and lives in that colors the tissues Species A group of flooded with water for
the same way as the of an invertebrate. animals that breed most part of the year,
animal’s adult form. only with each other. and so the soil is
Pollination Transfer permanently wet.
Ocelli Simple eyes of pollen from one Spiracle A tiny breathing
that only sense the flower to another for hole on the body surface Wingspan The
level of light. reproduction. Some of many arthropods. measurement from
flowers are pollinated the tip of one wing of
Order A large group that by the wind, but in Temperate Relating to a flying insect to that
contains closely related most cases, insects the region of the world of the other when the
families of animals. act as pollen carriers. between the tropical wings are outstretched.
152 | BUGS

Index
A bed bugs 50
bees 98, 102–3
chicken body louse 54
chigger mite 118
African cave cricket 41 beeswax 149 Chilean burrowing scorpion
African giant millipede 137 beetles 8, 15, 60–71, 146, 112
African rock scorpion 113 147, 149 cicadas 47, 147
alderflies 56–7 bites 126, 148 Clara’s satin moth 86
American cockroach 42, 43 black millipede 136 Cleopatra butterfly 93
American lupin aphid 48 black oil beetle 67 click beetle 68
American Moon moth 87 black-headed woodlouse cnidarians 7
American Sun spider 128 144 cockchafer beetle 20–1
anatomy 4, 20, 110, 135 black-veined white butterfly cockroaches 42–3
Anopheles mosquito 148 93 cocoons 111
ant beetle 68 blue fungus beetle 65 colonies 44, 98, 148
ant woodlouse 145 blue-winged olive mayfly common backswimmer 49
antlion 59 24–5 common earwig 37
ants 16–17, 98, 104–5, bluebottle 78 common European scorpion
147, 148 bolas spider 110 112
aphids 19, 48 bombadier beetle 61 common green capsid 50
apple maggot 76 braconid wasp 11, 100 common morpho butterfly
arachnids 4, 8, 108–31 Brazilian huntsman spider 148 91
army ant 16–17, 104 bristletails 22–3 common pill woodlouse
arthropods 4–5, 6 broad-bodied chaser 28 144–5
feeding 10–11 brown jumping spider 124–5 common pond skater 48
habitats 12–13 brown stone centipede 139 common praying mantis
life cycle 8–9 buff-tailed bumble bees 102 38–9
studying 14–15, 149 butterflies 5, 8, 10, 12, 84–5, common red soldier beetle
asexual reproduction 9 90–5 64
atlas moth 96–7, 146 common scorpionfly 72
Australian bulldog ant 105
azure damselfly 9, 27
C common shiny woodlouse
145
caddisflies 82–3 common velvet mite 117
B castor oil tick 11
cat flea 73, 146
conehead mantis 39
coppery dysphania moth 86
backswimmers 49 caterpillars 10, 84–94 crab spiders 124–5
banded demoiselle 26 cave spider 121 crablike spiny orb-weaver
banded stone centipede caves 13 120
138–9 Cecropia moth 85 crickets 40–1, 147
bark louse 55 centipedes 4, 136, 138–9 crustaceans 5, 133, 135,
barred springtail 143 Chan’s megastick 146 144–5
 INDEX | 153

D F gold beetle 62–3

golden jewel beetle 147
daddy long-legs spider farmyard midge 75 goldenrod crab spider 124
122 feeding 10–11, 136 Goliath beetle 147
damselflies 9, 26–7 fire ant 148 Goliath bird-eating spider
dance fly 76 firebrats 22 147
dark-spotted sedge fish fly 57 Goliath tarantula 122–3
caddisfly 83 flame skimmer 28–9 grass crab spider 124
deathstalker scorpion 148 fleas 72–3 grasshoppers 5, 9, 40–1
decomposition 11, 74 flesh fly 78 grasslands 12
defense 38–9, 111 flies 8, 74–81 great carpenter bee 102
desert locust 40, 147 flight 20–1 great diving beetle 61
desert scorpion 114–15 flour louse 55 great red sedge caddisfly
deserts 13 flour mite 116 83
devil’s coach horse 61 flower chafer 63 green dragontail butterfly 92
diplurans 5, 142, 143 flower thrip 45 green lacewing 58
dobsonflies 56 foaming grasshopper 41
dragonflies 26–9, 147
driver ant 104, 148
fog-basking darkling
beetle 68
H
drone fly 77 food, insects as 147, 149 habitats 12–13, 42
Duke of Burgundy fritillary forest fly 79 harvester termite 44
butterfly 94 Formosan termite 44 harvestmen 130–1
dung beetles 11, 12, 146 froghopper 15, 47, 146 Hercules beetle 62, 146
dusky cockroach 43 fungus gnat 74 Hewitson’s blue hairstreak
funnel-web spider 111 butterfly 94
E hexapods 5

earwigs 36–7
G see also non-insect
hexapods
Eastern dobsonfly 56 gall wasps 15, 99 honey 149
echinoderms 7 garden tiger moth 84 honey bee 98, 102, 135
eggs 8, 148 giant African millipede 146 honeypot ant 147
elegant jumping spider giant agrippa moth 86 horned dung beetle 146
125 giant blue robber fly 77 horned harvestman 131
elephant hawk moth giant desert centipede 136 hornet moth 88
88–9 giant Japanese hornet 148 hornets 100, 148
emerald damselfly 26 giant water bug 48–9 horntail 98
endangered species 15 giant weta 147 house centipede 139
European hornet 100 giant wood wasp 101 house cricket 40
European proturan 143 giraffe-necked weevil 68–9 house fly 79
European wolf spider gladiolus thrip 45 hover flies 74
123 gnats 12, 74 human head louse 54
eyes 80–1 goat louse 55 hunting 10, 110–11
154 | BUGS

I M non-insect hexapods 5, 133,

134, 135, 142–3
Illinois river cruiser 29 Macleay’s specter 32 northern rock crawler 31
imperial scorpion 113 Madagascan fire millipede northern scorpion 111
Indian cicada 47 140–1 northern spitting spider 121
Indian leaf butterfly 90 Madagascan hissing northern widow spider 123
ink 149 cockroach 43 nymphs 5, 9
insects 4, 5, 18–107 Madagascan sunset moth
invertebrates 4, 6–7, 133 89
maggots 76
O
J mammoth wasp 101
mange mite 119
oak apple gall wasp 99
ocelli 56
Javanese leaf insect 33 mantises 38–9 orb web spider 108, 109
jewel weevil 69 mantisfly 59 orbatid mite 146
jeweled frog beetle 67 marbled sedge caddisfly orchid bee 102
jewelry 149 83 orchid mantis 38
jumping spiders 124–5, maritime pseudoscorpion owl butterfly 91
146, 148 129 owlfly 59
jungle nymph stick insect 33 mayflies 13, 24–5
metamorphosis 5, 8–9, 148
PQ
L Mexican red-kneed tarantula
17, 122–3 Pacific dampwood termite
lac 149 midges 75 45
lacewings 58–9 migration 147 pale springtail 143
ladybugs 8–9, 66 millipedes 4, 134, 136–7, pale stonefly 31
lake flies 147 140–1, 146 parasitism 11
larder beetle 64 minotaur beetle 62 parasitoid flies 74
large dark olive mayfly 25 mites 116–19, 146 pear psylla 48
larvae 8, 10 mole cricket 41 plains clubtail 28
leaf beetles 15 mollusks 6 plant-eaters 10
leaf insects 32–5 molting 8, 140–1 plasterer bee 103
leaf mantis 39 monarch butterfly 91, 147 polar regions 12, 13
leafcutter ant 105, 146, 147 mosquitoes 75, 148 pollination 74
leaf-footed bugs 50 moths 10, 84–9, 96–7 pond olive mayfly 25
leaf-rolling sawfly 99 mottled sedge caddisfly 82 pond skaters 48
lesser earwig 37 myriapods 4, 8, 133, 134–41 potter wasp 106–7
lice 54–5 praying mantis 38–9
life cycle 8–9
lone star tick 117
N predators 10, 74, 110–11
prince baskettail 27
long-tailed dipluran 143 nests 148 proturans 142, 143
long-winged great net-casting spider 120 pseudoscorpions 128, 129
cockroach 42 nets 14 pupae 8
 INDEX | 155

Queen Alexandra’s birdwing spider-hunting wasp 10 two-spotted earwig 36–7

butterfly 92, 146 spiders 4, 10, 108, 110–11, two-striped stick insect 32
120–7, 147, 148
R splendid emerald wasp 100
spoon-winged lacewing 58
UV
rabbit flea 73 springtails 135, 142–3 urban habitats 12
rainforests 12 stag beetle 63, 70–1 varroa mite 117
red velvet mite 118 stalk-eyed fly 76–7 venom 148
red-spotted longhorn beetle stem sawfly 99 violin beetle 60
64–5 stick insects 32–3, 146
reproduction 8–9, 21
rivers 13
stings 109, 112, 148
stoneflies 30–1
W
robber fly 18, 19, 80–1 summer mayfly 25 walking leaf insects 34–5
rock crawlers 30–1 sun-spiders 128 Wallich’s owl moth 87
royal jelly 149 swallowtail butterfly 85 wart-headed bug 46
sweat bees 103 wasps 8, 10, 11, 15, 98–101,
S 106–7

salt and pepper microcaddis

T water scorpions 49
water springtail 135, 142
82 Tanzanian flat-backed webs 120
savanna tsetse fly 79 millipede 137 weevils 68–9
sawflies 98–9 tarantula hawk wasp 101 wetlands 13
Say’s harvestman 131 tarantula spiders 110–11, whip-scorpions 130
scarlet shield bug 51, 52–3 122–3, 126–7 whip-spiders 130
scavengers 11 tawny earwig 36 white plume moth 88
scorpionflies 72–3 termites 21, 44–5, 148 white-rimmed pill millipede
scorpions 4, 13, 49, 109, thistle lace bug 51 136
111, 112–15, 148 thorn bug 47 white-spotted assassin bug 51
seven-spot ladybug 8–9, 66 thrips 44–5 wood ant 104, 148
sexton beetle 11, 65 ticks 11, 116–17 wood-eaters 11
silk 111, 149 tiger giant centipede 138 woodlice 5, 11, 135, 144–5
silk-worm moth 85 tiger pierid butterfly 93 woodlouse spider 121
silverfish 22–3 tiphiid wasp 99 wool carder bee 103
six-spot burnet moth 88–9 titan beetle 60 worms 7
small brown stonefly 30 tortoise beetle 66–7
snout moth 85
snow scorpionfly 73
trapdoor spider 120
traps 120
Y
Sonoran blue butterfly 95 true bugs 46–53 yellow dung fly 78
southern hawker 29 true flies 74–81 yellow earth centipede 138
Spanish festoon butterfly twenty-two spot ladybug yellow longhorn beetle 64
92–3 66 yellow sally 31
Spanish Moon moth 15 two-spot spider mite 118 yellow thick-tail scorpion 113
156 | BUGS

Acknowledgments
Dorling Kindersley would like to thank: Caitlin Scientific (br). USDA Agricultural Research Dorling Kindersley: Natural History Museum,
Doyle for proofreading; Helen Peters for indexing Service: Stephen Ausmus (bl). 45 Corbis: Nigel London (br). 103 Corbis: Bert Pijs / Foto Natura /
and Claire Bowers, Fabian Harry, and Romaine Cattlin, / Visuals Unlimited (tr). Dorling Minden Pictures (c). Photoshot: Imagebroker.net
Werblow for DK Picture Library assistance. Kindersley: Lynette Schimming (tl). 47 Dorling (b). 104 Dreamstime.com: Ryszard Laskowski
Kindersley: Natural History Museum, London (t). (bc). naturepl.com: Premaphotos (clb). 105
The publishers would also like to thank the 48 Alamy Images: Andrew Darrington (tl). Jean Alamy Images: Michael Maconachie / Papilio (b).
following for their kind permission Yves Rasplus: (bl). 50 Corbis: Alex Wild / Visuals FLPA: Mark Moffett / Minden Pictures (tr).
to reproduce their photographs: Unlimited (tl). 51 Shane Farrell: (crb). 52–53 106–107 Photoshot: A.N.T. Photo Library / NHPA.
naturepl.com: ARCO. 54 Science Photo Library: 108 FLPA: Piotr Naskrecki / Minden Pictures. 109
(Key: a-above; b-below/bottom; c-center; f-far; Steve Gschmeissner (r). 55 Corbis: Nigel Cattlin / Corbis: Wayne Lynch / All Canada Photos (bc).
l-left; r-right; t-top) Visuals Unlimited (tl). 56 Corbis: Lida Van Den 110 Photoshot: NHPA (bl). 111 Corbis: Dennis
Heuvel / Foto Natura / Minden Pictures (bl). FLPA: Kunkel Microscopy, Inc. / Visuals Unlimited (tl);
2–3 Igor Siwanowicz: (c). 4 Corbis: Joe Pete Oxford / Minden Pictures (tl). 57 Corbis: Lida Damon Wilder (cr); Wayne Lynch / All Canada
McDonald (cl). 5 Corbis: Piotr Naskrecki / Minden Van Den Heuvel / Foto Natura / Minden Pictures Photos (br). 112 FLPA: Albert Lleal / Minden
Pictures (tr, br). PunchStock: Westend61 (bl). (b). 58 Corbis: Jef Meul / Foto Natura / Minden Pictures (tr). 113 Corbis: Stephen Dalton / Minden
6 Corbis: Oswald Eckstein. 7 Corbis: Fred Pictures (bl). Dorling Kindersley: Natural History Pictures (tr). 114–115 naturepl.com: Ingo Arndt.
Bavendam / Minden Pictures (br). 8 Alamy Museum, London (br). 59 Dorling Kindersley: 116 Ardea: David Spears (Last Refuge) (bl). 117
Images: D. Hurst (tc). 9 Corbis: Nigel Cattlin / Natural History Museum, London (tr). 60 Alamy Dorling Kindersley: Photo Biopix.dk (cr). Getty
Visuals Unlimited (bc). 10 Dorling Kindersley: Images: blickwinkel / Hartl (tl). Dorling Images: Kallista Images (bl). 118 Ardea: David
Oxford Scientific Films (tr). FLPA: Richard Becker Kindersley: Natural History Museum, London (br). Spears (Last Refuge) (tl). FLPA: Nigel Cattlin (tr).
(bl). 11 Alamy Images: blickwinkel (bl). Corbis: www.kaefer-der-welt.de: (bl). 64 Corbis: Jef Getty Images: Elliot Neep / Oxford Scientific (bl).
Mark Moffett / Minden Pictures (cr). FLPA: Meul / Foto Natura / Minden Pictures (tl). Dorling 119 Corbis: Science Picture Co / Science
Michael & Patricia Fogden / Minden Pictures (bc). Kindersley: Natural History Museum, London (br). Faction. 120 Alamy Images: Premaphotos (tl).
Getty Images: Paul Souders / The Image Bank 65 Corbis: Alex Wild / Visuals Unlimited (br). Corbis: Patrick Honan / Steve Parish Publishing
(tr). 12 Alamy Images: blickwinkel / Hecker (tc). 66–67 Dorling Kindersley: Thomas Marent (c). (cl). Getty Images: Oxford Scientific (bl). 121
Corbis: Pete Oxford / Minden Pictures (br); Cyril 67 Dorling Kindersley: Jerry Young (cr). 68–69 FLPA: D Jones (br). 125 Science Photo Library:
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Images: Colin Milkins / Oxford Scientific (cl). 13 Library (bc). 70–71 Igor Siwanowicz. 74 Alamy Kindersley: Thomas Marent. 128 Photoshot:
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Imagebroker (bl). 132 Photoshot: David Maitland
Museum, London (tr, cr). 15 Corbis: Visuals Joseph Berger (tl). FLPA: Dave Pressland (bl).
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Unlimited (tl). Dorling Kindersley: Natural History 76–77 The Natural History Museum, London:
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135 Corbis: Albert Mans / Foto Natura / Minden
Minden Pictures (tr). Getty Images: Kjell Sandved, Pictures (bl). Dorling Kindersley: Natural History
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Photo Researchers (bl). 137 Getty Images: Don
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Wild / Visuals Unlimited. 19 Getty Images: 82 Tom Murray: (bl). 84 Dorling Kindersley: Staab Studios—modelmakers (l). 140–141
Densey Clyne / Oxford Scientific (bc). 21 Corbis: Natural History Museum, London (b). 85 Dorling naturepl.com: Alex Hyde. 142 FLPA: Jan Van
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