Insects, SAH-WHI
When people talk about “insects,” they often mean pests or disease carriers such as bedbugs, houseflies, beetles, mosquitoes, fleas, and hornets. To be fair, though, many insects are beneficial to humans, albeit sometimes indirectly: they pollinate plants, produce useful substances, control pest insects, act as scavengers, and serve as food for other animals. Some insects, such as butterflies, are beautiful to behold, and insects such as ladybugs flaunt eye-catching colors and patterns.
Insects Encyclopedia Articles By Title
Sahara desert ant
Sahara desert ant, any of several species of ant in the genus Cataglyphis that dwell in the Sahara, particularly......
San Jose scale
San Jose scale, (Quadraspidiotus perniciosus), a species of insect in the armoured scale family, Diaspididae (order......
sand fly
sand fly, any insect of the family Phlebotomidae (sometimes considered part of the family Psychodidae) of the order......
sand wasp
sand wasp, (tribe Bembicini), any of a group of wasps in the subfamily Bembicinae (family Crabronidae, order Hymenoptera)......
sap beetle
sap beetle, (family Nitidulidae), any of at least 2,000 species of beetles (insect order Coleoptera) usually found......
saturniid moth
saturniid moth, (family Saturniidae), family of about 3,400 species of moths, some of which spin thick, silken......
satyr butterfly
satyr butterfly, (subfamily Satyrinae), any of a group of delicate butterflies in the family Nymphalidae (order......
sawfly
sawfly, (superfamily Tenthredinoidea), any of a large group of widely distributed insects that are thought to be......
scale insect
scale insect, any member of several families of insects (order Homoptera) that have a body covered by a protective......
scarab beetle
scarab beetle, (family Scarabaeidae), any of more than 30,000 species of beetles (insect order Coleoptera), one......
scorpionfly
scorpionfly, (order Mecoptera), any of several species of insects characterized by chewing mouthparts at the tip......
screwworm
screwworm, (genus Cochliomyia), any of four species of North and South American blow fly species named for the......
scurfy scale
scurfy scale, (Chionaspis furfura), a species of insect in the armoured scale family, Diaspididae (order Homoptera),......
seed beetle
seed beetle, (subfamily Bruchinae), any of some 1,350 species of beetles (insect order Coleoptera) whose larvae......
shield-backed katydid
shield-backed katydid, (subfamily Tettigoniinae), any of a group of insects (family Tettigoniidae, order Orthoptera)......
shining leaf chafer
shining leaf chafer, any member of the insect subfamily Rutelinae of the scarab family Scarabaeidae (order Coleoptera),......
shore bug
shore bug, any of the more than 200 species of small dark coloured insects with white or yellow markings that constitute......
shore fly
shore fly, (family Ephydridae), any member of a family of insects in the fly order, Diptera, that are small, dark......
short-horned grasshopper
short-horned grasshopper, (family Acrididae), family of more than 10,000 species of insects, the largest group......
silken fungus beetle
silken fungus beetle, (family Cryptophagidae), any of approximately 800 insect species (insect order Coleoptera)......
silkworm moth
silkworm moth, (Bombyx mori), lepidopteran whose caterpillar has been used in silk production (sericulture) for......
silverfish
silverfish, (Lepisma saccharina), species of quick-moving, slender, flat, wingless insect having three tail bristles......
skin beetle
skin beetle, (family Trogidae), any of approximately 300 widely distributed species of beetles in the superfamily......
skipper
skipper, (family Piophilidae), any member of a family of insects in the fly order, Diptera, in which the larvae......
skipper
skipper, (family Hesperiidae), any of the approximately 3,500 species of insects (order Lepidoptera) that occur......
slug caterpillar moth
slug caterpillar moth, (family Limacodidae), any of approximately 1,800 species of insects named for the sluglike......
smaller water strider
smaller water strider, (the latter name derives from the fact that the body, widest at the middle or hind legs,......
snakefly
snakefly, (order Raphidiodea or Raphidioptera), any of more than 175 species of insects that are easily recognized......
snipe fly
snipe fly, (family Rhagionidae), any member of a family of insects in the fly order, Diptera, that are dark-coloured......
social insect
social insect, any of numerous species of insects that live in colonies and manifest three characteristics: group......
soldier beetle
soldier beetle, any member of the approximately 3,500 species of the widely distributed insect family Cantharidae......
soldier fly
soldier fly, any member of the insect family Stratiomyidae (order Diptera), recognizable by the pattern of veins......
spider beetle
spider beetle, any member of about 500 species of insects sometimes considered a part of the family Anobiidae (order......
spider wasp
spider wasp, (family Pompilidae), any of about 5,000 species of large, parasitoid wasps that paralyze spiders to......
spongillafly
spongillafly, (family Sisyridae), any of a group of insects (order Neuroptera) that are smoky brown in colour and......
spongy moth
spongy moth, (Lymantria dispar), Eurasian moth species that is a serious pest of both deciduous and evergreen trees......
spotted lanternfly
spotted lanternfly, (Lycorma delicatula), visually striking species of plant hopper that feeds on the sap of numerous......
springtail
springtail, (order Collembola), any of approximately 6,000 small, primitive, wingless insects that range in length......
spruce budworm
spruce budworm, Larva of a leaf roller moth (Choristoneura fumiferana), one of the most destructive North American......
stable fly
stable fly, (Stomoxys calcitrans), a species of vicious bloodsucking fly in the family Muscidae (sometimes placed......
stag beetle
stag beetle, (family Lucanidae), any of some 900 species of beetles (insect order Coleoptera) in which the mandibles......
stalk-eyed fly
stalk-eyed fly, (family Diopsidae), any member of a family of unusual-looking flies (order Diptera) that have their......
stiletto fly
stiletto fly, (family Therevidae), any of about 1,600 species of insects in the fly order, Diptera. Adults are......
stilt bug
stilt bug, (family Berytidae), any of about 100 species of delicate, slender-bodied, slow moving, long-legged insects......
stingless bee
stingless bee, (tribe Meliponini), tribe of more than 600 species of social honey-making bees with highly reduced......
stink bug
stink bug, (family Pentatomidae), any of about 5,000 species of insects in the true bug suborder (Heteroptera),......
stonefly
stonefly, (order Plecoptera), any of about 2,000 species of insects, the adults of which have long antennae, weak,......
strepsipteran
strepsipteran, (order Strepsiptera), any of about 600 species of small insects that are notable for their bizarre......
sucking louse
sucking louse, (suborder Anoplura), any of some 500 species of small, wingless, flat lice (order Phthiraptera)......
sulfur butterfly
sulfur butterfly, (subfamily Coliadinae), any of a group of about 300 species of butterflies that are bright yellow......
swallowtail butterfly
swallowtail butterfly, (subfamily Papilioninae), any of a group of butterflies in the family Papilionidae (order......
sweat bee
sweat bee, (family Halictidae), large family of nearly 4,500 species of solitary bees known for their attraction......
swift
swift, (family Hepialidae), any of approximately 500 species of insects in the order Lepidoptera that are some......
Symphyta
Symphyta, one of two suborders of the insect order Hymenoptera, the other being Apocrita. Included in the group......
tachinid fly
tachinid fly, (family Tachinidae), any member of a family of insects in the fly order, Diptera. Adult tachinids......
tarantula hawk
tarantula hawk, (genus Pepsis), genus of about 130 species of spider wasps that paralyze spiders to feed their......
tent caterpillar moth
tent caterpillar moth, (genus Malacosoma), any of a group of moths in the family Lasiocampidae (order Lepidoptera)......
termite
termite, (order Isoptera), any of a group of cellulose-eating insects, the social system of which shows remarkable......
thick-headed fly
thick-headed fly, (family Conopidae), any member of a family of elongated, wasplike flies (order Diptera) that......
thread-waisted wasp
thread-waisted wasp, (subfamily Sphecinae), any of a group of large, common, solitary (nonsocial) wasps in the......
thrips
thrips, (order Thysanoptera), any of approximately 5,000 species of insects that are among the smallest of the......
tiger beetle
tiger beetle, (family Cicindelidae), family of more than 2,600 species of beetles named for the deft hunting skills......
tiger moth
tiger moth, (subfamily Arctiinae), any of about 11,000 species of moths. Many have furry or hairy larvae (caterpillars)......
tiger swallowtail
tiger swallowtail, any of several North American species of black-and-yellow swallowtail butterflies. The eastern......
tineid moth
tineid moth, (family Tineidae), any of a group of moths (order Lepidoptera) that includes several economically......
toad bug
toad bug, (family Gelastocoridae), any of some 100 species of insects in the true bug order, Heteroptera, that......
tortoise beetle
tortoise beetle, (subfamily Cassidinae), any member of more than 3,000 beetle species that resemble a turtle because......
treehopper
treehopper, (family Membracidae), any of approximately 3,200 species of insects (order Homoptera) that are easily......
trichogrammatid wasp
trichogrammatid wasp, (family Trichogrammatidae), any of a group of around 1,000 species of tiny, parasitic chalcid......
tsetse fly
tsetse fly, (genus Glossina), any of about two to three dozen species of bloodsucking flies in the housefly family,......
tumbling flower beetle
tumbling flower beetle, (family Mordellidae), any of about 1,500 species of beetles (insect order Coleoptera) named......
tussock moth
tussock moth, (family Lymantriidae), any of a group of moths (order Lepidoptera), the common name for which is......
unique-headed bug
unique-headed bug, (family Enicocephalidae), any of about 130 species of bugs (order Heteroptera) that have an......
velvet ant
velvet ant, (family Mutillidae), any of a group of about 3,000 species of wasps that are named for their fuzzy,......
velvet water bug
velvet water bug, (family Hebridae), any of approximately 120 species of insects in the true bug order, Heteroptera,......
velvety shore bug
velvety shore bug, any insect of the family Ochteridae (order Heteroptera), which numbers about 25 species. These......
vinegar fly
vinegar fly, (genus Drosophila), genus of small fruit flies comprising about 1,500 species. Some species, particularly......
walking stick
walking stick, (order Phasmatodea, or Phasmida), any of about 3,000 species of slow-moving insects that are green......
warble fly
warble fly, (family Oestridae), any member of a family of insects in the fly order, Diptera, sometimes classified......
wasp
wasp, any member of a large group of insects in the order Hymenoptera, suborder Apocrita, some of which are stinging.......
water beetle
water beetle, any of several thousand species of aquatic beetles (order Coleoptera), including members of the families......
water boatman
water boatman, (family Corixidae), any of more than 300 species of insects in the true bug order, Heteroptera,......
water scavenger beetle
water scavenger beetle, any of the approximately 3,200 species of the predominately aquatic insect superfamily......
water scorpion
water scorpion, any of the approximately 150 species of aquatic invertebrates of the family Nepidae (order Hemiptera).......
water strider
water strider, any insect of the family Gerridae (order Heteroptera), which numbers about 350 species. Water striders,......
water treader
water treader, any insect of the approximately 30 species of the family Mesoveliidae (order Heteroptera). These......
weaver ant
weaver ant, (genus Oecophylla), genus of two species of arboreal ants easily recognized by their intricate nests......
webspinner
webspinner, (order Embioptera), any of about 170 species of insects that are delicate, are yellow or brown in colour,......
weevil
weevil, (family Curculionidae), true weevil of the insect order Coleoptera (beetles and weevils). Curculionidae......
western honeybee
western honeybee, (Apis mellifera), extremely economically important species of honeybee valued for its pollination......
What do ants eat?
There are approximately 10,000 species of ants on Earth, with a wide range of diets and behaviors among them. Many......
What Purposes Do Mosquitoes Serve in Ecosystems?
All of us have experienced this: It’s nighttime, and we’re drifting off to sleep when we think we hear something......
What Would Happen If All the Bees Died?
There are about 20,000 species of bees in the world, and they are probably the most important insect pollinators.......
What’s the Difference Between a Bee and a Wasp?
Ask a summertime picnicker what their biggest annoyance is, and the answer will likely be “bees.” Landing on uncovered......
What’s the Difference Between a Grasshopper and a Cricket?
Grasshoppers and crickets can look pretty similar at first glance, especially given their enormous hind legs, which......
What’s the difference between hornets and wasps?
In short: hornets are wasps, but not all wasps are hornets. Wasps are a diverse group of insects with over 100,000......
What’s the difference between moths and butterflies?
Most people are generally familiar with moths and butterflies. You might recognize a beautiful butterfly in a garden......
wheel bug
wheel bug, (Arilus cristatus), species of large, primarily North American assassin bug named for the distinctive......
Where Do Honeybees Go in the Winter?
Have you ever seen a honeybee in the winter? Most people in temperate climates probably have not. Without blankets,......
whirligig beetle
whirligig beetle, (family Gyrinidae), any of about 700 species of beetles (insect order Coleoptera) that are widespread......