Insect ABCs
A is for Aphid
Some ants maintain herds of aphids to harvest the sugary fluid they produce
B is for Bee
Most bee species do not live in hives, most are solitary
C is for Caterpillar
Caterpillars can become either butterflies or moths
D is for Damselfly
Damselflies look similar to dragonflies, but are smaller and usually rest with wings folded over their bodies rather than out to the sides
G is for Giraffe Beetle
The giraffe weevil gets its name from its long neck and is endemic to Madagascar
J is for Jewel Beetle
The metallic colors of these beetles are created, not by pigment, but by the way the layers of exoskeleton reflect light
M is for Monarch
The monarch migration from Mexico to Canada each year includes four generations, so the butterflies that leave are ancestors of those that return
P is for Picasso Bug
These insects bright spots, along with a bad smell they can produce, warn predators to stay away
S is for Scorpionfly
The end of the scorpionfly’s abdomen looks like that of a scorpion, however they have no sting
V is for Velvet Ant
Contrary to their name, these insects are actually wasps. They have a very painful sting, but use it only in defense and are not aggressive
Y is for Yellow Monday Cicada
This is a color variation of an Australian cicada. This species can be yellow, green, turquoise or brown depending on pigments present
E is for Eyed Click Beetle
Click beetles have a body part that allows them to jump quickly through the air and produces a clicking sound
H is for Harlequin Beetle
These beetles can be up to 3 inches long and are often found transporting pseudoscorpions under their wings
K is for Katydid
Katydids have slender antennae that can exceed their body length while grasshoppers have short, thick antennae
N is for Net-winged Midge
Like many insects with aquatic larvae, these midges provide a measure of water quality
Q is for Question Mark Butterfly
While their wings are brightly colored on one side, when they close them these butterflies blend in perfectly with dead leaves
T is for Tiger Beetle
Relative to body size, these are some of the fastest animals with speeds of up to 5.6 mph; the human equivalent would be 480 mph
W is for Walking Stick
Stick insects are well-camouflaged among plants and trees. They are also large, ranging from 0.6 in to over 20 in with their legs stretched out.
Z is for Zebra Butterfly
These butterflies roost in groups of up to 60 for protection. They also feed on pollen as well as nectar, making them more distasteful to predators.
F is for Firefly
Fireflies are beetles and their flashing patterns are a form of communication
I is for Io Moth
Io moths do all of their eating as caterpillars and do not eat as adults
L is for Lacewing
Lacewings are great natural pest control, they eat many garden pests
O is for Orchid Mantis
These masters of camouflage can hide among orchid flowers and are also able to change the color of their bodies based on their background
R is for Red-nosed Laternfly
Lanternflies were named based on the mistaken belief that their snouts produced light
U is for Unicorn Beetle
Also known as rhinoceros beetles and hercules beetles, these insects can have large horns and can reach a total length of 7 inches
X is for Xerces Butterfly
The extinction of this butterfly is believed to have been caused by urban development leading to the loss of the host plant used by its larvae