Types of Insects

Types of Insects Types of Ants Types of Bees Types of Beetles Types of Bugs Types of Butterflies Types of Cockroaches Types of Dragonflies Types of Flies Types of Moths Types of Spiders Types of Wasps Images Butterfly Pictures Caterpillar Pictures Grasshopper Pictures Ladybug Pictures Moth Pictures Dragonfly Pictures Pictures of Insects

Insects are the most numerous, and arguably the most dominant, form of life on earth. Hardly a day goes by when any single person does not meet up with at least one insect species.

Because they are so numerous, identifying insects can be difficult past the point of knowning that a dragonfly is a dragonfly or a wasp is a wasp.

When entomologists talk about different types of insects, they are referring to the bugs in the Class Insecta, or the bugs defined as insects because they have three body parts (head, thorax and abdomen) and six legs.

The types of insects found in the United States are organized into almost thirty different orders, some more familiar than others. This section presents some of the most common insect orders in an orderly fashion. The links provided in the following list point to general information about the orders.

• Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (Hymenoptera)
• Beetles (Coleoptera)
• Bugs (Hemiptera)
• Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera)
• Cockroaches (Blattodea)
• Dragonflies and Damselflies (Odonata)
• Earwigs (Dermaptera)
• Flies (Diptera)
• Grasshoppers, Katydids and Crickets (Orthoptera)
• Mantids (Mantodea)
• Snakeflies (Raphidioptera)
• Stoneflies (Plecoptera)
• True Bugs: Order Hemiptera
• Walkingsticks (Phasmida)

The links in the box on the right point to more detailed species information within different isnect orders.

The large number of insect species present in any given location often create identification difficulties. The articles beginning with types of discuss ways that the specific groups commonly get organized. The listed picture albums provide pictorial essays with details of individual insect species or insect orders.

The remaining articles discuss more general insect and bug topics.

Insect Collection is a popular hobby for people of all ages. Read about the many different insect collection options.

Dragonfly Facts

Insect Cover Art
When you talk about rock and roll music, insects are usually not a big conversation starter.

Insect ID Quiz
Improve your insect identification skills with this quiz.

Swarming Locusts in the United States
Brief review of recent research.

Will Global Warming Help Honey Bees Dance?
This article discusses global warming and honey bee populations.

© 2008-2009 Patricia A. Michaels