The world of insects is diverse and fascinating! There are more species of insects than all other animals put together. Insects can be predators, prey, hosts, parasites, decomposers and even herbivores.
What are Insects?
Insects are a class of invertebrates and belong to a large group of the animal kingdom called arthropods. They make up to 84% of known animals in the world. Yes, insects are also animals.
Arthropods have a three part body- head, thorax and abdomen; three pairs of jointed legs; compound eyes and one pair of antennae. All arthropods are exoskeleton; i.e.; their skeletons are outside their body.
There are over 7,00,000 different species of insects in the world! Most insects live on land and are very well adapted to their environment. Insects come from eggs, growing through various stages or metamorphosis to reach adulthood.
What is the Largest Insect in the World?
The Giant Weta is termed as the largest and heaviest insect in the world. It is found in New Zealand. They can be up to 10 cm long excluding their legs and antenna and can weigh more than 35 grams; some even 70 grams.
What is the Smallest Insect in the World?
On the other hand, Fairyflies are the smallest insects in the world and are only 0.5 to 1 mm in length. Found in temperate tropical regions they are rarely noticed by humans because of their size. There are various types of insects.
Take a look at the A to Z list of insects of our world,
|
No. |
A – Z |
A to Z Insect Name |
|
1 |
A | Archaeognatha (bristletails) |
|
2 |
B | Blattodea (cockroaches) |
|
3 |
C | Coleoptera (beetles) |
|
4 |
C | Dermaptera (earwigs) |
|
5 |
D | Diptera (flies) |
|
6 |
E | Embioptera (web-spinners) |
|
7 |
E | Ephemeroptera (mayflies) |
|
8 |
F | Flea beetles (leaf insects) |
|
9 |
G | Grylloblattodea (rock crawlers) |
|
10 |
H | Hemiptera (bugs) |
|
11 |
H | Hymenoptera (bees, wasps, ants, sawflies) |
|
12 |
I | Isoptera (termites) |
|
13 |
J | Japanese beetle (beetles) |
|
14 |
K | Katydids (grasshoppers) |
|
15 |
L | Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies) |
|
16 |
M | Mantodea (mantids) |
|
17 |
M | Megaloptera (dobsonflies and alderflies) |
|
18 |
M | Mecoptera (scorpionflies) |
|
19 |
N | Neuroptera (antlions and lacewings) |
|
20 |
O | Odonata (damselflies and dragonflies) |
|
21 |
O | Orthoptera (crickets and grasshoppers) |
|
22 |
P | Plecoptera (stoneflies) |
|
23 |
P | Phasmotodea (stick and leaf insects) |
|
24 |
P | Psocoptera (barklice and booklice) |
|
25 |
P | Phthiraptera (parasitic lice) |
|
26 |
Q | Queen Alexandra’s Birdwing (butterfly) |
|
27 |
R | Rapdhidioptera (snakeflies) |
|
28 |
S | Strepsiptera (strepsipterans) |
|
29 |
S | Siphonaptera (fleas) |
|
30 |
T | Thysanura (silverfish) |
|
31 |
T | Thysanoptera (thrips) |
|
32 |
T | Trichoptera (caddisflies) |
|
33 |
U | Unlined Giant Chafer Beetle (leaf insects) |
|
34 |
V | Viceroy (butterfly) |
|
35 |
V | Velvet mites (bugs) |
|
36 |
W | Whiteflies (white moths) |
|
37 |
X | Xylocopid bees (bees) |
|
38 |
Y | Yellow Ants (ants) |
|
39 |
Z | Zoraptera (angel insects) |