15 examples of insects

Insect, (class Insecta or Hexapoda), any member of the largest class of the phylum Arthropoda, which is itself
the largest of the animal phyla. Insects have segmented bodies, jointed legs, and external skeletons
(exoskeletons). Insects are distinguished from other arthropods by their body, which is divided into three major
regions: the head, which bears the mouthparts, eyes, and a pair of antennae, the three-segmented thorax, which
usually has three pairs of legs (hence “Hexapoda”) in adults and usually one or two pairs of wings, and the
many-segmented abdomen, which contains the digestive, excretory, and reproductive organs.

1.ANTS
Scientific name: Diacamma rugosum
There are about 400 species of ants in the Philippines. One such type is the
Diacamma rugosum, or queen-less ponerine ant, a ground-dwelling ant that
is common in rainforest climates. The ant is a hunter-gatherer species and
feeds on dead insects and sweet secretions. It forms small colonies
consisting of only 50 to 150 other ants.
2. PORTIA SPIDER
Scientific name: Portia fimbriata
The Portia Spider is of the Salticidae family and is a jumping species of
spider common to the Philippines. Instead of building webs to catch its prey,
the spider uses deception and mimicry to catch and eat other spiders. This
means it mimics something its intended victim finds attractive, then hunts
the victim.

3. BUG/ BEETLE
Scientific name: Scotinophara coarctata
Rice Black Bug is a common pest in the Philippines. It's classified as a "sap-
feeding" insect that feeds off rice plants at all stages of the plant's life. The
insects infest the base of the rice plant stem and drain it of its sap, which
eventually causes it to die. Ladybugs are mainly found in tropical and
temperate regions of the world. They are red, yellow, or orange in color with
small black spots on the cover of their wings.There are several types of Stink
Bugs but the one that’s most troublesome is the brown Marmorated stink
bug because they’re the little pesky types that invade homes. The others
prefer the great outdoors. The Asiatic rhinoceros beetle or coconut
rhinoceros beetle, attacks the developing fronds of Raffia, coconut, oil, and
other palms in tropical islands. Damaged fronds show typical triangular cuts.
The beetle kills the palms (particularly newly planted ones) when the
growing point is destroyed during feeding. The larvae do not damage crops,
but instead grow in dead, decaying trunks and other organic matter.
4. BUTTERFLIES
Scientific name: Lepidoptera
Butterflies have big, brightly colored wings and have a fluttering flight.
They have been estimated to be on the planet for almost 56 million years.
They have a typical four-stage life cycle and reproduce by laying eggs. They
are usually found in tropical regions, but some species also survive in cold
locations. They are polymorphic creatures, which means that different
species have different colors and patterns. They use this to evade predators
by camouflage, aposematism, and mimicry.
5. MOTH
Scientific name: Opodiphthera eucalypti
 Is a large saturniid moth found in the tropical and subtropical forests of
Southeast Asia, and is common across the Malay Archipelago. Atlas moths
were often considered the largest moths in the world in terms of total wing
surface area, but recent sources confer this title upon the Hercules Moth
from New Guinea and northern Australia. Their wingspans are also amongst
the largest, reaching over 25 cm (9.8 in). Females are appreciably larger and
heavier than the males.
6. GRASSHOPPERS
Scientific name: Tettigonia viridissima
Grasshoppers have the typical insect body plan of
head, thorax and abdomen. The head is held vertically at an angle to the
body, with the mouth at the bottom. The head bears a large pair
of compound eyes which give all-round vision, three simple eyes which can
detect light and dark, and a pair of thread-like antennae that are sensitive to
touch and smell. The downward-directed mouthparts are modified for
chewing and there are two sensory palps in front of the jaws

7. DRAGONFLIES
Scientific name: Neurothemis Terminate 
A species of dragonfly in family Libellulidae. They belong to the order of
Odonata and are known for their unequal sized wings. Their hind wings are
broader than their forewings, and they have multi-faced eyes as well as
elongated bodies. Sometimes they can be seen with colored patches and can
be found in brilliant metallic or iridescent colorations. Their eyes have
nearly 24,000 ommatidia each. Dragonfly ancestors have been present
on earth for more than 325 million years ago when their wings used to be 30
in wide. Dragonflies have around 3,000 species around the world.
Most dragonflies are found in tropical regions, but some species live in
temperate regions. They are predatory creatures, even in their aquatic larval
stage. They are really agile and fast fliers, with some even crossing oceans in
migration seasons. Due to the loss of wetland habitats, the number of
dragonflies has fallen.
8. MOSQUITO
Scientific name:Anopheles gambiae
Mosquitoes have 3,500 known species from the order of the Diptera. They
have a pair of wings, segmented bodies, three pairs of legs, elongated
mouths, and feathery antennae. They have been recorded to be on this planet
since 90 million old. They lay eggs on the surface of the water to reproduce.
They have tube-like mouths which they use to pierce the skin of their host.
Mosquitoes suck on the blood as a source of protein and iron. While biting
the host, they transmit some of their saliva to the host. This can result in
itching or a rash. Some species of the mosquito also play a huge role in the
transmission of diseases like dengue fever, Zika virus, malaria, yellow fever,
West Nile virus, and many others. They are responsible for over 700,000
deaths annually, which is more than any other animal.
9. FLIES
Scientific name: Diptera
They have a pair of functional wings and use vestigial hindwings to balance
themselves. They have around 125,000 classified species including the
commonly known housefly and horse fly. They have been on this planet for
around 240 million years. They have a pair of compound eyes, a pair of
wings, antennae, mobile heads, and mouthparts designed to suck or pierce.
Their halteres are responsible for the high-speed sensors that allow them
advanced aerobatics and rotational movement. Fruit flies scientific name
is Drosophila. They eat fruit, hence the name. They infest when fruit is
around during warm months. They can be a nuisance for sure and when it
rains fruit flies, it pours. They have short life-cycles and undergo
metamorphosis from when they hatch to adulthood. They are the second
most important pollinators after bees since they survive on liquefied foods
like nectar. Houseflies are often responsible for food-borne illnesses and can
be a huge annoyance.

10. FLEAS
Scientific name: Aphaniptera.
Fleas have over 2,500 species and survive as external parasites on birds and
mammals. They survive on blood or hematophagy that they collect from
their hosts. They are usually brown in color and have narrow or flat bodies.
They have really strong claws that they use to hang on to the skin of the
host. Their hind legs are used for jumping, and they have mouthparts that are
used to suck blood and pierce the skin.

11. TERMITES
Scientific name: Coptotermes gestroi
Termites shared common ancestors with those of cockroaches and are part of
the epifamily Termitoidae. There are around 3,106 species of termites and
were once called ‘white ants.’ They work on a system of division of labor
like ants and bees. They have fertile Kings and Queens, as well as sterile
workers and soldiers. They feed on cellulose and dead plant material like
animal dung, wood, and soil. They help to recycle wood and plant matter
and are found mainly in tropical and subtropical regions. Termites are an
invasive species and can cause harm to house structures, furniture, books,
and documents.
12. BEES
Scientific name: Tetragonula carbonaria
Bees are closely related to ants and wasps and belong to the Apoidea family.
They are flying insects that have a huge role in the pollination process. The
most known species of the bee is the Western Honey Bee which makes
beeswax and honey. They are social creatures, and most live in colonies.
They feed on pollen and nectar which is their primary energy source. There
has been a steady decline in the number of wild bees which has impacted the
pollination process. Efforts are being made to protect bees since they play a
crucial role in the dissemination of flowers and vegetation.
13. WASPS
Scientific name: Vespula vulgaris
Wasps are part of the Hymenoptera order. They have a common ancestor
with the Bee and the Ant. They are paraphyletic but do not form clades like
ants and bees. Some wasp species are pollinators while others are predators.
The most common wasps’ species are yellowjackets and hornets, which are
part of the Vespidae family. They live together as non-reproducing workers
under a fertile Queen. Majority of wasps species are solitary creatures that
live and breed separately. Solitary wasps are usually parasitoidal which
means that they lay their eggs in or on other insects. The wasp larvae usually
kill the host unlike other parasites

14. COCKROACHES
Scientific name: Shelfordella lateralis
Cockroaches are part of the same order as termites called the Blattodea.
There are 4,600 species of cockroaches, out of which 30 species are
associated with humans. 4 species of 4,600 species are actually well-known
as common pests. The world often depicts them as dirty pests, but most of
the cockroach species live all over the world as non-destructive insects.
Some species like the gregarious German cockroach have elaborate social
structures with kin recognition, information transfer, social dependence, and
common shelters. They have chewing mouthparts and are hardy insects.
They can survive in tropical heat and even the Arctic cold. Tropical roaches
are bigger than the species that live in temperate zones.

15. FIREFLY
Scientific name: Photuris lucicrescens
Fireflies are called Lampyridae and are part of the Coleoptera. They have
wings and are soft-bodied beetles. They are commonly recognized due to
their use bioluminescence which helps them attract prey and mates. In many
regions over the world, they are called ‘glow worms’. They produce a cold
light that has no ultraviolet or infrared frequencies. The light is produced
through a chemical reaction in the lower abdomen region and maybe pale
red, green, or yellow. Some species in the Eastern United States also emit
seemingly blue light. There are around 2,100 species of the fireflies that live
in tropical and temperate climates. They live in habitats like marshes or wet,
wooded areas and lay eggs where food is in abundance. Some species lay
eggs that also emit light.