INSECTS

• Insects are hexapod invertebrates which have a three-part body

type. This includes the head, thorax and abdomen, as well as
compound eyes, a pair of antennae, and three pairs of jointed
legs.
• There are more than a million different species of insects on the
planet; it is estimated that there are nearly 6-10 million number
of extant species of insects. Over 90% of all life forms on the
planet are actually insects.
• Insects are commonly found in any and all environments from
underwater to the land. We have outlined some of the most
common ones for easier identification.
1. Ants
• Scientific name:
Myrmecia gulosa
• Common Name: Ant
• A colony of ants on a
block of thick wood.
• Ants belong to the
Formicidae family.

They have a node-like structure, slender waists, and

elbowed antennae. They have huge organized colonies and
form territories with millions of individuals which include
workers, soldiers, and other specialized groups. Some
species also live in smaller natural cavities.
2. Mosquito

• Scientific name:
Anopheles gambiae
• Common Name:
Mosquito
• A black mosquito,
biting a person’s skin.

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.
3. Flies
• Scientific name:
 Diptera
• Common Name:
Flies

Flies have a pair of functional wings and use vestigial

hindwings to balance themselves. They have a pair of
compound eyes, a pair of wings, antennae, mobile heads,
and mouthparts designed to suck or pierce.
4. Fruit Flies
• Scientific name:
Drosophila
• Common Name:
Flies
• They eat fruit,
hence the name.

They infest when fruit is around during warm months.

5. Gnats
• Scientific name:
Tephritidae
• Common Name:
Gnats
• Gnats are tiny
flying insects.

“Gnat” is a loose descriptive category rather thana phylogenetic

6. Fleas
• Scientific name:
Siphonaptera
• Common Name: Flea
• Fleas on human skin,
preparing to suck
blood.

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.
7. Termites
• Scientific name:
Termitoidae 
• Common Name: Termite
• Termites shared common
ancestors with those of
cockroaches and are part
of the epifamily
Termitoidae

They feed on cellulose and dead plant material like animal dung,
wood, and soil.
Termites are an invasive species and can cause harm to house
structures, furniture, books, and documents.
8. Beetles

• Scientific name:
Coleoptera 
• Common Name: Beetle
• A jewel beetle on a
green leaf.
• Beetles are part of the
order of Coleoptera

They live in almost every habitat on the planet except for

the poles and the sea.
They often feed on fungi and plants but can also be found
eating other invertebrates, animals, and plant debris.
9. Bees

• Scientific name:
Anthophila. 
• Common Name:
Bees

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.
10. Bed bugs

• Scientific name:
 Cimicosis
• Common Name:
Bedbug
• A bed bug is a notorious
parasite living in
people’s bedroom.

One of the worst home-invading insects are bed bugs

because they bite, are gross (verging on frightening) and
disturb our sleep.
Bedbugs feed on human blood and are nocturnal creatures.