Insects and Spiders - Insects 2

Insects have exoskeletons which means their skeletons are on the outside of their bodies. Not only does this protect the insect, it also keeps water inside their bodies so they don't dry out. Many insects can carry 50 times their own body weight. This is the equivalent of an adult human lifting two cars full of people!

To enjoy the following images even more, click on them for a bigger picture.

Insect repellents generally don't work on this alien-looking insect - the pale giant horse-fly. However, the fly is not too keen on what?

Photograph courtesy of Thomas Bresson

Garlic

Smoke

Wind chimes

Coffee

Order: Diptera
Family: Tabanidae
Genus: Tabanus
Species: T. bovinus
A relatively large insect for its type.
Adults are approximately 25-30 mm in length.
More than capable of dodging the flyswatt with ease!
They only fly on sunny days in hot weather.

What is the name of this insect?

Photograph courtesy of Simon A. Eugster

Speckled bush-cricket

Stag beetle

Golden ground beetle

Rhinoceros beetle

Order: Coleoptera
Family: Lucanidae
Genus: Lucanus
Species: L. cervus
A globablly threatened species, protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act.
Common in London, Thames Valley and Essex.
It is Britain's largest terrestrial insect.
Can be anything between 5-8 cms in length - and they can fly!

What is the name of this insect?

Photograph courtesy of Richard Bartz

Beautiful Demoiselle

German cockroach

Golden-ringed Dragonfly

Field Cricket

Order: Odonata
Family: Calopterygidae
Genus: Calopteryx
Species: C. virgo
Males have purple-brown wings which become bluer as they get older.
Lifespan is approximately two years.
They prefer fast flowing streams and rivers.
Females can lay up to 300 eggs at any one time.

What is the name of this insect?

Photograph courtesy of Gilles San Martin

European honey bee

Red ant

Ladybird

Forest bug

Order: Coleoptera
Family: Coccinellidae
One of our most-loved and cherished insects.
Widespread throughout the UK and very common in gardens whether rural, suburban or urban.
Welcomed by gardeners as they eat aphids, which are considered a pest.
Used as a logo by a publishing company, famous for children's books.

What is the name of this insect?

Photograph courtesy of Mick E. Talbot

Lesser earwig

German cockroach

Common earwig

Erratic ant

Order: Dermaptera
Family: Forficulidae
Genus: Forficula
Species: F. auricularia
A nocturnal insect that tends to hide during the day.
They are not fussy when it comes to food - plant or animal will suffice!
The adults of both male and female have a pincer-like 'tail'.
Generally speaking, not well-liked by humans.

What is the name of this insect?

Photograph courtesy of Rasbak

Garden bumblebee

Stick insect

European honey bee

Lesser earwig

Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Apidae
Genus: Bombus
Species: B. hortorum
A large furry insect and they tend to keep themselves to themselves.
They can sting but only under prolonged provocation.
Males have no sting.
Some species are 'cuckoos' in that the female will take over an already established nest of another species.