Insect Orders
The major taxonomic groups of the insect world â from beetles to butterflies, ants to dragonflies.
Angel Insects
Zoraptera
One of the smallest and least-known insect orders with about 40 species. Tiny gregarious insects found under bark feeding on fungal spores....
10 species đAnts, Bees & Wasps
Hymenoptera
One of the most ecologically important orders, including key pollinators and social insects. Many species exhibit complex social behavior an...
642 species đĒ˛Beetles
Coleoptera
The largest order of insects, comprising about 25% of all known animal species. Beetles are found in nearly every habitat and are distinguis...
1299 species đĻButterflies & Moths
Lepidoptera
Known for their large, often colorful wings covered in tiny scales. Lepidoptera undergo complete metamorphosis through egg, larva, pupa, and...
809 species đCaddisflies
Trichoptera
Closely related to moths. Their aquatic larvae are famous for building portable cases from silk, sand, pebbles, and plant material. Key indi...
62 species đĒŗCockroaches & Termites
Blattodea
One of the most ancient insect orders, dating back over 300 million years. Includes both cockroaches and termites, which were recently recla...
189 species đĻˇDobsonflies & Alderflies
Megaloptera
Large-winged insects with aquatic larvae. Males of some dobsonfly species have enormous sickle-shaped mandibles used in mating combat....
19 species đĒģDragonflies & Damselflies
Odonata
Ancient predatory insects with large multifaceted eyes and two pairs of strong transparent wings. They are agile fliers and important predat...
185 species âī¸Earwigs
Dermaptera
Recognizable by the forceps-like pincers (cerci) on their abdomen. Despite myths, earwigs do not enter human ears. Most are nocturnal omnivo...
20 species đĻFleas
Siphonaptera
Wingless parasites with laterally compressed bodies and powerful jumping legs. They can jump up to 150 times their body length and are vecto...
23 species đĒ°Flies
Diptera
Characterized by having only two wings, with the hindwings reduced to halteres used for balance. Diptera includes mosquitoes, gnats, midges,...
368 species đĄī¸Gladiators
Mantophasmatodea
The most recently described insect order, discovered in 2002. Small wingless predatory insects found only in Africa, sometimes called heelwa...
6 species đĻGrasshoppers & Crickets
Orthoptera
Known for their powerful hind legs adapted for jumping. Many species produce sounds by stridulation and are important herbivores in grasslan...
218 species đ§Ice Crawlers
Grylloblattodea
Rare wingless insects found in cold mountainous environments. They live on glaciers and snowfields at near-freezing temperatures....
10 species đ§Lacewings & Antlions
Neuroptera
Delicate insects with large, veined wings. Lacewing larvae are voracious predators of aphids, while antlion larvae build conical sand traps....
112 species đŦLice
Phthiraptera
Obligate parasites that live on birds and mammals. They have flattened bodies and strong claws for gripping hair or feathers. Species-specif...
16 species đMantises
Mantodea
Predatory insects known for their raptorial forelegs and triangular heads that can rotate 180 degrees. They are ambush predators with excell...
137 species đĒŊMayflies
Ephemeroptera
Among the most ancient winged insects. Adults live only hours to days, just long enough to mate. Their aquatic nymphs are important indicato...
56 species đĻScorpionflies
Mecoptera
Named for the males upturned abdomen tip that resembles a scorpion stinger but is harmless. They are considered among the most primitive hol...
13 species đĒĩStick Insects
Phasmatodea
Masters of camouflage that resemble twigs, leaves, or bark. Some species can reproduce parthenogenetically and many can regenerate lost limb...
131 species đĒ¨Stoneflies
Plecoptera
Aquatic insects found near clean, cold streams. Their nymphs require high-oxygen water, making adults excellent bioindicators of water quali...
53 species đī¸Termites (traditional)
Isoptera
Now classified within Blattodea, termites are eusocial insects that build elaborate mound structures. They play crucial roles in decompositi...
0 species đžThrips
Thysanoptera
Tiny slender insects with fringed wings. Many are agricultural pests that damage crops by feeding on plant juices. Some species are predator...
24 species đTrue Bugs
Hemiptera
Distinguished by their piercing-sucking mouthparts. Includes cicadas, aphids, planthoppers, leafhoppers, assassin bugs, bed bugs, and shield...
366 species đTwisted-Wing Parasites
Strepsiptera
Bizarre endoparasitic insects with extreme sexual dimorphism. Males have twisted hindwings while females are often limbless and spend their ...
19 species