Profiles Index

Bagworm (Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis)
Bagworm is not a worm, but a moth whose larvae disguise themselves in bags made from bits of foliage. A native pest of North America, bagworm infests popular landscape evergreens like arborvitae and junipers.

Mosquitoes - Family Culicidae
Mosquitoes bite people on six continents, and you can probably recognize one when it lands on your arm. Mosquitoes belong to the family Culicidae, in the order Diptera, the true flies. This article describes the mosquito's defining characteristics, its life cycle, and its habits.

Stink Bugs - Family Pentatomidae
Stink bugs may be friend or foe of the gardener, depending on the species. Some feed on plants, wreaking havoc in the garden, while others prey on insects, keeping pests under control. If you find a stink bug, be sure not to disturb it or you'll discover how they got their name.

Order Diptera - Characteristics of True Flies
Insects of the order Diptera, the true flies, are a large and diverse group that includes midges, no-see-ums, gnats, mosquitoes, and all manner of flies. Diptera literally means "two wings," the unifying characteristic of this group.

Order Phasmida - Characteristics of Stick and Leaf Insects
The order Phasmida includes some of the best camouflage artists in the insect world - the stick and leaf insects. In fact, the order name comes from the Greek word [i]phasma[/i], meaning apparition. The order is sometimes called Phasmatodea.

Order Siphonaptera - Characteristics of Fleas
Fleas brought the Black Death to people in the Middle Ages, performed in sideshow circuses in the 19th century, and infested millions of pet-loving households in recent decades. Why not learn a bit about these interesting insects?

Eastern Tent Caterpillar (Malacosoma americanum)
Eastern tent caterpillars are best recognized by their characteristic silken tents in the crotches of cherry and apple trees. These moth larvae may be confused with another spring caterpillar, the gypsy moth, or by another tent builder, the fall webworm. Get to know the eastern tent caterpillars characteristics and habits.

Order Isoptera - Characteristics of Termites
Homeowners live in fear of termites. These social insects feed on the cellulose in wood and wood by-products, including the structural lumber of buildings. Termites of the order Isoptera first appeared over 250 millions years ago. The name Isoptera means equal wing; primary reproductive adults have two pairs of wings, equal in length.

Silver-Spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus)
The silver-spotted skipper is a common resident of fields, meadows, parks, and gardens. With it's brown wings and quick flight from flower to flower,it's often overlooked for slower, brighter butterflies.

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
The Painted Lady inhabits backyards and meadows throughout most of the world, and is the most widespread butterfly species. Schoolchildren often recognize this butterfly, as raising these butterflies is a popular science activity in elementary classrooms.

Characteristics: Order Coleoptera
The order Coleoptera is the largest group in the insect world, and comprises nearly a quarter of all the described animal species on Earth. These articles include profiles of beetles and their families, and information on their behaviors and characteristics.

Alien Invasive Insects - What Are Alien Invasive Insects?
Some organisms, including insects, are referred to as alien invasive species or exotic invasive species. Put simply, these organisms were introduced, intentionally or accidentally, into an ecosystem outside their own and managed to thrive. Alien invasive species can tip the balance in an ecosystem, sometimes with serious environmental and economic consequences.

Blacklegged Tick (Ixodes scapularis)
Walk in the woods anywhere in the northeastern U.S., and you stand a good chance of encountering this ectoparasite best known for spreading Lyme disease. Most people refer to this species as the deer tick.

What Are Arachnids?
The class Arachnida includes a diverse group of arthropods: spiders, scorpions, ticks, mites, harvestmen, and their cousins. All members of this group share certain common characteristics. Arachnids provide an important service, keeping insect populations under control.

Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar)
The World Conservation Union ranks the gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar, on its list of "100 of the World's Most Invasive Alien Species." Accidentally introduced to the U.S. in the late 1860's, the gypsy moth now consumes a million acres of forest each year, on average.

Asian Longhorned Beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis)
The Asian Longhorned Beetle, an invasive pest from China, was discovered in New York and Illinois in the 1990's. So far, the only method of control for Asian Longhorned Beetles requires removing and chipping infested trees, along with potential host trees, in the area where it is discovered. A well-informed public may be our best defense against this invasive species.

Asian Multicolored Lady Beetle (Harmonia axyridis)
One of our most common lady beetles, the Asian Multicolored Lady Beetle, is actually a native of Asia. Now well-established across North America, this hungry predator devours aphids and other soft-bodied insects in gardens and home landscapes.

Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)
The honey bee, Apis mellifera, is one of several species of bees that produce honey. Honey bees live in colonies, or hives, of 50,000 bees on average. A honey bee colony consists of a queen, drones, and workers. All play roles in the survival of the community.

Monarch Butterfly (Danaus Plexippus)
The Monarch butterfly, familiar to nearly everyone in North America, depends on milkweed plants for caterpillars to eat. The orange and black butterflies are best known for their seasonal migrations to and from Mexico.

Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)
The Black Swallowtail, one of North America’s most common butterflies, frequently visits backyard gardens. Nicknamed parsley worms, the caterpillars feed on parsley, dill, fennel, and other members of the carrot family. This article is a profile of the Black Swallowtail, Papilio polyxenes.

Order Araneae - Characteristics of Spiders
Most people can recognize a spider, but do you know what characteristics make a spider a spider?

Characteristics: Order Dictyoptera
The order Dictyoptera includes two unlikely cousins - the cockroaches and the mantids. Though these groups may seem quite different at first, cockroaches and mantids share a number of characteristics.

What Are Insects?
The most basic definition of an insect is an organism with three pairs of legs and three body regions – head, thorax, and abdomen. Entomologists, scientists who study insects, might also add that insects have a pair of antennae and external mouthparts. As you learn more about insects, you will find there are some exceptions to these rules.

Women in History Who Contributed to the Field of Entomology
A handful of women, each with a passion for insects, made significant contributions to the field of entomology throughout history. Women entomologists discovered new species, traveled the world to collect insects, published scientific papers in entomology journals, and even worked with Charles Darwin.

Honey Bees - Communication Within the Honey Bee Colony
As social insects living in a colony, honey bees must communicate with one another. Honey bees use movement, odor cues, and even food exchanges to share information.