87 Scientific Names Of Insects To Ace Your Science Class

The Latin word 'insecta' is used some common organisms, including bees, true bugs, moths, beetles, and ants.

In order to understand the scientific name or genus of an insect, you need to understand the meaning of the Latin terms from which their names are derivied. Most insects belong to the phylum Arthropoda or Coleoptera.

Some of the most widespread insects that you will find interesting are honey bee, bumblebee, German cockroach, atlas moth mosquitoes, Polyphemus, stag beetle, wasp, dung beetle, flies, and tomato hornworm.

If you're seeking insect scientific names, then here are some names options.

Agrilus Planipennis (Emerald Ash Borer), the flatheads, big black eyes, and bullet-shaped dark metallic-green bodies of Emerald ash borers make them stand out.

Agrotis Ipsilon (Cutworms) is usually black colored but can be gray to black in color with a pale stripe running down the middle of their back.

Anisoptera (Dragonflies) are adult dragonflies that have long, thin abdomens, huge, multifaceted eyes, and two pairs of long, slender wings with net-like veins. They are typically vividly colored.

Anthophila (Bees) are insects with wings that are associated with wasps & ants.

Aphidoidea (Aphids) are little, soft-bodied insects with different colors, including green, yellow, brown, red, and black.

Caelifera (Grasshoppers) are a kind of garden pests.

Calliphoridae (Adult Blowflies) are metallic blue, green, copper, or black in color and have the appearance of houseflies.

Camponotus Pennsylvanicus (Carpenter Ant) does seem to be prevalent insect, although they have some unique features.

Cimex Lectularius (Bed Bugs) are blood-feeding insects that are most active at night and belong to the Cimex family.

Coleopteran (Beetles) are evolutionarily advantageous in a number of ways. They are vital decomposers particularly in forests.

Ctenocephalides Felis (Flea Larvae) have the appearance of small white worms with no legs and a prominent brown head with no eyes.

Culicide (Mosquitoes) are flying insects that can be found in almost every corner of the world.

Isoptera (Termites) have been eating natural wood for millennia.

Latrodectus Mactans (Black Widow) are spiders that are dreaded for their lethal venom.

Myrmeleontidae (Antlions) are little insect predators that are useful to the environment. Adult antlions have the body shape of a damselfly, however, they only fly at nighttime.

Ostrinia nubilalis (European Corn Borer), the larvae of the European corn borer are either pale brown, or pink. Each segment has a distinct pattern of small, round brown dots.

Pepsis (Tarantula Hawks) can be distinguished by their intense blue bodies and sparkling orange wings.

Periplaneta Americana (American Cockroach) has the elliptical-shaped body and strong spines on the tibia, which distinguish them from others.

Pieris rapae (Cabbage Worms) is the name for caterpillars. Green with a yellow line down the middle of the back.

Plecoptera (Stoneflies) are aquatic insects. They are one of the few insect groups whose adults emerge in the winter and early spring.

Psychide (Adult Bagworm) moths are quite rare. The insect's most visible form is a little football-shaped bag that can be spotted hanging on leaves and twigs.

Rhopalocera (Butterflies) are among the most diverse and easily recognized insect species.

Salticids (Jumping Spiders) have a common trait of all spiders, which is eight eyes.

Sphingidae (Hornworms) have long, narrow front wings and are huge, strong moths.

Spodoptera Frugiperda (Armyworm) lay eggs that are greenish-white and deposited in large numbers. Many eggs hatch at the same time, resulting in a caterpillar army.

Are you intrigued by insects like a honeybee, scarab beetle, honey bees, emerald ash borer, carpenter ant, mason bees, and giant water bug? The names of some common insects and their scientific names are listed here. These scientific names are mainly based on Latin history.

Actias luna(Luna Moths) are attracted to light at night. Hence, leaving a porch light on will enhance your chances of seeing one.

Agelenopsis (Grass Spiders) are quick to capture their victims before dragging them into the web's funnel.

Ancyloxypha Numitor (Least Skipper) is a butterfly from North America that belongs to the Hesperiidae family. They fly in a Satyrinae-like manner.

Arididae (Carolina Locust) is a sort of short-horned grasshopper that are recognized by its short antennae.

Bombus (Bumblebee) are insects like bumblebees. They are common to find in our gardens and backyards.

Catocala (Underwing Moths) prefer tropical forest and forest edges as well as areas where their feeding trees flourish.

Celastrina Ladon (Spring Azure) is a butterfly from Lycaenidae family. It can be found in North America.

Cicadoidea (Cicada Nymphs) eat underground on tree roots on a regular basis yet they will not harm those trees.

Epargyreus Clarus (Silver-spotted Skipper) is a butterfly that belong to the Hesperiidae family. The silver-spotted skipper has silver spots on its wings.

Gryllinae (Field Crickets) make their homes in the earth, thick grass, and even organic yard detritus piles.

Hemaris Thysbe (Hummingbird Clearwing) is a Sphingidae family moth.

Hemileuca Eglanterina (Sheep Moth), also called the common sheep moth, is a silk moth found only in western North America.

Lysosidae (Wolf Spider) hunts at night and shelters in a burrow under stones, logs, or any other calm areas during the day.

Melanoplus (Spur-throated Grasshoppers) is the most common grasshopper species in North America. It is one of the common grasshopper names known to people.

Notonectidae (Backswimmer) is constructed in the same way as an upside-down boat. The dorsal side of a Backswimmer is convex and V-shaped, which is similar to a boat's keel.

Oecanthus Fultoni (Snowy Tree Crickets) emerge from brushy understory plants at the edges of wooded areas or in open areas.

Papilio Glaucus (Tiger Swallowtail) are Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterflies that are large and brilliant. These butterflies found in the east of the Mississippi River.

Pterophylla Camellifolia (True Katydids) feed on leaves of trees and shrubs near the tops of trees, which have fewer predators and less competition.

Pyrrharctia Isabella (Woolly Bear Caterpillar), also called the banded woolly bear, woolly bear, or woolly worm, is the larval form of the Isabella Tiger Moth. It is found in the United States and southern Canada.

Tipulidae (Daddy Longlegs) have round or oval appearance with only one segment or portion.

Vanessa Atalata (Red Admiral) is a moderate butterfly with black wings, crimson bands, and white dots. The red admiral is easily recognized.

Vanessa Virginiensis (Painted Lady Butterfly) is generally referred to as the cosmopolitan.

A fly is a two-winged insect with a skeletal frame. Flies come in a variety of colors, although the most prevalent shade is black. Take a look at some of the scientific names for a number of winged insects.

Anthomyiidae (Anthomyiid Fly) is any group of common flies that look like houseflies.

Aphid Parasite (Aphelinus Spp.) is a parasitic insect with several sub-species.

Bark Beetle Parasite (Rhopalicus Tutela) is a commonly found parasitic insect.

Braconid Wasp (Cotesia Rubecula) is a parasitic insect with several sub-species.

Calliphora Vomitoria (Bluebottle flies), also known as Blowflies, are frequently spotted buzzing near garbage cans. These scavengers are recognized disease vectors because they are drawn to pet feces and deceased animals.

Chironomidae (Midge) is a tiny fly that belongs to one of many non-mosquito Nematoceran Diptera families.

Citrus Blackfly (Parasitoid Encarsia Opulenta) is a commonly found parasitic insect.

Danaus Plexippus (Monarch Butterfly), like other butterflies, feed on nectar from flowers.

Drosophila Melanogaster (Fruit Flies) are frequent in pubs, fruit orchards, vegetable plots, and breweries, where they infest fruit or linger about fermenting wastes.

Empididae (Dance Flies) is a family of flies that includes over 3,000 species that are found in all biogeographic domains. However, the bulk of them are located in the Holarctic.

Encyrtid Wasp (Diaphorencyrtus Aligarhensis) is an interesting wasp species.

Erythrina Gall Wasp (Quadrastichus Erythrinae) is a commonly located wasp species.

Feather-Legged Fly (Trichopoda Plumipes) is a parasitic insect with several sub-species.

Fire Ant Decapitating Fly (Pseudacteon Spp.) is a commonly found parasitic insect.

Giant Ichneumon Wasp (Megarhyssa Spp.) is an interesting wasp species.

Gonatocerus Triguttatus (Gonatocerus Triguttatus) is a parasitic insect with several sub-species.              

Hackberry Nipple Gall Parasitoid (Eurytoma Semivenae) is a commonly found parasitic insect.

Heydenia Unica (Heydenia Unica) is one of the rare fly species.                

Light Fly (Pyrgota Fenestrata) is an interesting fly species.

Minute Egg Parasite (Trichogramma Minutum) is a commonly found parasitic insect.

Mymarid Wasp (Gonatocerus Spp.) is a parasitic insect with several sub-species.

Pentatomidae (Stink Bugs), when threatened, emits a foul stench. Hence, giving them the name, Stink Bugs.

Psychodidae (Drain Flies) are frequently found in sewage beds, where their larvae feed on sludge-like organic debris.

Sciaridae (Gnat), fungus gnats, fruit flies, and drain flies are examples of these tiny flying insects.

Sciomyzidae (Marsh Fly) genus is tiny with just approximately 600 species globally, out of which, less than 150 species are found in the north of Mexico.

Stomoxys Calcitrans (Blood-feeding) lives in birds and mammals, louse flies are obligate blood-feeders.

Stratiomyidae (Soldier Flies) belongs to a specific family of flies. There are around 2,700 species in the family that are divided into 380 genera.

Syrphidae (Hoverflies) are commonly known as flower flies or syrphid flies.

Tabanidae (Horseflies) have a gray or blackish body. They normally have wings without any dark patches. However, some species have complete dark wings.

Tipulidae (Crane Flies) have a long, thin body that resembles that of a mosquito.

Some popular insect names are cicada, silverfish bug, gypsy moth, dung beetle, lacewing, Goliath beetle, German roaches, cricket insect, swallowtail caterpillar, giant moth, whiteflies, and death moth. Several insects, such as cockroaches, have wings but instead choose to crawl than fly in search of food and refuge. Termites and ants are mostly wingless, thus, they spend most of their time crawling, and they produce reproductive organs that are briefly winged during a short mating season.

Let's look at the scientific names of certain crawling insects.

Arachnida (Mite) are little arachnids. Mites are not a distinct taxon, although the term is applied to a variety of members of the Arachnida class.

Blattodea (Cockroach) belongs to the Blattodea order of insects, which also contains termites.

Camponotus (Carpenter Ant) get their name from their ability to build their homes out of wood. Excavators, not wood feeders, are the huge ants.

Dermaptera (Earwigs) are primarily nocturnal, hiding in tiny, wet holes during the day and feeding on a variety of insects and plants at night.

Grylloblattodea (Rock Crawler) are wingless insects that have elongated bodies.

Ixodida (Tick) are infectious small insects that belong to the Parasitiformes superorder of mites.

Lepisma saccharina (Silverfish Bug) is a tiny, primitive, wingless insect from the Zygentoma group.

Siphonaptera (Flea) comprises 2,500 species of microscopic flightless insects that live as external parasites on mammals and birds, also known as flea.

Stenopelmatini (Jerusalem Cricket) ward off any perceived threats by swinging their spiny rear legs in the air.