100 insects to spot usborne cards eng 2008

Trang 2

Get a close-up view of the amazing world of insects with these colourful,

information-packed cards Discover essential insect information: their size, diet and where and when to spot them

Trang 3

These cards will help you identify insects you spot in Britain, Ireland and other parts of Europe Each card has a number Insects that are closely related to each other, for example all the butterflies, are grouped together Descriptive captions to help you identify : Card number the insect Insect’s most common name Male and female insects sometimes look different Sex

symbols show A Latin or Greek which is which: name for an

Femi ow insect, used by oS Male = 9 = insect experts all

over the world 9 Female a /

Scientific name Lampyris noctiluca

The best types

/ Wee length Male ISmm, Tìm

Average body length eo Sates sẽ ~ Of places to

measurement from ae ee Lae spot the insect

top of head to end Named becuse of thes abty to koh up: glow-

of abdomen or foie rt cecal ur oe iy Oe What the

average wingspan me esa oe ee insect eats measurement from eee

wingtip to wingtip f

The best times of Details of features that help to

Trang 4

Parts of an Insect Antenna for smelling and feeling Forewing Leg - all insects have three pairs of jointed legs Hind wing

On these cards, the butterflies and some of the moths are drawn so you can see all of both forewings and hind wings In nature, the

forewings would cover

part of the hind wings Abdomen

Internet links

For links to websites where you can find videos, ‘photos and more information about insects,

Trang 5

Insect words

Bug _ An insect with sucking mouthparts, and forewings that are thickened and leathery at the base

Camouflage When an animal's colour makes it hard to spot against certain backgrounds

Cocoon A skin or case inside which some young

insects pupate

Fungi Simple, plant-like living things that typically feed off dead or living animals and plants Fungi include moulds, mushrooms and toadstools

Herbivore An animal that eats only plants

Hibernation The sleepy state in which some insects spend the winter

Honeydew A sweet liquid that oozes out from the bodies of some insects

Host An animal that is fed on or lived on by others Mimicry When an animal's shape or colour is similar to that of another species

Trang 6

All insects go through several stages as they grow Some hatch from eggs as wriggly, worm-like larvae, then completely change how they look as they transform into adults

Eggs are laid Larvae hatch A larva pupates, by a mother from the eggs resting as it turns dragonfly and start to grow _ into an adult

Its skin splits, and an adult emerges

Other insects emerge from their eggs as miniature adults called nymphs, and simply grow bigger as they change into adults Beginning of a wing ® Old skin

Trang 7

Small tortoiseshell

butterfly

To confuse and alarm predators, tortoiseshells rapidly open

and close their bright wings,

showing flashes of colour

Scientific name Aglais urticae

Average wingspan 53mm (2in)

Habitat Gardens and farmland

Food Nettle plants Best time to spot March to September

Trang 8

Peacock butterfly 2

“Eye” markings are Similar to the markings on a peacock's tail

Scientific name Inachis io Average wingspan 65mm (2%in)

Habitat Gardens, woods, riverbanks Food Fruit and nettle plants Best time to spot March to May, and July

to September

Peacock butterflies have markings on their wings that mimic large eyes They use these to scare off predators In September, the butterflies settle down to

hibernate, spending the winter in hollow tree trunks,

Trang 9

Large white butterfly 3

Females have black spots on the upper surface of their wings

Scientific name Pieris brassicae Average wingspan 63mm (2in)

Habitat Grassy areas, hedgerows

Food Crucifer, cabbage, kale,

Brussels sprout, nasturtium and wild mignonette plants

Best time to spot April to October

Also known as cabbage whites, these butterflies often lay eggs on cabbage leaves The caterpillars feed on the leaves, which damages the plants, so they are seen as pests by vegetable growers In winter, the caterpillars pupate on fences or tree trunks, then

Trang 10

Large skipper 4

These butterflies have a faint chequered pattern on both sides of their wings

Scientific name Ochlodes venatus Average wingspan 3lmm (lin)

Habitat Sheltered areas of grassland Food False brome, thistle and

purple moor-grass plants Best time to spot June to August

Trang 11

Common blue butterfly 3

The upper side of females’ wings can

be blue or brown

Scientific name Polyommatus icarus Average wingspan 32mm (14in)

Habitat Grassy areas and sand dunes Food Bird’s-foot trefoil, rest harrow,

black medick and clover plants

Best time to spot June to September

Trang 12

Holly blue butterfly 6

Females’ wings are bordered by thick black patches with white edges Males have thin black borders with white edges on their wings

Scientific name Celastrina argiolus

Average wingspan 30mm (lin)

Habitat Gardens, woods and parks Food Holly, ivy, bramble and

gorse plants

Best time to spot April to June, and August

to September

Trang 13

Lit Ime e haw VIK moth

Male lime hawk moths, like this one, vary from olive- green to pink: females are light pink to reddish-brown

Scientific name Mimas tiliae Average wingspan 70mm (2%in)

Habitat Gardens, woods and parks

Food Lime, birch and alder leaves

Best time to spot May to June

Trang 14

Poplar hawk moth - _© A poplar hawk moth at rest Hind wing Forewing

Scientific name Laothoe populi

Average wingspan 75mm (3in)

Habitat Gardens, woods and parks Food Poplar and aspen leaves Best time to spot June to July

Trang 15

Emperor moth 9 Emperor moths have furry thoraxes

Scientific name Saturnia pavonia

Average wingspan 70mm (2%in)

Habitat Moors, heaths and sand dunes Food Heather, bramble, sloe and

purple loosestrife plants

Best time to spot April to May

Trang 16

Puss moth 10 Grey and brown marbled markings on forewings Stripy abdomen

Scientific name Cerura vinula Average wingspan 70mm (2%in)

Habitat Woods, parks and gardens Food Aspen and poplar leaves Best time to spot May to July

Trang 17

Vapourer moth (T1 Males have rusty-brown

wings, with a white spot on each forewing

Scientific name Orgyia antiqua Average wingspan 35mm (14in)

Habitat Woods, parks and gardens

Food Leaves from most deciduous trees and shrubs

Best time to spot July to September

Trang 18

Herald moth t= Bright orange patches on forewings

Scientific name Scoliopteryx libatrix

Average wingspan 40mm (1%in)

Habitat Gardens, woods and marshes Food Aspen and willow leaves Best time to spot March to November

Trang 19

Ghost moth J3 Females have yellow wings with orange markings

Scientific name Hepialus humuli

Average wingspan 45mm (1%in)

Habitat Gardens and grassy areas Food Plant roots

Best time to spot June to July

Also known as “ghost swifts”, these moths’ name

comes from the males, which have pure white wings

Trang 20

Forester moth 14 Forewings are metallic green

Scientific name Adscita statices Average wingspan 26mm (lin)

Habitat Parks, woods and meadows Food Sorrel plants

Best time to spot June to July

Unlike most moths, foresters fly by day — you might spot them visiting flowers on sunny days in June and July Their caterpillars feed in unusual ways When it

first hatches, a forester caterpillar burrows inside a

Trang 21

Creen tiger beetle 15

Larva in burrow

Scientific name Cicindela campestris Average length 4mm (4in)

Habitat Heaths and sandy areas Food Smaller insects

Best time to spot April to September

Trang 22

Violet ground beetle 16

This shiny, black beetle has violet edges to its wing cases and thorax

Scientific name Carabus violaceus Average length 25mm (lin)

Habitat Gardens, hedges and woods

Food Insects, slugs and worms

Best time to spot March to October

Trang 23

Bombardier beetle 17 Bombardier beetle blasting a predator with a stinky liquid

Scientific name Brachinus crepitans Average length 8mm (4in)

Habitat Open, chalky ground

Food Rotting vegetation and

dead animals

Best time to spot March to October

Trang 24

Devil's coach horse 15

To show aggression, a Devil's coach horse raises its tail, like a

scorpion

Scientific name Ocypus olens

Average length 27mm (lin)

Habitat Gardens, parks, meadows, hedges and woods

Food Fly larvae, insects, spiders,

slugs and dead animals

Best time to spot April to October

Trang 25

Red and black 19 burying beetle Wing cases are black with red bands

Scientific name Nicrophorus investigator Average length I7mm (4in)

Habitat Gardens and woods

Food Dead animals

Best time to spot April to October

Trang 26

Great diving beetle 20

Larvae have huge jaws

Scientific name Dytiscus marginalis

Average length 32mm (1%4in) Habitat Ponds and lakes Food Other insects, tadpoles

and small fish

Best time to spot March to May

Trang 27

Water beetle (21

This male beetle’s wing cases are smooth; females have grooves on theirs

Scientific name Platambus maculatus Average length 7mm (4in)

Habitat Ponds, lakes and rivers Food Water insects, tadpoles

and worms

Best time to spot March to September

Trang 28

Great silver 22 water beetle This beetle is an expert swimmer, but can also fly to other waters if its home dries up

Scientific name Hydrophilus piceus Average length 42mm (1%in) Habitat Ditches and ponds Food Water plants Best time to spot May to September

Trang 29

Whirligig beetles carry an air bubble around with them on the tip of their abdomens

_ Scientific name Gyrinus natator

Average length 7mm (Œ4in)

Habitat Ponds, ditches, lakes and rivers

Food Small insects

Best time to spot July to September

Trang 30

Glow-worm 24 Female glow- Stacwe worms are wingless ) Larva

Scientific name Lampyris noctiluca Average length Male I5mm (in),

female 20mm (%in)

Habitat Grassy areas and open woods Food Small slugs and snails

Best time to spot May to August

Trang 31

Click beetle (25

A hinge on the beetle’s abdomen helps it to double up so it can flick itself into the air

Scientific name Athous haemorrhoidalis Average length l6mm (4in)

Habitat Hedges and meadows Food Flies, grasses, flowers, roots

and rotting wood

Best time to spot May to August

Trang 32

Two-spot ladybird | &

One black spot on each wing case

Scientific name Adalia bipunctata

Average length 5mm (!/oin)

Habitat Gardens, parks, fields

and woods

Food Mainly aphids, but also

other small insects, mites

and insect eggs

Best time to spot March to October

Trang 33

Seven-spot ladybird — 27 Three and a half black spots on each wing case

Scientific name Coccinella septempunctata

Average length 7mm (4in)

Habitat Gardens, hedges, woods

and meadows

Food Mainly aphids, but also

other small insects, mites

and insect eggs

Best time to spot March to October

Trang 34

Eyed ladybird 28

The black spots each have a yellow border, making them look like eyes

Scientific name Anatis ocellata Average length 9mm (*/3in)

Habitat Conifer forests

Food Aphids, and other small

insects and mites

Best time to spot June to July

Trang 35

22-spot ladybird 29 Head has five spots Each wing case has II spots

Scientific name Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata Average length 3mm ('/win)

Habitat Gardens, fields and meadows Food Mould

Best time to spot April to August

Trang 36

Death watch beetle 30 A crevice in a plank of wood is the perfect spot for a female to lay its eggs

Scientific name Xestobium rufovillosum Average length 8mm (⁄5in)

Habitat Dead branches of deciduous

trees and old buildings

Food Rotting wood Best time to spot March to June

Death watch beetle larvae tunnel into wood, eating it as they go They can become serious pests, destroying furniture and timber in buildings The name of this

unpopular beetle comes from the tapping sound their

Trang 37

Stag beetle 31

To impress a female, a male stag beetle walks around with its head lifted high and its “antlers”, or jaws, opened wide

Scientific name Lucanus cervus Average length 26mm (lin)

Habitat Woods, parks and gardens Food Roots and rotting wood Best time to spot May to August

Trang 38

Dor beetles eat their own weight in dung every day

Scientific name Geotrupes stercorarius

Average length 20mm (in)

Habitat Woods, and fields and

meadows where animals graze

Food Animal dung

Best time to spot April to October

Also known as dung beetles, these large insects eat

animal droppings To provide food for their larvae,

Trang 39

Cockchafer 53

Larvae feed for three to four years before changing into adults

Males have long, fan- like clubs on the end of their antennae

Scientific name Melolontha melolontha Average length 27mm (lin)

Habitat Parks and woods

Food Leaves, flowers and roots Best time to spot May to July

Trang 40

_Rose chafer 34

green wing cases Bright metallic-

Scientific name Cetonia aurata Average length 17mm (4in)

Habitat Gardens and woods

Food Leaves, fruits, flowers, roots

and rotting wood

Best time to spot May to October

Trang 41

Wasp beetle ee

Unlike wasps, wasp beetles have hard forewings that form wing cases

Scientific name Clytus arietis Average length I5mm (in)

Habitat Woods

Food Pollen and rotting wood Best time to spot May to August

These beetles look and act like wasps — they have the

same markings and colours, and move jerkily with rapid stops and starts, as wasps do This mimicry helps protect the beetles, because predators mistake