Cute Insects

Butterflies, belonging to the order Lepidoptera, boast wingspans from 1 to 12 inches and thrive in gardens, forests, and meadows. They primarily sip nectar from flowers, undergoing complete metamorphosis and embarking on epic migrations, like the Monarch’s thousands-of-miles journey.

Ants from the Formicidae family measure 0.08 to 1 inch and build colonies worldwide under soil, wood, or buildings. These omnivores feast on sugars, proteins, and fungi, forming intricate societies with specialized roles and the astonishing ability to lift 50 times their body weight.

Honey bees (Apis mellifera), about 0.4 to 0.6 inches long, nest in hives within trees or man-made boxes. They collect nectar and pollen to produce honey and beeswax, serving as vital pollinators while communicating through the famous “waggle dance.”

Beetles of the Coleoptera order range from 0.04 to 4 inches and inhabit soils, waters, woods, and plants globally. With diets varying from herbs to prey or detritus, they feature protective hardened forewings and dominate as the largest insect order with over 350,000 species.

Mosquitoes in the Culicidae family, 0.1 to 0.6 inches in size, hover near water bodies everywhere. Females drink blood while both sexes take nectar; their aquatic larvae filter-feed, but adults notoriously spread diseases like malaria.