Top 20 Most Common Insects in Wollongong

Tectocoris diophthalmus, commonly known as the Hibiscus Harlequin Bug or Cotton Harlequin Bug, is the sole member of the genus Tectocoris. It is a brightly coloured convex and rounded shield-shaped bug with a metallic sheen that grows to about 20 mm. Adult females are mostly orange and males are both blue and red or orange, while nymphs are typically metallic green and purple. The colours are quite variable, and experiments suggest that the variation in colour may reduce bird predation, especially on the immature stages. This extreme level of variation is such that different taxonomists have, since 1781, described this species under different new names at least 16 times, some of these supernumerary names remaining in use until 2006, when it was finally confirmed that they were all colour forms of a single organism. It is common in Eastern Australia, New Guinea and several Pacific Islands in habitats ranging from urban to agricultural and coastal areas. The Hibiscus Harlequin Bugs feed on many species of the family Malvaceae, as well as cultivated cotton. They will also feed on Illawarra flame tree flowers, grevillea and bottlebrush saplings. They pierce the stems of young shoots and suck the sap. Females lay clusters of eggs around stems of usually the hibiscus plant and then guards them until they hatch.

The wings of the adult are brown and have a wingspan of about 6 cm.

The spider species Plebs eburnus is commonly referred to as the eastern grass orb-weaver or the eastern bush orb-weaver, and sometimes more simply as the bush orb-weaver. It is an orb-weaver spider from the family Araneidae endemic to Australia. It was previously classified as a member of the genus Araneus but has been reclassified in 2012 into a newly described genus Plebs. It is closely related to the Western Bush Orb-weaver, P. cyphoxis. It is a very common spider with distinctive white markings (although these marking can be quite variable), which give it the species name eburnus pertaining to ivory. It is found in scrub and tall grasses where the female constructs a vertical web usually no more than 2 metres from the ground, and stays there day and night. The web of some of these spiders has been seen to be decorated with nearly vertical stabilimentum (like a clockface at 5 minutes to 5 or its mirror image). The stabilimentum of P.cyphoxis is usually observed vertical (like a clockface at 6 o'clock).

Orthodera ministralis is a species of mantis of the Mantidae family.

With a surprisingly endearing behavioral trait, bronze orange bug meticulously grooms its antenna, resembling a cat's self-cleaning routine. These comprehensive cleaning regimens enhance their chemoreception, beneficial in locating mates or food. Miraculously, rather than being detractors, bronze orange bug's characteristic pungent odor aids by warding off predators, thereby maintaining equilibrium in the ecosystem. Bronze orange bug's role as a bio-control agent also plays a pivotal role in being a voiceless, tiny eco-guardian.

They can vary in color from fawn to pinkish brown or chocolate brown. Females are about 2.5 cm in body length, males about 2 cm.

With a name like black prince, the Psaltoda plaga has a noble lineage to be proud of. In times long past, it was said that a chemist would pay a dollar for its wings because Chinese immigrants were believed to use them in herbal medicine. Some people will try and capture them in shoeboxes, but this is a foul fate for the black prince given that it needs flowing sap to live.

The large spotted ladybird (Harmonia conformis) is an insect that is named for exactly what it is known for. First of all, they have large spots that cover their wing coverings with a couple on the underside. It is also a large ladybug when compared to others. Much like other ladybugs, it is a controlling factor for aphids, making them a good bug to keep around.

The razor grinder is a large cicada with a forewing measuring 5 - 6 cm. Males and females are similar in color and markings. The head and thorax is red-brown with black markings. The wings are transparent with some brown discoloration.

The large brown mantis (Archimantis latistyla) is not as aggressive as other mantises but is known to fling its front legs forward and dip its head and antennae in an attempt to look bigger. These are bold insects known for attacking prey much larger than themselves. They are also known as the Bunny mantis but have no fluffy tail to prove it.