Top 20 Most Common Insects in White Rock
Insects, characterized by their six legs and three body segments, are a fascinating group residing within White Rock's varied landscapes. Geographic conditions influence the richness of insect species, reflecting White Rock's diverse mix of coastal, urban, and wilderness habitats. Insects play crucial roles in the ecosystem, acting as both beneficial pollinators and challenging pests. This list introduce the top 20 common insects, their ecological roles and how White Rock's environmental factors contribute to their prevalence.
Most Common Insects
1. Cabbage white
Cabbage white (Pieris rapae) derives its common name from its habits as a caterpillar, which is a ferocious pest for cabbage, kale and broccoli farmers. In North America, it is one of the first butterflies to emerge in spring, heralding the beginning of the season.
2. Western honey bee
Western honey bee（Apis mellifera） is the most common species of honeybee in the world. Among the first domesticated insects, its cultural and economic impact on humanity has been vast and far-reaching, providing honey, wax and its services as a pollinator. Western honey bee faces challenges worldwide, such as colony collapse disorder, and populations are thought to be decreasing.
3. Crowned orbweaver
A common species of orb-weaver, crowned orbweaver (Araneus diadematus) builds large and noticeable webs. Only the females build webs, and they may prey upon their mates before, during or after engaging in sexual intercourse. Crowned orbweaver is reluctant to bite humans and will not do so unless scared or provoked. It avoids danger by vibrating in its web until it becomes a blur, confusing predators.
4. Western tiger swallowtail
It is a large, brightly colored and active butterfly, rarely seen at rest; its wingspan is 8 - 10 cm, and its wings are yellow with black stripes, and it has blue and orange spots near its tail. It has the "tails" on the hindwings that are often found in swallowtails. The eggs are deep green, shiny, and spherical. Young caterpillars resemble bird droppings, and as they molt, they eventually turn bright green, with a pair of large yellow eyespots with black and blue pupils. The caterpillars molt five times, eventually reaching a length up to 5 cm before pupating. 
5. Yellow-spotted millipede
Harpaphe haydeniana reach a length of 4 - 5 cm when mature. The upper surface of the body is black to olive green, and is distinctively marked along the sides with patches of a yellowish colour. Harpaphe haydeniana has approximately twenty body segments, bearing a total of 30 (males) or 31 (females) pairs of legs. The difference between males and females is due to one pair of legs on the seventh segment in males being modified to form gonopods used for sperm transfer.
6. Red rock crabs
7. Common Eastern Bumble Bee
The common Eastern Bumble Bee (Bombus impatiens) is one of the most important pollinator bees in North America. A decline in the bee population will lead to financial hardships for farmers and reduced food yield. Their efficiency in pollination and foraging comes from their ability to drop "traplines." These lines guide other bees to the correct path for food while informing them of depleted locations.
8. Yellow shore crab
9. Woodland skipper
The wingspan is 2.5 - 3 cm. The upperside is orange with toothed brown borders. The forewing of the males has a black stigma, while females have or a black diagonal band. There is a large reddish patch on the hindwings. The underside is variable in colour, ranging from yellow to reddish to brown. The hindwing varies from unmarked to having a distinct band of cream to yellow spots.
10. Dungeness crab
Despite its extremely hard shell, the dungeness crab is able to sense touch through the tiny hairs that cover its body. It is also able to regrow limbs when bitten off. A highly prized seafood, the dungeness crab is considered a delicacy and preferred over the Red rock crab (Cancer productus) due to its meatier limbs. It is the no.1 "single species" fishery in the state of Oregon, while the town of Port Angeles, WA, celebrates the Annual dungeness crab festival each year in October.
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