Top 17 Most Common Insects in Granada
Insects, a diverse group marked by exoskeletons and segmented bodies, display a dynamic array of species within the diverse terrains of Granada. Different environments, from the dense rainforests to the highland valleys, harbor distinct insects, contributing to an enriched biodiversity. These creatures are pivotal to the ecosystem, as pollinators, recyclers, prey species, and even as pests. Our 'Top 17 Most Common Insects in Granada', reveals the intriguing interplay between Granada's unique habitats and its widespread insect inhabitants, providing a comprehensive view of both advantageous and nuisances species.
Most Common Insects
1. Silver argiope
The silver argiope (Argiope argentata) often creates unique zigzag patterns on its webs. It's usually found in warm, dry areas, especially on cacti and aloe vera plants. The females are much larger than males. They can bite and cause irritation to the skin, but the damage won't be life-threatening.
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. Scarlet peacock
Anartia amathea is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. In addition to A. amathea amathea there are the subspecies A. amathea thyamis and A. amathea sticheli. The species is represented in the tropical areas of Latin America and the offshore islands, such as Trinidad.
4. Spinybacked Orbweaver
The spinybacked Orbweaver (Gasteracantha cancriformis) has a crab-like structure with six spines on its abdomen. The color of this species varies based on where it lives, and the colors are usually red, orange, yellow, or white. Males and females communicate by creating patterns of vibration on their webs.
5. Red Swamp Crayfish
The economically important red Swamp Crayfish is a seasonal seafood staple around the world. It is also called the Louisiana crawfish, an apt name given that the US state produces 90-95% of all harvested specimens. The red Swamp Crayfish is invasive in the EU due to its aggressively spreading populations and competitiveness to native crayfish species. It is also known to cause damage to rice crops from its burrowing habit, which displaces the plants.
6. Monarch butterfly
The monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is the most recognizable butterfly in North America. It is best known for its appearance, but should be better known for the fact that it has a 3000-mile migration that takes the butterfly 4 generations to complete. Their diet is also a natural deterrent for predators, as they eat milkweed, a poison that induces vomiting.
7. Multicolored asian ladybeetle
Often confused for the ladybug, multicolored asian ladybeetle (Harmonia axyridis) is a separate species that, unlike the ladybug, is a household pest. It is considered particularly annoying for its habit of returning to places from which it is removed. One of the most variable species in the world, there are many different colors and patterns multicolored asian ladybeetle may display, making identification potentially difficult.
8. Brown dog tick
The brown dog tick is a global parasite and can survive a wide range of temperatures. These ticks are mostly found on the ears, heads, and paws of dogs and can transmit diseases like canine ehrlichiosis and canine babesiosis. If there is no viable host, then the brown dog tick may attach to other mammals, such as rodents, deer, and humans.
9. White peacock
The wingspan of the moths is 51 to 70 millimeters. The basic color is whitish. On the forewings there is a black, circular spot near the inner angle. At the front edge, two to three oblong, yellow-brown spots stand out. The Submarginalregion is also yellow-brown colored and crossed by dark lines. On the hind wings are two more small, black, circular spots near the tawny and dark-colored submarginal region. A short tail is more or less strong. The wing underside shows similar drawing elements as the top, but these are paler and weaker pronounced.
10. Red postman butterfly
The red postman butterfly (Heliconius erato) is a beautiful black and white butterfly that is a skilled actor. It exhibits mimicry to resemble a butterfly similar to the Common postman to deter predators. Also, its favorite host plants are passion flowers. But it has been known to be picky about the quality of the flower.
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