Top 20 Most Common Insects in Iceland

Bibio pomonae can reach a length of about 10–13 millimetres (0.39–0.51 in), while the length of the wings reaches 8–12 millimetres (0.31–0.47 in). The basic body color is shiny black, with a black long abdomen, deep crimson-red femurs and dark tibiae and tarsi. Front tibia show a pair of large spurs. Wings are milky-white with darkened veins on the costal area and a dark spot on the leading edge. The 10-segmented antennae are relatively short and thick. Males and females are very different, as the holoptic males show very large eyes and a flattened abdomen, while the females have small head and eyes and a sharp abdomen. The larvae are reddish brown.

Entephria caesiata, the grey mountain carpet, is a moth of the family Geometridae. The species was first described by Michael Denis and Ignaz Schiffermüller in 1775. It is found in the mountainous areas of Europe (including Great Britain, Fennoscandia and the Alps), the Caucasus, Asia Minor, Armenia, Russia , Russian Far East, Siberia, northern Mongolia, Sakhalin and Honshū in Japan. The wingspan is 32–41 millimetres (1.3–1.6 in). The forewing ground colour is ash grey to blue grey. There are several dark wavy bands. The basal area and the field between the two fasciae is also darker than the ground colour. There is a black discal spot. The fringes are grey chequered dark grey. The hindwing is pale grey with pale transverse lines and a grey-black discal spot. Adults are on wing from July to September. The larvae feed on various low heathland plants, including Calluna and Vaccinium myrtillus. Other recorded food plants include Betula species (including Betula nana), Vaccinium uliginosum, Ledum palustre and Empetrum nigrum.

Dolichovespula norwegica has eye-catching black and yellow colour patterns throughout its body. Starting from the face, it has a long malar space and is separated by a black bar that runs vertically. The sides of the thorax contain small black hairs that project outwards and the rear has distinct yellow spots. One can often see red colouring on the front of the abdomen. Dolichovespula is derived from the Greek word, dolichos, which means long. Its genus name matches with physical characteristics. The average length of an individual of this species is 11– 18 mm long. Compared to the dolichovespula maculata species, whose adults range from 2–3 cm. Queens are generally around 1.7 cm and workers are smaller, around 1.3 cm

The wingspan is 28–36 mm. "Forewing with basal area grey, outer area red-brown; the lines and stigmata grey; hindwing dull grey with a dark lunule and transverse line and the fringe reddish; as a rule the male is paler than the female; a very variable species alike in colour and plainness of markings; ab. congener Hbn. is wholly red-brown with the stigmata yellowish; -ab. subrufa Haw. is distinguished by having the cell dark at base and between the stigmata; — ab. conflua H.-S. nec Tr. has the ground colour reddish ochreous mottled with darker; — ab. mendica F. is like the last but shows black or dark brown spaces in the cell; — ab. ignicola H.-Sch. has the ground colour yellowish ochreous, with the markings distinct; — primulae Esp. is the same form but with the cell filled in with blackish; — ab. ochrea-virgata Tutt is a banded form, the whole space between the median and subterminal line being darker; — ab. grisea Tutt is a small dark grey form, the stigmata clear; — ab. coerulea Tutt is of a clear slaty or lilac colour with pale stigmata; — lastly, ab. lamentanda Alph. is a pale uniformly ochreous form from Siberia and Kamschatka. subsp. conflua Tr. (= thulei Stgr.)is smaller, with narrower, more pointed forewing, reddish brown varied with yellowish; the stigmata large with dark marks in cell; described originally from Iceland and occurring in Shetland and Lapland; — ab. borealis Zett. is a grey brown form without any red but with the cell blackish; obsoleta Tutt resembles borealis, but the cell is unicolorous and the markings obscure; - ab. diducta Zett. has the forewing grey with a broad rusty-testaceous fascia, and the markings obscured. The larva is brown with black triangular markings along the side. It feeds on a wide range of plants (see list below). The species overwinters as a larva.

The common carder bee (Bombus pascuorum) earns this name from its ability to be found almost anywhere. It isn't picky and can set up shop in a ditch or a meadow. During this time, it collects moss and combines it with wax to form their nests. They reach more than 100 individuals until they rapidly die off. Dramatically, the last surviving females and males leave the nest for greener pastures.

External images For terms see Morphology of Diptera Wing length 8·25–12 mm. Antennomere 3 brownish-black. Arista plumose on basal half. Squamulae greyish-black. Thorax and abdomen covered with long densely placed hairs, varying in colour from tawny (typical form) to black (var. furvus Verrall). Typical form dimorphic (male abdomen brownish-haired, female abdomen with blackish hairs, last tergite with white hairs). The male genitalia are figured by Hippa et al. (2001) The larva is figured by Hartley (1961)

The sun fly (Helophilus pendulus) is pretty noticeable due to their large size and bright colors which are comparable with the same colors as the sun. This insect appears to have a snoring problem, as it is known to be caught buzzing while resting. It is also known to wander far distances from where it was originally born.

The wingspan is 2.5 - 3 cm. The ground colour of the forewings may show whitish, grey, black or brown tints but the colour is extremely variable and there are strongly darkened forms. Characteristic is the protruding post medial line on the front wings, which usually reaches the post discal wavy line or interrupts it.

The red-headed ash borer (Neoclytus acuminatus) is known to practice wasp mimicry in order to remove itself from the menu of many would-be predators. They aren't known for being too harmful to humans, just don't leave your firewood hanging around. They tend to emerge from deadwood once they are done being in their larval forms.

Cochylis dubitana, the little conch, is a moth of the family Tortricidae. It is found in China (Heilongjiang) and most of Europe. and the Caucasus. It is also found in North America, where it has been recorded from Colorado, Maine, Ontario and Washington. The wingspan is 11–16 mm.The head is white and the thorax dark grey.The forewing costa is gently arched.The ground colour is ochreous whitish or rosy -whitish, the costa strigulated with blackish. The small basal patch and the spot on costa touching it are dark grey. An irregular brownish median fascia is dark grey on the costa and dorsum and obliquely interrupted above the middle. There is a pale greyish ochreous cloud above the tornus and a narrow terminal fascia, dilated.on costa. The cilia are dark grey, blackish-mixed. The hindwings in males are whitish-grey, in females grey. The larva is whitish ; head light red-brown ; plate of 2 yellow, black-edged posteriorly. Julius von Kennel provides a full description. There are two generations per year with adults on wing in June and again in August. The larvae feed inside the flowers and developing seedheads of various Asteraceae species, including Senecio, Crepis and Hieracium species and Sonchus arvensis and Solidago virgaurea. Larvae can be found in July and from August to April. They overwinter in a cocoon among debris. Pupation takes place from April to July in a cocoon on the ground among debris.