


Top 9 Most Common Insects in Mara
Insects, minute creatures endowed with exoskeletons, antennae and pairs of jointed legs, populate almost every conceivable habitat within Mara. Their diversity varies greatly due to geographic locations - from damp marshlands to arid deserts, each playing host to a different set of insect species. These insects, whether pests or beneficial pollinators, play an indispensable role in the ecosystem, demonstrating the intricate connection between the region's environment, and its insect inhabitants. Enjoy our list of the top 9 most common insects found in Mara!

Most Common Insects

1. Paropioxys jucundus

2. Sundowner moth
Its wingspan is about 60–84 mm. Head ochreous white, the basal joint of palpi dark brown. Thorax dark brown above with a broad ochreous-white stripe on vertex. Abdomen dark brown above, with a series of dorsal ochreous-white spots. Forewings reddish-brown with dark stria. There is a pale patch at base of inner margin and an indistinct antemedial angulate line. An irregularly waved medial line with pale outer edge and somewtimes tinged with purple and rufous. Some vinous patches beyond it. Reniform is a narrow lunule with a vinous dash beyond it. There is a crenulate postmedial line found with medial black lunules on it and one towards inner margin, and joined by a crenulate line from near apex. A marginal black specks series also present. Hindwings are fuscous brown where the base and a diffused medial irregular band are pale. An ochreous patch with black strai on it at center of outer margin. Cilia pale. Ventral side pale with fuscous submarginal band towards inner margin of each wing.


3. Lily borer
The wingspan of the moth is about 4 cm. Its head, thorax and forewings are very dark brown, but paler toward the wingtips. Sub-basal, median and postmedial indistinct waved lines are black. A curved submarginal ochreous line with ferrous colored lunuled found on each side of it. There is a marginal black lunule series. The hindwings are practically white. Tarsi bear black and white stripes.


4. Band-eyed drone fly
Eristalinus taeniops can reach a length of 1.09 - 1.4 cm. These hoverflies exhibit a bee-like yellow-black drawing. The thorax has a metallic yellow-brown color and it is densely yellow hairy. Also the scutellum are yellow-brown colored. The abdomen is reddish-yellow, with transversal black bands. The compound eyes have five distinct, vertical, dark stripes. The wings are transparent, usually yellowish-brown at the base, while the halteres are brightly pale yellow colored.


5. Triangles
The wingspan is about 3 - 4.5 cm. Antennae of male ciliated. Mid and hind tibia hairy. Body pale ochreous brown, slightly suffused with fuscous or dark grey brown. Forewings with a large black white-edged triangular patch easily distinguished below the cell from near base to towards outer angle. A similar smaller patch found beyond the cell on vein 5, with some pale fulvous behind it. A slightly sinuous submarginal pale line with patches of black suffusion found inside it and a series of black specks beyond it. A dark marginal line can be seen as well. Hindwings with indistinct medial line and fuscous suffused outer area. Larva has yellow upper half and brown ventral part. The yellow part is broken by longitudinal brown bands, which faints towards posterior and becomes intensive again in prolegs. Eggs olive green and speckled rusty red. First few instars are green with three lateral purple brown lines. Late instars are yellowish. Pupa within a slight cocoon of white silk, which spun amongst leaves.


6. Elegant grasshopper
Zonocerus elegans is a right-wing insect from the Pyrgomorphidae family. The scientific name of this species was first validly published in 1815 by Thunberg.

7. Mediterranean fruit fly
The mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata) is a strong fly that can survive in a variety of different climates. This is incredibly concerning, as these flies are widely regarded as one of the most destructive fruit flies in the world. Their removal can cost a great deal of money but can cause much lower crop yield if not addressed.

8. Walker's owl
Erebus walkeri is a moth of the family Erebidae. It is found in Angola, the Comoros, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Kenya, La Réunion, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, the Seychelles, South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal), São Tomé & Principe, Tanzania, Gambia, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.


9. Southern green shield bug
The southern green shield bug larvae molt five times before they reach their mature size. They are named for their unpleasant scent and are considered pests due to their preference for feeding on leguminous plants such as soybeans. Wasps and flies that parasitize the southern green shield bug are sometimes used as biological controls for its population.