Top 20 Most Common Insects in Camp Pendleton South

The convergent lady beetle (Hippodamia convergens) is one of the most common lady beetles in North America, which is a great thing given that it is a common biological control agent of aphids. They lay a good chunk of eggs over a couple of months. If you have ever seen a small, black alligator-like insect, you may have seen one of its larva.

In general, the butterfly has a wingspan of 2.5 - 3.5 cm, with males being slightly smaller than females. Females are further differentiated from males by their number of functional legs; females possess three pairs, while males do not utilize their shortened forelegs and thus only have two. The Canadian populations have been described as having white checked dark brown wings, a gray body, green eyes, and black and white banded antennae. There is a reddish tint towards the base of the forewings, and the ventral side of the wings are gray.

The gray bird grasshopper (Schistocerca nitens) is a gray or brown grasshopper with jagged edges on its back legs. It can fly long distances, but it flies in a clumsy pattern low to the ground. It's often found among a variety of trees and shrubbery, and it will often fly in large groups toward lights during nighttime.

The southern House Mosquito is the common pest of the tropical and subtropical world and has spread worldwide from old sailing ships. This nuisance biter makes a meal out of all types of birds and mammals (humans included) and is the main spreader of the disabling disease lymphatic filariasis. The southern House Mosquito has caused massive losses in terms of health and economic damage because of its disease-ridden bites.

The wingspan is 2 - 3 cm.

The state insect of Montana, mourning cloak (Nymphalis antiopa) owes its name to a visual comparison with a girl who, disliking mourning, allows a few inches of color to show from under her mourning garb. Among the longest-lived butterflies, individuals may persist for as long as eleven to twelve months. It is a powerful flier, with vagrants often found many miles from the usual migration paths.

Seven-spotted ladybug (Coccinella septempunctata), known in North America as the "seven-spotted ladybug," is the most common species of ladybird in Europe and the official state insect of five U.S. states. While not native to North America, it has established itself there after being introduced to control aphid populations. Its bright coloring deters predators, and it may also play dead or secrete foul-smelling liquids to discourage consumption.

The fiery skipper (Hylephila phyleus) is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae and is approximately 1 inch (2.5 cm) long. The males are orange or yellow with black spots while the females are dark brown with orange or yellow spots. The caterpillars are greenish pink with a black head. The caterpillars are often considered pests and can feed on Bermudagrass, creeping bentgrass, and St. Augustine grass. Fiery skippers, along with all other species of skippers and skipperlings, can hold their wings in a "triangle" shape. The forewings are held upright, and the hindwings are folded flat. This position is thought to better absorb the sun's rays. The fiery skipper lives in North and South America, from Canada to Argentina. It is a migratory species.

Pagurus samuelis is a small hermit crab, at up to a total length of 40 mm (1.6 in) and a carapace width of up to 19 mm (0.75 in). The base colour of the exoskeleton is brown or green, but the antennae are red, and adults have bright blue bands near the tips of their legs. In smaller individuals, the bands may be white. The legs and carapace are covered in setae, and the rostrum at the front of the carapace is triangular.

The harlequin Bug (Murgantia histrionica) is a pitch-black bug that is marked with yellow, red, or orange markings. Despite its pretty appearance, don't let it fool you. It is considered a major pest of cabbage crops. The "stink" part of its name comes from the defensive chemical it produces. To us and other predators, this ability is signaled by its brilliant appearance.