Top 20 Most Common Insects in Aurora
Insects, with their unique characteristics and diverse habitats, form an integral part of the ecosystem in Aurora. From pollination to pest control, insects serve vital roles, demonstrating the intricate connection between a city's environment and their tiny inhabitants. Join us as we explore the top 20 most common insects thriving in Aurora, their importance, and how they shape our lives.
Most Common Insects
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Painted lady
The painted lady is a migratory butterfly that spends part of the year in Northern Africa and then migrates to Europe during the warmer months. Although the adults feed on nectar from flowers, the larvae feed on the leaves of nettles and thistles.
4. Japanese Beetle
The japanese Beetle (Popillia japonica) was introduced to the Americas from a tourist's car in Nova Scotia. This beetle has been limited in its ability to fully infest the environment, but cannot be fully eradicated. A swarm of them have been known to strip an entire peach tree in a matter of minutes.
5. 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.
6. Hunt's bumble bee
Bombus huntii is a non-woven insect from the family of bees and bumblebees (Apidae). The scientific name of the species was first validly published in 1860 by Greene.
7. White-Lined Sphinx
The white-Lined Sphinx ( Hyles lineata) is a colorful furry moth with striped wings. It has a similar size of a hummingbird, and behaves like a hummingbird as well. It can fly extremely fast, and instantly swing from side to side while hovering just like a hummingbird. It feeds on nectar from a variety of flowers including petunia, honeysuckle, lilac, clovers, thistles, and jimson weed.
8. Bold jumping spider
The bold jumping spider (Phidippus audax) earned that name from its ability to be sneaky and jump on their prey. Their incredible eyesight allows them to spot prey from greater distances than other spiders. Another possible way it could have earned its name is due to its mating habits. If the female approaches too quickly the male can jump away.
9. Variegated fritillary
The variegated fritillary (Euptoieta claudia) earns its name from the greek work Eutptoietos, which means "easily scared." This is because they are incredibly difficult to approach, darting away if anyone comes close. They are identified with a checkered orange and black on its wings. The variegated fritillary is unique among butterflies for its ability to have two or three broods per year, resulting in many potential children.
10. European paper wasp
A particularly hated invasive species in North America, european paper wasp (Polistes dominula) is well-known for its tendency to nest on human porches and sting if approached. Nests are controlled by a dominant female queen, who lays most of the eggs. Dominance among individuals can be predicted by the shape, size and number of spots they display, with more spots signaling greater dominance within the nest.
More
