Insect & Arthropod Species Directory
Browse 53,537 species across 89 orders and 1,240 families. Explore recorded classifications and available identification and natural-history information. Coverage varies by species.
- Species
- 53,537
- Orders
- 89
- Families
- 1,240
Browse by Order
All 87 Orders →Primitive Winged Insects
Order Coleoptera
Coleoptera is the largest order of insects with over 400,000 described species, representing ~25% of...
Butterflies and Moths
Order Lepidoptera
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumb...
True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies
Order Hemiptera
Hemiptera (true bugs) includes over 80,000 described species across cicadas, aphids, leafhoppers, sh...
Flies
Order Diptera
Diptera includes over 150,000 described species of flies, mosquitoes, and midges. Mosquitoes are the...
Flies
Order Hymenoptera
Hymenoptera includes over 150,000 described species of ants, bees, wasps, and sawflies. Earth harbor...
Spiders
Order Araneae
As of 2023, 51,673 spider species in 136 families have been recorded, though an estimated 150,000 sp...
Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids
Order Orthoptera
Orthoptera includes ~28,000 described species of grasshoppers, crickets, and katydids. Desert locust...
Dragonflies and Damselflies
Order Odonata
Odonata includes ~6,000 described species of dragonflies and damselflies. Dragonflies are among the ...
Caddisflies
Order Trichoptera
Trichoptera (caddisflies) includes ~14,500 described species worldwide. Larvae are aquatic and build...
Barklice, Booklice, and Parasitic Lice
Order Psocodea
Psocodea includes ~11,000 described species of booklice, barklice, and parasitic lice. Booklice (Pso...
Mayflies
Order Ephemeroptera
Ephemeroptera (mayflies) includes ~3,500 described species. Adult mayflies are famous for their extr...
Stoneflies
Order Plecoptera
Plecoptera (stoneflies) includes ~3,700 described species. Stonefly nymphs are among the most pollut...
Most Observed Species
Honey Bee
Apis mellifera
(c) Marcel_Pepin, some rights reserved (CC BY)
Harlequin Ladybird
Harmonia axyridis
no rights reserved
Small White
Pieris rapae
no rights reserved
Painted Lady
Vanessa cardui
no rights reserved
Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
Halyomorpha halys
no rights reserved
Mediterranean Katydid
Phaneroptera nana
(c) Aurélien Coste, some rights reserved (CC BY)
Pantropical Jumping Spider
Plexippus paykulli
(c) Gab Buffo, some rights reserved (CC BY)
Common European Crane Fly
Tipula paludosa
(c) Barry Cottam, some rights reserved (CC BY)Popular Guides
All 59 Guides →Global Insect Biodiversity
Species Diversity
Scientists estimate 14-20 million insect species exist globally (PNAS, 2025), but only ~1 million have been described. Insects make up approximately 80% of all known animal species.
Economic Impact
Pollinators support $235-577 billion in global food production annually (FAO). Insect pests damage 18-20% of crops, worth over $470 billion (USDA). Invasive species cost the U.S. $120 billion/year.
Conservation Status
Insect populations have declined over 45% since the 1980s. As of 2025, the IUCN has assessed only 13,696 insect species - about 1%. Of those: 520 Critically Endangered, 1,132 Endangered, 1,082 Vulnerable.
Sources: USDA, EPA, CDC, WHO, FAO, IUCN Red List, PNAS, US Fish & Wildlife Service, Smithsonian Institution.