All Insect & Arthropod Orders
87 orders covering 53,505 species in our directory.
Primitive Winged Insects
Order Coleoptera
160 families · 3,716 genera
Coleoptera is the largest order of insects with over 400,000 described species, representing ~25% of all known animal sp...
Butterflies and Moths
Order Lepidoptera
112 families · 2,787 genera
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies rough...
True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies
Order Hemiptera
120 families · 1,727 genera
Hemiptera (true bugs) includes over 80,000 described species across cicadas, aphids, leafhoppers, shield bugs, and bed b...
Flies
Order Diptera
141 families · 1,800 genera
Diptera includes over 150,000 described species of flies, mosquitoes, and midges. Mosquitoes are the deadliest animal on...
Flies
Order Hymenoptera
102 families · 1,491 genera
Hymenoptera includes over 150,000 described species of ants, bees, wasps, and sawflies. Earth harbors approximately 20 q...
Spiders
Order Araneae
82 families · 552 genera
As of 2023, 51,673 spider species in 136 families have been recorded, though an estimated 150,000 species exist. Spiders...
Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids
Order Orthoptera
22 families · 248 genera
Orthoptera includes ~28,000 described species of grasshoppers, crickets, and katydids. Desert locusts can form swarms co...
Dragonflies and Damselflies
Order Odonata
18 families · 97 genera
Odonata includes ~6,000 described species of dragonflies and damselflies. Dragonflies are among the fastest flying insec...
Caddisflies
Order Trichoptera
24 families · 109 genera
Trichoptera (caddisflies) includes ~14,500 described species worldwide. Larvae are aquatic and build protective cases fr...
Barklice, Booklice, and Parasitic Lice
Order Psocodea
37 families · 90 genera
Psocodea includes ~11,000 described species of booklice, barklice, and parasitic lice. Booklice (Psocoptera) are among t...
Mayflies
Order Ephemeroptera
22 families · 82 genera
Ephemeroptera (mayflies) includes ~3,500 described species. Adult mayflies are famous for their extraordinarily short li...
Stoneflies
Order Plecoptera
10 families · 79 genera
Plecoptera (stoneflies) includes ~3,700 described species. Stonefly nymphs are among the most pollution-sensitive aquati...
Antlions, Lacewings, and Allies
Order Neuroptera
11 families · 64 genera
Neuroptera (lacewings, antlions, owlflies) includes ~6,000 described species. Green lacewing larvae are called 'aphid li...
Cockroaches and Termites
Order Blattodea
12 families · 53 genera
Blattodea includes ~4,600 cockroach species and ~3,000 termite species. Only about 30 cockroach species are associated w...
Globular Springtails
Order Entomobryomorpha
5 families · 50 genera
Entomobryomorpha is a major order of springtails (Collembola) with ~4,000 described species. Springtails are among the m...
Harvestmen
Order Opiliones
20 families · 64 genera
Opiliones (harvestmen/daddy longlegs) includes ~6,650 described species. Despite common myths, harvestmen are NOT spider...
Crabs, Crayfishes, Lobsters, Prawns, and Shrimp
Order Decapoda
32 families · 61 genera
Decapoda includes ~15,000 described species of crabs, lobsters, shrimp, and crayfish. Although primarily marine and fres...
Scorpionflies, Hangingflies, and Allies
Order Mecoptera
6 families · 10 genera
Mecoptera (scorpionflies) includes ~600 described species. Males of many species have an upturned abdomen tip resembling...
Isopods
Order Isopoda
22 families · 62 genera
Isopoda includes ~10,000 described species of woodlice, pill bugs, and sea slaters. Woodlice are the only crustaceans to...
Thrips
Order Thysanoptera
6 families · 39 genera
Thysanoptera (thrips) includes ~6,000 described species. Thrips are among the smallest flying insects - most are just 1-...
Flat-backed Millipedes
Order Polydesmida
9 families · 44 genera
Polydesmida (flat-backed millipedes) is the largest millipede order with ~3,500 described species. Many species produce ...
Globular Springtails
Order Symphypleona
6 families · 28 genera
Symphypleona (globular springtails) includes ~1,200 described species. These round-bodied springtails are found on veget...
Mites
Order Trombidiformes
22 families · 104 genera
Trombidiformes includes ~26,000 described species of mites including velvet mites, chiggers, and spider mites. Spider mi...
Mantids
Order Mantodea
6 families · 16 genera
Mantodea (praying mantises) includes ~2,400 described species in 430 genera. The praying mantis is the only insect that ...
Scorpions
Order Scorpiones
5 families · 21 genera
Scorpiones includes ~2,700 described species. Scorpions are among the oldest terrestrial arthropods, with fossils dating...
Twisted-winged Insects
Order Strepsiptera
6 families · 9 genera
Strepsiptera (twisted-wing parasites) includes ~600 described species. They are among the most bizarre insects - males a...
Poduromorpha
Order Poduromorpha
7 families · 32 genera
Poduromorpha is an order of elongated springtails with ~3,400 described species. Many species are among the few arthropo...
Alderflies, Dobsonflies, and Fishflies
Order Megaloptera
2 families · 9 genera
Megaloptera (dobsonflies, fishflies, alderflies) includes ~380 described species. Male dobsonflies have enormous mandibl...
Walkingsticks
Order Phasmida
7 families · 11 genera
Phasmida (stick insects and leaf insects) includes ~3,000 described species. The longest insect ever discovered is a sti...
Pulmonata
Order Pulmonata
17 families · 32 genera
Pulmonata includes terrestrial and freshwater snails and slugs with ~30,000 described species. The giant African land sn...
Earwigs
Order Dermaptera
6 families · 10 genera
Dermaptera (earwigs) includes ~2,000 described species. Despite their fearsome-looking pincers (cerci), earwigs are harm...
Windscorpions
Order Solifugae
2 families · 11 genera
Solifugae (sun spiders/camel spiders/wind scorpions) includes ~1,100 described species. Despite terrifying appearances, ...
Amphipods
Order Amphipoda
12 families · 27 genera
Amphipoda includes ~10,000 described species of scuds, sand hoppers, and whale lice. While mostly aquatic, some species ...
Fleas
Order Siphonaptera
5 families · 11 genera
Siphonaptera (fleas) includes ~2,500 described species. Fleas can jump up to 150 times their own body length - equivalen...
Stone Centipedes
Order Lithobiomorpha
2 families · 15 genera
Lithobiomorpha (stone centipedes) includes ~1,500 described species. They are the most common centipedes in temperate re...
Soil Centipedes
Order Geophilomorpha
5 families · 14 genera
Geophilomorpha (soil centipedes) includes ~1,300 described species. They have the most leg pairs of any centipede - up t...
Webspinners
Order Embioptera
5 families · 6 genera
Embioptera (webspinners) includes ~400 described species. They are unique among insects for spinning silk from glands in...
Ticks
Order Ixodida
2 families · 9 genera
Ixodida (ticks) includes ~900 described species in two major families: hard ticks (Ixodidae, ~700 species) and soft tick...
Silverfish
Order Zygentoma
3 families · 11 genera
Zygentoma (silverfish and firebrats) includes ~400 described species. Silverfish are among the oldest living insect orde...
Julida
Order Julida
6 families · 17 genera
Julida is the largest millipede order in temperate regions with ~750 described species. The spotted snake millipede (Bla...
Bristletails
Order Microcoryphia
2 families · 8 genera
Microcoryphia (jumping bristletails) includes ~500 described species. These are among the most primitive living insects ...
Bark Centipedes
Order Scolopendromorpha
6 families · 6 genera
Scolopendromorpha includes ~700 described species of tropical centipedes. The giant Amazonian centipede (Scolopendra gig...
Diplostraca
Order Diplostraca
11 families · 17 genera
Diplostraca includes ~3,500 described species of water fleas (Daphnia) and clam shrimp. Daphnia are among the most studi...
Spirobolida
Order Spirobolida
5 families · 13 genera
Spirobolida (round-backed millipedes) includes ~500 described species. These robust millipedes are common in tropical an...
Chordeumatida
Order Chordeumatida
7 families · 16 genera
Chordeumatida includes ~800 described species of small, pale millipedes typically found in leaf litter and caves. Many s...
Pseudoscorpions
Order Pseudoscorpionida
7 families · 13 genera
Pseudoscorpionida includes ~3,500 described species. These tiny arachnids (2-8mm) look like miniature scorpions with lar...
Zorapterans
Order Zoraptera
1 families · 1 genera
Zoraptera (angel insects) is one of the least-known insect orders with only ~44 described species. They are tiny (2-3mm)...
Mesostigs
Order Mesostigmata
9 families · 40 genera
Mesostigmata includes ~11,500 described species of predatory and parasitic mites. Many species are voracious predators o...
Rock Crawlers
Order Notoptera
1 families · 1 genera
Notoptera (ice crawlers/grylloblattids) includes only ~34 described species, making it one of the rarest insect orders. ...
Astigs
Order Astigmata
7 families · 17 genera
Astigmata includes ~6,000 described species of mites, including dust mites, scabies mites, and cheese mites. House dust ...
Brine Shrimp and Fairy Shrimp
Order Anostraca
4 families · 5 genera
Anostraca (fairy shrimp and brine shrimp) includes ~300 described species. Brine shrimp (Artemia) eggs can survive compl...
Hygrophila
Order Hygrophila
4 families · 7 genera
This is a smaller arthropod order with specialized ecological roles. Arthropods are the most diverse animal phylum, comp...
Oribatids
Order Oribatida
8 families · 37 genera
Oribatida (oribatid mites / beetle mites) includes ~11,000 described species, making them one of the most species-rich m...
Snakeflies
Order Rhaphidioptera
3 families · 3 genera
Rhaphidioptera (snakeflies) includes ~260 described species. Named for their elongated 'neck' (prothorax) that gives the...
Platydesmida
Order Platydesmida
1 families · 4 genera
Platydesmida includes ~75 described species of very small, flat millipedes found in leaf litter and rotting wood in temp...
Polyzoniida
Order Polyzoniida
3 families · 5 genera
Polyzoniida includes ~130 described species of small, blind millipedes. These elongated millipedes secrete sticky defens...
Dicellurata
Order Dicellurata
2 families · 4 genera
Dicellurata (diplurans/two-pronged bristletails) includes ~1,000 described species. These eyeless, unpigmented arthropod...
Spirostreptida
Order Spirostreptida
3 families · 3 genera
Spirostreptida includes ~1,000 described species, including the giant African millipede (Archispirostreptus gigas) which...
Veneroida
Order Veneroida
3 families · 4 genera
This is a smaller arthropod order with specialized ecological roles. Arthropods are the most diverse animal phylum, comp...
Tailless Whipscorpions
Order Amblypygi
1 families · 3 genera
This is a smaller arthropod order with specialized ecological roles. Arthropods are the most diverse animal phylum, comp...
House Centipedes
Order Scutigeromorpha
1 families · 3 genera
This is a smaller arthropod order with specialized ecological roles. Arthropods are the most diverse animal phylum, comp...
Sessile Barnacles
Order Sessilia
3 families · 4 genera
Sessilia (acorn barnacles) includes ~500 described species. Barnacles were famously studied by Charles Darwin for 8 year...
Tetramerocerata
Order Tetramerocerata
2 families · 6 genera
Tetramerocerata (flat-bodied millipedes) includes ~170 described species. These small, flat millipedes live under bark a...
Whipscorpions
Order Uropygi
2 families · 1 genera
This is a smaller arthropod order with specialized ecological roles. Arthropods are the most diverse animal phylum, comp...
Crested Millipedes
Order Callipodida
1 families · 4 genera
This is a smaller arthropod order with specialized ecological roles. Arthropods are the most diverse animal phylum, comp...
Littorinimorpha
Order Littorinimorpha
2 families · 2 genera
This is a smaller arthropod order with specialized ecological roles. Arthropods are the most diverse animal phylum, comp...
Neelipleona
Order Neelipleona
1 families · 2 genera
This is a smaller arthropod order with specialized ecological roles. Arthropods are the most diverse animal phylum, comp...
Short-tailed Whipscorpions
Order Schizomida
1 families · 2 genera
This is a smaller arthropod order with specialized ecological roles. Arthropods are the most diverse animal phylum, comp...
Tanaidacea
Order Tanaidacea
2 families · 3 genera
This is a smaller arthropod order with specialized ecological roles. Arthropods are the most diverse animal phylum, comp...
Unionoida
Order Unionoida
1 families · 2 genera
This is a smaller arthropod order with specialized ecological roles. Arthropods are the most diverse animal phylum, comp...
Calanoid copepods
Order Calanoida
2 families · 4 genera
Calanoida includes ~2,700 described species of planktonic copepods. By some estimates, copepods are the most abundant mu...
Cyclopoid copepods
Order Cyclopoida
2 families · 4 genera
This is a smaller arthropod order with specialized ecological roles. Arthropods are the most diverse animal phylum, comp...
Lepadiformes
Order Lepadiformes
1 families · 2 genera
This is a smaller arthropod order with specialized ecological roles. Arthropods are the most diverse animal phylum, comp...
Tadpole Shrimp
Order Notostraca
1 families · 2 genera
This is a smaller arthropod order with specialized ecological roles. Arthropods are the most diverse animal phylum, comp...
Pantopoda
Order Pantopoda
2 families · 2 genera
This is a smaller arthropod order with specialized ecological roles. Arthropods are the most diverse animal phylum, comp...
Podocopida
Order Podocopida
1 families · 2 genera
This is a smaller arthropod order with specialized ecological roles. Arthropods are the most diverse animal phylum, comp...
Acerentomata
Order Acerentomata
2 families · 2 genera
This is a smaller arthropod order with specialized ecological roles. Arthropods are the most diverse animal phylum, comp...
Architaenioglossa
Order Architaenioglossa
1 families · 1 genera
This is a smaller arthropod order with specialized ecological roles. Arthropods are the most diverse animal phylum, comp...
Cycloneritimorpha
Order Cycloneritimorpha
1 families · 1 genera
This is a smaller arthropod order with specialized ecological roles. Arthropods are the most diverse animal phylum, comp...
Northern Pill Millipedes
Order Glomerida
1 families · 2 genera
This is a smaller arthropod order with specialized ecological roles. Arthropods are the most diverse animal phylum, comp...
Opilioacarida
Order Opilioacarida
1 families · 1 genera
This is a smaller arthropod order with specialized ecological roles. Arthropods are the most diverse animal phylum, comp...
Microscorpions
Order Palpigradi
1 families · 1 genera
This is a smaller arthropod order with specialized ecological roles. Arthropods are the most diverse animal phylum, comp...
Bristly Millipedes
Order Polyxenida
1 families · 1 genera
This is a smaller arthropod order with specialized ecological roles. Arthropods are the most diverse animal phylum, comp...
Hooded Tickspiders
Order Ricinulei
1 families · 1 genera
This is a smaller arthropod order with specialized ecological roles. Arthropods are the most diverse animal phylum, comp...
Siphonostomatoida
Order Siphonostomatoida
1 families · 1 genera
This is a smaller arthropod order with specialized ecological roles. Arthropods are the most diverse animal phylum, comp...
Mantis Shrimps
Order Stomatopoda
1 families · 1 genera
This is a smaller arthropod order with specialized ecological roles. Arthropods are the most diverse animal phylum, comp...
Xiphosura
Order Xiphosura
1 families · 1 genera
This is a smaller arthropod order with specialized ecological roles. Arthropods are the most diverse animal phylum, comp...
How to browse by order
An order is a broad classification that groups related families. Use this page when you recognize a general group, such as beetles, butterflies and moths, or spiders, and want to explore its smaller branches.
Start broad, then narrow your search
Open an order to see its families and available species. Move from order to family, then genus and species as the name or features become more specific. Breadcrumbs let you return to the broader group.
Read counts as directory coverage
The counts describe records available in this directory. They are not a complete global census, a measure of abundance, or a list of animals found in your area.
Compare species-level details
Background about an order describes the wider group. A behavior, habitat, or trait mentioned in that overview should not automatically be assigned to every species within it.