Insects
Insects are the most species-rich class of animals on Earth — with over one million described species and estimates of the true total running from two to ten million or more. They have colonized virtually every terrestrial and freshwater habitat and perform ecological functions indispensable to global food systems, including pollination, decomposition, and forming the base of many food webs.
About This Section
Insect profiles on FaunaHub cover species from major insect orders including Hymenoptera (bees, wasps, ants), Coleoptera (beetles), Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths), Diptera (flies), and Orthoptera (grasshoppers and crickets). Each profile addresses anatomy, life cycle, habitat, diet, ecological role, and where relevant, the species' relationship to agriculture or human environments.
Why Insects Matter
Insects pollinate approximately 75% of the world's flowering plant species and around one third of global food crops. Beetles and flies are primary decomposers that break down organic matter and cycle nutrients back into soil. Many vertebrate species — including birds, fish, amphibians, and mammals — depend on insects as a primary food source. Insect population declines documented in recent decades represent a significant ecological concern with cascading effects across ecosystems.
Individual insect species profiles are in development.