Insects live across the world and scientists have found millions of types of these species, however, it is believed that there are many more yet to be discovered. Insects belong to a group of animals known as arthropods and they are also categorized under invertebrates because they don’t have homes inside their body. The harder outer shell outside is known as the exoskeleton which is used for protection. All insects across the world have three things in common that is the head, thorax, and abdomen. Australia has some of the most interesting insect species in the world, Here is the list of 16 different types of Australian insects.
Types of Australian Insects
1. Blue Ants
Blue ants scientifically known as Diamma bicolor is a solitary ant species that can grow upto 2.5 cm long. The behavior is more similar to a wasp, however, females behave like a particular ant species. They can be easily identified with the help of antennae. The common ants have bent antennae whereas Blue Ants have curved antennae.
Blue ants are mostly seen in the regions of Tasmania, New South Wales, South Australia, and Victoria. Talking about their appearance, they have darker bodies with white spots on their abdomen. Male species are smaller and females’ body length can grow upto 1.5 cm. The life cycle of blue ants Is similar to other insects that include stages like egg, larvae, and adult.
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2. Giant Gippsland earthworm
The Giant Gippsland earthworm scientifically known as Megascolides australis is one of the types of Australian insects seen on the continents. The body length of a Giant Gippsland earthworm can grow upto 1 meter (3.3 ft) long and 2 centimeters (0.79 in) in diameter.
The total length of an Australian insect is 3 meters (9.8 ft). They look bigger than their size because it is able to expand and contract their body. The average weight of a Giant Gippsland earthworm is upto 200 grams (0.44 lb) and spent much of the time within the top 1.5 meters of soil and primarily feeds on roots and soil organic matter.
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3. Australian Witchetty Grubs
Australian Witchetty Grubs also known as witchety grub or without grub is one of the most wider used terms in Australia for several months. In general, it is for the moth species that feeds on the roots of the witchetty bush. They are also been known to be found in the Bloodwood Tree and their taste is similar to scrambled eggs.
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4. Bulldog Ants
Bulldog Ants scientifically known as Myrmecia and almost all the 90 species are endemic to Australia except for Myrmecia apicalis which is from New Caledonia. It is also known as bull ants, inch ants, sergeant ants, or jumper ants known for their aggressive behavior and powerful stings.
The body length of bulldog ants is between 15 mm to 40 mm. Th ant species primarily feed on small insects, honeydew, seeds, fruit, fungi, gums, and nectar. They prefer to thrive in soil or under logs or rocks and also in extensive tunnel systems. The venom of the Australian insect can cause anaphylactic shock in allergic sting victims.
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5. Giant Burrowing Cockroach
The Giant burrowing cockroach scientifically known as Macropanesthia rhinoceros are native to Australia and prefer to thrive in tropical and subtropical parts of Queensland. They are one of the heaviest species of cockroach and their average weight is between 30 to 35 grams. The body length of a giant burrowing cockroach is between 7.5 to 8 cm in length.
The insect species belong to the family Blaberidae and even has 100 species part of the blaberid subfamily Geoscapheinae. The cockroach species is s popular in Brisbane and is frequently sold as a pet. They are solitary species, however, young nymphs remain with mothers for several months after birth and they are mostly active at sunrise where they will burrow and dig.
Image Source: Martin Grimm
6. Common Garden Orb Weaver
Common Garden Orb Weaver is one of the large groups of spiders with over 100 species that are known to humans and seen in Australia. The natural predators of common garden orb weaver are birds such as honeyeaters. They have large abdomens and come from off-white through tan, brown to almost black. They have a unique leaf-shaped pattern on the top of their abdomen along with a complex outline that is darker than the surrounding area.
The bite is not very dangerous for humans and can cause mild, local pain, redness, and sometimes swelling. Female species are larger than males with a body length of between 20 to 25 mm. The male species have a body length of between 15 to 17 mm. Female species can be identified with the help of needle-like epigynum protruding in the direction of the spinnerets.
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Image Source: James Johnstone
7. Goliath Stick Insect
Goliath Stick Insect is one of the interesting Australian insects that have a body length of upto 25cm in length. They have a robust body along with bright green phasmid and yellow patches on the head, legs, and thorax. They have unique two pairs of bright green wings with red markings underneath.
The female species of Goliath Stick Insect is considered the heaviest stick insect in Australia and is mostly seen in the regions of Northern Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, and Western Australia. They like to feed on the leaves of Acacia and even see eating the leaves of Guava plants. They mainly eat at night and used to hide in the trees during the day time.
Image Source: Arthur Chapman
8. Hercules Moth
Hercules Moth is one of the Australian insects that belong to the family Saturniidae. The insect species are endemic to New Guinea and northern Australia. It was first described by William Henry Miskin in the year 1876. The adult species of Hercules moth have a total wingspan of 27 centimeters (11 in) and hence it is also known as the largest moth found in Australia.
The moth species vary in color from colored golden-brown to white along with transparent spots on each of the four wing sections. The larvae species can grow upto 12 cm (about 4.7 in) and avarage wieght of around 29 grams in their final instar. They primarily feed on the leaves of rainforest trees such as Dysoxylum muelleri, Glochidion ferdinandi, Timonius rumphii, and Timonius singularis.
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9. Banded sugar ant
The banded sugar ant scientifically known as amponotus consobrinus is a species of ant native to the Australian region but is most commonly found in southeast Australia. They belong to the subfamily Formicinae and were first described by German entomologist Wilhelm Ferdinand Erichson in the year 1842.
The name comes since the ant species loves sugar and sweet foods. They are relatively large ant species with two different castes of workers known as major workers (also known as soldiers), and minor workers. The body length of banded sugar ants is between 5 to 15 millimeters in length, however, queen ants are a bit larger.
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10. Extatosoma Tiaratum
Extatosoma tiaratum is popular by many names such as the spiny leaf insect, the giant prickly stick insect, Macleay’s specter, or the Australian walking stick is a large insect species native to Australia. The species is nocturnal in nature and will generally only move during the night. The insect is harmless and uses its tail to defend itself from predators. It primarily feeds on blackberry, raspberry, oak, rose, hazel, and eucalyptus.
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11. Blow Flies
Blow Flies are also known as carrion flies, bluebottles, greenbottles, or cluster flies and the name comes from an older English term for meat that had eggs laid on it. The size of the Australian insect is between 8 to 10 mm and has 6 legs. The larvae of the insect species are known as maggots that can grow between 9 to 22 mm in length and the insect species is known for its metallic bluish-green color. The primary diet includes decaying meat because it is essential for larval survival and growth. The lifecycle of an insect is small and lasts between 3 to 4 weeks.
Image Source: Jude
12. Christmas beetle
The Christmas beetle is one of the popular Australian insects that belong to the family Scarabaeidae. As of now, 36 species of Christmas beetle are known to humans 21 species are endemic to New South Wales and 10 species are in the Sydney region. They are primarily seen in areas equipped with forests and woodlands and distributed across southern and eastern Australia. The primary diet includes eucalyptus leaves and the larvae feed on grass roots.
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13. Jack jumper ant
Jack jumper ants are also known as ants or hopper ants since these ants are known to jump pretty far when in danger. The size of the Australian insect is between 12 to 14 mm and have 6 legs. There are 2 Antennae and mostly seen in Southern and Eastern Australia, Tasmania. The bite and sting of Jack’s jumper and will not be a pleasant experience for sure. They are aggressive ant species and will attack in case it are threatened.
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14. Tectocoris diophthalmus
The Tectocoris diophthalmus also known as the hibiscus harlequin bug or cotton harlequin bug belongs to the genus Tectocoris. The ant species can grow upto 20 mm and is known for its brightly colored convex and rounded shield-shaped bug along with metallic sheen scattered across the body. The adult female species can be identified with orange color and males have both blue and red or orange, while nymphs are typically metallic green and purple.
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15. Joseph’s coat moth
Joseph’s coat moth is one of the beautiful Australian insects known for its forewings which are black with yellow and pale blue markings and belong to family Noctuidae. The wingspan of ant species is upto 5cm for male species and 7cm for female species. The primary diet includes cultivated grape crops, as well as native grapes. They are mostly seen in the regions of the Northern Territory, Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.
Image Source: David cook
16. Common bluebottle
Common bluebottle also known as Graphium sarpedon or blue triangle in Australia primarily seen in South and Southeast Asia, as well as eastern Australia. As of now, sixteen subspecies are known to humans and seen in different geographical distributions. The ant species is named after one of its polyps, the gas-filled sac, often referred to as “the float,” which resembles a blue bottle floating in the ocean. The primary diet includes larval fish and small crustaceans and mollusks and they have predatory tentacles equipped with stinging cells that are used to paralyze and capture prey.
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These are the different types of Australian insects. Kindly share and post your comments.