Insects

There is an exuberance of insects in Florida! Many are annoying or even dangerous, such as the fire ant's sting, the mosquito's bite, or the termites chewing on your house. Other insects are magnificent, such as the tiger swallowtail pictured at right, or the migrant common green darner dragonfly, or seemingly perverse such as the "love-bug". The Schaus' swallowtail butterfly and Miami blue are endangered species in south Florida. Other insects can cause expensive damage to our crops like citrus. Insects such as the bee can be beneficial by pollinating flowers and providing honey.

Insect Pests. The following links contain information about Florida's least popular insects.

• Two species of red fire ants occur in Florida
• Termite help from Bureau of Entomology and Pest Control
• Little to Love about Love Bugs
• Florida Corn Insect Identification Guide
• The Wheel Bug is beneficial, but its bite is severe

Insect Delights. The following list should include something to delight everyone

• Florida's Fabulous Butterflies
• Butterflies and Moths of Florida from USGS
• Dragonflies and damselflies of Florida
• The Bees of Florida
• Sand dwelling insects of the Florida scrub
• Grasshoppers of Florida

General Insect Links.

• Florida Department of Agriculture Entomology page
• Florida Entomological Society
• Featured creatures from Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
• University of Florida's book of insect records