Bugs can be funny-looking and do some very weird things, but what exactly are bugs? Some examples of bugs include butterflies, spiders, beetles, ants, and bees. Some bugs fly, while others creep and crawl, scuttling around on six, eight, or even more legs. And if you’ve ever looked closely, you’ll notice there are some truly weird bugs out there!
All insects are bugs, but not all bugs are insects. Insects have three body parts: the head, the thorax (middle section), and the abdomen. They also have two antennae and three pairs of legs—adding up to six legs in total.
Spiders, on the other hand, are not insects. They have eight legs and no antennae. Scorpions and centipedes also don’t qualify as insects, but they are still bugs. Some of these creatures can be pretty unusual—nature is full of weird bugs with strange adaptations!
Most bugs start life by hatching from eggs. Many insects emerge as larvae or nymphs. Larvae, like caterpillars and maggots, resemble worms and look very different from their adult forms. Nymphs, however, often resemble smaller versions of the adults and live in the same environments, eating the same food. Some insect nymphs even live in water and have special structures like gills or swimming legs.
Bugs have their skeletons on the outside of their bodies, called an exoskeleton. This tough outer shell protects them but also makes growing up a challenge. To grow, they must molt—shedding their exoskeleton and expanding before their new one hardens. Once they reach adulthood, they stop growing altogether.
Moths and butterflies go through a remarkable transformation called metamorphosis. Their caterpillars spin a silk cocoon (or chrysalis), inside which they undergo drastic changes. When they emerge, they have transformed into a moth or butterfly—one of nature’s most fascinating processes.
The scientists who study bugs and help us understand these incredible creatures—including the weird bugs that amaze and surprise us—are called entomologists. Their research helps uncover the mysteries of these tiny yet essential creatures that share our world.
01. Atlas Moth
- Where they live: Tropical forest of Southeast Asia.
- What they like to eat: Leaves and foliage of evergreen and citrus trees.
The Atlas Moth is known to be the largest moth in the world due to its huge wings; wingspans up to 10 in (25 cm) are commonly recorded. It was named after the titan, Atlas of Greek mythology. In Asia were the moth lives, it’s also known by another name which in Cantonese means snake’s head moth. If you look at the moth’s wing tips you can see how they look like snake heads. This is a natural defensive system to ward off predators, for when the moth flaps its wings, the tips appear to be snakes moving back and forth.
Adult moths never get to eat. They solely live off the baby fat they stored up while eating as a caterpillar. As a moth, their mouth never fully forms all its parts, so they only live about two weeks. Now that’s weird!
02. Banana Spider
- Where they live: Coastland and swampy regions all over the world.
- What they like to eat: Mainly insects, but have been known to eat small birds and snakes.
Known for their zigzag patterned large webs, the Banana Spider is also known as the Golden Silk Orb-Weaver, this is because the silk in which the spiders make their webs, shines like gold in the sunlight. These golden cobwebs have been harvested to make silk garments such as the golden cape shown.
They do produce venom similar to the black widow spider, to incapacitate their prey, but it’s not as potent or harmful to humans.
03. Bombardier Beetle
- Where they live: In the grass and woods all over the world.
- What they like to eat: Insects.
Bombardiers get their name from their ability to shoot hot lethal spray out of their butt. This is the way they protect themselves against enemies. I guess you could say, it’s kind of like a “bug fart” because it makes a popping sound when they do it!
This bug fart happens when two chemicals, hydrogen peroxide and hydroquinone, come together with catalytic enzymes and water which are all store separately inside the bug’s gut until needed. When the bug feels threatened the chemicals all mix together and create a hot toxic gas, which shoots out hitting any attackers.
This bug fart can kill other bugs, and if some were to get on your skin it could sting a little. Some bombardiers have the ability to bug fart in many directions at the same time. I bet that took some practice.
04. Camel Spider
- Where they live: Dry desert climates of the world.
- What they like to eat: Bugs and small animals.
Recognized by their scary and weird appearance the Camel Spider can grow up to 8 in (20 cm) across. It’s a very fast mover with speeds up to 10 mph (16 km/h), that’s fast for a bug!
Camel Spiders get their name from hanging out in places where camels do, in dry desert areas. They are not poisonous, but their bite can be very painful.
05. Dragonfly
- Where they live: Around water and wetlands all over the world.
- What they like to eat: Insects.
Dragonflies are predators, which mean they like to eat other insects. They play an important role for us humans because they especially like to eat mosquitoes and flies.
They can fly just like a helicopter from side to side, up, down, forward and backwards. Plus, they are one of the fastest flying bugs in the world with speeds up to 60 mph (97 km/h), and although have six legs, they can’t walk very well.
Dragonflies lay their eggs in or near water. When they hatch, the larvae or babies are called “nymphs” and live in the water. Dragonflies actually live most of their lives in the water as nymphs, feeding on mosquitoes, fish and tadpoles. The funny thing is they have gills on their butt, which they use to breathe with just like a fish. And when they want to go really fast underwater they shoot water out their butt!
When it’s time for the nymph to change into a dragonfly, it crawls out of the water. The skin begins to split open behind its head. This is called molting. Then the dragonfly crawls out of the old skin and shakes its wings to dry them off, and then flies away as a new dragonfly.
06. Gallinipper
- Where they live: East of the Continental Divide in North America.
- What they like to eat: Blood from animals and people.
Gallinippers are large mosquitoes, ready to take a bite of you! These mosquitoes are not only big, but very aggressive too, towards humans and animals. They must dilute the blood of their prey, with their spit before they can drink it. The Gallinipper’s spit is what makes the bite itch.
Never fear though, the same bug spray keeps these mosquitoes away just like the others. Plus, their bite doesn’t sting as much and they do not spread the dreaded West Nile virus as other mosquitoes.
07. Giant Isopod
- Where they live: In the deep cold regions of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans.
- What they like to eat: Dead fish, whales and squid.
Giant Isopods are bugs that live in the ocean and are related to crabs and shrimp, however, they are also related to the land dwelling insect pill bug and the common woodlouse. Much like the woodlouse, they have their skeleton on the outside of their body, called an exoskeleton. Which has overlapping segments and when they curl up; they look just like a ball.
They are scavengers which mean they like to eat leftovers and dead things. You might think of them as “trash men of the sea” because they go around eating up the things other fish don’t want to eat, thus keeping the ocean clean.
08. Giant Water Bugs
- Where they live: In freshwater streams and ponds all around the world.
- What they like to eat: Fish, crayfish, frogs, snakes and small turtles.
These giant bugs are also called by the names Toe-biter and Alligator Fleas. Known for being good hunters, these bugs like to hang out on the bottom of the pond or stream lying motionless until food swims by, then ka-powie! They make a strike on their prey with their piercing mouth, injecting a digestive spit into the victim. This turns the bitten area into a liquefied mush.
The Giant Water Bug’s bite is considered to be the most painful insect bite in the world! So don’t get one for a pet.
The eggs of the Giant Water Bug are laid on the male bug’s wings and then he carries them around until they hatch. When approached by a potential threat they “play dead”‘ and “poop their pants” by releasing a fluid from their butt, and stay still until the danger has passed.
09. Goliath Beetle
- Where they live: Tropical forest of Africa.
- What they like to eat: Fruit and tree sap.
Named after Goliath from the bible, these beetles are some of the largest insects in the larvae stage, weighing as much as 3.5 oz (100 g) and up to 10 in (250 cm) in length.
Goliath beetles, like almost all other beetles, have a rock-hard first pair of wings called elytra, they act as a protective shield for their secondary pair of wings. Only the second pair of wings is actually used for flying.
10. Katydid or Bush Cricket
- Where they live: Mainly in tropical regions all over the world.
- What they like to eat: Seeds, flowers, leaves, bark, snails and insects.
Katydids have camouflage and mimic colors and shapes that are similar to leaves. Male Katydids have an organ located on their front wings that allow them to produce a sound similar to a cricket.
11. Lantern Fly
- Where they live: Tropical regions all over the world.
- What they like to eat: Plant sap.
How do you catch a lantern bug? Wait for him to run out of gas.
These guys have what appears to be one big nose. However, what looks like a nose is really an extended mouth so that these plant feeding bugs can suck the sap from plants.
The bug’s amazing and brilliant appearance didn’t go ignored, even folklore attributes magical powers to the bug. It was often believed that lantern bugs are able to create light, like glow worms or fireflies. But their wing patterns merely reflect light, appearing as if they’re glowing at night.
12. Leaf Insect
- Where they live: In South Asia and Australia.
- What they like to eat: Fruit and plants.
Leaf Insects are also known by the name “Walking Leaves”, you can probably see why. Their natural ability to mimic a leaf is truly astonishing. Using this camouflage to take on the appearance of a leaf, they are able to hide from predators. So precisely that predators often aren’t able to tell them apart from real leaves. With some Leaf Insects the edge of the bug’s body even has the look of bite marks. In addition, when it walks, it rocks back and forth, to appear like a real leaf blowing in the wind.
13. Lightning Bug or Firefly
- Where they live: Worldwide around wet woodlands, marshes and tropical areas.
- What they like to eat: Insects, plant nectar and pollen.
Lightning Bugs are winged beetles that are also called Fireflies because of their glowing butt that produces a “cold light” to attract mates or prey. Cold light means that there are no ultraviolet or infrared frequencies, this is chemically produced inside their body and not hot to the touch.
Their light flashes on and off, and in patterns that are distinctive to each species. Each blinking pattern is a signal that helps Lightning Bugs find mates. Entomologists are not sure how the bugs control the blinking of their lights on and off.
14. Panda Ant
- Where they live: In dry desert like climates worldwide.
- What they like to eat: Plant nectar.
The Panda ant is not actually an ant. but a wingless wasp! Their real name is Velvet Ant, named after the hairy females that come in many colors like gold, silver, black and white. The black and white colored ones look very similar to a giant panda bear, and that’s why they’re called Panda Ants.
The males have wings to fly with and are larger than the females, but both make chirping sounds when frightened and have a very painful sting. So don’t pick one up!
15. Peanut Head Lantern Fly
- Where they live: In Central and South America.
- What they like to eat: Tree sap and resin.
Also known as the Alligator Bug and Snake Cicada, these peanut headed insects can be up to 3 in (8 cm) long, with long snouts on their heads that look similar to a lizard or snake. This can appear very scary, but actually the peanut head insect is a harmless plant hopper that has a straw for a mouth and doesn’t even bite.
When threatened, it protects itself by spreading its wings which have fake eyes on them, and then releases chemicals that have a “skunk-like smell” produced from the resins it eats.
16. Permian Giant Yellow-leg Centipede
- Where they live: In the tropical rainforest of South America and the Caribbean.
- What they like to eat: Snakes, mice, birds, frogs, lizards and insects.
This giant centipede is known to be very aggressive and feeds on almost anything it encounters, if it can kill it. Using sharp claws, it penetrates its prey with toxic venom which is deadly to insects and most small animals. However not usually fatal to people, it can be very painful, and cause chills and fever.
This 46 legged monster can grow up to 18 in (46 cm) long, making it the largest centipede in the world. It’s a fast mover and with all these legs can climb just about anything and even hang upside down. In recent years they have become popular as exotic pets. No thank you, I’ll stick with my dog Scooby Doo!
17. Praying Mantis
- Where they live: In temperate tropical climates worldwide.
- What they like to eat: Insects.
The Praying Mantis gets its name from folding its front legs in the shape of someone praying, as shown in the picture on the right. In the picture on the left we have a Praying Mantis showing the threat display. During this the bug rears back, then spreads its wings and front legs, and holds its mouth wide open. Looks more funny than scary, but I guess it scares away bugs.
They are ambush hunters, and stand still until prey walks near; camouflaged to look much like the plants and twigs they are hiding among.
18. Scorpionfly
- Where they live: Near wetlands of North America.
- What they like to eat: Dead insects, pollen, fruit and nectar.
This bug is known for its scorpion-like looking stinger at the end of its tail. However, it is not a stinger, having two claspers on it, the male uses its tail for holding the female while mating.
Courtship is one of giving gifts. The male first attracts a female by releasing a pheromone scent which brings her near, and then offers her a bug dinner he has earlier caught. If she accepts the bug, they’ll go on a date. But if she doesn’t, he must find a bigger bug to bring to her. Very weird.
19. Stink Bug
- Where they live: Asia and North America.
- What they like to eat: Fruits, vegetables and plants.
Farmers don’t like Stink Bugs very much, that’s because they like to eat fruit and vegetable crops that the farmers grow. These agricultural pests are not native to North America, but hitched a ride on ships coming from the Far East so it has few natural predators there.
Getting its name from the ability to release a stinky odor that smells like cilantro, the bug uses this as a defense against being eaten by lizards and birds. If you tried to pick one up or move it around, you’ll probably get a big whiff of this stinky stuff!
20. Thorn Bug
- Where they live: Florida, Mexico, Central and South America.
- What they like to eat: Sap of fruit and ornamental trees.
These colorful little bugs love to chew on trees, especially fruit trees. So look out fruit growers. Thorn bugs can so heavily cover a tree that it may be difficult to place a finger anywhere on the trunk without touching one. They like to suck the sap and this can cause a lot of damage to the tree.
If you like to go barefooted don’t run around these guys, because their spines can easily poke through into your foot. Ouch! That wouldn’t be funny, but they do look weird.
21. Walking Stick
- Where they live: In warmer climates all over the world.
- What they like to eat: Plants.
Having one of the most effective natural camouflages in the world, the Walking Stick insect mimic their surroundings appearing as a stick, colored in brown or green.
Many Walking Sticks will play dead to fool an enemy, and some will lose the occasional leg to escape an enemy’s grip, while others can release a rotten smelling fluid.