The most common insects in Canada play various roles in the ecosystem. They pollinate plants, which helps crops grow, and flowers bloom. Some insects are decomposers, breaking down dead plant and animal matter. Others are predators or prey integral to the food chain.
Insects are good for many reasons. They contribute to our gardens and forests by pollinating flowers and controlling pests. Insects also help recycle nutrients in the soil, making it fertile for plants. Their presence is vital to nature’s balance.
Here’s a look at what the most common insects in Canada do.
List of Most Common Insects
Ants
Ant colonies have a well-organized social structure with specific roles. The queen usually lays thousands of eggs. Worker ants, mostly sterile females, forage, care for young ones, and maintain the nest. Soldier ants protect the colony. Male ants, or drones, mate with the queen and die.
Ants play a vital role in ecosystems by decomposing organic matter and enriching the soil. They also aid in seed dispersal, which supports plant diversity. However, ants face threats like habitat loss, climate change, and pesticides.
Houseflies
Houseflies have four stages: egg, larva (maggot), pupa, and adult. Females lay eggs in decaying organic matter, which hatch into larvae within a day. Houseflies can live in many environments because they reproduce quickly and thrive in dirty conditions. They are common in both urban and rural Canada.
Houseflies are health hazards because they contaminate food and surfaces, spreading diseases like typhoid, cholera, and dysentery. They also carry pathogens from waste and decaying matter through their feet and mouthparts. Keeping areas clean, using fly traps and screens, and using pest control solutions are effective ways to control houseflies.
Mosquitoes
There are more than 3,000 mosquito species, the most common ones being Aedes, Anopheles, and Culex. Aedes mosquitoes, including the Aedes aegypti type, often live in tropical and subtropical places and spread diseases like dengue and Zika.
Mosquitoes impact human health because they spread serious diseases like malaria, dengue, Zika, and the West Nile virus. These diseases cause millions of deaths and illnesses each year, and healthcare systems, especially in developing countries, struggle with this burden. Efforts to reduce mosquito numbers include insecticide-treated bed nets, indoor spraying, and larvicidal treatments.
Beetles
Beetles are the largest insect group, with over 350,000 known species. They show a wide variety in shape, function, and habitat. This variety is a sign of evolutionary success. Their hard forewings protect their flying wings and reduce water loss, letting them live in many places.
Beetles that pollinate help plant species, adding to biodiversity and ecosystem health. Predatory beetles manage pest populations, protecting crops and reducing chemical pest control.
Butterflies
Butterflies are crucial for pollination, helping flowering plants reproduce. While they drink nectar, they move pollen from one flower to another, aiding cross-pollination and increasing genetic variety in plant communities. Butterflies are also critical indicators of environmental health, showing changes in climate and habitat quality.
Butterflies undergo a fascinating life cycle with four stages: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis), and adult. The female butterfly lays eggs on host plants, which hatch into caterpillars. These caterpillars eat lots of leaves and increase until they become pupae. Inside the chrysalis, the caterpillar changes into an adult butterfly.
Moths
Moths play pivotal roles in nature. They pollinate plants that bloom at night and serve food for birds and bats. Moth caterpillars also break down organic matter. But modern problems like habitat loss, light pollution, and pesticides make life hard for moths. These issues lower their numbers and affect their role in the ecosystem.
Moths and butterflies are similar in some ways, but their behaviour and physical traits differ significantly. Butterflies are usually active during the day and have club-shaped antennae. Moths, on the other hand, are mostly active at night, have feathery or comb-like antennae, and usually have dull wing colours. They rest with their wings open or tucked over their bodies.
Cockroaches
Cockroaches are well known for their adaptability and ability to live in many environments. They can survive in extreme conditions, from tropical climates to freezing temperatures, and go without food for up to a month. Their toughness comes from their omnivorous diet, which allows them to eat almost any organic material. In addition, they can hide in small spaces, avoiding predators and harsh conditions.
Cockroach infestations pose serious health risks as they spread various diseases and allergens. They carry pathogens that cause illnesses like salmonella, dysentery, and gastroenteritis. Their droppings, shed skin, and saliva can trigger allergic reactions and asthma, especially in children and sensitive individuals.
Bees
Honeybees go through four stages in their life cycle: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The queen bee lays eggs in the hive, which hatch into larvae. Worker bees feed and care for the larvae, which eventually become pupae and emerge as adult bees.
Honeybee colonies are well-organized, with a single queen for reproduction, worker bees managing foraging, hive upkeep, and caring for the young, while drones only mate with the queen.
Bees are crucial for pollination, helping flowering plants reproduce, including crops humans need for food. Pollination helps biodiversity, supports ecosystems, and increases agricultural productivity. Honeybees face various threats, such as pesticide exposure, diseases, and parasites.
Wasps
Wasp colonies have a well-organized social structure with specific roles for each member. The queen is at the top, and her main job is to reproduce and lay eggs. Worker wasps are sterile females caring for foraging, building the nest, and looking after the queen’s offspring. Male wasps, or drones, only mate with the queen and die afterwards.
Some wasp species also pollinate flowers, aiding plant reproduction and biodiversity. However, wasps can be dangerous to humans since their stings can cause pain, allergic reactions, and, in rare cases, severe anaphylaxis.
Grasshoppers
Grasshoppers have a simple life cycle with three stages: egg, nymph, and adult. Female grasshoppers lay eggs in soil or plant material. The eggs hatch into nymphs that look like small adults but lack fully developed wings. Nymphs shed their exoskeletons several times as they grow and get wings and reproductive organs. When they become adults, grasshoppers can fly and continue the cycle by mating and laying eggs.
Grasshoppers affect agriculture and ecosystems because of their eating habits. They eat plants, including wheat, corn, and barley. In large numbers, grasshoppers can damage crops a lot.
