Insect species in Germany: overview from AZ

They don’t stop at people, the ants, which are referred to as the most industrious little animals. Some bite, some don’t. They form colonies which can contain anywhere from tens to millions of ants. They play a very important role in nature because they shift the soil, enabling the formation of microorganisms and promoting the water permeability of soil. Sugar-rich plant juices, seeds, plant tissue, insects such as caterpillars, butterflies and small flies, but also fresh carrion are among their food sources, depending on the species. They can damage plants enormously and become particularly annoying when they attack sugary foods in the house or on the cake table.

Overview of the most well-known ant species:

• leafcutter ants
• Fire ants (Solenopsis spp)
• Gemeine Rasenameisen (Tetramorium caespitum)
• Pharaoameisen (Pharaoh’s Monomorium)
• Rossameisen (Camponotus)
• Red ants (Myrmica rubra)
• Schwarzgraue Wegameisen (Lasius niger)
• Blackthorn (Tapinoma melanocephalum)
• Waldameisen (Formica)
• Wohlriechende Hausameisen (Tapinoma sessile)

Bees (Anthophila)

Like wasps, bees also belong to the order Hymenoptera. They are essential for pollination. All insect species of bees belong to the wild bees, with the exception of honey bees, to which about ten species can be assigned. Unlike wasps, they are larger and buzz louder. They are very calm insects that only sting when threatened and to defend their combs.

Above all, the following bees are widespread in local areas:

• Large wool bee, also called garden wool bee (Anthidium manicatum)
• Bumblebees (Bombus)
• Apini – western honey bee

Flies (Brachycera)

Flies make up a very large part of all types of insects, to which mosquitoes (Nematocera) do not belong, as is often wrongly assumed. Adult flies usually have a life expectancy of between a few days and a few weeks. They feed on organic matter, devouring plants (pests) or decomposed substances, depending on the fly species, but some also attack other insects.

• Boreflies (Tephritidae): Plant pests
• Housefly (Fanniidae canicularis): small to medium-sized, usually greyish in color, found in large numbers in the home
• True fly (Muscidae): prefers places where faeces and rotten fruit are present
  • Subspecies: stable fly, autumn fly
• Blowflies (Calliphoridae Bellardia spec.) sit on flowers, mostly on flower umbels and on elements smelling of carrion
• Fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster): love sweet foods, especially fermented fruit/vegetables
• Flesh fly (Sarcophagidae): larvae feed on scavengers and faeces, adult flies draw juice from fruits, trees, nectar, honeydew

Locusts (Orthoptera)

Depending on the species, locusts live in forests, meadows, caves, mountains and on the water. They can be heard within a radius of up to 50 meters via their chopped up buzzing song. Most grasshoppers feed on grasses. They love the warmth, which is why they are usually seen in the months of July, August and September. They are divided into long-touch crickets (Ensifera) and short-touch crickets (Caelifera). The species found in Germany include:

• Grüne Heupferd (Tettigonia viridissima)
• Säbeldornschrecken (Tetrix subulata)
• Common thorn cricket (Tetrix undulata)
• Blauflügelige Ödlandschrecke (Oedipoda caerulescens)
• Heidegrashüpfer (Stenobothrus lineatus)
• Great goldhopper (Chrysochraon dispar)
• Wiesengrashüpfer (Chorthippus dorsatus)
• Verkannter Grashüpfer (Chorthippus mollis)
• Common Grasshopper (Chorthippus parallelus)
• Brauner Grashüpfer (Chorthippus brunneus)

Beetle (Coleoptera)

Among the insect species, the beetles have the most comprehensive family grouping. Around 8,000 species are known in Central Europe, most of which can also be found in Germany. In contrast to all other insect species, the beetle does not consist of three body regions, but instead of a chest and abdomen, it only has a so-called prothorax, from which the neck/head area protrudes. Some fly, some don’t. Their food sources vary and, depending on the species, can consist of insects and other arthropods, worms, snails, caterpillars, tadpoles and small fish. Beetle larvae in particular often make life difficult for hobby gardeners because they often feed on parts of plants and often deprive plants of all life energy. stay unfought

Overview of widespread beetle species:

• Blattkäfer (Chrysomelidae)
• Bockkäfer (Cerambycidae)
• Bark beetle (Scolytinae)
• Breitrüssler (Anthribidae)
• Buntkäfer (Cleridae)
• Laufkäfer (Carabidae)
• Marienkäfer (Coccinellidae)
• Black or dark beetle (Tenebrionidae)
• Prachtkafer (Buprestidae)
• Rindenkäfer (Colydiinae)
• Weevil (Curculionidae)
• Bruchinae
• Sandlaufkäfer (Cicindelinae)
• Spitzmausrüssler (Apioninae)
• Soldier beetles (Cantharidae)

lice

In addition to head, pubic and hair lice, there are some types of lice that spread on plants. There they feed on the plant sap and not only leave behind unsightly stains and possibly holes, but also weaken the plants. Depending on the infestation, this can even lead to the death of the plants. Lice have to be fought in any case, because they multiply rapidly and spread quickly to neighboring plants. They offer ideal “preliminary work” to make infested plants significantly more susceptible to diseases. Infectious diseases in particular have it easier when plants are weakened by aphids.

Overview of the most well-known types of lice:

• Aphids (Aphidoidea)
• Wool-/Schmierläuse (Pseudococcidae)
• Schildläuse (Coccoidea)
• Fleas (Psylloidea)

Dragonflies (Odonata)

Dragonflies are harmless insects that usually live near water. Due to the progressive drying out/draining of water points, 3/4 of the dragonfly species are threatened with extinction. Their diet includes numerous small insect species that appear annoying to humans, such as mosquitoes.

Some dragonfly species:

• Emerald (Cordulia brazen)
• Great dragonfly (Anax imperator)
• Plattbauch Libelle (Libellula depressa)
• Black Darter (Sympetrum danae)

Mosquitoes (Nematocera)

The malaria mosquito (Anopheles), which transmits the dreaded malaria disease in certain areas, is one of the world’s most well-known insect species in the mosquito class. In local areas it is less to be feared, but the species native here can also transmit pathogens, although they mainly cause redness, itching and swelling on the skin after their sting. They are usually delicately built, slender, stand on long, thin legs and stretch their multi-feathered feelers forward. Not only are they horrid for people, but also for lice and fleas, who love to eat them and keep your plants “clean” with them.

Overview of most mosquito species in Germany:

• Kriebelmücke (Simuliidae)
• Rhine gnat/flood midge (Aedes vexans)
• Schnake (Tipulidae)
• Butterfly Gnat (Psychodidae)
• mosquito (Culicidae)
• Traiars (Sciaridae)
• Midge or dance midge (Chironomidae)

Earwigs (Dermaptera)

During dry summer times, earwigs tend to hang around plants because that’s where they meet their water needs. They can bite, but their bite is not venomous, although it can be felt to be painful. They feed on parts of plants, fruits and seeds as well as other arthropods. Aphids in particular are a delicacy, which is why they are among the useful insect species for every hobby gardener. One of the most common types of earwigs in Germany is the common earwig (Forficula auricularia).

Schaben

Cockroaches are mainly found in households in Germany, which is why they are also called storage cockroaches. The forest cockroach is an exception. They mostly hide and are mostly active at night/dark while avoiding light. They like to live in groups, which means that where there’s one cockroach, there’s likely to be a few more. They are mostly omnivores and, in addition to food and animal feed, they also attack leather, textiles and paper. They can be carriers of many pathogens and diseases such as hepatitis, yellow fever, anthrax or worms, which has rarely or never happened in Germany. However, combating cockroaches is urgently recommended.

Overview of possible cockroach species in Germany’s gardens and households:

• American cockroach (Periplaneta americana)
• Bernstein-Waldschabe (Ectobius vittiventris)
• German cockroach (Blattella germanica)
• Common cockroach (Blatta orientalis)

Butterflies (Lepidoptera)

Among the insect species, butterflies are one of the most popular creatures in nature. Around 160,000 different specimens are known, with around 4,000 butterfly species being represented in Central Europe. They usually impress with their rich colors and a noble appearance. But they don’t always go down well with people. There are also butterflies that are rejected because they are dark in color and more reminiscent of oversized moths. They are mainly found among the moths, which only become active after dark.

Some examples of butterfly species are:

• Birkenspanner (Biston betularia)
• Tiger-Schmetterling (Heliconius ismenius)
• Ritterfalter (Papilionidae)
• Whites (Pieridae)

Snails (Gastropoda)

Every year, self-growers and farmers record millions of dollars in damage to vegetables and fruit plants. Snail feeding leads to the complete eating of plants if the snails are not stopped. As slimy and slow as they are, they are also gluttonous. A single snail can cost you several lettuces overnight. Effective control methods and agents are advised.

Here are a few species of snails that like to search for food in gardens and cultivation areas in Germany:

• Baumschnecke (Arianta arbustorum)
• Mountain glutton (Ena montana)
• Garden snail (Cepaea hortensis)
• Common amber snail (Succinea putris)
• Glattschnecke (Cochlicopa spec.)
• Small wolverine (Merdigera obscura)
• slugs
• Reddish leaf snail (Monachoides incarnatus)
• Weinbergschnecke (Helix pomatia)

Bugs (Heteroptera)

Bedbugs are one of those types of insects that no one wants near them, let alone in the house, let alone in bed. Around 3,000 different subspecies are found in Germany and throughout Europe. These range from plant suckers, numerous predatory species and so-called ectoparasites, which also include bed bugs. Depending on the species, their habitat is in nature on meadows, in forests and on forest edges as well as in residential areas.

Predominantly they prefer dry areas and only a few love the humidity. The latter can be found, for example, in bogs, on sandy beaches, but also on water surfaces, such as sea sandpipers (Halobatinae). Bugs can cause health problems in humans and/or cause tremendous damage to plants, such as:

• Assassin bugs (Reduviidae): carriers of various diseases
• Spitzling (Aelia acuminata): Damage to cereal crops
• Berry bug (Dolycoris baccarum): Damage to berry fruits
• Cabbage bug (Eurydema oleraceum): damage to cabbage plants

Wespen (Vespinae)

Wasps belong to the order Hymenoptera. They provide useful services by pollinating flowers and are therefore largely responsible for the propagation of plants and contribute to high-yield fruit harvests. Their food sources include various types of insects, which are reluctant to be seen as garden pests and thus “clean” plant areas from annoying parasites.

The most well-known wasp species in Germany include:

• German wasp
• common wasp
• Hornisse