Insects are the most diverse group within the animal kingdom. There is not an exact number on how many different species of insect there are worldwide, but estimates suggest that there are some 5 million different species in existence. Today, around 1 million species worldwide have been recorded and described.

When it comes to South African insect species, it is also not clear on how many there are. Around 44.000 species have been identified. To put this number in perspective, there are around 65.000 different animal species described in South Africa. About 70% of all known animal species in South Africa are insects.

The most diverse insect orders, within the insect class, are the Hemiptera (true bugs), Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths), Diptera (true flies), Hymenoptera (wasps, bees and ants) and Coleoptera (beetles). Insects from these groups are most likely to be encountered. But there are other, smaller groups that are noteworthy, such as the mantises, dragonflies and damselflies, grasshoppers and stick insects. 

During summer, it is worth your time to take a minute and look at the flowers and foliage in, and around ponds and streams. You would be amazed about the diversity of shapes and colors these insects have.