Bug Life Cycles

Insects have some of the most interesting and complex life cycles of any animals.  In many cases only one stage of their lives is familiar to us, and we know very little about the others.

This site is a place to document and learn about the life cycles of wild insects found in North America.  I'm trying to collect and link to photographs of as many life stages of as many insects as I can.    The information in these life cycles is based on photographs and observations.  I hope that by making this information more easily available, people will be inspired to observe insects more closely, and learn more about their lives.

To find a life cycle series, check out the pages of insects, listed by Order at the right side of the page, or click on one of the photos - also listed by Order - below.

Marcie O'Connor
Editor

Orthoptera - Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids

Psocodea - Barklice, Booklice, Parasitic Lice

Hemiptera - True Bugs

Megaloptera - Alderflies, Dobsonflies, Fishflies

Neuroptera - Antlions, Lacewings

Coleoptera - Beetles

Hymenoptera - Ants, Bees, and Wasps

Lepidoptera - Butterflies

Lepidoptera - Moths

Diptera - Flies

As of 1/17/2010 we have 581 life cycles by 28 contributors.