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Globally, averages of these predictions estimate there are around 1.5 million beetle species and 5.5 million insect species, with around 1 million insect species currently found and described. [3] Between 950,000–1,000,000 of all described animal species are considered insects, so over 50% of all described eukaryotes (1.8 million species) are ...
Recent figures indicate that there are more than 1.4 billion insects for each human on the planet, [27] or roughly 10 19 (10 quintillion) individual living insects on the earth at any given time. [28] An article in The New York Times claimed that the world holds 300 pounds of insects for every pound of humans. [28]
In 2011 a study published in PLoS Biology estimated there to be 8.7 million ± 1.3 million eukaryotic species on Earth. [11] By 2017, most estimates projected there to be around 11 million species or fewer on Earth. [4] A 2017 study estimated there are around at least 1 to 6 billion species, 70-90% of which are bacteria. [4]
Herbivory is of extreme ecological importance and prevalence among insects.Perhaps one third (or 500,000) of all described species are herbivores. [4] Herbivorous insects are by far the most important animal pollinators, and constitute significant prey items for predatory animals, as well as acting as major parasites and predators of plants; parasitic species often induce the formation of galls.
Many species have been recorded as breeding in natural materials or refuse such as owl pellets, bat caves, honey-combs or diseased fruit. [ 5 ] Of the approximately 174,250 lepidopteran species described until 2007, butterflies and skippers are estimated to comprise approximately 17,950, with moths making up the rest.
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Many insects rely on camouflage to avoid being noticed by their predators or prey. [139] It is common among leaf beetles and weevils that feed on wood or vegetation. [138] Stick insects mimic the forms of sticks and leaves. [140] Many insects use mimicry to deceive predators into avoiding them.
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