These are the forgotten children of insect collecting.  Although not as commonly found as insects from the Coleoptera and Lepidoptera orders, they are still a lot of fun to collect them as many offer fantastic selection of shapes and colors.

 

The Homoptera  order, of which the Cicadas (often mistaken for electrical transformers in during hot summer days) and Pyrops (Lantern Fly) belong to, has many members with beautiful colors of Salvazana imperialis or the intricate nose pattern of Cathedra serrata.

 
Pyrops_candelaria
 
 A lantern bug (Pyrops candelaria) on a tree branch. Huay Xai, Bokeo, Laos
Date 2007-04-22 08:06:38 
Author Richard Ling
 
 
 
The Orthoptera (grasshopper, cricket and katydid) order is where you can find giant Siliquofera grandis, a giant katydid from Papua New Guinea.   The Sanaea sp. of grasshoppers from Asia, real jeweled-colored winged grasshoppers.
 
Deinacrida fallai, Poor Knights Giant Weta
 
Deinacrida fallai, Poor Knights Giant Weta at Bristol Zoo, Bristol, England. The red object is a tomato. This specimen measured 20 cm.  Taken by Adrian Pingstone in August 2003 and placed in the public domain.
 
 
 
The Phasmidae and Phyllidae is where you will find the Stick Insect and Leaf Insect. Real masters of camouflage, they always bring amazement when shown in a collection.  Tirachoidea westwoodi, a stick insect from Thailand, can reach an amazing 20 cm long.  Another favorite is the Phyllium sp., a leaf insect that adorn all the color variations of tree leafs you can fin in nature.

 

Extatosoma tiaratum
 
Extatosoma tiaratum
Date: 07.07.2007
Author : Frank C. Müller
 
In the category of Arachnida & Friends is where you will find:

·        The Amblypygids (tailless whip scorpion, vinegaroon ) belong to the order of Amblypygi. 

·        The Arachnida with it’s giant hairy tarentula and orb weaving spider (Nephila sp.). 

·        The Scorpionidae is the home of the scorpions, ranging from the small Buthus martensi of Indonesia to the large Heterometrus laoticus of Thailand.
 
 Araneus marmorus
 
Marbled orb weaver spider Araneus marmorus
Date: 07/2005
Author: Bruce Marlin
 

The Misc. category is where is you find everything else such as:  Hemiptera (True Bugs such as Lethocerus sp.), Mantidae (Mantis such as Creobroter sp.),  Hymenoptera (wasps and bees such as the Giant Pepsis sp. of South America) and Odanata (damselflies and dragonflies).

  
 Archimantis latistyla 
  
Archimantis latistyla
Date 2007-AUG-13
Author 159766 - dr. Tibor Duliskovich
Permission
(Reusing this image) Dual-licensed under the GFDL and CC-By-SA-2.5, 2.0, and 1.0.
 Release date 2007-AUG-13