Insect facts

Did you know that………

• insects are the most numerous and successful creatures on the planet

• insects emerged about 420 million years ago

• there are about 10 quintillion insects alive at any one time (10,000,000,000,000,000,000)

• 20% of crops grown for human consumption are eaten by insetcs first

• 1/6th of the world’s population is suffering from an insect-borne disease

• during World War II twice as many people died from insect-borne diseases as from the fighting

• malaria (borne by mosquitoes) kills a human being every 12 seconds

• well over 50% of all living organisms, plants and animals are insects

• there are over 750,000 known insect species- those yet to be discovered probably number about 5 million

thanks to George Mc Gavin: Insects (Dorling Kinderley); L.E.O.Braak: Fascinating insects of Southeast Asia (Times Editions)

for interesting facts on particular insects, select the links on the right

DISCLAIMER

I do not guarantee the accuracy of all the facts given. If you’re thinking of using them in your first grade project or your government-sponsored PhD thesis, check in a reliable source first.