Classifying insects

What group does an insect belong to?

There are about 25 different groups of insects, but most belong to one of six common groups:

  • beetles
  • butterflies and moths
  • wasps, bees and ants
  • true bugs
  • flies
  • grasshoppers and crickets

 

 

illustration beetle

 

 

 
 

About this resource
 

Science topic: Living things and their habitats

Key Stage: KS2

Type: Information

Keywords: insects, main groups of insects, insect orders

 

Click on an Order of insects below to find out about it

You should be able to identify any insect you have found and learn a lot more about bugs too! Remember these pictures are not life-size!

 

 

Want to know more about different orders of insects?
Explore the Museum insect collection.

 

 

 

Black and light green butterfly on grey surface

 

 

 

FIND OUT MORE