Insects are the dominant animal life on plant earth, they are found in greater numbers and kinds than any other visible creature. There are perhaps more than 15,000 kinds of insects to be found in the Lowland Northwest and new species are discovered annually. To identify an insect even to genus can be difficult and so in some cases identifying an insect to family is as close as you can get. However some insects are colorful, showy and less numerous, for example butterflies and dragonflies can often be identified to species. The insects in this guide are large enough to see without magnification and those most commonly encountered.
For a picture key to identify an insect to its group (order) click here.
