Ground level animals are also important in controlling pest insects. Predators in the soil include scorpions, dragon flies, ladybirds, ant lions and maggots, which eat mosquitoes, crickets, caterpillars and moths. Certain spiders can eat 10 per cent of their own body weight in insects per day, including garden pests. There are over 100,000 different species of native insects found in Australia. Only half of these species have even been described with scientific names.
Insects have no internal bony skeleton and the adults typically have wings.
They generally rely on native vegetation for shelter, breeding and feeding. The important role of insects is often not realised. Insects are involved in soil aeration, litter decomposition, nutrient cycling and seed distribution. Native bees and some butterflies assist pollination of native plants. Insects are also important in natural pest control.