Introduction
Insects are the most numerous and diverse animals on Earth. From buzzing bees to fluttering butterflies, marching ants to glowing fireflies, insects have adapted to nearly every environment imaginable. They have six legs, three body segments, and often incredible abilities: flight, communication, camouflage, and teamwork. Their collective nouns are some of the most creative in the animal world, reflecting how insects move, swarm, or work together in massive numbers.
Collective Nouns for Insects
| Animal | Collective Noun | Full Term | Scientific Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ants | Army | An Army of Ants | Formicidae |
| Ants | Bike | A Bike of Ants | Formicidae |
| Ants | Colony | A Colony of Ants | Formicidae |
| Ants | Nest | A Nest of Ants | Formicidae |
| Ants | Soviet | A Soviet of Ants | Formicidae |
| Ants | Swarm | A Swarm of Ants | Formicidae |
| Bees | Bike | A Bike of Bees | Apidae |
| Bees | Bike Cast | A Bike Cast of Bees | Apidae |
| Bees | Byke | A Byke of Bees | Apidae |
| Bees | Cluster | A Cluster of Bees | Apidae |
| Bees | Colony | A Colony of Bees | Apidae |
| Bees | Commonwealth | A Commonwealth of Bees | Apidae |
| Bees | Drift | A Drift of Bees | Apidae |
| Bees | Erst | An Erst of Bees | Apidae |
| Bees | Flight | A Flight of Bees | Apidae |
| Bees | Game | A Game of Bees | Apidae |
| Bees | Grist | A Grist of Bees | Apidae |
| Bees | Hive | A Hive of Bees | Apidae |
| Bees | Hum | A Hum of Bees | Apidae |
| Bees | Rabble | A Rabble of Bees | Apidae |
| Bees | Stand | A Stand of Bees | Apidae |
| Bees | Swarm | A Swarm of Bees | Apidae |
| Bees (Secondary Swarm) | Cast | A Cast of Bees | |
| Butterflies | Flight | A Flight of Butterflies | Papilionoidea |
| Butterflies | Flutter | A Flutter of Butterflies | Papilionoidea |
| Butterflies | Kaleidoscope | A Kaleidoscope of Butterflies | Papilionoidea |
| Butterflies | Rabble | A Rabble of Butterflies | Papilionoidea |
| Butterflies | Rainbow | A Rainbow of Butterflies | Papilionoidea |
| Butterflies | Swarm | A Swarm of Butterflies | Papilionoidea |
| Butterflies | Wing | A Wing of Butterflies | Papilionoidea |
| Caterpillars | Army | An Army of Caterpillars | |
| Crickets | Orchestra | An Orchestra of Crickets | |
| Flies | Business | A Business of Flies | |
| Flies | Cloud | A Cloud of Flies | |
| Flies | Grist | A Grist of Flies | |
| Flies | Hatch | A Hatch of Flies | |
| Flies | Swarm | A Swarm of Flies | |
| Gnats | Cloud | A Cloud of Gnats | |
| Gnats | Clout | A Clout of Gnats | |
| Gnats | Horde | A Horde of Gnats | |
| Gnats | Swarm | A Swarm of Gnats | |
| Grasshoppers | Cloud | A Cloud of Grasshoppers | |
| Grasshoppers | Cluster | A Cluster of Grasshoppers | |
| Grasshoppers | Swarm | A Swarm of Grasshoppers | |
| Hornets | Bike | A Bike of Hornets | |
| Hornets | Nest | A Nest of Hornets | |
| Hornets | Swarm | A Swarm of Hornets | |
| Insects | Cloud | A Cloud of Insects | Insecta |
| Insects | Flight | A Flight of Insects | Insecta |
| Insects | Horde | A Horde of Insects | Insecta |
| Insects | Plague | A Plague of Insects | Insecta |
| Insects | Rabble | A Rabble of Insects | Insecta |
| Insects | Swarm | A Swarm of Insects | Insecta |
| Ladybirds | Loveliness | A Loveliness of Ladybirds | |
| Ladybugs | Loveliness | A Loveliness of Ladybugs | |
| Lice | Colony | A Colony of Lice | |
| Lice | Flock | A Flock of Lice | |
| Lice | Infestation | An Infestation of Lice | |
| Locusts | Cloud | A Cloud of Locusts | |
| Locusts | Plague | A Plague of Locusts | |
| Locusts | Swarm | A Swarm of Locusts | |
| Mosquitoes | Scourge | A Scourge of Mosquitoes | |
| Mosquitoes | Swarm | A Swarm of Mosquitoes | |
| Termites | Colony | A Colony of Termites | |
| Termites | Swarm | A Swarm of Termites | |
| Wasps | Bike | A Bike of Wasps | Vespidae |
| Wasps | Colony | A Colony of Wasps | Vespidae |
| Wasps | Destruction | A Destruction of Wasps | Vespidae |
| Wasps | Nest | A Nest of Wasps | Vespidae |
| Wasps | Pail | A Pail of Wasps | Vespidae |
Quick FAQ
Are insects animals?
Yes, insects are part of the animal kingdom and make up more than half of all known animal species.
What makes an insect different from a spider?
Insects have six legs and three body segments. Arachnids (like spiders) have eight legs and two main body segments.
Do all insects have wings?
No, but many do, and some insects only grow wings once they become adults (like butterflies after metamorphosis).
Interesting Facts
- Ants are one of the few animals that farm, they grow fungus and even herd aphids.
- Bees communicate with a “waggle dance” to tell others where food is located.
- Dragonflies can fly forward, backward, sideways, and hover like tiny helicopters.
- Fireflies glow using bioluminescence, and each species flashes in its own pattern.
Before the Swarm Flies Away…
Insects may be tiny, but they’re some of the most important animals on the planet. They pollinate plants, recycle nutrients, feed other wildlife, and show off incredible teamwork and engineering skills. Their collective nouns capture the excitement and motion of these miniature marvels, from swarms to clouds, clusters to armies. Explore below to discover the creative names used for groups of the world’s smallest superstars!