What Is a Group of Insects Called?
The broadest category of all, with a wide vocabulary to match.
A group of insects is called a cloud, with flight, horde, plague, rabble, and swarm all used depending on the species and situation. Insects make up more species than any other group of animals on Earth, so “insect” collective nouns tend to be general umbrella terms rather than species-specific ones.
What Is a Group of Insects Called?
Cloud is a commonly used general term for a large mass of flying insects seen together, often gnats, midges, or other tiny species swarming in a visible mass. Swarm is the most widely recognized term overall, applying to bees, locusts, and many other species moving or gathering en masse. Flight describes insects on the wing. Horde and plague carry a more negative connotation, typically reserved for destructive, large-scale infestations like locust outbreaks. Rabble is a looser, more informal term for a disorganized gathering.
Where Did the Name Come From?
Because “insect” covers such an enormous and varied group, roughly a million described species and possibly many millions more undiscovered, these collective nouns tend to be broad, functional descriptions of appearance or behavior rather than terms specific to any one animal. “Plague” in particular draws on the historic devastation of locust swarms, which have destroyed crops and caused famine throughout recorded history.
Insect Facts
- Most diverse animal group: insects make up the largest and most diverse class of animals on Earth, vastly outnumbering all other animal groups combined.
- Essential pollinators: insects, especially bees, pollinate a huge share of the world’s food crops and wild plants.
- Ancient lineage: insects have existed for over 400 million years, long before dinosaurs appeared.
- Extreme numbers: at any given time, scientists estimate there are around 10 quintillion individual insects alive on Earth.
Example Sentences
- A cloud of insects hovered over the pond in the evening light.
- A swarm of insects descended on the field after the rain.
Other Names for a Group of Insects
Cloud and swarm are the terms you’ll encounter most often for general insect gatherings. Flight emphasizes insects actively in the air. Horde and plague lean into the destructive, overwhelming scale of certain outbreaks, especially locusts. Rabble is the most informal and least specific of the group.
🧠 Test Your Insect Knowledge
Three quick questions. See what stuck.
1. What is a general term for a group of insects?
2. Which term is typically reserved for destructive, large-scale outbreaks like locusts?
3. Roughly how long have insects existed on Earth?
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a group of insects called?
A cloud, with flight, horde, plague, rabble, and swarm also used depending on the species and behavior.
Why is a locust outbreak called a plague?
The term draws on the historic devastation of locust swarms, which have destroyed crops and caused widespread famine throughout recorded history.
How many insect species exist?
Roughly a million insect species have been described, with scientists estimating many millions more remain undiscovered.
How important are insects to pollination?
Insects, especially bees, pollinate a huge share of the world’s food crops and wild plants, making them essential to global ecosystems.
Too Vast for One Name
A cloud, swarm, or plague of insects is really just English trying to keep up with the most numerous and varied group of animals on the planet.