Yeah, like a plague of locusts, or an infestation of entomologists. I think people make these up for fun. AB Andrew Brower, Ph.D. Assistant Director, National Identification Services (NIS) USDA APHIS PPQ Plant Health Programs 4700 River Rd., Unit 52 Riverdale, MD 20737 Office phone: (301) 851-2243 Mobile phone: (240) 315-4408 [log in to unmask] CONFIDENTIALITY NOTE: The preceding email message contains information that may be confidential, proprietary, or legally privileged, and may constitute non-public information. This message is intended to be conveyed only to the intended named recipient(s). If you are not an intended recipient of this message, do not read it; instead, please advise the sender by reply email, and delete this message and any attachments. Unauthorized individuals or entities are not permitted access to this information. Any disclosure, copying, distribution or taking any action in reliance on the contents of this information, except its delivery to the sender, is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. -----Original Message----- From: Entomological Collections Network Listserve [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Andy Deans Sent: Wednesday, April 22, 2020 9:31 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: names for groups of insects Anyone have a reputable source for terms that refer to groups of insects? Dictionary.com lists these terms to refer to certain groups, but I'm ... skeptical: loveliness of ladybugs army of caterpillars kaleidoscope of butterflies intrusion of cockroaches scourge of mosquitoes business of flies swarm of ants clutter of spider eclipse of moths Mainly because their definitions of those words (loveliness, kaleidoscope, etc.) don't mention the putative entomological use. Thankful for any help! Andy source: https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com_-3Furl-3Dhttps-253A-252F-252Fwww.dictionary.com-252Fe-252Fs-252Finsect-2Darmies-2Dterrifying-2Dbug-2Dgroups-2Dexplained-252F-26amp-3Bdata-3D02-257C01-257C-257C92c67db095cf407b649808d7e6c176cc-257Ced5b36e701ee4ebc867ee03cfa0d4697-257C0-257C0-257C637231590909691034-26amp-3Bsdata-3D69dCrc7T3JhqneShTOvVkn6svZooUQr-252F2IAxcYwYxa0-253D-26amp-3Breserved-3D0&d=DwIGaQ&c=Cu5g146wZdoqVuKpTNsYHeFX_rg6kWhlkLF8Eft-wwo&r=-lUMCZ4RK28H4qvcd3vmEBuyVJHHG0OpDzFenR9wX-A&m=slcSGF_akFXioY5qw5thExhuv3F6vX0I5Kb2Upyb7QI&s=WazFPgrsnQtQlb5cZ8tXUs7e1ecsFSK0kIkyitvecgE&e= This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law and subject the violator to civil or criminal penalties. If you believe you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete the email immediately.