Butterflies, ants battle it out to become UK's favourite insect

LONDON: Will it be the small tortoiseshell butterfly or the black garden ant that bags the title of UK's favourite insect? An online poll will decide!

The poll has been launched to find the UK's favourite insect by the Royal Society of Biology.

The society wants to emphasise the "vital" environmental role played by the more than 20,000 species found in the UK.

It also wants to highlight the threats the insects face from pesticide use, habitat destruction and climate change, 'BBC News' reported.

Experts at the Royal Society of Biology have shortlisted 10 insects which include the small tortoiseshell butterfly, the emperor dragonfly and the stag beetle.

The seven-spot ladybird, garden tiger moth, the marmalade hoverfly, black garden ant, buff-tailed bumblebee, large bee-fly and green shield bug are also in the running for the title.