• There are over a million different species of insects making up 95 percent of the animal species population in the world. Insects make their homes in a variety of environments including trees, grass, homes and underground. Many insects also create their homes by burrowing in sand.
  
  

Robber Fly

• Known to be one of the largest insects found in the Great Sand Dunes area, the robber fly is approximately 1 inch long. Robber flies live in sandy regions and eat other flying insects, such as flies, bees, and wasps.
  
  

Giant Sand Treader Camel Crickets

• Giant sand treader camel crickets have been found living in the Great Sand Dunes National Park as well as in other areas of Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona. Measuring 1 1/2 inch long, sand treader camel crickets are known as burrowing insects who live on fecal matter, insects and live and dead plant material.
  
  

Circus Beetles

• Circus beetles, better known as stink bugs, got their name from the acrobatic stance of standing on their head that they display while spraying threatening intruders with a stinky mist. These beetles average 1/2 to 3/4 inches long and can't fly. Circus beetles mostly eat plants such as fruits and vegetables as well as other plant life, but also eat other pesky backyard insects. Stinkbugs are attracted to light and are often resistant to many pesticides and can be hard to eliminate.
  
  

Ants

• In existence for over 100 million years on Earth, ants are found in many environmental settings all over the world. Known for their tunneling behavior, many species of ants create their homes by building chambers throughout mounds of sand and dirt. Ants are not picky eaters and will eat anything from plants, rotting and decaying food and even decaying animals. Ants are one of the largest pest populations in the world.