Insects constitute the largest group in the animal kingdom and are distinguished by their immense diversity and unique characteristics. For centuries, insects have played a significant role in traditional medicinal systems across Asia, Africa, and other regions of the world. The present study documents non-Hymenopteran insect species with reported medicinal properties that were collected from different locations in Chennai through field surveys and validation using published scientific literature. It highlights their medicinal attributes and their distribution within the city.

Insects were collected from multiple green spaces in Chennai, including Government Museum (Egmore) complex, Semmozhi Poonga, Guindy Children's Park, Madhavaram Botanical Garden, Perambur Park, Tholkappiyar Poonga, and Government Art College campus. Subsequently, information on their medicinal properties was verified through published scientific literature and ethnomedical records.

A total of 40 non-Hymenopteran insect species were collected from different locations of Chennai. Among the collected species, 12 have documented medicinal applications according to published scientific literature and traditional ethnomedicinal records.This field study reveals the widespread presence of insects with medicinal significance across different locations in Chennai. Consequently, it suggests that insects can serve as a sustainable biological resource for future advancements in pharmacology and biomedicine.