Insect Info [ Edited ]

[WildBlossom]

I love sharing the interesting facts about insects with people. I've done Entomology (study and collecting of insects) for 3 years with my 4-H group and have learned alot of amazing facts about them.

For one though, not all insects are gross, scary, mean, or harmful.

Butterflies for instance are beautiful and they're my favorite family of insects. I also love beetles, true bugs, and flies. They come in unique (or sometimes ugly) colors. only some flies, beetles and true bugs are harmful towards plants, and crops, while some like the Horse Fly are aggresive towards people and animals. Assassin Bugs kill other small insects and can deliver a painful bite to people if messed with wrongly( they're a type of true bug. true bugs are like bettles, only they have soft wing plates or Elytra, as to where bettles had tough firm Elytra).

The only time butterflies and moths are harmful is in their caterpillar stage. Some moths like Corn Earworm whos caterpillars can damage the stalks and ears of corn.

One insect no one really ever likes are the wasps and bees. some wasps and bees though can't sting. For example, the Bumble Bee can only bite and the Ichneumon Wasp's stinger isn't used for stinging, but used for burrowing into tree bark to lay eggs(if it's a female anyway). Females will have long stinger-like ovipositors, while the male's will be quiet a bit shorter.

They do bite though and it hurts for a while (my little 11 year old brother got bite by one when it was in his shirt).

[Brandi_R]

WildBlossom, is this the start of a short story or an essay or memoir? If so, let us know this is a creative piece so people can respond accordingly. If you're just looking to make conversation, these kinds of off-topic posts go in the often lively Coffee Shop thread. 

[Jefferson_Thom…]

Hey, WildBlossom, Brandi is right, of course, but I'm intrigued enough by what you wrote to respond, because you reminded me of two incidents I'd like to share.  Maybe this whole thing can/should be moved elsewhere; let's see if others add to it.

Normally, I do NOT like insects.  I can always be counted on to be the ONE person who gets bitten or stung while everybody else is fine.  But for me unusual insects are the exception.

I have been lucky enough to see two living walking sticks.  A walking stick is exactly what it sounds like:  an insect that looks EXACTLY like a very small (about five inches long and around a third or so of an inch in diameter) tree branch.  Even their legs are asymmetrical (not attached to their bodies in the same place on opposite sides).  Any time they think they're in danger, they just stand still and most predators never suspect they're there.  I saw one on our front porch one time (second one I've ever seen).  I called my wife to come see it and she looked right at it without noticing it was a living thing.  I had to point out the eyes before she realized what she was looking at.  She had never heard of them.

Exactly the same thing happened with an insect called a leaf hopper (even the same front porch!).  Just like walking sticks, leaf hoppers look EXACTLY like leaves (I forget exactly which species of leaf).  If you don't happen to notice the antennae, you'll never figure it out.  My wife and her friends tell me things like, "For someone who hates bugs as much as you do, you sure seem to know a lot about them!"  They're right, but my favorites are the weird ones like praying mantises, walking sticks, leaf hoppers, anything significantly different than the others.

How about it, everybody?  Does anyone else hate bugs, but secretly like like one type?  Share!

[WildBlossom]

I'd be fine moving this if it can't be here, but after reading the Jefferson was interested in Walking sticks, Praying Mantids, and Leaf hoppers, I was going to tell him that klast year and the year before I had a pet Praying Mantid. The first one was a female, I named her Hunter. She loved flies and small moths. I at first started holding her with thick gloves but after having her for about 3 months i had tamed her to walk on my bare hands and not bite me. I got to witness Hunter lay her eggs on the stick i had for her and then, that's when she soon after died.

Last year I had a male who was more friendly then Hunter had been and he learned to walk on my hand within the first few weeks, but I let him go in October so he could find somewhere to go before it got cold

[WildBlossom]

Now moving to the Coffee Shop

[writerfire]

Why not write a story in the eyes of a insect?

  That would be cool.  I like bugs.  .... Except spiders ehhhh.

[Darkkin]

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writerfire wrote:

Why not write a story in the eyes of a insect?

  That would be cool.  I like bugs.  .... Except spiders ehhhh.

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Spiders are not bugs or insects they possess eight legs instead of six and as such are classified as arachnids, along with creatures such as scorpions...(This has been a Darkkin Geek Moment...).

[WildBlossom]

Good idea I'll try that out. Writing in the point of view of an insect will be interesting

[writerfire]

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Darkkin wrote:

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writerfire wrote:

Why not write a story in the eyes of a insect?

  That would be cool.  I like bugs.  .... Except spiders ehhhh.

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Spiders are not bugs or insects they possess eight legs instead of six and as such are classified as arachnids, along with creatures such as scorpions...(This has been a Darkkin Geek Moment...).

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Yes I know but I ment.... oh never a mind my bad.

Bad wording.

Yeah there should be a story on the little things!

[WildBlossom]

I'll start a new post for it

[WildBlossom]

Here's the link or you can find the post

http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t5/Writing-Room/Flutter-the-female-Monarch/m-p/1343348/message-u...