The bombardier beetle is a adephagan (ground) beetle with more than 500 species worldwide. They get their name from their famous defense mechanism. When threatened they can release a surprisingly effective counter attack. So be sure to take a second and be careful
There are approximately 600 species, 34 genera, in 9 families of scorpionfly the world over. But what do they do? Do they sting? Are they a threat? With the male’s raised and curled tail, they resemble a scorpion, but are they as ominous as the famed arachnids? These insects are […]
While the Japanese beetle is not classified as a pest species in its native Japan, in Europe and North America they are a pest to over 300 species of plant life. Plants such as birch trees, cannabis, crape myrtles, grapes, hops, linden trees, rose bushes, and more are all affected […]
The horse fly, aka deer fly (misnomer) or gadfly, can be found all over the world, sans a few select islands and the polar regions. Female horse flies can transfer blood-borne diseases from 1 animal to another via their feeding habit. In locations where those diseases occur,
The desert locust is a periodically swarming, short-horned grasshopper from the family Acrididae. They are primarily found in northern and eastern Africa, Arabia, and southwest Asia. However, they can extend their reach
The fall webworm moth gets its name from its larval stage, which produces a characteristic webbed nest on the tree limbs of a large variety of hardwoods in the late summer and fall. They are considered an invasive species in
The banded sugar ant, aka sugar ant, is native to southern and eastern Australia. These critters get their name from their love of sugar and sweet foods. The banded common name comes from the orange-brown band that wraps
The vulture bee, aka carrion bee, is closely related to the South American stingless bee. Unlike honey bees, these bees feast on rotting flesh. These critters also produce a substance from the meat they eat. They prefer
The blue-winged helicopter dragonfly are touted as having the largest wingspan of any known dragonfly. They hail from Central America and South America. Even though they face the threats of habitat loss and destruction at the hands
The yellowjacket, aka yellow jacket, is a predatory but social wasp species native to the United States and Canada. They are often confused with paper wasps and hornets. These insects are typically identified by their
