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The Colorado potato beetle, aka Colorado beetle, ten-striped spearman, ten-lined potato beetle, and potato bug, is an agricultural pest that can be found throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. As you would imagine, they are notorious for infesting and damaging potato crops. They are not evaluated by the IUCN. Colorado […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The thorn bug is a widely distributed insect that is often considered a pest to many ornamental shrubs and trees. These insects utilize their thornlike pronotum to thwart various predators, such as birds, from eating them. They can be found in Florida and other southern states, Mexico, Central America, and […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The American burying beetle, aka giant carrion beetle, is not only carnivorous, it feeds on carrion (dead animals) and needs carrion to breed. These beetles are among the few known to exhibit parental care. They are threatened by habitat loss and destruction; habitat fragmentation; the reduction of carrion; and competition […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The domino cockroach, aka Indian domino cockroach, desert cockroach, or seven-spotted cockroach, is a species of cockroach found in southern India. These cockroaches spend the daylight hours buried in leaf litter or in loose soil. Due to their abundance and distribution, these insects are not currently evaluated by the IUCN. […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The barn swallow is the most populated swallow of them all, with individuals in Canada, United States, Mexico, Central America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and even vagrant populations in Antarctica. Being so widespread puts them in harm’s way though, as they face the threats of habitat loss and […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

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 around their gaster (the bulbous posterior portion of the metasoma, aka the […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The giant water bug, aka Indian toe-biters, toe-biters, electric-light bugs, alligator fleas, or alligator ticks, are the largest insect in the order Hemiptera. They prefer to dwell in marshes, bogs, freshwater ponds, and slow-flowing streams. Giant water bugs are found in North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Africa and […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The brown marmorated stink bug is native to China, Japan, Korea, and other Asian locales. However, they have been introduced to the Americas and Europe. These insects are considered a nuisance or pest, as they cause serious damage to agricultural crops and other native plants. Due to their invasive nature […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The tiger beetle can be found just about worldwide, sans Antarctica. They prefer sand bars, woodland paths, swamplands, and barren ground scrublands. Tiger beetles are aggressive hunters of insects. These insects are mostly listed as Endangered or Critically Endangered, but some are listed as Data Deficient and Vulnerable, with the […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The mealybug is a member of the scale insect family. These plant pests are found throughout the world, sans Antarctica. These critters prefer warm, humid environments in which to thrive. This is why they are typical pests of greenhouses. They reproduce quickly and aim to consume sap from the nearest […]

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