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The potter wasp, aka mason wasp, a subfamily of Vespidae, dwells in multiple continents such as North America, Europe, and Australia. This makes them a cosmopolitan species. These wasps face the ongoing threats of attacks and parasitism by cuckoo wasps and tachinid flies, to name a few. Habitat loss and […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The cownose ray gets its name from the 2 lobes at the front of their head that resemble a cow’s nose. They prefer shallower waters and estuaries. Being migratory, these critters will dwell as far north as Chesapeake Bay in the summer and as far south as southern Brazil in […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The Mexican honey wasp is beneficial in that it’s used by humans to control aphids, Asian citrus psyllids, and weevils, as well as to pollinate avocados. Due to their production of sweet, floral honey, their nests are historically harvested and destroyed by indigenous and rural communities in Mexico and Central/South […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The Asian needle ant originally hails from Japan and mainland Asia. These ants are capable of medically significant stings and are considered a highly invasive species. They are a widely distributed ecological threat in the countries in which they have been introduced. They severely outcompete native species of ant in […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The velvet ant, aka cow killer, is not actually an ant at all, but rather a wasp. The females are wingless and carry with them a powerful sting! While there are no listed threats to these wasps, they do face habitat loss and destruction at the hands of residential and […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The European wasp, aka German wasp, or German yellowjacket, hails from Europe, Northern Africa, and temperate Asia. They have spread to Australia, North America, South America, South Africa, and New Zealand. Due to the fact that they are widely recognized as a successful and destructive invasive species in many parts […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The large garden bumblebee, aka ruderal bumblebee, is a long-tongued bumblebee that is found in Europe and in some parts of northern Africa. They use their long face and tongue to pollinate hard-to-reach tubed flowers. These bees face the threats of habitat loss and destruction at the hands of farming […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The southern devil scorpion, aka southern unstriped scorpion, can be found in southeastern United States. They belong to the family Vaejovidae (comprising 25 genera and over 230 species, and found in North America). These scorpions are not currently listed with the IUCN as they are abundant, yet rare to find. […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The fried egg jellyfish, aka egg-yolk jellyfish, is quite a large jellyfish from the Phacellophoridae family that are found in many parts of the world’s oceans. They get their name from their appearance. They literally look like a sunny-side up egg floating in the water. These jellyfish are not currently […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The southern stingray is a species of whiptail stingray that inhabits the warmer waters of New Jersey south to Brazil. These rays are generally peaceful and docile creatures, but they can get the point across, if threatened. Due to overfishing and frequent disturbances from recreational activities, these creatures are listed […]

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