Category: Bug of the Week (Page 126 of 219)

Bug of the Week: Sharpshooters

I found an odd-looking creature this week.

Can you see the bulging eyes?

Even the nymphs, like the one in the photograph below, have them.

Most insects that have large eyes are predators, like praying mantids and dragonflies.

These sharpshooters feed on plants. They use their large eyes to avoid being eaten. When something approaches the insects, they quickly scoot to the other side of the twig or branch. If the potential predator comes even closer, they leap away.

Big eyes can come in handy for prey as well as predators.

Bug of the Week: Queen Caterpillars

We have queen butterfly larvae on our milkweed vines right now.

Some of the caterpillars are resting on the plant in the morning.

Others are on the move.

Do you have any ideas why some queen caterpillars might be resting and others moving at the same time of day?

Leave us a comment if you have an idea.

Bug of the Week: Field Crickets

Crickets come in a variety of shapes and sizes.

These husky crickets are called field crickets, genus Gryllus.

Even though they are good-sized, they are still nymphs because they lack wings.

The two projections on the end of the abdomen are called cerci. The cerci look like antennae, and serve some of the same sensing functions. Can you see the hairs on the cerci? Those can detect movement.

Compare these field crickets to slender, delicate tree crickets and the light brown Indian house crickets. Even though they look quite different, you can see crickets all have cerci at the end of the abdomen and have enlarged hind legs for jumping.

What kind of crickets live near you?

Related post:  Cricket singing activity

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