The Intriguing Dragonfly

I recently got to watch a dragonfly as it rested for a moment near my in-laws' home in SC.  Dragonflies are beautiful insects that have fascinated humans for a long time.  There are over 5,000 different species known today, and the oldest fossils are thought to be over 300 million years old!

The double wings of dragonflies are membranous with lots of small veins.  Although this lace-like appearance makes them look fragile, their wings are actually strong and amazing.  Dragonflies are some of the fastest insects in the world with an average speed of 10 mph.  Some have even been recorded flying at up to 35 mph!  They are able to fly this fast and still be graceful because they only flap their wings 30 times a minute.  Compare this to mosquitoes at 600 times a minute and flies at 1000 times a minute!  It takes much less effort for dragonflies to maintain their flight due to the makeup of their double wings.  Dragonflies have another amazing flying talent: they can fly in all directions-up, down, left, right, forwards, and even backwards!

Dragonflies are usually found around water sources such as marshes, lakes, ponds, streams, and wetlands.  This is because their larvae are aquatic.  Eggs are laid on plants in the water or dropped directly into the water.  The eggs hatch into nymphs which live in the water from several months to several years.  After emerging from the water as a full grown dragonfly, the adult only lives a few months.

It is beneficial to have dragonflies around because they eat mosquitoes and other small insects like flies, bees, ants, and wasps.  Their legs form a basket shape that allows them to catch and hold on to prey.  They rely on their large compound eyes to sense their prey.  These eyes cover most of the head, and over 80% of their brain is devoted to analyzing visual information.

There are a variety of myths and mythologies starring the dragonfly.  Throughout different cultures and civilizations, they have been symbols of victory, power, prosperity, purity, self-realization, and change.  Whether it's their ability to reflect multiple colors with changing angles of light (iridescence), their speed, or the way they seem to live each moment to the fullest during their short adult life, dragonflies have always intrigued humankind.

Tarantula Travels

This is Mid-Georgia's pet tarantula, Rosie:

Most days, she doesn't really move.  It doesn't matter how many times I walk by, she's usually in the same place.  Not today!  As I walked by her cage, this is what I saw:

I watched as she climbed to the very top of the cage and then fell down.  Then she moved to the other side of the cage.  It seemed as though every time I walked by, she was in a different place.  It's been a full day of activity here at Mid-Georgia Pest Control!

Suctioning Away a Yellow Jacket!

If you've read this blog at all, you've probably figured out by now that any bug my family or I come in contact with will become a topic.  So, here's the latest!  This is your average car wash vacuum:

Last week, it became my weapon!  My boys and I were at the car wash vacuuming out the car when my 8 year old says, "Mama, there's a yellow jacket in the car!"  After watching it a minute, it flew out.  Great, I thought.  Problem solved.  Then we watch as he circles around the car and flies back in landing on my 2 year old's head.  Before my son had even realized what was happening, I vacuumed the intruder right off his head, much to my other boys' delight.  We all laughed, and I think I might have briefly earned some cool mom points!  


Yellow Jacket: photo by E.R. Degginger; fcps.edu

Centipedes in the Tub!

A nice, hot relaxing bath sounds great, right?  Until you find this in your bathtub:

After getting some pictures, I went to get my husband to dispose of the creature in my tub (I write about bugs but prefer not to have actual contact with them!).  On our return, he was no where to be found.  I guess he didn't enjoy our photo shoot!

The name centipede comes from the Latin words centi meaning "hundred" and pes or pedis meaning "foot."  Despite the name, however, centipedes can have a varying number of legs from under 20 to over 300. 

My encounter was with the common house centipede, Scutigera coleoptrata.  They are yellowish gray and around 1-2 in. long.  The body of a house centipede is flattened and segmented.  They have 1 pair of legs per body segment which are very long and slender (almost thread-like).  Each leg is slightly longer than the one in front of it.  This is the only centipede group to retain their original compound eyes which are sensitive to light.  If light is suddenly shone at them, they will retreat to a darker hiding spot.  Once again, I don't think the centipede liked our photo shoot.  

  The house centipede is originally from the Mediterranean region, but they have spread through much of Europe, Asia, North America, and South America. They are insectivores, dining on other insects and arachnids such as silverfish, ants, spiders, bedbugs, termites, and cockroaches. They inject venom through modified legs called forcipules. These are pincer-like appendages just behind the head and found only in centipedes. House centipedes are generally considered harmless to humans. Stings are uncommon and result in localized swelling and pain similar to a bee sting.

House centipedes are mostly nocturnal and can be found indoors and out. Inside they are most common in basements and bathrooms which tend to be humid. Outdoors, they can be found under large rocks, piles of wood, and compost piles. I hope my intruder found his way back outside.

I opted for a shower that day!







Scary, Ugly, and Dangerous!

So, it's Friday, the 13th!  Nothing scares me more than ugly or dangerous bugs.  Here's a few that might make your skin crawl a little (or a lot!):

Asian Giant Hornet



photo courtesy of incrediblethings.com

-2 in. long; stings with a potent venom that also contains a pheromone to call other hornets for reinforcement.

-Native to temperate and tropical Eastern Asia

 

Army Ants
 

photo courtesy of Mark W. Moffett; nationalgeographic.com

-Have massive, powerful, machete-like jaws that can dismantle any living thing in their path, regardless of size.

-Entire colony moves constantly and can consume 100,000 prey animals each day.
 

Goliath Bird-eating Spider

photo courtesy of wikipedia.org

-Second largest spider in the world with a 12 in. leg span and weight up to 6 oz.

-Type of tarantula found in the rainforest regions of northern South America.

-Despite it's name, it mostly eats insects and other invertebrates.
 

Amazonian Giant Centipede

photo courtesy of strangeanimals.info

-Can reach a length of 12 in.

-Found in South America

-Preys on insects, spiders, lizards, frogs, birds, mice, and bats
 

Bot Fly





photo courtesy of J.Eibl; sel.barc.usda.gov



 

-Each species targets a specific animal-horse, sheep, and even humans.

-The larvae are internal parasites of mammals that live out the larval stage in the subcutaneous layer of skin, causing painful pustules.

-Most species are found in Central and South America.

Beach bugs!

My family recently vacationed at the beach.  One afternoon we went shopping to take a break from the sun and waves.  While in a store, a large bug was joining in on the shopping.  Palmetto bugs are common in warm, sub-tropical or tropical climates and are often encountered at coastal locations throughout the southeastern United States.  The poor girl working in the store was terrified, and my brother-in-law saved the day by sweeping the big intruder back outside.

Although the name Palmetto bug sounds cute, these bugs are really just a large species of cockroach.  Yes, an icky, disease carrying cockroach!  The name Palmetto bug is used to describe the American cockroach (Periplaneta americana).  This species grows around 1.5-2 in. long, making it the largest species of common cockroach.  They are reddish brown and have a yellow margin behind the head.

These cockroaches are often seen on Palmetto trees, a type of palm tree, giving them the popular name, Palmetto bug.  They prefer warm, damp locations.  Although they are mostly found outdoors, they sometimes wander inside, especially into restaurants or damp places like bathrooms .



American Cockroach; photo courtesy of msu.edu

American cockroaches carry bacteria that is known to cause food poisoning, dysentery, and diarrhea in humans.  They are also a potential cause of allergic dermitits and childhood asthma.  Despite the name, American cockroaches originally came from tropical Africa.  They are considered one of the fastest running insects.   

Boxelder Bugs!

The above picture was taken in my house moments before this creature met its unfortunate timely death.  This is a boxelder bug, sometimes referred to as a maple bug.

Boxelder bugs are a North American species of true bug and are found throughout the eastern United States west to Nevada.  They are found on Boxelder trees, also called Ash Maple, Ash-leaf Maple, or American Maple, where they feed on the seeds of the female trees.
 


Boxelder tree; photo courtesy of boxelderbug.com

These bugs can be identified by their dark brown or black color and orange or red markings.  They have three stripes behind the head and coloration on the abdomen.  Their wings also overlap to lay flat on their bodies forming an "x".  Adult boxelder bugs are around 1/2 in. long.

photo courtesy of Bruce Martin; wikipedia.org

In the spring, adults will emerge and feed on low vegetation or seeds on the ground.  A few weeks later, they will begin mating and move to female seed-bearing boxelder trees.  Eggs will be laid on trunks, branches, and leaves.  

As fall approaches, a new generation will look for somewhere to overwinter, often invading homes.  They do not reproduce inside buildings nor cause harm to people.  However, they can be a nuisance if they invade in large numbers.  They can stain walls, curtains, etc. with their excrement.  Boxelder bugs can also release a pungent smell when disturbed.

  

photo courtesy of iastate.edu

To help control boxelder bugs from entering your home, seal up all cracks around windows, doors, siding, utility pipes, etc.  The bugs will be most attracted to the southern and western sides of buildings/homes.