On the first day of Christmas, the arthropods sent me

A lobster that I named Pete.

On the second day of Christmas, the arthropods sent me

Two lightning bugs

And a lobster that I named Pete.

On the third day of Christmas, the arthropods sent me

Three ghost crabs

Two lightning bugs

And a lobster that I named Pete.

On the fourth day of Christmas, the arthropods sent me

Four luna moths

Three ghost crabs

Two lightning bugs

And a lobster that I named Pete.

On the fifth day of Christmas, the arthropods sent me

Five mulch lobsters!

Four luna moths

Three ghost crabs

Two lightning bugs

And a lobster that I named Pete.

On the sixth day of Christmas, the arthropods sent me

Six June bugs snacking

Five mulch lobsters!

Four luna moths

Three ghost crabs

Two lightning bugs

And a lobster that I named Pete.

On the seventh day of Christmas, the arthropods sent me

Seven shrimp a-punching

Six June bugs snacking

Five mulch lobsters!

Four luna moths

Three ghost crabs

Two lightning bugs

And a lobster that I named Pete.

On the eighth day of Christmas, the arthropods sent me

Eight ants a-milking (aphids)

Seven shrimp a-punching

Six June bugs snacking

Five mulch lobsters!

Four luna moths

Three ghost crabs

Two lightning bugs

And a lobster that I named Pete.

On the ninth day of Christmas, the arthropods sent me

Nine cicadas singing

Eight ants a-milking

Seven shrimp a-punching

Six June bugs snacking

Five mulch lobsters!

Four luna moths

Three ghost crabs

Two lightning bugs

And a lobster that I named Pete.

On the tenth day of Christmas, the arthropods sent me

Ten mole crabs digging

Nine cicadas singing

Eight ants a-milking

Seven shrimp a-punching

Six June bugs snacking

Five mulch lobsters!

Four luna moths

Three ghost crabs

Two lightning bugs

And a lobster that I named Pete.

On the eleventh day of Christmas, the arthropods sent me

Eleven striders striding

Ten mole crabs digging

Nine cicadas singing

Eight ants a-milking

Seven shrimp a-punching

Six June bugs snacking

Five mulch lobsters!

Four luna moths

Three ghost crabs

Two lightning bugs

And a lobster that I named Pete.

On the twelfth day of Christmas, the arthropods sent me

Twelve mud daubers daubing

Eleven striders striding

Ten mole crabs digging

Nine cicadas singing

Eight ants a-milking

Seven shrimp a-punching

Six June bugs snacking

Five mulch lobsters!

Four luna moths

Three ghost crabs

Two lightning bugs

And a lobster that I named Pete.

Merry Christmas, everyone! A quick shoutout to everyone on Flickr who provided the amazing photos for this silly little song:

• The lobster (that I named Pete): Paulo O
• The fireflies: Jeff Turner
• The ghost crab: Christopher Paquette
• The luna moth: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Northeast Region
• The mulch lobster (in mulch!), the June bug, and the aphid-farming ants: Judy Gallagher
• The mantis shrimp: Ed Bierman
• The cicada: Renee Grayson
• The mole crab: Ingrid Taylar
• The water strider: Andrew Hazen
• The mud dauber: Campbelltown City Council