The ArthroBlogger
Fun stories. Random facts. All the arthropods.
An Awkward Way to Hitchhike
Due to the likelihood of being kidnapped, hitchhiking would probably be my least recommended method of travel. Unless you’re a beetle, in which case hitchhiking can be a very convenient means of getting from one place to another for very little energy expenditure. Just ask Nymphister kronaueri, a recently discovered species that bears a striking resemblance to an army ant’s abdomen (here’s a picture).
Yep. Welcome to The ArthroBlogger, folks, where now that we’ve done a post on dung beetles, we can talk about literally anything—like beetles pretending to be ant butts!
Unfortunately, said beetle doesn’t have a common name yet. Fortunately, that means I get to make up a temporary name for it! Henceforth, Nymphister kronaueri shall be known as the “butt beetle.”
Obviously, this is a very mature science blog. Only the most distinguished entomologists spend their free time here.
Butt beetles hail from Costa Rica, where they were first discovered during a 2013-2014 research survey on species known to be symbiotic with Neotropical army ants. Did you know there’s actually a term for organisms that hang out with ants? They’re called myrmecophiles, which literally means “ant lovers,” and butt beetles are hardly the only ones out there. The fungi, aphids, and other organisms ants are known for “farming” are considered myrmecophiles, as well as other plants, animals, or fungi that rely on ants for any part of their life cycle. Army ants in particular are known to harbor tons of myrmecophiles, and the butt beetles’ pals, Eciton burchellii army ants, are friends with over 300 other species!
Army ants are unique for having giant nomadic colonies: every two to three weeks or so, the entire colony of up to millions of individual ants will enter a “nomadic phase.” During this phase, the colony will stay in one spot during the day but travel at night before eventually settling down in a new location. This transitional period is a great time for phoretic species, or species that travel by latching onto another animal, to hitch a free ride to the ant colony’s new destination. So, what do butt beetles do to stand out from the other phoretic myrmecophiles? Well, as mentioned previously, they do a really great job of looking like ant butts.
To join the ant parade, a butt beetle will clamp onto an army ant’s trunk just above its abdomen. Once it tucks in its legs and antennae, the disguise is complete—to the human eye, an army ant with a butt beetle hitchhiker will look like it has two abdomens! This doesn’t really do anything for the ant beside making it look funny, but it doesn’t hurt the ant either, so they don’t seem to mind walking around with an extra butt for a little while.
Who knows, though—maybe the butt beetles do provide something beneficial for the ants. We’ve known about this species’ existence for less than a decade now, so there’s still a lot left to learn about them, especially their relationship with army ants. Maybe they share food with the ants, or maybe they’re really tidy and help keep the ant colony clean.
Or maybe having two butts is considered a fashion statement in the ant world. We just don’t know. Only time will tell the significance of the butt beetles.
The Mysteries of the Pom-Pom Crab
Greetings, arthropod enthusiasts! It’s been a while, huh? Rest assured that new posts about animals with too many legs will continue to appear in the future, but they won’t be coming out as frequently as before. Nevertheless, this is ArthroBlogger entry number 88, so feel free to browse through previous posts if you’re feeling nostalgic or need to scratch that arthropod-fact itch.
Now that that’s out of the way, let’s talk about pom-poms crabs! Also known as mosaic boxer crabs for their beautiful exoskeletons, these little crustaceans live in shallow waters from the Red Sea to Indonesia and never go anywhere without their trusty twin anemones. Those anemone mittens earn the crabs the simplified nickname “boxer crabs” for their role as cnidocyte-packed boxing gloves.
Yeah, pom-pom crabs don’t carry little cnidarians around just to look fancy: those venomous mittens are imperative to the crab’s very survival. Most crabs would ward off attackers with an impressive pair of pincers, but pom-pom crab claws aren’t big enough to threaten predators. Fortunately, they’re just the right size and shape for carrying stinging anemones! The boxer crab lives up to its nickname by jabbing foes with its anemone-gloved hands, and also uses the anemones as a means of acquiring sustenance, usually decaying organic matter. In return, the anemones feed on the scraps of food the crab leaves behind, and get to see (…feel? Eat) much more of the world than your typically anemone plastered to a rock or other substrate.
Food and stinging fists in exchange for food and mobility; this, folks, is mutualism at its finest.
So, how does the pom-pom crab obtain its pom-poms in the first place? Weirdly enough, nobody really knows. Even weirder, the only way a crab has ever been observed getting a new pom-pom is by cloning its remaining anemone.
In a study published in 2017, biologists kidnapped some crabs off the coast of Israel and stole their pom-poms for science. Well, they only stole one pom-pom from each crab, but still; science is weird sometimes. Anyway, they watched to see what the crabs would do when left with a single anemone. As the biologists predicted (because, as scientists, they’re aware that science is weird), the crabs tore their anemones in half.
Don’t worry, the anemones were fine; many other sea anemone species actually tear themselves in half on purpose to clone themselves as a means of asexual reproduction. If anything, being split apart by someone else just sped up the process for these particular cnidarians, and it left the crabs with two pom-poms once again.
This same study also pitted crabs with pom-poms against crabs without pom-poms to see what would happen. The two crabs would fight (they really care about those pom-poms, understandably), and the anemone-less crab would attempt to steal one of the other crab’s anemones. The crabs only ever stole one anemone from their opponent, and then both crabs would retreat and split their anemones as before.
The mystery of the pom-pom crab’s pom-poms is on par with the chicken or the egg dilemma. All the crabs in the 2017 study, whether big or small, old or young, were already holding anemones when they were caught, and DNA analyses showed that most crabs were holding genetically identical anemones. Do most crabs get their anemones by cloning one? How do baby crabs get their anemones? How did the first pom-pom crab get its anemones? Are all pom-poms the descendants of one initial anemone? I need answers!
Well, that was quite the long post to return with, but what can I say? People need to know how weird and awesome pom-pom crabs are. And now you know! Spread the word; there aren’t nearly enough people concerned with the origin of crab pom-poms as there should be.
Sailing with Bed Bugs: Arthropods Aboard the Mayflower
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I know, I know, it was Halloween literally yesterday, but now it’s November, so we’re gonna talk about Thanksgiving. But feel free to eat your Halloween candy while you read, of course.
When I think of Thanksgiving, three things come to mind: mashed potatoes, autumn leaves, and pulling out the Christmas decorations (sorry, I’m one of those people). Unlike Halloween with its spiders and Banner Elk, NC’s Woolly Worm Festival in October, Thanksgiving is one of the few fall things that doesn’t also make me think of arthropods—until today, that is, when I learned about some secret stowaways who slipped aboard a ship headed for modern-day Massachusetts in 1620.
Allow me to introduce you to the Mayflower’s forgotten passengers: arthropods.
Bed Bugs
While it’s possible they reached North America much earlier aboard one of Columbus’ ships, bed bugs may very well have arrived on the Mayflower. These bloodthirsty insects can spread quickly among luggage and clothing in small spaces, making the close quarters on ships like the Mayflower ripe for a bed bug outbreak. Before 1750, bed bugs had become a pestilence throughout the English colonies and were given nicknames like “redcoats” and “mahogany flats” by the colonists. They eventually became widespread enough to be incorporated into the local Native American languages.
Lice
You’re starting to be thankful that you weren’t on the Mayflower, right? Yes, lice were probably running rampant among the pilgrims for the same reason as bed bugs—close quarters, which meant lots of accidental sharing of blood-sucking arthropods between unsuspecting passengers. Since the primary methods of getting rid of lice at the time, such as boiling louse-infested wigs, weren’t exactly practical on a ship out at sea, sharing a bunk with lice was both unavoidable and probably incredibly irritating aboard the Mayflower.
Cockroaches
You guessed it—our good friends the clutter cats rode the Mayflower as well. Since roaches prefer dark, moist hiding places, they probably minded their business down in the hull of the ship (how kind of them) or inside peoples’ luggage (hmm…. not so kind of them). Most of these stowaways were probably German Cockroaches.
Well, I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again—as much as I love insects, I think we can all be thankful we didn’t have to spend a couple months aboard the Mayflower with these particular arthropods.
Spooky Scary Sea Spiders
In the spirit of Halloween, let’s take a look at a creepy but otherwise harmless ocean arthropod: the sea spider.
As was the case with the grandaddy longlegs (aka “harvestmen”) we discussed a couple years ago, despite their spidery looks, sea spiders are not actually spiders. They do belong to the subphylum Chelicerata like spiders and horseshoe crabs, but while land spiders are part of the class Arachnida, sea spiders are in the class Pycnogonida.
As chelicerates, both arachnids and pycnogonids bear fangs called chelicerae. However, apart from physical resemblance, that’s basically where the similarities between land and sea spiders end. Sea spiders don’t spin webs, they don’t poison their prey, and they don’t breathe.
Well, okay, I guess they do breathe, but they don’t have lungs, gills, or anything resembling a respiratory system. Because sea spiders have such a dramatically large surface area to body size ratio, it was once thought that they could absorb oxygen directly across their exoskeleton via diffusion. However, we now know that they take in water and subsequently oxygen through pores on their legs.
There’s actually a lot of wacky stuff going on with pycnogonid legs. For one, they’re incredibly large compared to the size of the sea spider’s body. In fact, sea spiders’ torsos are so tiny that they can’t fit all their organs inside, so their digestive and reproductive systems extend into their legs. Additionally, male sea spiders sport a fancy pair of legs called “ovigers” that they use for grooming themselves and carrying the female’s eggs around until the baby sea spiders hatch.
Sea spiders live throughout the world’s oceans and can grow especially large near the poles and at great depths. However, they tend to stay pretty small in the tropics. As adults, they mostly feed on sponges using their large proboscis. Most species also eat cnidarians like hydroids and anemones, and some consume seaweed, or other invertebrates. As larvae, sea spiders are often parasites of sponges and cnidarians.
Sea spiders can be hard to find due to their light coloration and small size in areas where you might actually come across them. However, if you do cross paths with a pycnogonid at the beach, don’t worry – sea spiders are completely harmless to humans.
Happy October everyone! Have a fantastically spooky Halloween, and remember – sea spiders won’t hurt you, land spiders are our friends, and the spider “skeletons” at Target are anatomically incorrect.
The Shocking Pink Dragon Millipede
If you live in North Carolina, I really hope you’re going to BugFest next Saturday (September 17). For those of you who’ve never heard of it, BugFest is a free once-a-year event at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in downtown Raleigh designed to get people excited and educated about all kinds of arthropods – in other words, it’s one of my favorite days of the year. You can chat with entomologists, make bug crafts, hold some bugs, eat some bugs… it’s a blast. I can’t believe I’ve never mentioned it on this blog before.
Anyway, in honor of this year’s BugFest focusing on the subphylum Myriapoda (aka millipedes and centipedes), today’s post is all about shocking pink dragon millipedes.
I didn’t make that one up, that’s actually their legit common name.
Unsurprisingly, shocking pink dragon millipedes (which I will call pink dragons for short) belong to the dragon millipede family, Paradoxosomatidae. With that pink exoskeleton and those cool back spikes, these millipedes definitely look very dragon-y. Despite their fearsome appearance, however, pink dragons are only about 3 centimeters long, which is large for their genus but pretty small in terms of dragons. Or so I’d assume. I don’t really have that much experience with dragons.
A relatively new species, pink dragons were first discovered in a cave in Thailand in 2007 and were named for those dragon-scale-like spikes on their backs. Like most millipedes, pink dragons curl up cinnamon-roll style to protect themselves from predators, and that hot pink exterior warns such predators of the millipede’s secret chemical weaponry: also like most millipedes (insanely enough), pink dragons secrete cyanide from glands in their armpits, which has the effect of poisoning anything that tries to eat them and making the hands of people who handle them smell like almonds. So I guess if you enjoy smelling like almonds, you can spritz yourself for free by petting a millipede. Just don’t lick your hands for a while afterward.
Because these millipedes live on the other side of the world, I wouldn’t expect to see any pink dragons crawling around at BugFest. However, there will be lots of other awesome millipedes and centipedes in Raleigh for you to learn about next weekend, plus plenty of fun activities like the “Arthropod Olympics” and Madagascar hissing cockroach races!
That’s right, we live in a world where you can make a day or an afternoon out of learning about bugs and cheering on your favorite cockroach like it’s about to win the Kentucky Derby. What a time to be alive.
All That Glitters… Might Be Goldbugs
After so many ArthroBlogger posts over the years, you may be wondering how I decide which arthropods to write about. When I first started this blog, I mostly wrote about arthropods that I’d seen in my backyard or had had personal interactions with. I also write about fascinating arthropods that I hear about at school, a definite perk of being a biology major.
And sometimes, as in the case of this month’s featured arthropod, I just stumble across some really fascinating or adorable creature on the internet and think, “wow, people need to know this thing exists.”
Also known as “goldbugs” (or “sequins with legs,” as I like to call them), golden tortoise beetles resemble golden ladybugs and are found throughout much of the eastern United States. Unlike the omnivorous ladybugs, golden tortoise beetles are members of the Chrysomelidae or “leaf beetle” family and are often found munching on morning glory and sweet potato plants. Fortunately, they don’t often occur in large enough numbers to be considered pests.
As the largest sweet potato producer in the US, North Carolina should be flooded with goldbugs, but I’ve yet to ever see one in person. That may or may not have anything to do with the fact that I really don’t like sweet potatoes. Now, however, I feel compelled to wander through some sweet potato fields until I find one of these shimmering cuties.
Yet another appropriately named insect, golden tortoise beetles get the “tortoise” part of their name from their translucent elytron, a hard cover most beetles have that protects their head and wings. In the case of the golden tortoise beetle, the elytron is large enough for the beetle to tuck its legs and head under for extra protection, much like how a tortoise would tuck its own head and legs into its shell. Goldbugs may have completely translucent elytra or, like the beetle featured above, they might sport black markings for a little extra pizzazz.
The “golden” part of this beetle’s name is easy enough to figure out, but goldbugs aren’t always gold. The gold color comes from the beetle’s shiny cuticle, but when upset or threatened, the beetle contracts its cuticle to produce an orange liquid that temporarily replaces that golden gleam as it dries. In fact, these beetles can turn a variety of colors ranging from yellow to brown or red if they’re stressed or dehydrated. When the beetles are healthy and content, however, I guess you could say they feel… golden! Ha! I’m hilarious.
We could go through some reasons why goldbugs are important for the weeds they eat and the animals that eat them and their intrinsic beauty and whatnot, but I think the best thing about these guys is that they’ve finally given me something to do with all these sweet potatoes lying around. So I’m just gonna end with that. See y’all next month, I’m going goldmining for beetles.
All Aboard the Railroad Worms!
Railroad worms are not actually worms. Despite their appearance, they’re not caterpillars, either. Most of them are beetle larvae, but some of the aren’t – we’ll get back to that in a minute.
Also known as “glowworms,” railroad worms are named for the bioluminescent sections on the sides of their bodies look like train car windows when they light up at night. How cute! They’re little arthropod trains; someone needs to make them into transportation for tiny forest dwellers in a fantasy novel or something.
Apart from the “windows,” railroad worms can also make their heads glow red, which is thought to help them see better at night and scare off predators. Both the yellow and red lights are created using luciferin and luciferase, the same molecules and enzymes fireflies use to make their lower abdomens glow.
As cute as their name is, we really ought to call them “railroad larvae,” because most railroad worms are actually larvae of beetles in the Phrixothrix genus of the family Phengodidae. However, female railroad worms never metamorphose into beetles and retain their larval features throughout their lives, so you could run into some Phrixothrix “larvae” that aren’t actually larvae at all! When railroad worm males grow up, however, they trade their glowing windows for a sick pair of feathery antlers, I mean, antennae:
The best time to find a railroad worm is at night or after a rainstorm when they come out to hunt for food. During the day, these colorful, shimmering insects typically spend their time snoozing in the dirt or hanging out on tree trunks, if you’re searching for railroad worms in a lazier mood.
It can also be easy to mistake railroad worms for colorful millipedes in the daylight. Unlike millipedes, however, railroad worms are insects and only have six legs as compared to a millipede’s hundreds – in fact, they actually eat millipedes! Railroad worms also eat a ton of other garden pests, too, so it’s always a good sign to see one crawling around your tomato plants.
…Why does everyone have tomato plants? Why do we always talk about tomato plants when we talk about home gardens? We never talk about blueberries or squash or cabbage…
Well, all that to say that it’s a good sign when you see railroad worms around your zucchini and boysenberries, too.
Don’t Shake Hands with a Coconut Crab
Have you ever seen a naked hermit crab the size of a steering wheel climb up a tree?
No? Well then, like me, you’ve never met a coconut crab.
Coconut crabs belong to the hermit crab superfamily Paguroidea (more specifically, the terrestrial hermit crab family Coenobitidae). Not only are they the largest hermit crab species, but they’re also the largest land-dwelling arthropod on the planet at almost three feet across! However, it takes a long time for coconut crabs to get that big.
Coconut crab larvae start out as plankton, teeny-tiny animals that are carried around by ocean currents. As they grow, the larvae actually start to eat other plankton, and when they’re big enough, they’ll wear abandoned seashells for protection much like the more familiar hermit crabs we know and love. Soon after, or while still in the shell-toting phase, coconut crabs make their way to shore and leave their water-dwelling days behind them, becoming completely terrestrial and unable to swim. So please, if you do see a coconut crab, don’t throw it back in the ocean. It would not appreciate that.
In fact, you really shouldn’t be touching coconut crabs at all, as these giant crustaceans have the strongest grip strength of all pincer-possessing animals. Coconut crabs are capable of clamping their claws with a force over 1500 Newtons – for comparison, a grizzly bear bites with a force of 1410 Newtons.
So, what do coconut crabs use their crazy-strong claws for? Peeling and cracking coconuts, of course!
Coconut crabs are actually a surprisingly well-named arthropod. I started this post preparing to rename them “tree lobsters” or something, but as it turns out, “coconut crab” is pretty hard to top because these guys really do love coconuts. I mean, they really really love coconuts. They love coconuts so much that if they can’t find any on the ground, they’ll climb up trees to get them. I mean, I’ve seen crabs climbing around on docks and whatnot before, but climbing up a whole tree? And cutting a coconut down from it? That’s serious dedication.
Coconuts aren’t the only food on a coconut crab’s menu. They’ll also eat fruits, other crabs, rats and even seabirds. Yeah, giant crabs eating seagulls… that doesn’t sound horrifying at all. In terms of what eats them, coconut crabs are so formidable as adults that their only predators tend to be humans and larger coconut crabs – that, and they live on tropical islands in the Indo-Pacific Ocean lacking in big animals that would dine on massive crustaceans with trash compactors for hands.
Although they are, in fact, edible, there are a couple reasons why you probably would not want to eat a coconut crab. For one, coconut crabs are a vulnerable species due in part to people overhunting them. Additionally, coconut crab meat can be toxic if the crab has been eating poisonous fruits like sea mangoes. Y’all can take that risk if you want, but I’ll be sitting over here eating my popcorn shrimp basket instead, thank you very much.
So, why are coconut crabs worth protecting? Well, for one, coconut crabs are scavengers that will eat basically anything, making them the perfect island clean-up crew. They’re also a great source of food as larvae, feeding various planktivores, and later feed lizards and amphibians as young coconut crabs. Although a risky delicacy, coconut crabs are still definitely a source of food for people, and their stealing habits are pretty amusing.
Yes, coconut crabs are many things… tree-climbers, coconut-connoisseurs, bird-murderers, and also thieves of random stuff like whiskey bottles and flip-flops, earning them the nickname “robber crabs.” Coconut crabs have a pretty good sense of smell as far as crustaceans go, so it is believed that they steal things that smell like potential food items.
The next time you find yourself somewhere in the Indo-Pacific Ocean, perhaps visiting Madagascar or the Cook Islands, maybe you’ll be fortunate enough to cross paths with a coconut crab. And hopefully it won’t steal your shoes or drop a coconut on your head.
How bizarre that we live in a world where we can say stuff like that about hermit crabs.
Top Ten Arthropod Disguises
If you’ve taken any biology or ecology classes, you may have heard of mimicry. Mimicry is when an animal, plant, or other living organism (the mimic) copies the appearance or behavior of another (the model). More often than not, the mimic copies an organism more dangerous than itself to scare away predators. One of my favorite mimics has got to be the mimic octopus, which can change its appearance to resemble a variety of different animals. However, the phylum Arthropoda has some pretty fantastic mimics of its own. In no particular order, these are my top ten favorite arthropod disguises:
Ant-Mimicking Jumping Spiders
I love jumping spiders. They dance, they have pretty adorable faces (for spiders), and now they’re dressing up like one of my favorite insects: the ant. Jumping spiders of the genus Myrmarachne are known for mimicking a specific genus or species of ant depending on their species, and their disguises are good enough to fool humans. Not only do the spiders strongly resemble ants in appearance, but they also walk like ants and move their forelegs about like antennae to really sell the act. Since most jumping spider predators don’t eat ants for fear of getting stung, bit, or swarmed by the whole ant colony, pulling off a good performance can be the difference between life and death for these tiny arachnid actors.
Thistledown Velvet Ant
This is the second time a velvet ant has made an ArthroBlogger top ten list, and this little wasp also has a double dose of deception going on. Not only do females of this species lack wings and thus resemble ants (they’re actually wasps), but their fluffy setae make them look like pieces of fluff or creosote seeds being blown around by the wind when they walk. This disguise usually deters predators looking for an insect snack, but as a last resort, thistledown velvet ants, er, wasps, can pack a painful punch with their stingers.
Snake-Mimicking Caterpillar
I couldn’t find a photo of one on Flickr, but this caterpillar is too cool not to include in this list, so please please please look at the snake-mimicking caterpillar here, you will not be disappointed. Hemeroplanes triptolemus is one of the most amazing arthropod mimics around: while preferring to camouflage itself as a twig or leaf, this particular hawk moth caterpillar can also bear a striking resemblance to a viper when it sucks in air through the spiracles near its head region! The caterpillar is actually harmless, but most predators don’t stick around long enough to find out – especially when it pretends to strike at them with its fake snake head!
Curled Dead Leaf Moth
This spot almost went to the dead leaf mantis, but the detail of the curled wings made me choose the dead leaf moth. While far from the only leaf-mimicking animal out there (or even the only leaf-mimicking lepidopteran), Uropyia meticulodina takes the mimicry game to a whole other level – those wings aren’t actually curled! If you don’t believe me, take a look at this picture of the moth from above. That’s what I call a work of art. Mind. Blown.
Bumblebee Robber Fly
Once again far from the only bee-mimicking insects, robber flies of the genus Laphria have a certain knack for mimicking bumblebees. Unfortunately, the reason behind their acting game is a bit more sinister than most: while a lot of the arthropods on this list use their mimicry to hide from or scare away predators, Laphria robber flies are wolves in sheep’s clothing. They mostly sit and wait around for pollinators like bees and butterflies to come by, who believe the fly is just another flower-drinking buddy. When its prey gets too close, the fly pounces and devours it. These flies are pretty cute, and they eat pesky insects too, but it’s hard to forgive someone who actively betrays sweet little bumblebees.
Orchid Mantis
Another beautiful insect mimic, the juvenile orchid mantis resembles a flower both to ambush pollinator prey and hide from predators. Yes, this is very similar behavior to that of the bumblebee robber fly, but at least the mantis is fooling its prey with the false promise of food rather than fake friendship. While native to Southeast Asia and Indonesia, these mantises are also popular pets but are happiest hiding amongst orchids and similar flowers in the rainforest.
Giant Swallowtail Caterpillar
Some caterpillars have eyespots to look like snakes, some blend in with leaves and branches, and some can do a remarkable impression of bird poo. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – if you’re small and squishy, all that matters is keeping yourself from getting eaten. And I’d say this particular disguise is a pretty good tactic.
Atlas Moth
Take a look at the wing tips of the Atlas moth. Do they remind you of anything? Perhaps… the head of a cobra? That’s right, I put two lepidopterans mimicking two different kinds of snakes on this list! Why? Because they’re both awesome-looking and exquisitely crafted insects, that’s why! God probably had a lot of fun making the ant and bee mimics, but with these guys, I think He was just showing off.
Ladybug Mimic Fungus Beetle
First of all, these guys belong to the family Endomychidae, which makes them “handsome fungus beetles” and I think that name is adorable. Second of all, just look at this cutey! He’s so fluffy, and the ladybug spots make him even cuter! This beetle mimics the coloration of a ladybug to warn predators of its terrible taste.
Stick Insects
Who better to end this list with than one of the most well-known and beloved mimics out there: the stick insect? These fantastic fellows come in a variety of colors and sizes and are found in forests around the globe, although they prefer to stay near the tropics. Stick insects are pretty great at blending in with the branches of bushes and trees, but if they are spotted by a predator, they can fall to the ground and blend in with the debris on the ground below. If that doesn’t work either, they can drop the act all together and startle foes by showing off their flashy, colorful wings. Although there are definitely some very tiny species, the stick insect Phobaeticus chani holds the record of being the world’s longest insect.
The Beetle that Only Eats Asparagus
I can’t believe these actually exist. There must be a beetle for every word in the English language.
“Asparagus Beetle” is actually a very logical name for these guys, because they only eat asparagus. I don’t know why that’s so funny to me, but it is. I just… why asparagus? It’s so absurdly specific. Like, imagine an asparagus beetle at an insect dinner party:
Ant: Hey, Earl, have you tasted the honeydew Helga brought? It’s sooo good!
Asparagus Beetle: Nope. Could someone pass the asparagus?
Bee: Dude, that’s all you ever eat! Try this pollen my sister found this morning.
Asparagus Beetle: You know, I’d really rather just eat asparagus. Like, all the asparagus. You guys are good if I take the whole plate, right?
Termite: Come on, there are plenty of other great foods besides asparagus. If you keep an open mind, the world is your dinner plate! (Begins gnawing on the table)
Asparagus Beetle: …Okay, then. Seriously guys, I only eat asparagus. That’s all I need. Just asparagus.
Bee: Haven’t you heard of a balanced diet? How can you only eat one food all the time and nothing else?
Monarch caterpillar: (looks up from its milkweed salad) Eh, I get it.
There are actually two asparagus beetle species: the common asparagus beetle and the spotted asparagus beetle, the latter of whom bears a resemblance to ladybugs. Because asparagus beetles (unsurprisingly) are pests of asparagus crops, anyone hoping to rid them from their garden has to pay close attention to make sure they aren’t accidentally getting rid of ladybugs, which actually eat a lot of pests (including asparagus beetle larvae). Asparagus beetles can become particularly annoying because, unlike most crops, asparagus grows better if it is planted in the same place for a long time rather than rotated out with other plants. This gives the beetles ample time to become a major infestation if you aren’t diligently monitoring your plants, especially because asparagus beetles can go through two to five generations in a single year.
Adult asparagus beetles lay their eggs on asparagus plants. After about a week, the eggs hatch and the larvae begin feeding on asparagus berries or leaves depending on their species. The larvae develop quickly, eating for a couple weeks before pupating in the soil and emerging as adults only one week later. Then, as you already know, the asparagus beetles return to munching on asparagus. Spotted asparagus beetles, however, are considered the less detrimental pest because they are less common (that explains the “common” asparagus beetle’s name) and have less of an impact on the whole asparagus plant with their larvae only eating the berries. However, spotted asparagus beetles have been known to branch out and eat other foods on occasion, particularly gourds and melons.
Huh. I guess you can get tired of eating the same food all the time after all.
Monarch butterfly: (looks up from sipping flower nectar) Eh, I get it.
The ArthroBlogger 