The Zombie Apocalypse, Caterpillar Style!

A virus which has struck the caterpillar world sends hypnotized victims running for tree tops. An action that is unusual for this type of caterpillar species. In a normal scenario the caterpillar would feed on leaves at night and hide during the day in cracks and crevices of the tree branch, however this virus has managed to change the natural habits of this caterpillar, by sending it up higher in the trees, not to feed but to die.

Once dead their bodies melt and fall down onto their brothers and sisters below, enabling the virus to continue to spread. This virus is known as Baculovirus and has seen to affect gypsy moth caterpillars.

This virus has turned caterpillars into Zombies!

When the caterpillar dies its body turns to liquid!

Each single drop of liquefied caterpillar contains millions of viruses.

One more worrying thing that has been discovered is that the virus is able to survive in the bellies of birds that have fed on the caterpillar; the virus is spread wider by the bird’s droppings.

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Bug of the Week - 3

The Golden Spider Beetle

 

The Golden spider beetle is a pest of stored food items such as seeds, dried meat, tea, seeds and grains. It can also be found in leather, books, paper, cotton silk and feathers and is covered in silky golden hairs and fine scales.

This nocturnal beetle spends the days in cracks and crevices and looks like a spider as it has a round abdomen, long thin legs. Its larvae are yellow white grubs with a brown head.

The adult beetle is about 4-5mm in length while the larvae can grow up to 3.5mm long.

The female beetle lays anywhere from 20-40 eggs and between 11-30 days after being laid and become adults just 18-26 days later.

The life cycle of the golden spider beetle is around 9mths.

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Think before you lick...

The envelope or stamp!!!

Lets face it, we all do it, 

we lick the envelope to seal and the stamp to stick!  

After reading this I am sure you will think of other means to seal the envelope and stick the stamp....

Did you know.....

The favorite food of cockroaches is the envelope glue and the glue behind postage stamps! 

YUCK!

Coming to the aid of a dying wasp

A yellow jacket that has been injured and is laying dying will release an alarm pheromone and within 15 seconds any yellow jacket within a 5 km radius will come to its aid!

Humans could learn a lot from animals and insects! How many times have we seen news reports or you tube videos showing humans injured and no one coming to their aid... YET here we have a wonderful example of how we should be! 

Bug of the Week - 2

This weeks bug of the week is the Giraffe Weevil !

Named simply because of its large neck, the giraffe weevil is only found in Madagascar. The males neck is 2-3 times longer than the female and they use it to fight off other male giraffe weevils and to build nests.

This amazing looking bug is not alone, New Zealand also has a giraffe weevil and is the longest weevil in the world!

The Giraffe weevil is a newly discovered species and I am sure as time moves along we will find out alot more about this spectacular looking bug!

Isnt it Amazing! 

The New Zealand Giraffe Weevil

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Watch how the Male species fight

Insects in Camoflague

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Pregnant without sex

Aphids are born pregnant without the benefit of sex. 

Aphids can give birth 10 days after being born themselves.

Bug of the Week

This week’s bug of the week is the Flowering Mantis, which is family to the praying Mantis; only the flower mantis is able to camouflage to mimics flowers. The Mantis sits hidden in the flower and waits for its prey. The amazing ability for this Mantis to camouflage itself also works as a secret weapon as it can hide from other predators.

This type of Mantis is often found in Asia and did you know the Mantis is the only insect in the world that can turn its head from side to side to search for prey and their eyes can see up to about 18 meters away.

The above reasons and the sheer beauty of this insect is why I have chosen it to be the first bug of the week! 

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