Preserving Moths

I really enjoyed the day we were able to take moths, collected earlier, and pin them to drying boards and then frame them. It was a lot more of a delicate process then I would have thought. I will go thru the steps here, for anyone who is interested in the process.

Before beginning anything, you want to make sure that you have identified and tagged the specimen. If doing multiple moths at a time, you want to make sure you know which moth is which.

You will begin with a board like this:

1. You will need to put a pin straight thru the thorax of your specimen.

  2. You will need to pin the specimen to the board and then pin the wings so they look like so:

  3. As you can see in the image above, you will need to cover the wings with wax paper and pin it down. 

  4. Make sure to take the pin out of the thorax, so it will not leave the hole when it dries. 

  5. Leave the specimen to dry. When the specimen is dry, you can remove all the pins and paper. You may then pick the specimen up from underneath and place in display mount. 

It will take a few times to get it right, but once you do you may end up with great looking mounts!!

http://www.butterflyutopia.com/BIG/462_silkmoths.jpg

My NEW Thoughts On Bugs!

At the beginning of this month, I knew very little about bugs. They do not necessarily freak me out or anything, I was just not educated on them. I am glad I got to spend this month extending my knowledge of bugs. I learned many cool and interesting things about many different types of bugs. The second book we read, The Earwig's Tail, was very enjoyable and informing. I enjoyed this book because it addressed misconceptions, some I have heard before, about bugs. Some of these misconceptions are reasons why many people do not care too much for bugs. I believe the more you know about something, the less fear you will have. If you know why an animal acts a certain way it may not be as strange to you.
Winter was a tough period for a bug class, with many bugs using different techniques to escape the cold. It was fascinating to go outside and identify different coldbuggers. I used to see these strange looking things in trees and bushes, but thought nothing of it. I know know that there may be a bug inside overwintering. I found it fascinating that different species of bugs chooses different methods to overwinter. I am in no way an expert in identifying these different species, but I am glad to say that I can spot the differences and have a good estimate of identifying some of the species.

http://www.ag.auburn.edu/enpl/bulletins/polyphemus/photo2l.jpg

http://images.betterphoto.com/0017/0404210813281praying_mantis_nest.jpg

After taking this class, my view on bugs has changed a little. I have a deeper respect and understanding of many bugs. I found this class to be very enjoyable and I am now more educated in the bug world.

Biggest Insect In The World!

http://listverse.com/2013/05/15/top-10-extreme-insect-species/

The Giant Weta, found on an island of New Zealand, is the heaviest and largest insect in the world. This insect is about 3.4 inches in length, and can have a wingspans of about 7 inches. This thing is HUGE! It is a relative of the grasshopper and cricket. These insects grow so large, partially due to the fact that on the island they are found on there are not many predators to this insect. These guys are mainly herbivorous, but they can eat some insects. They are also nocturnal, so don't go wondering at night in New Zealand... haha just kidding, these guys are harmless to us! The size alone is what frightens most people!

http://gizmodo.com/5864195/the-worlds-biggest-insect-is-so-freaking-huge-it-can-eat-a-carrot

The Bug Diet!

http://images.sodahead.com/polls/002838335/09636619_eat_spider_answer_1_xlarge.jpeg

Did you know the average human swallows approximately twelve bugs every year while they are sleeping. Most of these consist of spiders.. Many get creeped out by this fact, which is understandable. Who wants spiders and other bugs crawling there way into your mouth.. Im guessing not many find that appealing. 
Personally, I do not find this too disgusting. If i haven't been affected by it yet, I do not see the harm in it. Though small, many bugs contain key nutrients and are quite good for you. One article I found stated that in the future, bugs will be part of our everyday diet. With population increasing, feeding all those mouths will be increasingly difficult. Bugs may just be the solution to that problem! Most of the bugs listed in this article did not surprise me, however one did stick out in my mind. The STINK BUG does not sound too appealing to me, but it is actually rich in nutrients. This bug is consumed in many regions of Asia, Africa, and South America. 

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/03/30/article-1371748-0B694B9900000578-909_468x378.jpg]

I have consumed different types of bugs in my lifetime. Some include mealworms, crickets, earthworms, june bugs, and grasshoppers.

 http://images.sodahead.com/polls/002838335/09636619_eat_spider_answer_1_xlarge.jpeg

I don't think I would ever want to make bugs my main diet items, however eating a few of them does not bother me. I just prefer the taste of the food we are used to. Its cool to know which bugs are edible though. You never know when that information can come in handy..

Chapter 13 - Is Nature Necessary?

Chapter 12 - Insects and Human Society

Chapter 11 - Parasitic Wasp

Chapter 10 - Locust

Insects Inspiring The Future...

There are many who get creeped out by bugs, but for those who take the time to learn and understand them there can be many great outcomes. I came across this article about these two engineers who were at a bar one night. They had just come from the lab where they were trying to tackle the obstacle of creating an effective microdrone. They came across issues of the wings getting tangles in wires, or being blown off course by wind. As they were sitting at the bar, they noticed a fly that continued to fly into the window over and over. It was at that moment that the engineers came across the idea to model the drone after this insect. They analyzed the wing structure and patterns, which proved to be way more effective than those of planes and helicopters. The picture below is a diagram of the wing patterns they observed.

http://www.popsci.com/article/technology/rise-insect-drones

These insect modeled drones are a huge advancement. Using these can lead to the gathering of intel without the human risk. They can also in some cases be used to take out enemies/terrorist, which is a HUGE controversial issue right now. Either way this technology is huge!

Im sure, with the continual learning of bugs we will find many more things that will come to use in the future...Just like these microdrones...

http://www.popsci.com/article/technology/rise-insect-drones

The Olympian Flea

One of the myths I was semi familiar with, was the Olympian Flea.

http://www.designweek.co.uk/Pictures/web/e/c/k/Medalrevers_438.jpg

 I knew of the fleas speed and have seen them in action many times on my dog so I was fascinated by this chapter. 

The misconception lies in what people have calculated over the years. The research done suggested that if you took a flea and made it human sized, that it would jump further and higher. The research used was found on the Bugman Bug Trivia Web site. It concluded that a flea can jump 110 times its length. If you were to take the flea and make it human sized, say 5 feet, the flea would be able to jump 550 feet. That a SUPER DUPER long way. 

http://www.onthespotpestcontrol.com/images/bugs/fleas.jpg

The misconception discussed in the book is that the above calculation does not factor in the ratio of surface area (length x width) to volume (length x width x height). With a small insect, like a flea, the surface area is a big force. As the insect gets bigger, the volume gets bigger compared to its surface area. The muscles of a flea may not be as strong as our muscles, but they are having to move a relatively small volume. So if you use all the facts to look at this, a flea made to be human sized would probably be pretty equal to the human in jumping. 

Olympian Flea.... I THINK NOT!!

If I Were A Cold Bugger.....

The last time I can remember being super cold was not too long ago. I was outside hunting and it was about 4 in the morning. I was as bundled up as could be, but still freezing. With no sun to warm me for a few more hours, I had to suck it up. I could not imagine having to survive all winter like this.
Cold buggers overwinter in all the different  states, whether its eggs, pupae, larvae, or adults. If I could choose out of these stages which to overwinter, I'd go with the pupa stage. The reason I would choose this is because this stage is when the larvae becomes an adult. This is where metamorphosis occurs and normally takes place over time in a cocoon or similar structure. I figured that this would be a good time to over winter. This way when you emerge into adulthood it is warm again. This is the method many moths and butterflies use. This is how I would prefer to over winter. However, there is one other option I would rather take......

http://images.nationalgeographic.com/wpf/media-live/photos/000/006/cache/monarch-butterfly_630_600x450.jpg

The monarch butterfly is different in its survival over winter. These bugs migrate to warmer climates for the winter. Now that sounds like the life. If I could, I would totally be in Mexico right now, laying on the beach. These butterflies have it RIGHT! We should all take from their examples and migrate over the winter... I would have no opposition to that!


I have been exploring a few times outside for different cocoons or nests that bugs have made to over winter. I have found two different ones.. I suspect one to be a moth. The other I know to be a nest of praying mantis'. Here is a photo of what the nest looks like..

http://farm1.staticflickr.com/65/200917913_82a49feb14_o.jpg

The Firefly

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/bugs/firefly/?rptregcta=reg_free_np&rptregcampaign=20131016_rw_membership_r1p_us_se_w#

Life On A Little Known Planet discusses the firefly in one of its chapters. I found this chapter particularly interesting. Did you know that the Firefly is in fact NOT a fly, a common mistake. This fascinating little bug is a beetle. The firefly is known for it's glowing abdomen. This light is produced by the combination of incoming oxygen and a substance called luciferin. Many associate this insect with a yellow-white glow, however different species of fireflies can produce different colors. There are around 2,000 firefly species, meaning there are potentially 2,000 different variations of colors as well. Another interesting fact I learned from the chapter is that fireflies have specific light patterns and signals for each species. Its cool to think how intricate these bugs are. Growing up I would just see them as these pretty glowing things to catch, but now I can look at them with knowledge and an understanding of them.
After reading this chapter, I did some research on the firefly. Here are some fact I found:

• These insects are omnivores
• They have an average life span of 2 months
• Mainly found in warm regions
• The flashes of light can also serve as defense. Showing the predators the unappealing taste.
• Females lay their eggs in the ground, where they stay until adulthood.

http://www.nature.org/cs/groups/webcontent/@web/@minnesota/documents/media/firefly-larvae-and-pupae.jpg

Above is a picture of firefly larvae. As you can see even in the larval stage these insect have the glowing feature.

First Bug Interactions

The Madagascar Hissing Cockroach

The Madagascar Hissing Cockroach was the first bug we examined today. They were surprising calm and docile, especially the females. The females do not actually make a hissing noise, only the males do. The hissing comes from the inhale and exhale through the breathing holes, located on the bugs abdomen. 

I decided to do a little more research on these fascinating species. Here are some facts I learned:

• One of the largest breeds of cockroaches
• Males have horns, which they use to fight others.
• Unusually, the female carries her eggs inside her in a case she creates. 

http://uglyoverload.blogspot.com/2010/03/before-first-instar.html

The European Paper Wasp

This was the second bug I was able to examine today. These guys can sting, so WATCH OUT! They live in colonies in paper nests, which are made new each spring. They can be very easily found in Colorado, which means they have to survive the winter. The females usually are fertilized over this period and they seek shelter for the winter, often finding places indoors. This wasp eats many different insects. 

Here is a photo I took thru my microscope of the European Paper Wasp:

What I Think About Bugs

I look forward to this month, as I will be learning about insects! My knowledge of insects is not very vast. I have never been one to be scared or freaked out by the bug world. I have in fact found many of these "creepy-crawlies" fascinating. Yes, there are the nasty looking bugs that many fear, but there are also bugs that bring us all joy and even great memories! One bug in particular is the Armadillididae, or as some may call the "roly poly".

I can remember going out into the yard with my brother and finding these bugs just to watch them roll up into little balls and then after many moments of complete silence watching them release back into natural form.

As a kid it was amusing, just like capturing lightning bugs.
It will be interesting to learn the "behind the scenes" aspects of the bugs. The reasons why they do the things they do. I look forward to expanding my understanding of these bugs and being able to not just find amusement by these bugs, but realize the purpose behind the actions.