Caterpillars should be on guard when ichneumonids are in the neighborhood.

Parasitic ichneumon wasps often have long sword-like tubular organs at the end of their abdomens that are used by females to deposit eggs. The females lay the eggs in caterpillar and beetle larvae. The larvae will be food for the flying insects after they hatch and begin developing. These would-be beetles and would-be moths or butterflies stand no chance against the more aggressive species. Read more »

The honey bee is one of nature’s most accomplished workers and one of the key links in the food chain. On the bug identification chart, the honey bee falls into the category of insect. The bee has six legs and well defined body parts, including a yellow-striped abdomen. The honey bee also has five eyes, flies 20 miles per hour and lives in organized groups. Man has domesticated the bee as a means of gaining access to its honey and beeswax. Read more »

Flatworms are much different from the more common and well-known earthworms. Yes, these crawlers have an identity of their own and should not be considered just another member of the group. Read more »

There is a family of moths that are distinguished by the case that the caterpillar of the species lives in. Members of this family are called case or bag moths and also bagworms. Read more »

The blowfly is a prime candidate to exemplify the circle of life theme that is so often displayed in nature. Through the death of one organism, another one gains life. Read more »

Though small in size, Aphids are usually large in number and provide a valuable food source for many other organisms. These minute insects can be found on plants, their sole source of food. Read more »

While it is native to Europe, northern Africa and warmer parts of Asia, the German wasp has managed to expand into much of the Northern Hemisphere. It is now firmly rooted in The Americas, Australia and New Zealand. Read more »

The buzzing alone is enough to drive you mad. Have you ever had a house fly get trapped in a room in your house or even worse in your car? We all know the insect can be annoying, but do you also know that it can be dangerous because of its penchant for spreading germs? Read more »

If you have ever experienced an infestation of bed bugs or known by its scientific name cimex lectularius, you will understand the urgent need to get rid of them and to do so quickly. The incidence of bed bug infestations has been on the rise. Most times this will occur in hospitals, colleges, hotels and your homes. This parasite who lives on feeding itself human or animal bloods, can produce one to five eggs per day, multiply this by the number of adult egg producing them and you can see how fast an infestation can occur. Not only are we seeing an increase in these kinds of infestations, but they have become more resistant to the chemical compounds that have been used. Read more »

If you view the insect from overhead it is easy to understand how the silverfish got its name. Its resemblance to a fish is unmistakable and its flat body covered in silver and grey scales accounts for the “silver” portion of the name. Read more »