Insect collection

I started this insect collection with my Gran. I catch an insect in little tubs and put them in the freezer. When I take them out I put a pin through their thorax. The insects that are too small like ants and little beetles, I glue down.

Caterpillars

Here are some Cinnibar caterpillars

These are the Cinnibar caterpillar pupas. We are waiting for them to emerge.

This is the Elephant Hawk caterpillar.
We thought that we lost it until we saw this...

Ruby-tailed Wasp

The ruby-tailed wasp is a parasitic wasp. They wait for the Potter or Mason wasp to fly from their nest. Then they enter the nest and lay their eggs beside the other wasp eggs. Their larvae then eat the larvae of the other wasps. You are most likely to find them on walls and trees.

British Common Wasp

The common wasp can build it's nest in empty mammal holes. Their nests are all papery. They also steal honey from bee hives. I was stung by one of these on my elbow. I accidentally stepped on their nest and disturbed them. It was very very sore!

Firefly

The babies eat snails but the adults do not eat. All of them have wings but only the males fly. They fly once it gets dark and flash a light every second. The females sitting in the grass will flash back if they see a male's light.

Nicrophorus humator

If they find a small dead animal they dig the soil from underneath it, burying it. the female then lays her eggs on or beside the dead animal and the babies will eat it.

Bombardier Beetle

When its frightened this beetle fires hot liquid from its bottom you can hear a pop when it fires.

Green shield bug

Turns green in spring and goes bronze in autumn before hibernating. I have found some of these in England and in Spain.

Silverfish

This insect doesn't fly as it doesn't have wings. It is a fast runner and is covered in silvery scales. This one likes to live in dark cupboards and eat books and mould. It causes lots of damage.

Bloody nosed beetle

I think it should be called bloody mouth beetle because the blood doesn't come out of its nose it comes out of its mouth when it is frightened. This beetle doesn't fly and has very large feet.

Stick Insects

A stick insect eats its own skin after molting to recycle proteins and to keep their location a secret from predators.

Human Fleas

The Human Fleas have amazing, jumpy, springy back legs that work like elastic. They are the best jumpers of all and can jump up to 130 times their own height!

Common Field Grasshopper

The Common Field Grasshopper has huge legs, that make it jump off the ground. They catapult themselves over 500 times their own height. Their accelaration is 4 times faster than a space rocket taking off!

Click Beetle

The Click Beetle escapes from it's enemies by falling to the ground, normally landing on it's back. It has a device in it's body that makes it jump, and at the same time it makes a clicking noise. Sometimes it lands on it's back, and will have to jump again and again to get back on it's feet.

About Bugs Strength

If an ant was as big as a human, it would be so strong that you would need 10 people to match it's strength.

If the Dung Beetle was as big as a human, it would be nearly 450 times stronger.

The Rhinoceros Beetle is even stronger than the Dung Beetle. The Rhinoceros Beetle can support 8,500 times it's weight.

Jewel Beetle.

Jewel Beetles are sparkly and colourful. Sometimes people make them into jewellery but countries like Australia want to protect them.

Leaf Cutter Bee

Leaf cutter bees make their cells in little holes, hollow stems and even keyholes! They line their cells with neatly cut tiny pieces of leaves. Once made, the female fills the cell with pollen and lays her egg.

Wolf Spider.

Wolf Spiders are always hunting for food. This means the mommy spider carries her babies on her back while hunting. If something happens and the babies fall off, they just climb back on again!

Goliath Beetle.

The Goliath Beetle lives in tree tops in tropical rain forests in Africa. It is the heaviest beetle in the world and weighs as much as an apple! The Goliath Beetle is as big as your hand!

Wood Ants.

Wood ants build a mountain of twigs and leaves over their nest to keep their nest nice and warm and safe. They like to go to the top of the trees to find their food.

Weaver Ants.

Weaver ants make their nests with leaves. They weave the leaves together with silk that comes from an ant grub. Two worker ants help to weave the leaves together, which makes the nest.

Bulldog Ants.

Bulldog ants are the most dangerous ants in the whole world, and you can find them in Australia. They are very beastly, and can kill a human adult in 15 minutes. They kill with their sting!

Hello

I'm the Bughunter and this is my new blog all about bugs. I will post loads of interesting facts about bugs when I find out about them. Tomorrow I am off to the museum to search for bug information....will post what I find.