Cool Bugs in Your Own Yard
Good bug or bad bug? Insects are not always pests that need to be killed. Most are very interesting and even play an important part in nature.
Field Cricket
The most common sound in the insect world comes from crickets. Their musical chirp is made when they rub their legs together. Field Crickets:
- are black or brown
- found in meadows & weedy areas
- can sometimes find their way indoors
- are thought to bring good luck if you find one in the house!
Damselfly
A damselfly is a little bit like its cousin, the dragonfly, but smaller. This insect has lived on Earth for a long time—more than 300 million years! Damselflies:
- have six legs but cannot walk on them
- use their legs to catch their prey and to perch on when taking a rest
- live everywhere on Earth except for Antarctica.
Monarch Butterfly
Monarchs are the most recognized butterflies in America and are known for their orange, black, and yellow colors. The bright colors are a type of warning to their predators, letting them know that these butterflies will taste very bad. They:
- are toxic and make many animals that eat it sick
- can fly between 4-12 miles per hour
- can travel close to 5,000 miles per year
- use their antennas to smell and their feet to taste nectar.
Praying Mantis
This interesting insect is easily recognized by the way it folds its front legs, as if it is praying. The Mantis uses its green or brown coloring to blend into its surroundings. When another insect passes too closely, the Mantis strikes out and captures its food. The Praying Mantis:
- is found in meadows, fields, and gardens
- is the only insect that can turn its head to look behind itself.
Spur-Throated Grasshopper
There are many species of grasshoppers, but the Spur-Throated is the most common. These insects are known as pests that harm crops. They are:
- most famous for their jumping ability, which is made possible by their strong hindlegs
- green, yellow, or brown
- found in fields, meadows, and weedy areas.
Spring Azure Butterfly
This butterfly, also known as echo blue, is found throughout most of North America. It’s one of the earliest butterflies to emerge after winter and only lives a few days. Spring Azures:
- live in wooded areas and love garden flowers
- are thought to be good luck if you make a wish when you see one.
Water Strider
This cool insect has three sets of legs that repel water and hold air, letting them stand on the surface of water! Those amazing water legs don’t work too well on land, though. Water striders are super-fast—to match their speed, a 6-foot-tall human would have to swim over 400 miles per hour.
Who is sharing your outdoor space? Call us at 318-473-9777 for more tips and advice about the bugs in our area.
