Bugs Alive!

Gisele, our Brazilian black tarantula, is certain to stir curiosity. The Brazilian black tarantula is covered in tiny little hairs, though they are not made of the same things as our hair. These hairs allow them to sense movement nearby, but also can be flicked off their abdomen by their back legs. The hairs are barbed at the end, and can cause major irritation to a predator.

Meet Cleopatra, our emperor scorpion. The emperor scorpion is one of the largest species of scorpion in the world. It is usually glossy black, but may be dark brown or green. The stinger and claws can have a reddish color. The offspring are born white, with coloring becoming darker with each molt.

Bat cave roaches are one of the largest species of cockroach in the world, reaching up to four inches in length. Like all cockroach species, bat cave roaches are not household pests but play a key role in the environment. Breaking down organic matter into nutrients for the soil allows plants to grow and animals to thrive.

Giant African millipedes are found throughout the rainforests in Africa.  They tend to be found under rocks, and in most forest underbrush (leaves and soil). There are 6,500 species identified worldwide — including over 600 in North America.

Coraline is our Chilean rose tarantula. The Chilean rose-haired tarantula is a ground-dwelling species found in the South American rainforest. Tarantulas have eight tiny eyes on the ocular tubercle but they have poor vision. They rely almost entirely on touch, taste and smell. They smell using organs on their feet, which are sensitive to airborne chemicals and humidity. There are also chemically sensitive hairs on their legs and pedipalps that act like taste organs.

Caterpillars in the family Sphingidae are known as hornworms, due to their worm-like body shape and the presence of a small, pointed “horn” at their posterior. Hornworms are the larval stage of the hawk moth.

Fun Fact: The caterpillars in Alice in Wonderland and A Bug’s Life are based on hornworms.

Jungle nymphs, or Giant Thorny Phasmids, belong to the order “Phasmatodea” because of their cryptism. The Greek “phasm,” meaning phantom or apparition, alludes to the cryptic coloring and camouflage of members of the order. Stick insects can resemble sticks, leaves, or twigs of several colors.

From the side, the head of a Western Horse Lubber Grasshopper resembles a horse’s head complete with a bridle. The yellow highlighting on the black body gives an overall effect reminiscent of the armor, harness, and other equipment on a medieval knight’s horse.

Fun fact: Grasshoppers existed 60 million years before the first dinosaurs came to be. The fossil record shows that primitive grasshoppers first appeared during the Carboniferous period, more than 300 million years ago.

The name “mantis” is a Greek word meaning “prophet, seer, or diviner.” This is due to the prayer-like position of their front legs, and is the root of the order name Mantodea. The terms “mantis” and “mantid” can generally be used interchangeably to describe members of this order.

These insects, as a group, are known for their oval body shape, long antennae, and their “hairy” (sensory hairs) back legs.

Fun fact: Cockroaches are an ancient group dating to as far back as 325 million years ago (the late Carboniferous period) in fossil records. This geologic period is sometimes described as “The Age of Cockroaches” because of the abundance of these roach-like insects. The more modern roaches were first recorded from fossils from the early Cretaceous period.