Bugs Alive: Bugs at Work!

Mirabelle, 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.

The Asian forest scorpion is native to the humid forests of Southeast Asia. Although they are predators, Asian forest scorpions typically do not sting their prey unless they are hunting something larger. Instead, they capture their prey with their pincers and crush it. When faced with a predator, their first instinct is to hide, but they may also use their stinger to defend themselves. While their venom is not dangerous to humans, it serves to protect them from small mammals and birds. Scorpions are resilient creatures; they can survive on very little oxygen and can slow their metabolism in harsh conditions. At the Wild Wonders Theater, there is an Asian forest scorpion named Violet, who is about six years old!

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.

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.

Horse lubber grasshoppers are found in dry regions of the southwestern United States and central and southwestern Mexico. They are known for their shiny black bodies with bright yellow markings, but some adults might have orange or green markings. The horse lubber grasshopper is unique in its ability to thermoregulate, keeping their bodies at a comfortable temperature while preventing overheating.