dailybugfacts

[dailybugfacts]

I request the mud wasp

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TODAY'S FACT IS

Did you know that the Common Blue Mud Dauber (Chalybion californicum) is native to North America from southern Canada to northern Mexico?

These metallic wasps often refurbish nests of other species after they have been abandoned.

While these wasps are non-aggressive toward humans, they do prey on black widow spiders by paralyzing them and bringing them back to the nest that they took over and feed them to the larvae.

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Photo by bob15noble on iNaturalist

[dailybugfacts]

may i request the humble velvet ant :3 ?

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TODAY'S FACT IS

Did you know that Klug's Velvet Ant (Dasymutilla klugii) is a species of velvet ant native to the southern US to central Mexico? These wingless wasps look like ants but have a devastating sting, rating a 3 on the Schmidt pain index. These are parasitic wasps that get cicada-killer wasps to raise their young. The red-orange abdomen serves as a warning to stay away or there will be pain.

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Photo by Alejandro Santillana

[dailybugfacts]

may i request the humble velvet ant :3 ?

You have subscribed to DAILY BUG FACTS

🪲

TODAY'S FACT IS

Did you know that Klug's Velvet Ant (Dasymutilla klugii) is a species of velvet ant native to the southern US to central Mexico? These wingless wasps look like ants but have a devastating sting, rating a 3 on the Schmidt pain index. These are parasitic wasps that get cicada-killer wasps to raise their young. The red-orange abdomen serves as a warning to stay away or there will be pain.

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Photo by Alejandro Santillana

[dailybugfacts]

Sorry if this guy has been requested before but do you have any fun facts about the Malaysian fire snail? I have one as a fursona :))

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TODAY'S FACT IS

Did you know that the Malaysian Fire Snail (Platymma tweediei) lives only in the Malaysian mountain forests?

Their limited range leads to a very specific set of parameters in which the snail can live, making them difficult (but highly desired) as pets. Beloved for their striking colours, their black shell (usually with 3-4 whorls) pairs well with the black of its back and bright red foot.

These beautiful animals are highly coveted by collectors and poachers but are extremely sensitive to changes in their environment and often die shortly after removal.

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Photo by Albert Kang

[dailybugfacts]

Sorry if this guy has been requested before but do you have any fun facts about the Malaysian fire snail? I have one as a fursona :))

You have subscribed to DAILY BUG FACTS

🪲

TODAY'S FACT IS

Did you know that the Malaysian Fire Snail (Platymma tweediei) lives only in the Malaysian mountain forests?

Their limited range leads to a very specific set of parameters in which the snail can live, making them difficult (but highly desired) as pets. Beloved for their striking colours, their black shell (usually with 3-4 whorls) pairs well with the black of its back and bright red foot.

These beautiful animals are highly coveted by collectors and poachers but are extremely sensitive to changes in their environment and often die shortly after removal.

🪲

Thank you for subscribing to DAILY BUG FACTS

Photo by Albert Kang

[dailybugfacts]

Okay next do the crystalline "milk" made by Diploptera punctata (Pacific beetle cockroach). From my extremely limited understanding, this milk is fed to the young while they are still embryos within the mother.

(I will admit I only just learned it was crystalline lol)

Anyways, I'm off to try to find more examples of arthropods making milk-like substances to feed their young!

Gonna try to make you change your username to dailybugmilkfacts lol (not really)

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TODAY'S FACT IS

Did you know that the Pacific Beetle Cockroach (Diploptera punctata) is one of few cockroach species that give live birth? Because they are birthed live from the mother, she makes a milk-like crystalline substance to nourish the young. Mother Roach here also has a projectile poison to deter any would-be predators.

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Photo by Kevin Faccenda

[dailybugfacts]

Okay next do the crystalline "milk" made by Diploptera punctata (Pacific beetle cockroach). From my extremely limited understanding, this milk is fed to the young while they are still embryos within the mother.

(I will admit I only just learned it was crystalline lol)

Anyways, I'm off to try to find more examples of arthropods making milk-like substances to feed their young!

Gonna try to make you change your username to dailybugmilkfacts lol (not really)

You have subscribed to DAILY BUG FACTS

🪲

TODAY'S FACT IS

Did you know that the Pacific Beetle Cockroach (Diploptera punctata) is one of few cockroach species that give live birth? Because they are birthed live from the mother, she makes a milk-like crystalline substance to nourish the young. Mother Roach here also has a projectile poison to deter any would-be predators.

🪲

Thank you for subscribing to DAILY BUG FACTS

Photo by Kevin Faccenda

[dailybugfacts]

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TODAY'S FACT IS

Did you know that the Seashore Springtail (Anurida maritima) is often found in groups of several hundred?

Their small, dark bodies are covered in hydrophobic hairs that keep them above the surface of the water. Other species of springtails can leap but not these fellas. These ones have to live on the surface of the water and on shorelines.

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Photo by sloppydemon on iNaturalist

[dailybugfacts]

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TODAY'S FACT IS

Did you know that the Seashore Springtail (Anurida maritima) is often found in groups of several hundred?

Their small, dark bodies are covered in hydrophobic hairs that keep them above the surface of the water. Other species of springtails can leap but not these fellas. These ones have to live on the surface of the water and on shorelines.

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Thank you for subscribing to DAILY BUG FACTS

Photo by sloppydemon on iNaturalist

[dailybugfacts]

I request the cleaner shrimp

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TODAY'S FACT IS

Did you know that the Pacific Cleaner Shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis) feeds mostly on the parasites and dead skin found on fish?

Its pale underbody contrasts with the red and white stripes down the back of the shrimp, earning the nickname the Skunk Cleaner.

Unlike many shrimp who can see colours that we can't imagine, these ones are essentially colourblind.

Each shrimp of this species starts as a male but as they reach sexual maturity they become hermaphrodites, allowing them to function as either a male or female (or both!) in interactions with other shrimp (lmao same).

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Photo by Benoit Chartrer

[dailybugfacts]

I request the cleaner shrimp

You have subscribed to DAILY BUG FACTS

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TODAY'S FACT IS

Did you know that the Pacific Cleaner Shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis) feeds mostly on the parasites and dead skin found on fish?

Its pale underbody contrasts with the red and white stripes down the back of the shrimp, earning the nickname the Skunk Cleaner.

Unlike many shrimp who can see colours that we can't imagine, these ones are essentially colourblind.

Each shrimp of this species starts as a male but as they reach sexual maturity they become hermaphrodites, allowing them to function as either a male or female (or both!) in interactions with other shrimp (lmao same).

🪲

Thank you for subscribing to DAILY BUG FACTS

Photo by Benoit Chartrer

[dailybugfacts]

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TODAY'S FACT IS

Did you know that the Broad-Dimpled Sunshiner (Amara ovata) is a ground beetle native to Europe and very commonly found in the UK?

Much of the Amara genus is very similar but this species is easier to identify (but still fairly difficult) due to its all black legs. The grooves on its back are shallow and glisten in the sunlight.

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Photo by Marek Nowacki on Insektarium

[dailybugfacts]

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TODAY'S FACT IS

Did you know that the Broad-Dimpled Sunshiner (Amara ovata) is a ground beetle native to Europe and very commonly found in the UK?

Much of the Amara genus is very similar but this species is easier to identify (but still fairly difficult) due to its all black legs. The grooves on its back are shallow and glisten in the sunlight.

🪲

Thank you for subscribing to DAILY BUG FACTS

Photo by Marek Nowacki on Insektarium

[dailybugfacts]

I noticed the recent one on an ant-mimicking jumping spider and it made me wonder:

Have you done about how Toxeus magnus (also an ant-mimicking jumping spider) produces what is essentially milk for its young?

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TODAY'S FACT IS

Did you know that Toxeus Magnus is a jumping spider that "lactates" for its young? While the substance produced by the mother spider is not technically milk (there's no lactose and it does not come from mammary glands) it serves the same purpose; nutrition for the young until the point that they can fend for themselves.

In this spider, it usually takes about 3 weeks before the spiderlings can hunt for themselves but it has been noted (in female spiderlings only, not male) that this nursing can go for up to 38 days.

This is a very social spider, living in shared nests.

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Photo by Portioid

[dailybugfacts]

I noticed the recent one on an ant-mimicking jumping spider and it made me wonder:

Have you done about how Toxeus magnus (also an ant-mimicking jumping spider) produces what is essentially milk for its young?

You have subscribed to DAILY BUG FACTS

🪲

TODAY'S FACT IS

Did you know that Toxeus Magnus is a jumping spider that "lactates" for its young? While the substance produced by the mother spider is not technically milk (there's no lactose and it does not come from mammary glands) it serves the same purpose; nutrition for the young until the point that they can fend for themselves.

In this spider, it usually takes about 3 weeks before the spiderlings can hunt for themselves but it has been noted (in female spiderlings only, not male) that this nursing can go for up to 38 days.

This is a very social spider, living in shared nests.

🪲

Thank you for subscribing to DAILY BUG FACTS

Photo by Portioid

[dailybugfacts]

Can you do one on a spider in the Peckhamia genus?

I know they aren't bugs, but they look like bugs and that's cool

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TODAY'S FACT IS

Did you know that the Antmimic Jumper (Peckhamia picata) is a species of jumping spider that closely resembles the common carpenter ant?

Their camouflage is so good that the ants they mimic can't distinguish them and are therefore nonagressive to the spiders.

Of course disguising yourself as a tasty treat for someone else has its drawbacks, but it does help you get closer to your food, too.

🪲

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Photo by Jean Brodeur on BugGuide

[dailybugfacts]

Can you do one on a spider in the Peckhamia genus?

I know they aren't bugs, but they look like bugs and that's cool

You have subscribed to DAILY BUG FACTS

🪲

TODAY'S FACT IS

Did you know that the Antmimic Jumper (Peckhamia picata) is a species of jumping spider that closely resembles the common carpenter ant?

Their camouflage is so good that the ants they mimic can't distinguish them and are therefore nonagressive to the spiders.

Of course disguising yourself as a tasty treat for someone else has its drawbacks, but it does help you get closer to your food, too.

🪲

Thank you for subscribing to DAILY BUG FACTS

Photo by Jean Brodeur on BugGuide