Nature is magnificent. While we might not all agree whether or not bugs are gifts to the world, we can appreciate the beauty of some of the most colorful insects.
This month we ranked 10 of the most festive insects on the planet. From rainbow beetles to blood sucking mosquitos…these bugs keep the holiday spirit alive all year long.
The Rainbow Flower Beetle – a small species of beetle from Africa that is metallic green/red and is covered in round white spots. Eudicella gralli, sometimes called the flamboyant flower beetle or striped love beetle, is a brightly colored member of the scarab beetle family, in the subfamily known as flower beetles. Their shells seem to have a prismatic quality, refracting the ambient light to give the green of their carapace a rainbow tint.The red-shouldered stink bug (Thyanta custator) is one of the larger and more conspicuous insects one might see on hemp plants, almost ½-inch in length with a broad body form. Most often they are pale green but there is considerable variation in color, with some having more brownish coloration. They are mostly found in North America.Trogonoptera brookiana, Rajah Brooke’s birdwing, is a birdwing butterfly from the rainforests of the Thai-Malay Peninsula, Borneo, Natuna, Sumatra, and various small islands west of Sumatra (Banyak, Simeulue, Batu and Mentawai).Ruby-tailed wasp – Chrysis ignita is a species of cuckoo wasp. It is one of a group of species which are difficult to separate and which may be referred to as ruby-tailed wasps. Cuckoo wasps are kleptoparasites – they lay their eggs in the nests of other species and their young consume the eggs or larva of the host for sustenance.Red dragonfly – A native to Texas, the neon skimmer can also be found around the Southwest including Arizona and Southern California. Known for its vivid red color and unusual mating patterns, skimmers are often seen hanging out around lakes and ponds in Central Texas.A leafhopper is the common name for any species from the family Cicadellidae. These minute insects, colloquially known as hoppers, are plant feeders that suck plant sap from grass, shrubs, or trees. Their hind legs are modified for jumping, and are covered with hairs that facilitate the spreading of a secretion over their bodies that acts as a water repellent and carrier of pheromones.Ladybugs – Coccinellidae is a widespread family of small beetles ranging in size from 0.8 to 18 mm (0.03–0.7 in). They are commonly known as ladybugs in North America and ladybirds in Great Britain. Some entomologists prefer the names ladybird beetles or lady beetles as they are not true bugs. Many of the species have conspicuous aposematic colours and patterns, such as red with black spots, that warn potential predators that they are distasteful.Hickory horned devil caterpillar, of the regal moth, Citheronia regalis (Fabricius), is one of our largest and most spectacular moths. Like most other moths, it is nocturnal but is sometimes observed at lights. The imposing larva, known as the hickory horned devil, is most often observed when it is full grown and comes down from the trees to wander in search of a site for pupation. The regal moth is found throughout the deciduous forest areas of the eastern United States from New Jersey to Missouri and southward to eastern Texas and central Florida (Wagner 2005). It is more common in the southern part of its distribution.The Green Assassin Bug – Beneficial insects are crucial to healthy gardens. The assassin bug is one such helpful insect. What do assassin bugs look like? Recognizing this garden predator as a good garden helper rather than a potentially scary threat puts a natural perspective on the normal cycle of life in your landscape. Assassin bug identification will also prevent some nasty and very painful bites that may occur accidentally. Assassin bugs occur in much of North America but also in Central and South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. There are several species of the insect, all of which are natural ambush hunters that inject a toxin into prey that dissolves their soft tissues. These bites are fatal to their insect victims but may also cause allergic reactions in humans, resulting in painful itching and burning at the injection site.Anopheles coluzzii is a major malaria vector throughout its distribution in west-central Africa. Adult female Anopheles mosquitoes prefer to feed on people or animals, such as cattle. Some Anopheles male mosquitoes fly in large swarms, usually around dusk, and the females fly in the swarms to mate. After blood feeding, the female mosquitoes rest for a few days while the blood digests and the eggs develop.
Ugly bugs invading your holiday party?
If all you want for Christmas is a pest-free home, be sure to give us a call at 805-544-9446 Brezden Pest Control will make sure that all unwanted critters steer clear of your family this holiday season.
