GARDENZ 4 GROWTH
Nature at its finest: Fun Facts
What is Metamorphosis?
Metamorphosis is a dramatic change that some animals and insects go through during their life cycles. The change is dramatic, and the baby stage looks very different from the adult stage.
For example, most frogs and other amphibians hatch as fish-like larvae called tadpoles, or "pollywogs." Tadpoles have no limbs, only tails to help them swim. It takes about 6 to 9 weeks for tadpoles to become fully grown, though this varies between species. During this time, they swim, eat, and grow. After about 12 weeks, the tadpole grows its legs and arms. They eventually transform into froglets, a process called metamorphosis.
Why are bugs so cool?
Their size, shape, color, biology, and life history are so diverse that it makes the study of insects absolutely fascinating. Without insects, our lives would be vastly different. Insects pollinate many of our fruits, flowers, and vegetables.
July Bug of the Month
The Black-and-Gold Flat Millipede is a large millipede found in North America. It is believed to secrete cyanide compounds as a defense because they cannot bite or sting. They are found more readily April-June.
August Bug of the Month
Papilio glaucus, the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, is a species of butterfly native to eastern North America. It is one of the most familiar butterflies in the eastern United States.
These beautiful lepidopteran insects are simple to lure to your space. They lay eggs on celery, sweet fennel, caraway, parsley, dill and others. The adult Eastern Tiger Swallowtail likes to snack on butterfly bush, milkweed, phlox, lilac, iron weed, and wild cherry.
September Bug of the Month
Leucauge venusta, the Orchard Orbweaver, spider is a species of the orbweaver variety characterized with a long jaw, indigenous to different parts of the United States and southern Canada as well as various regions of Central America. There are over 3000 species of Orbweaver world wide.
This scary looking spider is mild mannered and only slightly venomous. It is only dangerous to small insects, not humans. They are master web designers and can beginning spinning at the juvenile stage.
October Bug of the Month
Large Maple Spanworm Moth.
It is so cool that from the backside this moth looks like a leaf that has fallen from a tree. This camouflage helps protect the moth from predators. It has a wide habitat range and the moth coloring has a wide range of variations. This species is nocturnal and feeds on a variety of tree species. The Maple Spanworm Moth is very active in the spring and summer.
November Bug of the Month
This cricket is commonly mistaken for a spider, but it is a cricket from the orthoptera family Rhaphidophoridae.
The most common names for this cricket are: camelback or camel cricket, cave cricket, hogan bugs, land shrimp, sand treaders, or spider crickets. This cricket is found in forest-like environments. They like caves, animal burrows, under stones, cellars. The camelback cricket is flightless and nocturnal. These crickets are omnivores and will eat anything from organic matter to small insects. There are over 500 species of Rhaphidophoridae.
December Bug of the Month
This is an ootheca of the Chinese mantis. It is the largest mantis species in North America and can reach up to five inches in length. They are an invasive species. While they will consume stink bugs and spotern lantern flies, they will also eat the native Carolina mantis and other beneficial pollinators. It was accidentally introduced to the United States in 1896 in Mt. Airy, Pennsylvania.
I found this ootheca in my Christmas tree and am grateful I found it before the warm house temperatures had it hatching for a New Year's surprise!
January Bug of the Month
This is a leaf-footed bug and has many varieties. Be careful! This bug looks like many other species including the invasive species of stink bugs. It also looks like a member of the kissing bugs.
Both the Leaf-footed bug and the stink bug are in the family Coreidae. They have different characteristics upon closer inspection. Stink bugs are shield shaped and only about 1/2" in length, while the leaf-footed are 3/4" in length with parallel sides. The coloring is different as well. Leaf-footed bugs are darker brown with white bands across the wing covers. Stink bugs are a lighter brown or a lighter green. The leaf-footed bugs get their name because the hind tibia is flattened and is leaf shaped.
Leaf-footed bugs are not harmful to humans or animals but gardeners consider them pests because they suck the juices from plants.
March Bug of the Month
This is an Asian Lady Beetle. There are many beetles that resemble each other and can often be misidentified. The Lady beetle or 'Ladybug' is one of them. There are over 150 species of Lady Beetles. The Lady Beetle is part of the family Coccinellidae, as is the Asian Lady Beetle.
The Asian Lady beetle looks very similar to the Lady beetle. The best way to tell the difference is to look for the 'M' OR 'W' On the head. Also Asian Lady beetles have more spots and they can bite but are not dangerous to humans.
*** Please keep in mind that there are always genetic variations within species, so unless you are sure it is an invasive species please do not do harm.
April Bug of the Month
Bumblebees are larger than other bees such as honey bees. Their larger size can generate more heat so they are able to start collecting pollen earlier in the season. Bumble bees can beat their wings approximately 130x per second, this vibration can urge a flower to release pollen. This is why you will often see them before other types of bees. Their body is also covered in an oil that helps them be waterproof. They are peaceful and social creatures and are vitally important to our ecosystem and food supply.
June Bug of the Month
Greater Oak Dagger Caterpillar
These caterpillars cover the entire continent just like their host trees and regardless of the life stage, these caterpillars feed on the leaves of oak trees, but do not do enough damage to harm the tree.
There are usually 2 broods and they
change their colors and patterns after molting.
The color variation has a wide range, they could be white and black, or white and orange with sparse, long hairs extending off the entire body or they could be green or completely white with red 'eyes' on its white head.
