Tag: bug

Perillus Bioculatus (Two-Spotted Stink Bug): Everything About It
Perillus bioculatus is an insect that belongs to the family of stink bugs (Pentatomidae), specifically the subfamily Asopinae. In common language, this insect is also known as a two-spotted stink bug or a double-eyed soldier bug. The Danish zoologist Johan Christian Fabricius described this animal in 1775 and gave it its Latin name. Like other stink bugs, they are known for their distinctive stench, but they are also predatory.
Etymology
(Photo by Pahrkm, iNaturalist, CC BY 4.0)
Latin is the source of the species name, bioculatus. The prefix bi signifies “two” or double,” and the name oculatus means “with eyes.” The genus name Perillus means “full of danger or risk.”
Together, the name Perillus bioculatus can be translated to mean “two-eyed perilous bug.” However, these animals are not dangerous to humans but are actually beneficial.
They Change Color by Feeding
Perillus bioculatus color changes in response to feeding. (Image created by Piero Sagnibene, CC BY-SA 3.0)
Perillus bioculatus undergoes color alterations in response to its diet. They get carotene from the animals they hunt. At temperatures between 88 and 90°F (31 and 32°C), carotene is oxidized and excreted. As a result, the bug looks all black and white.
However, at mild temperatures, carotene is deposited beneath the cuticle, and the animal appears black and yellow.
Carotene accumulates heavily beneath the epidermis at around 70–75°F (21–24°C), causing more melanin to be produced and giving the insect a red appearance.
Characteristics of Perillus bioculatus
Perillus bioculatus in Canada. (Photo: Quinten Wiegersma, CC BY 4.0)
The size of Perillus bioculatus varies from 0.4 to 0.5 inches (10 to 12 mm). They also vary in coloration but have a quite characteristic pattern. The two-spotted stink bugs often seem to be black, dark brown, or even red and yellow.
The two black dots on these bugs’ pronotum—the area directly behind the head—make them pretty simple to identify.
On the scutellum, there is a triangular marking surrounding a black Y-shaped pattern. This is the large, triangular, shield-shaped part on the back of the animal.
The front pronotum (chest) and scutellum (back) patterns are often a fiery red or orange on a Perillus bioculatus. However, there is also a cream-colored variation.
Distribution
(Photo by Ioan Alexandru Rădac and Maximilian Teodorescu, CC BY 4.0)
Historically, the only place you could find Perillus bioculatus was in the Nearctic realm (most of North America, including Greenland, Central Florida, and the highlands of Mexico).
Today, the geographic distribution of two-spotted stink bugs includes southern Canada, all of the United States (east-to-west coast), and all of Mexico.
For the purpose of biological plant protection, this species was introduced to many European nations. But so far, it has only taken root in Turkey and the Balkans.
Originally from North America, they have now made their way to Eastern Europe and North India, thanks to human intervention.
Diet
(Photo by Wildreturn, CC BY 2.0)
Perillus bioculatus’ diet mostly consists of arthropods. They specifically eat beetles and beetle larvae because these are their favorite foods.
The Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata) is an example of a valuable agricultural pest that falls victim to the two-spotted stink bug. That is why they are known as ‘predator stink bugs’ and considered a ‘beneficial organism.’
Eggs
Perillus bioculatus often lays between 100 and 300 eggs in a clutch. There are five nymphal stages in their life cycle. After an egg is laid, a total of 25–30 days are required for its development.
Typically, there are two to three generations every year for this species. In other words, they manage to go from egg to adult and then to egg again two to three times a year.
In the wild, the species hibernates as an imago, the last stage an insect attains during its metamorphosis, and reaches maturity.
The Perillus bioculatus larvae are phytophagous (herbivore) in their initial nymph stage, sucking the sap from potato plant stems for food. There is gregarious activity or social grouping in their first four nymphal stages.
Is Perillus bioculatus Dangerous?
The answer is no; Perillus bioculatus poses no threat to humans. In fact, there are advantages to having them around. Native to North America, these bugs are expert predators of Colorado potato beetle eggs and larvae. In high numbers, they help control insect populations.
Perillus bioculatus in My House
These bugs belong to the family Pentatomidae, or stink bugs. There is no need for alarm if you have discovered Perillus bioculatus in your house. These insects pose no risk to human health.
References
Featured Image: Whitney Cranshaw-Forestryimages.org, CC BY 3.0 US
Impact of Perillus Bioculatus on the Colorado Potato Beetle and Plant Damage – By George Tamaki, Bill A. Butt – 1978 – Google Books
Perillus bioculatus – an overview – ScienceDirect Topics
August 4, 2023
How the Asian Hornet Came to Europe
December 13, 2022
Ticks and flies: How do bloodsuckers bite and spread diseases?
October 25, 2022
Where Do Mosquitoes Go in the Winter?
In the evening, with pleasant weather, it doesn’t take long until you find yourself relaxing on the patio, taking in the sun, or enjoying a BBQ. But then, you are startled by a painful sensation on your arm, which is immediately followed by severe itching. The blood was drawn out by the lengthy proboscis of a mosquito that just bit you. Throughout the spring, summer, and autumn, it is almost impossible to get rid of mosquitoes, even with the use of pricey mosquito repellents. But, during the winter, you never see or hear anything about them. Where do mosquitoes go in the winter? And what do they do at this time of year?
Unlucky Males
The mosquito, like other insects, is a cold-blooded species. They have no control over their body temperature, which is always the same as their environment. The optimal temperature for mosquitoes is around 78 degrees Fahrenheit (25ºC), and at 60 degrees Fahrenheit (15ºC) the insects slow down, and anything below 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10ºC) makes them almost dead.
The thing is, the male mosquitoes can’t survive the winter. In fact, they already die away by fall. Males do not feed on blood, and their proboscis is not powerful enough to puncture your skin and bite you.
They consume nothing other than nectar and the fluids of plants. Blood is one of the several nutrients that only females are required to provide for their kids. It is specifically these female mosquitoes that are able to endure the dip in temperature during the winter.
Mosquitoes Craft Their Own Anti-Freeze
Aedes aegypti mosquito larvae.
The female mosquitoes may find the best chance to survive throughout the winter months in locations like basements, caverns, cow barns, and buildings since these areas are cool, wet, and sheltered. There, the insects enter a state of inactivity, also known as torpor, caused by the dropping temperatures.
For the mosquitoes to be prepared for this, during evolution, they have created an odd adaptation mechanism: they begin by eliminating a fluid from their bodies via excretion. After that, sugar is added to this liquid which together acts like an antifreeze covering the mosquito’s body. The females emerge from their torpor when the weather begins to warm up again in the spring and start laying their eggs.
Mosquito Eggs Survive in the Mud
The frost very rarely kills adult female mosquitoes or their egg clutches that have already been laid in water bodies such as lakes, ponds, or rain barrels in the autumn. As long as the mud does not freeze, the mosquito eggs survive the winter in the mud on the bottom of a body of water without any issues.
The conditions throughout the spring and summer are what ultimately determine whether or not there will be a mosquito infestation. For instance, prolonged periods of rainfall provide the larvae with optimal breeding grounds. If warm temperatures are coupled with this, the conditions become ideal for a mosquito invasion.
However, it is possible to be bitten by a mosquito even during the wintertime. Because if a mosquito is able to find its way into a heated home, then that is where it will continue to live for a while. Yet, there is a good chance that it will die over the winter season while in there.
Sources:
- Webb, C. (2022, June 21). Where do all the mosquitoes go in the winter? The Conversation.
- Maxwell, C. (2022, September 27). Where Do Mosquitoes Go In The Winter? AZ Animals.
September 28, 2022
Are Thrips Really the Indicator of Thunderstorms?
Thunderstorm creatures, also known as thrips or fringed-wing insects, are often little, black, and very unpleasant. They are often called thunderflies, thunderbugs, storm flies, thunderblights, or storm bugs. These tiny insects, which rarely exceed 0.12 inches (3 millimeters) in length, seem to arrive en masse if the weather is hot and humid and a rainstorm is on the horizon. Although there are over 6,000 different species of thrips, their tiny size means they are often overlooked.
When Thrips Cluster in Thousands
(Image: Fort Valley State University)
They cluster together in the thousands, resembling dark clouds, which are unpleasant for anybody who is caught in them because the thrips fall on any exposed skin and also in the nasal passages, oral cavity, and eyes, producing a crawling, itchy sensation. But may the reason for their mass hording be the approaching thunderstorm? Are they really suitable as thunderstorm indicators? If that’s the case, then how can thrips anticipate the arrival of a thunderstorm?
On hot, humid summer days, several species of thrips are known to engage in swarming flights. Temperatures over 70 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius) and stable, unchanging climatic conditions trigger the huge swarming of thrips. Thrips may rapidly become a nuisance when they emerge in masses, landing on humans and being drawn to all bright colors. When it’s hot and steamy outside, humans sweat, and thrips lick this perspiration off their skin and sometimes even bite through it. This causes irritation and, in really sensitive individuals, skin inflammation.
Humans as Landing Pands
But the thunderstorm is not the cause of the thrips’ mass presence. Instead, the little insects, which are normally dispersed across the skies, settle on the ground in a coordinated effort when a storm is approaching. So they cluster around the places where people like us go and even utilize us as landing pads.
Thus, an increase in the number of thrips in the lower levels of the atmosphere may actually be an indicator of an approaching thunderstorm.
Electric Field as a Thunderstorm Indicator
However, how can thrips know when a storm is about to hit the area? This is more related to a physical phenomenon than the weather itself. This is because electrically charged thunderclouds also alter the atmospheric electric field. Thunderstorms may produce electric fields as strong as 15 kilovolts per foot (kV/ft) (50 kilovolts per meter), compared to the typical 0.03 kV/ft (0.1 kV/m).
Research on fruit flies and other insects demonstrates that strong electric fields may cause thrips to lose control of their flight and become disoriented. For instance, British thrips researcher William Kirk believes that tiny insects like thrips, in particular, are impacted by variations in electric field strength and are no longer able to fly at roughly 2.4 kV/ft (8 kV/m) and beyond. So, this electric charge might also be responsible for the sudden swarms of thrips that arrive near the ground just before a rainstorm. In most cases, though, it appears that thrips swarms are indicators of an impending storm.
September 25, 2022
How Many Ants Are in the World?
Biologists have estimated that there are at least 20 quadrillion ants in existence on Earth, or around 2.5 million ants for every human being. This means that the total dry biomass of all ants exceeds that of all birds and wild animals put together. The subtropical and tropical areas have the highest ant density, yet the ant world map still has a lot of blank spaces.
Ants are common in practically every environment, including forests, gardens, and cities. While scientists have documented and named over 15,700 different species of social insects, they suspect the number is really closer to 30,000. Ants are crucial in the breakdown of organic matter because they are aphid or fungus producers as well as a source of food for a wide variety of birds, arthropods, and mammals.
Ant Population Count
But how many ants exist on a global scale? So far, estimates of ant population size have been made only on a rough scale, using methods such as local sampling or the fact that ants account for just a fraction of the world’s insect population (1%). Estimates have varied greatly in the past because of the large number of unknown variables involving the frequency and variety of insects. As a result, the “census” of the world’s ant population was conducted in a novel way by a group headed by Patrick Schultheiss of the Universities of Hong Kong and Würzburg.
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The scientists looked at information from 465 studies from all around the globe that counted ants by taking soil litter samples or by using ground traps. The second technique was examined independently from the former since it represents activity rather than absolute numbers of ants in a region. Also included were results from 24 research that sprayed whole tree canopies with pesticide to determine ant populations.
Worldwide, There Are Around 20 Quadrillion Ants
It is estimated that there are three quadrillion ants in the world’s ground litter. The ants in the litter are only a small sample of the whole ant population. The overall number of ants, including those in various environments, is estimated to be roughly 19.8 quadrillions (that makes 19,800,000,000,000,000). That means there are around 2.5 million ants for every human being on Earth.
Even though each ant weighs almost nothing, the total dry biomass of all ants adds up to around 12.
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3 megatons of carbon, according to the study’s authors. This represents almost 20% of the total human dry biomass and is comparable to the total dry biomass of all wild birds and animals.
Especially In the Tropics
Ants, however, are not uniformly dispersed throughout all temperate zones and ecological zones: Remarkably, just two biomes—tropical rainforests and tropical savannas—are home to more than half of the world’s ant population.
Results from the scatterplots show that the abundance of ants is two times as high in subtropical and tropical ecosystems as it is in temperate ones. Ant activity in tropical and subtropical regions could be three to four times greater than in temperate regions. This demonstrates how crucial tropical areas are to the worldwide quantity and biomass of ants.
Omnivorous Ant-Eaters From All Corners of the World
A large number of mammalian species, particularly in the tropics, have adapted to rely on ants as a primary food source. The anteaters of South America, the pangolins of Southeast Asia, and the aardvarks of Africa have all separately acquired specialized adaptations that allow them to dig up ant nests and gather the ants with their insensate, long tongues.
To escape being eaten by ants or to be able to feed on them directly, more arthropods copy ant behavior or morphology in the tropics since ants are more prevalent there and mimicry is thus more successful there.
The Real Figure Is Significantly Higher
Indeed, the new study has improved our understanding of the staggering magnitude of the ant population on Earth. However, the group emphasizes that these numbers represent a cautious assessment. The number of unreported instances is likely considerable since there are numerous habitats and biomes for which very little data is available. Examples of such biomes and habitats include subterranean habitats, mangroves, and boreal woods.
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There is also a lack of data from Africa and Central Asia.
For this reason, the estimated global ant population likely understates the genuine amount by a significant margin. To acquire a fuller understanding of ant diversity and patterns of global biodiversity, their causes, and their implications, there is so much more work to do.
Sources:
- How many ants are there on the planet? Their combined weight will surprise you. (2022, September 26). Mint.
- Grandoni, D. (2022, September 19). Scientists have calculated how many ants are on Earth. The number is so big it’s ‘unimaginable.’ Washington Post.
September 20, 2022
Are Mosquitos a Threat in the Near Future?
In many different countries, mosquito infestations occur at various times of the year. The ones that occur throughout the summer originate from the ideal breeding conditions, which end with an explosion in the mosquito population. The itching and discomfort caused by mosquito bites are indisputable. When you scratch the bite, you irritate the surrounding tissue, which leads to the development of a red, raised lump on the skin. If you are bitten by a mosquito, does it mean that you are also at risk of contracting a disease?
The Rise in Animal Transmitted Diseases
The incidence of diseases transmitted by animals is growing at an alarming rate around the world, especially in the Far East. In the past, residents of Central Europe have been diagnosed with malaria despite having never left the area where they live. But veterinarians and other specialists believe that there is currently no cause for concern in this region for mosquito infection.
Researchers discovered a few cases of virus transmission in the previous year, despite the unusual nature of the transmission. The Sindbis virus is a mildly dangerous virus that can occasionally result in meningitis. It is carried by the common Culex pipiens mosquito.
However, the population of the Asian bush mosquito, also known as Aedes japonicus, is increasing at an alarming rate, especially across Central Europe. Throughout the past few years, areas that encompass a land area of approximately 2,000 square kilometers have been plagued by an extremely active vector of diseases such as the West Nile virus. It wasn’t until the year 2012 that researchers were able to prove that a breeding population of this particular species of mosquito had indeed been established in Europe.
The Asian tiger mosquito, scientifically known as Stegomyia albopicta, has already established a breeding population in the area. The bloodsucker known to carry exotic diseases has been linked to the transmission of viruses, including West Nile and tropical dengue fever. In recent years, the mosquitoes that are responsible for transmitting the dengue and chikungunya viruses to people have been discovered in southern Europe.
Dog Tapeworm Is Carried by Mosquitoes
The larvae of the canine tapeworm, Dirofilaria repens, were found for the first time in Europe. This part of the world did not have any previous encounters with the parasite until very recently. Although mosquitoes are the most likely vector for transmission of these parasitic worms to humans, dogs continue to be the most common hosts for them. As of yet, there have been no reports of human illnesses acquired in the area.
Researchers have detected larvae of the dog skin worm Dirofilaria repens in mosquitoes for the first time in Central Europe. The parasite was previously not native to the land. Parasitic worms are found in dogs, but in rare cases, mosquitoes also transmit the infection to humans. So far, however, no human infections acquired in the area.
So, people are still relatively safe for the time being. However, if global temperatures continue to rise this may change in the future.
Sources:
- Johnson, N., de Marco, M. F., Giovannini, A., Ippoliti, C., Danzetta, M. L., Svartz, G., Erster, O., Groschup, M. H., Ziegler, U. (2018, December 7). Emerging Mosquito-Borne Threats and the Response from European and Eastern Mediterranean Countries. PubMed Central (PMC). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15122775
- News, C. H. (n.d.). Mosquito-Borne Disease Could Threaten Half the Globe by 2050. Scientific American.
September 18, 2022
What Do Drone Bees Do Anyway?
The bee colony lives under the slogan “All for one, one for all.” There are between 30,000 and 80,000 individual bees in a hive, and none of them could survive on their own. The only thing that assures the insect population will continue to exist is the perfect division of work inside the hive. The queen bee is primarily responsible for reproduction at all times.
On the other hand, the worker bees are responsible for all of the other tasks, including the care of the young, the collection of food, and the protection of the nest. However, the male bees, often known as drones, do not seem to contribute much to the common good and would rather have their needs met. The only duty they have is to mate with the queen, and this happens over and over again. But should we really believe that? Are drones as lazy as they seem?
When considering the number of forays they make each day, bees as a species might be characterized as “lazy.” On the other hand, the honey bee colony functions as a superorganism that is very hardworking. Every day, bees are responsible for pollinating several million flowers.
The Main Role of Drone Bees
But what exactly are drones responsible for in a bee colony? It is not possible for drones to gather nectar and pollen, construct honeycombs, or feed babies.
A bee colony uses drones to spread its genetic material. The physical effort drone bees make during their multiple mating flights is extraordinary. That’s why they are actually diligent. That’s why drones cannot eat themselves and must be fed by workers throughout their lives.
Temperature Control and Communication
Simply by being in the hive, drones perform an essential role in the process of temperature control. Their bodies provide insulation, and they have the ability to create heat via the use of their flight muscles. But there is little doubt that the drones also played some part in the intricate communication system that the bees used.
They Die From Not Being Fed
Drone bees seem to be employed not just as sperm banks, but also for a variety of other important hive tasks. Despite this, they do not get a lot of appreciation for doing what they are doing. Drone bees face a hasty demise after the conclusion of the mating season, which occurs in August and September at the very latest.
After then, they have fulfilled their purpose and are no longer fed by the workers; the drones are destined to perish from hunger. They often pass away within the hive, and their bodies are then removed.
Even more, worker bees regularly stab drones that are still living.
September 17, 2022
Why Do Wasps Get Aggressive in Late Summer and Fall?
When having a barbecue in the backyard, particularly at the end of summer, you may often run across unexpected visitors. They move quickly, buzz about, and perch on the meal, all while exerting a hostile influence. Because they are drawn in by the aroma of the meal, wasps are notoriously tough to shoo out. In particular, dessert is an increasingly popular target. But why might we find so many wasps or yellow jackets at this time of year? And why are wasps or yellow jackets known to be particularly hostile in late summer and fall?
In the late summer, when all of the wasp larvae emerge from their respective colonies, the wasp population reaches its maximum size. When there is a higher demand for food, it is much more difficult to locate enough food to meet that need. Adult wasps, who formerly subsisted, in part, on the sugary juice produced by the larvae, must now depend on other sources of sweetness to ensure their own survival. Most wasps or yellow jackets tend to appear in the late summer and early fall.
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This creates the impression that they are more hostile than at other times of the year.
What goes up must come down
Wasps spend most of their lives in wooded areas and open fields. They construct their nests in a variety of locations, depending on the species, including tree hollows, ground burrows, and even high up in the air. These insects construct their nests for that particular year. The overwintered queen starts the construction of the nest in the spring. In order to do this, she injects sperm into eggs that she has been carrying about in her seminal vesicle ever since she mated the previous autumn. The larvae eventually mature into workers that are infertile.
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In the late summer, males and young queens begin to hatch, and the wasp colony will continue to grow until it reaches its maximum size in the autumn. A single colony may contain up to 12,000 individuals at any given time.
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Now more than ever, wasps need copious amounts of food. The increasing number of wasp visits may be attributed to this factor. August is traditionally the peak of the wasp or yellow jacket season when the population is at its largest. Because of this, it’s likely that they appear more aggressive than usual. In fact, the behavior of the insects does not alter during the course of the year; the only difference is that there are just more wasps.
Late in the autumn, the wasp colony is destroyed when the previous queen passes away. When the cold weather finally arrives, the last worker wasps die as well. Only the young queens who were born in the late summer are able to survive the winter by hiding in warm locations that are insulated from the cold, such as bark or decaying wood. After that, the young queen starts a new colony the next spring by constructing a nest in a new place.
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Looking for something to eat
Do wasps actually get aggressive in the summer or fall? Actually, yes. Wasp larvae have an increased need for a substantial quantity of protein towards the beginning of the summer. Therefore, wasps fly more often to places with meat and sausage, as well as to places where they hunt insects; yet, they do not consume this food themselves.
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They grind it up into a paste in order to give it to their offspring. In return, parts of the insect diet (chitin, which makes up insect exoskeletons) are regurgitated by the wasp larvae, resulting in a sweet liquid that is then fed back to the adult wasps. The larvae are the food storage for the wasp colony.
However, the wasp larvae begin to emerge at the end of the summer, forcing the adult wasps to seek out an alternative source of nutrition in the form of sugar. After the month of August, all wasps, including the juvenile wasps and the male drones, search for sweet meals such as nectar, fruit juices, and soft beverages. The struggle to secure adequate food supplies begins.
Wasps are not as hostile as one would expect given their reputation. They are just looking for something to eat. This may lead one to believe that wasps are more aggressive than they really are. It’s their life cycle.
September 9, 2022