The Swarm Thing

Science Fact Friday: These really weird not-worm worms.

I just learned about these little critters this week and HAD to do a Science Fact Friday on them.

Additional fact I couldn’t fit in: Some species of velvet worms lay eggs. Other species birth live young, either by storing eggs inside their bodies that hatch shortly before birth (ovoviviparity) or via actual in-uterus placental development (viviparity).

European Earwig Tends to her Eggs… Now with 200% more vigor! Binomial name: Forficula auricularia

Sphecodes davisii - Collected in the Adirondack Mountains as part of an expedition to the region in 2014.   

Facts:  No Sphecodes gathers pollen.  All Sphecodes are nest parasites…laying their eggs in the nests of other species.  Most are nest parasites of species in their family of Halictidae…but sometimes they dabble in other species groups.   

This is a big one, flaunting the characteristic red abdomen.  Picture by the soon to be Doctor….Sue Boo.

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Photography Information: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-_yvIsucOY

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Cyclochila australasiae

Cyclochila australasiae, commonly known as the green grocer, is a species of cicada and one of Australia’s most familiar insects. It is distributed through coastal regions of southeastern Australia. It is one of the loudest insects in the world. It measures about 4 cm.