The Ladder-backed Woodpecker is a bird species with a distinctive black and white "ladder" pattern. This pattern helps it blend seamlessly into its preferred arid habitats, such as open woodlands, scrublands, and deserts.
This bird typically inhabits the southwestern United States and Mexico, particularly in areas with mesquite, yucca, and cacti.
The Ladder-backed Woodpecker prefers particular habitats that attract insects such as beetles and ants. During the winter, insect populations decrease, so it adapts its diet to fruits and seeds.
Additionally, they can thrive in natural and artificial environments, making it a common sight in urban and suburban areas. Despite its prevalence, it often lives in the shadow of its well-known counterparts, the Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers.
Tucked away in the pine-oak woodlands of Southeastern Arizona and Southwestern New Mexico is the Arizona Woodpecker. It is the only woodpecker in North America with a brown back.
While its scientific name suggests that it lives only in Arizona, it can also be found in the Sierra Madre Occidental of Western Mexico.
This type of woodpecker has white "ladder" markings on its brown plumage that sets it apart from other woodpeckers. Males have a red cap at the back of their heads, whereas females don't.
It primarily feeds on insects such as beetles and ants that it skillfully extracts from bark crevices or wood. Likewise, it occasionally eats fruits and berries when they're available.
The Arizona Woodpecker is about 7-8 inches long and probes around tree trunks and branches for food. Unlike other woodpeckers, it communicates with calls and body signals rather than drumming on trees.
Beetles, belonging to the order Coleoptera, are incredibly diverse insects that comprise a quarter of all known living organisms! There are an estimated 400,000 identified species of beetles, with so many species yet to be discovered1. Among them, there are size variations that would make your jaw drop.
On one end of the scale, we have the almost invisible feather-winged beetles, no larger than 0.01 inches. The Fringed Ant Beetle (Nymphister Kronaueri) is the smallest known beetle and measures around 0.25 millimeters in length. On the other end, the Goliath Beetle, which can grow to 6.7 inches and weigh 1.8 ounces, is one of the longest and heaviest insects in the world.
Furthermore, beetles live in almost every habitat except the extreme polar regions. They live in the driest deserts and the wettest tropical rainforests!
One interesting fact about beetles is that they use a form of pollination known as "mess and soil" pollination. Unlike bees and butterflies, these insects can eat all parts of a plant, from pollen and other floral tissues to even the bark of trees. They even poop within the flowers.
They are the primary pollinators of primitive flowering plants like cycads, magnolias, and water lilies. These plants often have large, bowl-shaped, or cup-shaped flowers that are more open and accessible to beetles than those targeted by bees or butterflies.
Blister Beetles produce an acrimonious substance known as cantharidin, which holds medical applications as a topical skin irritant for wart removal.
Additionally, it has historically been a prominent ingredient in purported love potions. Moreover, cantharidin has been used as an aphrodisiac and colloquially referred to as a Spanish fly.
Did you know that the Cicindela hudsoni, also known as the Australian Tiger Beetle, has been recorded as the fastest insect in the world? Despite its small size, it can run at an average speed of 5.5 mph (9 km/h), equivalent to a relative rate of 171 body lengths per second.
Interestingly, Tiger Beetles use a distinct chasing pattern known as "stop-and-go." They pause in the middle of their pursuit. The reason for this behavior is their poor eyesight. They cannot gather enough photons to form a clear image of their prey if they move too quickly. Therefore, they must stop, look around, and continue their chase.
The European Hornet is the largest wasp species in Europe, measuring up to 1.4 inches. It features an easily recognizable yellow and brown coloring, which resembles an oversized yellow jacket.
Despite their size, they are typically non-confrontational unless provoked. They have adapted well to regions such as Europe, Russia, North America, and Northeast Asia.
They construct their nests in hollow trees using a combination of chewed wood pulp and saliva. However, they will also occupy barns, sheds, and attics if no hollow trees are available.
Their colonies can consist of 200 to 700 members, and they have a strong community culture. These hornets hunt large insects such as beetles and yellow jackets and enjoy honey and fruit juices.
The Asian Giant Hornet, or the “murder hornet,” is the largest hornet species on Earth. They are dark brown velvet with a yellow-orange head and are native to East Asia, Subtropical Asia, and parts of the Russian Far East.
Likewise, they live in low mountains and forests and build their nests in rotted tree roots or human-made structures. These hornets are most active between April and November.
Moreover, they are strategic predators; they hunt colonies of bumble bees and wasps. These types of hornets also prey on nuisance species such as the carpenter bee.
During September and October, they exhibit "hawking," where they hover outside beehives, waiting to swoop down on their prey. Despite their fearsome reputation, they only attack when they feel a threat to their nest.
The Oriental Hornet is a social insect in Southwest Asia, Northeast Africa, and some parts of Southern Europe. It has a brown body with thick yellow bands on its abdomen and yellow patches on its face.
Despite their intimidating appearance and reputation for stinging, these hornets are generally harmless and only attack when threatened. They are active during the day, building their nests underground or taking over abandoned burrows. They help control pest populations.
Interestingly, this type of hornet can harvest solar energy to create electricity inside its exoskeleton2.
The queen is responsible for laying eggs, while the female workers handle the rest of the tasks, such as nest building, food gathering, and protection. Male drones exist solely to win the queen's favor.
The Bald-faced Hornet, also called a White-faced Hornet, is a yellowjacket species in North America. It has a black body with white markings on its face, thorax, and abdomen.
The queens of this species are slightly larger than their counterparts; the workers, drones, and queens all have clear roles in the colony.
Bald-faced Hornets live in large carton nests made from chewed-up wood pulp and saliva. These nests are often in trees, shrubs, or buildings.
These hornets are omnivores, eating insects, caterpillars, spiders, nectar, and fruit juice. Unlike many insects, they are active during the day.
The Greater Banded Hornet lives in South and Southeast Asia. It features distinctive yellow and black bands and can grow to an inch.
Likewise, they make their homes in complex, large nests within the hollows of trees or underground cavities, which can house several thousand colonies.
The hornets consume other wasps, beetles, caterpillars, nectar, and fruit. They are also essential pollinators within their ecosystems.
Notably, the queen is the sole egg-layer at the heart of each colony, surrounded by her daughters who serve as workers.
The workers use hunting methods such as "hawk predation," capturing and killing other flying insects in mid-air. Meanwhile, they also participate in "aerial jousting" to determine dominance.
The Lesser Banded Hornet lives in South and Southeast Asia. It measures between 1 and 1.4 inches in length and lives in colonies ranging from a few hundred to a thousand members.
The hornet feeds mainly on insects such as flies, beetles, and caterpillars. However, it also occasionally consumes nectar and sweet sap, making it a gentle pollinator.
Still, these fiercely territorial hornets will not hesitate to protect their homes. Its stings can be painful, so one must exercise caution around them. There are already many fatality reports of their stings leading to complications like myocardial infarction and multiple organ failure1.
The hornets typically construct their nests in trees, shrubs, or under the eaves of buildings. These nests are crafted from chewed-up wood pulp and have a papery feel.
When spring arrives, one fertilized queen establishes the colony, laying eggs and nurturing the first batch of larvae.
Yellow-legged Hornets are smaller than their European counterparts, with worker hornets ranging from 0.8 to 1.2 inches and queens stretching up to 1.4 inches. They are native to Southeast Asia but have spread to Europe by hitching rides with humans.
These hornets have dark, velvety bodies with yellow stripes and yellow legs. They live in bustling colonies of thousands of members, often found in trees, shrubs, artificial structures, and even ground burrows. Their non-barbed stingers can sting repeatedly and cause significant pain.
They have a preference for honey bees, threatening local honeybee populations. Despite their adverse effects on honey bee populations, Yellow-legged Hornets regulate the populations of other insects in their native ecosystems.
The Common Yellow Hornet, also called the Sandhills Hornet or the Aerial Yellowjacket, is a native species found across North America. It sports a black body with thin yellow bands and yellow legs.
This type of yellowjacket eats grasshoppers, spiders, flies, and ladybugs. Since they nest above trees, they are mostly targeted by birds and other wasps. However, they can spray venoms out of their stings to defend themselves.
Reticulated beetles sport a rectangular form and somewhat elongated shape, typically measuring 1 to 1.5 inches.
Their bodies have hardened plates, which display an intricate pattern of ridges and pits, giving them a cross-hatched appearance - a feature for which they are named.
Cupedidae is a relatively small family with around 30 known species. These beetles generally live under the loose bark of dead trees or logs in forested areas.
Skiff Beetles are tiny residents of freshwater habitats, often nestled amidst algae or stones. Distinctively, they span a mere length of 0.04 to 0.08 inches, with less than 30 described species globally.
Their compact bodies boast a streamlined shape and gleaming texture, a design tailor-made for a life spent skimming beneath the water's surface.
This type of beetle employs a natural form of scuba gear, carrying a reservoir of air beneath their wing cases to stay submerged and out of sight.
Ground beetles are diverse insects, with over 40,000 species found worldwide, including in North America. These creatures have dark-colored bodies that can appear metallic in certain lighting conditions.
Moreover, they are often difficult to spot during the day as they seek shelter under rocks, logs, and leaf litter. When night comes, they become more active.
Ground beetles and their larvae feed on smaller invertebrates, like slugs, snails, and caterpillars, which helps keep pests in check.
Apart from their role as predators, ground beetles have unique defense mechanisms to protect themselves from danger3.
Some species emit a foul odor to deter predators, while others, like the Bombardier Beetle, spray a hot, toxic chemical from their bodies for self-defense. However, these defense mechanisms do not pose any threat to humans.
Tiger Beetles are a diverse group of insects, with approximately 2,600 species worldwide. Their striking and vivid metallic colors and intricate patterns on their bodies set them apart from other beetles.
Interestingly, these types of beetles are named after their hunting style, which resembles a tiger's. They are known for their incredible speed and ability to thrive in sandy beaches, grasslands, high-altitude mountains, and lush rainforests.
Although beautiful, Tiger Beetles eat small arthropods such as ants, spiders, and caterpillars. They use their strong mandibles to catch their prey, employing a highly effective chase-and-catch strategy.
If you observe Tiger Beetles, you may see them standing on their hind legs. This strategy helps them avoid overheating on hot sand.
Ladybugs, also called Ladybird Beetles or lady beetles, display striking colors, from red and black to a mosaic of yellows, oranges, and pinks. These colors warn predators that these beetles are not an easy target2.
There are approximately 6,000 species of ladybugs worldwide. North America alone is home to nearly 500 of them.
These hardy insects have adapted to various environments, including cities, suburbs, grasslands, agricultural fields, riverbanks, and forests.
One of their most impressive abilities is their knack for regulating pest populations, particularly aphids. A single beetle can consume up to 5,000 aphids over its lifetime. Interestingly, the larvae of these beetles are also predatory.
However, Ladybird Beetles presents some challenges. For example, the Harlequin Ladybird has disrupted the ecosystem and displaced native species.
Although they do not pose a significant threat to humans, they may bite or release a pungent yellow fluid when threatened.
Dung Beetles have the unique ability to shape dung into balls. These insects live everywhere except Antarctica, with over 5,000 species. This known type of beetle prefers rolling dung balls, either for food or as a nest for their offspring.
Despite their unremarkable appearance, they contribute to soil health and nutrient recycling. They improve soil structure and drainage, indirectly benefiting the health of forests and farmlands.
Dung beetles primarily feed on feces from herbivores and omnivores, providing them with a reliable food source and helping them manage the fly population.
Using dung as food and nesting material leaves fewer opportunities for flies to lay their eggs, reducing the spread of fly-borne diseases.
Some dung beetles can also navigate using the stars, including the Milky Way.
