Fun Fact: As a defense strategy, acrobat ants lift their abdomen above their head to fend off predators.
Acrobat ants have heart-shaped abdomens that help them arch their abdomens over their head and body in a perfect backbend when they sense danger. Moreover, they emit a foul smell when upset.
There are also 400 acrobat ants worldwide, including 30 in North America. They can build their nests in forests, backyards, or rotting wood. Additionally, they can occupy abandoned ant nests. These ants are hunters and farmers, feeding on insects and tending to aphids for the honeydew they produce. They control pests and do organic recycling.
Next on our tarantula facts list: The name "tarantula" traces its origins back to the city of Taranto, located in southern Italy. The term originated in the 14th century when a peculiar dancing and sweating illness called "tarantism" spread in the region. The citizens believed that the cause of this condition was a bite from a venomous wolf spider (Lycosa tarantula), commonly called the "tarantula."
Although the spider responsible for tarantism was not a tarantula species, the name became associated with giant spiders with hairy legs over time. Today, the name "tarantula" describes this diverse group of spiders.
On the other hand, the Goliath Bird-Eating Tarantula, the biggest spider, did not get the name because they exclusively feed on birds. Thanks to their impressive size, it merely hints at their ability to take down various creatures, including birds.
Another interesting tarantula fact is that tarantulas prefer to live in forests, grasslands, deserts, savannas, mountains, and even coastal areas. Furthermore, most North American tarantulas dwell on the ground, but some species inhabit trees, cliffs, caves, or crops like bananas and pineapples.
They create burrows in arid regions such as the Southwestern United States, Mexico, Africa, and Asia. Tarantulas have also established themselves in Australia, including tree-dwelling species that inhabit forests, showcasing their adaptability to different habitats.
The tarantula hawk wasps (also called the parasitic pepsis wasp) hunt tarantulas. The female wasp stings the tarantula to paralyze it. Then, it carries the tarantula's body back to the burrow and lays eggs on the spider's body. When the egg hatches, the wasp larvae will have a ready food source in the paralyzed spider, which they feed on as they grow.
These large hairy spiders are facing threats to their survival, primarily due to habitat destruction. As humans clear forests for various purposes, tarantulas lose their homes and food sources, pushing some species toward extinction.
Additionally, the exotic pet trade poses another danger. The high demand for pet tarantulas leads to their capture from the wild, resulting in declining populations. In response to the declining population, the US Fish and Wildlife Service decided to protect 11 species already considered threatened and endangered.
These species are the following: Poecilotheria formosa, Poecilotheria hanumavilasumica (endangered), Poecilotheria metallica (critically endangered and highly sought after in the global pet trade), Poecilotheria miranda, Poecilotheria rufilata, Poecilotheria striata, Poecilotheria fasciata, Poecilotheria ornate (near threatened), Poecilotheria pederseni, Poecilotheria smithi (vulnerable), and Poecilotheria subfusca (near threatened).
Conservation efforts also focus on captive breeding programs to meet the demand for pet tarantulas without harming wild populations.
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The common wasp eats other insects, fruits, nectar, and sugary substances such as soda and ice cream. Its body has black and yellow stripes, and its face has an anchor-shaped mark.
Moreover, this social insect lives across the Northern Hemisphere. They construct their homes using chewed wood pulp in the ground, tree hollows, or hidden wall cavities. During the peak of summer, the population of a wasp colony can grow to 5,000 individuals.
This creature features a painful sting, which can cause severe pain for allergic people. However, they are essential pest control mechanisms, eating insects that threaten crops and garden plants.
The German wasp has bold black and yellow stripes and shows aggression when its nest is threatened. Originally from Europe, North Africa, and Asia's temperate zones, these wasps live in various parts of the world, including North America and New Zealand.
German wasps are fond of beer, even sipping from the glasses of unsuspecting people outdoors.
They build nests made of chewed wood pulp in human structures. While people consider these insects a nuisance, they control pest populations by eating spiders and small invertebrates. They also eat nectar and fruit.
Moreover, a German wasp’s sting can trigger allergic reactions in some people. However, they only attack when threatened. Unlike bees, they can sting multiple times, though they are not naturally dangerous.
The Red Paper Wasp is primarily black with some reddish-brown markings and is larger than the average wasp. It lives in the eastern United States.
These paper wasps communicate with others using scent trails and body signals. Moreover, they eat caterpillars and feed small insects to their young. However, adult wasps prefer nectar.
Furthermore, their stings can cause severe allergic reactions, though they are not typically aggressive. Like bees, they are essential pollinators. However, they are also vital pest control insects.
Only the queen and a select few hibernate during the winter, waiting for spring's warmth to emerge and continue their species.
Despite its name, Bald-Faced Hornets are a type of wasp. They have black bodies with yellow markings and white faces, and they build large papery wasps nests from chewed wood that can support hundreds, sometimes thousands, of wasps.
This wasp lives in Canada and the United States. Moreover, they can become aggressive when threatened, though they also benefit humans by eating flies, spiders, and other pests.
The European Hornet features brown and yellow stripes and can grow up to 3.5 cm, making it the largest wasp species in Europe.
Despite its size, the European Hornet is relatively docile unless an intruder threatens its nest. Like other wasps, its nest is made from chewed wood pulp and is often located in hollow trees or concealed in wall cavities.
European Hornets eat beetles, butterflies, honey bees, grasshoppers, yellow jackets, tree sap, fruits, and honeydew. During the winter, the wasp nest dies, and only the queens survive to establish new colonies in spring.
