May 2025 Survival Tactics of Bugs by Leslie Rivera

• Tarantula Hawk Wasp

  

  Despite their name, they are not arachnids; rather, they are wasps. Those who have heard of these wasps likely know that they rank high on the Schmitt pain index, just below the bullet ant. It is important to note that while extremely painful, the venom is rarely lethal to humans. The tarantula hawk gets its name because the females prey on tarantulas to provide food for their larvae. They do this by paralyzing the spider with their venom, then carrying it back to their burrow, where they then lay their eggs inside the spider and keep it in their nest until the larvae hatch.

  

• Seven-Spotted Ladybug

  This species of ladybug is among the most recognizable bugs in the world. But did you know that some varieties of ladybugs eat other bugs? The Seven-Spotted Ladybug is a known predator of aphids, a common garden pest, and as a result, is often used by gardeners to get rid of the aphids without using pesticides. While the Seven-Spotted Ladybug does eat other insects and occasionally plant matter, they greatly prefers aphids to any other meal. 

• Photuris

  

  A predatory species of lightning bug, these guys have an interesting hunting method and a taste for a specific kind of prey: male lightning bugs. The Photuris catch their prey by mimicking the glow patterns of female lightning bugs to lure the males of other species to them. The insect is native to North America and is the state insect of Pennsylvania and Tennessee. 

  

• Velvet Ant

  Like the tarantula hawk, velvet ants are not the insect they are named after, but they are also a species of parasitic wasp. Male velvet ants have wings and lack a stinger, while the females lack wings and have a stinger with potent venom. They are commonly known as ‘cow killers’ despite their venom not being deadly to most animals, including cows. Female velvet ants are known to be aggressive and emit a squeaking noise to warn predators that they are not to be messed with.