Bugs

I highly recommend raising caterpillars. First of all, there’s the surprise as to what they’ll grow up to be. Then there’s the insane magic that is the science of pupating. But mostly, there’s the awesomeness that is macro photographing insects. Check out these pics.

I said I have a love for invertebrates. Honestly, flies make me feel a little uncomfortable—not least because of the amount of shit they’ve been eating. In any case, I knew I’d have a small chance of finding love in my heart for these things if I only studied them. Here’s what I learned.

I found this little Harlequin Ladybird friend already expired on my windowsill. It' probably crawled in after hibernation and couldn’t find a way back out again. Curious about why insects look like they’re “praying” when they go? Sure, let’s get into it.

Interesting fact: Female aphids can choose to clone over reproducing. I know there's a lame joke in there somewhere about "amirite ladies", but I'm just not willing to write it. 

Come September, the behemoths of the arachnid world—house spiders—make a ton of appearances. That's because autumn is the mating season.

I’ve read in a few places that if you find a dead bee with tatty wings, it’s likely to have died of old age; messy wings indicate a long life and lots of mileage. If the wings are tidy, the cause of death is likely to be something else. 

Most folks reckon their common name derives from the old English for ear insect—not because they go about hanging in your lug holes, oh no. There’s another reason.

They eat dead and decaying stuff—vegetarian only—and play a huge part in the natural carbon dioxide cycle. So, be chill with them.