HONEYBEE

CLASS
Insecta
ORDER
Hymenoptera
CARD 1
GROUP 5: INSECTS & SPIDERS
FAMILY
Apidae
GENUS &: SPECIES
Apis mellifera
The honeybee is found throughout the world and is highly valued
for the honey it produces. The industrious honeybee is thought to
have originally come from Asia.
KEY FACTS

CHARACTERISTICS
Length: Queens, 4/5 in.
Drones, 3/4 in. Workers, 3/5 in.
Coloration &: form: Queens, dark
and long bodied. Drones, larger
than workers, have no stinger.
Workers, orange banded.
Mouthparts: Proboscis developed
to feed on nectar.
Wings: 2 pairs hooked together.
BREEDING
Eggs: Up to 1,500 laid per day.
Hatching time: 3 days.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Live in large colonies.
Diet: Nectar and pollen.
lifespan: Queens, 7 years. Drones,
4-5 weeks. Workers, 8 weeks.
Ii:l RELATED SPECIES
The giant honeybee (Apis dorsata),
found in the tropics, builds huge
free-form combs that hang from
trees.
Wings: The
honeybee has 4
wings, attached in
pairs.
Stinger: The
honeybee dies after
using its stinger.
Because the stinger
is attached to the
bee's abdomen by
tiny barbs, the ab-
domen is ripped
apart if the stinger-
. /"
IS used. (--
Pollen sac: Pollen
that collects on the -----.......
honeybee's body is
stored in pouches
on the hind legs.
iQMCMXCI IMP BVII MP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILE'M
Range of the honeybee.
DISTRIBUTION
Believed to have originated in India, honeybees are now
found throughout the world wherever flowers grow.
CONSERVATION
The bee's economic value should guarantee its survival, but
bad weather, disease, and predators all present dangers.
SPECIAL ADAPTATIONS
OF THE HONEYBEE
,...----_ Eyes: The
honeybee has
compound eyes.
Unlike humans, it
is sensitive to
ultraviolet light.
/
f
(
.........---!'l'egs: Feathery
in the beehive.
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
hairs on its front
legs collect
pollen. Stiff hairs
on the middle legs
brush it from the
front legs.
0160200051 PACKET 5
The honeybee uses a unique behavior to communicate
the location of food to other bees in its colony. After
spotting an abundant food source/ the worker returns to
the hive and performs a dance. The movements indicate
the direction and distance of the food source.
~ L1 FECYCl E
The lifecycle of a honeybee
begins when the queen lays
an egg in each cell of the
comb. A fertilized egg will
develop into a female worker;
an unfertilized egg produces
a male drone.
The egg hatches 3 days
later, and the larva is fed
with nutritious royal jelly
produced by the workers.
After several days, worker
and drone bee larvae are fed
honey and pollen. A larva
fed solely on royal jelly will
develop into a queen bee.
During the 8 days it takes
the larva to fully develop, it
undergoes several molts
before spinning a silk cocoon
within the egg cell. Inside the
cocoon, the larva pupates-
develops into its adult form.
The worker bees maintain
the colony. For the first 2
weeks of their lives, they clean
the hive and feed the larvae.
After the tenth day, they
begin building the comb cells.
From day 16 to 20, they
receive and store nectar and
pollen. On day 20, t hey briefly
guard the entrance of the hive
before leaving it to collect
nectar and pollen for the
remaining 6 weeks of life.
Right: A
swarm of
honeybees
pauses on the
branch of a
tree during its
search for a
suitable site
to establish a
new colony.
Left: In each
egg cell, a
larva hatches
and is fed by
the workers.
Before its final
molt, the
larva's cell is
capped with
wax. Two
young bees
are visible
breaking out.
DID YOU KNOW ?
Enzymes in the worker
bees' stomachs turn nectar
into a honey-li ke subst a nce.
This substance is then
regurgitated into storage
cells in the hive, where it is
~ DEFENSES
The honeybee's sting is a
powerful method of defense.
When threatened, it pierces
its victim with its stinger,
which remains attached to the
bee's venom gland. As the bee
struggles to free itself from its
victim, its lower abdomen is
torn away, causing death.
Despite its painful sting, the
honeybee has many predators.
Birds eat honeybees in large
numbers. Hornets pose
another threat.
Common wasps attack and
~ kill honeybees foraging on
~ flowers. Hunting wasps kill
Q)
o
i ~ FEEDING & HABITS
~ Wild honeybees build their
~ nests inside old hollow trees,
I
-j under cliff overhangs, or in
~
b ~ " ; " " " ' ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ___ """""""""""==01_"",,-""""==-_""""" __ = = " " = ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ~ cave entrances. Today most
NATUREWATCH
Honeybees are relatively
large insects, and t herefore
easy to spot in the gardens.
They suck nectar from
flowers and pick up pollen on
t heir body; they can often be
seen scraping the pollen into
pouches on their hi nd legs.
Honeybees are active
mainly duri ng warmer
months. Even t hen, they
prefer to stay in their hives
on parti cularly cool or windy
days.
honeybees nest in artificial
hives provided by beekeepers.
Throughout the spring and
summer, worker bees leave the
nest to collect nectar and
pollen with which they
produce honey. The nectar is
stored in their crops (stom-
achs), while the pollen that
collects on their bodies is
scraped into pouches on their
hind legs.
If a worker discovers a
plentiful supply of nectar, it
communicates the location to
fanned by other workers in
order to evaporate the excess
water. The end product is
honey - the bees' vital source
of food during the winter
months.
them and take them back to
their nests to feed to their
young. Caterpillars of the wax
moth destroy the honey-
combs, and larvae of the bee-
wolf beetle feed on bee larvae
inside the hive.
The barbed stinger of a bee.
the other bees by doing a
special dance on the surface
of the honeycomb.
It is the queen bee who
regulates the nest's activity. In
the 1-7 years of her life, the
queen bee will lay up to 1,500
eggs a day. The queen domi-
nates the colony by use of
special scent called orphero-
mone. When the female work-
ers are exposed to this scent,
they are prevented from
becoming sexually mature.
When the nest becomes too
crowded to be affected by her
scent or she becomes too old,
the queen bee leaves the nest
and a new queen emerges.
LADYBUG
CLASS
Insecta
ORDER
Coleoptera
GROUP 5: INSECTS & SPIDERS
FAMILY
Coccinelidae
Small, brightly colored beetles, ladybugs are often found on green
plants in large numbers, eating their way through colonies of
aphids. There are 150 species in the United States.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: '/20-' /3 in.
Coloration: Varies. Usually bright
shades of orange, red, or yellow
and black.
Wings: 1 pair of elytra (wing
covers), 1 pair of flying wings.
~ ,
~
BREEDING
;i!/jp Breeding season: Spring and
summer.
No. of eggs: 3-300, depending on
species.
Hatching time: 5-8 days.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Hibernates in groups.
Diet: Mainly aphids.
Lifespan: About 1 year.
RELATED SPECIES
There are hundreds of species
found throughout the world, often
identified by the number of their
spots.
FEATURES OF THE LADYBUG
The ladybug's bright patterns,
usually of black and orange or
yellow, are known as warning
coloration because they warn
Range of the ladybug.
DISTRIBUTION
Almost worldwide, but especially temperate cli mates.
CONSERVATION
Numbers were drastically reduced by pesticides commonly
used by farmers and gardeners to destroy aphids, their food
supply. Numbers are now picking up; some are bred
specifically for controlling lice in plant nurseries.
Hard shells, or
wing covers,
called elytra,
protect the
wings
underneath.
predators of the insect 's ----------------,
unpleasant taste.
If attacked, a
ladybug defends
itself by reflex
bleeding: that
is, it oozes blood
from its leg
joints. This
blood contains
an unpleasant
substance called
coccinelline,
which repels
ants and most
birds.
MCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A. 0160200081 PACKET 8
Ladybugs are numerous in many
areas where pesticides have been banned,
and they have replaced chemicals as a natural
means of reducing the number of plant-eating
insects. Most ladybug species are
encouraged to thrive by
farmers and gardeners.
~ HABI TAT
Although they are found in
most parts of the world,
ladybugs prefer temperate
climates, and are particu-
larly abundant in North
America and Europe. They
are rarely seen in the tropi-
cal rainforests where a vari-
ety of other insects are
found.
Most European ladybugs
are found in neglected
gardens, forests, weed
patches, and vacant lots full
of weeds. These are all places
where aphids, the ladybug'S
principal food, are found.
Ladybugs have been
introduced to some areas of
the world for the purpose of
pest control. They are im-
ported and bred in farms
before being sold to gardeners
and farmers. At the turn of the
century, an Australian
ladybug, Rhoda/ia cardina/is,
was imported to California
and saved the citrus crops
from being destroyed by the
cushion scale bug.
Most ladybugs feed almost
exclusively on aphids. Aphids
are found in many yards and
in trees. Some ladybugs feed
on red spider mites, which are
considered to be agricultural
pests.
Aphids are defenseless, so
ladybugs do not need any
specials skills to catch them.
Ladybug larvae, which eat
more than adult insects, will
also eat other, smaller
ladybug larvae should the
supply of aphids run low.
DID YOU KNOW?
Not all ladybugs have
spots. The Paramysia ob/ong-
uttata, for example, is
striped.
A single ladybug larva in
captivity was observed to
have eaten ninety adult and
3,000 larval insects during
the course of its 10- to 15-
day larval phase.
------1
~ LIFE CYCLE
One species of ladybug can
have individuals that vary in
appearance. For example, the
two-spot ladybug can be red
with two to six spots, or it
can be completely black.
The larva of the tiny wasp,
Peri/itis coccinellae, hatches on
a ladybug and then eats it
alive.
I
Most ladybugs mate in the
spring or summer. The female
lays a cluster of eggs, num-
bering between three and
300, depending on the
species. They are laid as near
I as possible to aphid colonies.
In most species, the eggs
hatch in 5-8 days and the
larvae proceed to eat 350-400
i __ _ ________________ --' aphids in the 10-15 days it
Right:
Preparing to
take off.
Left and
below:
Ladybugs feed
on aphids.
may reveal clusters of orange
ladybug eggs.
Some ladybugs hibernate in
the open; others can be seen
under the dense protective
needles on pine branches or
under pieces of bark.
To get an idea of how
many species live in your
area, note the number of
spots on the ladybugs in your
yard, and the types of plants
they feed on.
takes them to become fully
grown. At this point, they
pupate, or go through a
nonfeeding stage before they
mature into their adult form.
The entire life cycle. of the
ladybug is only 4-7 weeks.
Ladybugs in temperate
areas usually hibernate in the
winter. Millions of them
gather in the Southwest,
where they cover the ground
like a blanket. In Great Britain,
the most common of the
larger species of ladybug, the
seven-spot Coccinella 7-punc-
tata, often hibernates in the
open, fully exposed to view.
F Saver/B.Coleman Ltd
"'" CARD 3
MONARCH BUTTERFLY ' ~ ~ ~ .
""'== GROUP S: INSECTS SPIDERS ~ ~ \ \ \
CLASS ORDER FAMILY GENUS &: SPECIES -
Insecta Lepidoptera Danaidae Danaus plexippus
Borne aloft on brightly colored wings, the monarch butterfly
completes a marvelous feat of endurance each year, migrating
thousands of miles to spend the winter in California and Mexico.
~
CHARACTERISTICS
Length: 1 in. (body).
Mouthparts: Sucking in adult.
Wings: 2 pairs of flying wings.
Wingspan: 3 in.
~
BREEDING
Eggs: Number variable.
Hatching time: 3-4 days.
Development time of
caterpillars: 3-4 weeks.
1".1
LIFE CYCLE
Diet: Larvae feed on milkweed;
adults feed on flower nectar.
lifespan: 3-4 weeks in summer
generations; 7-8 months in over-
wintered generations.
1".1
RELATED SPECIES
The similar African monarch,
Danaus chrysippus.
Areas where
Monarch seen.
DISTRIBUTION

Wintering
areas.
Summer
breeding area.
From Canada south to Argentina, Hawaii, Fiji, the Marquesas,
the Moluccas, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, and the
Azores.
CONSERVATION
Widespread and numerous, but hibernating in huge numbers
in so few sites makes it susceptible to habitat disturbance.
DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE MONARCH
The monarch is an insect. It has six legs and a body
divided into three segments: head, thorax and
abdomen. Butterflies, in common with most other
insects, also have wings and feelers, called antennae.
One of the best ways to
tell a butterfly from a moth is to
look at its feelers. Butterfly feelers
are slender and have knobs on
the end. Moth feelers are often
feathery and do not have bulbs
at the ends.
C0MCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Unlike moths, butterflies
rest with their wings
together. f9rthis reason,
the monardn has its
warningc01oration on both
sides of its wings. Butterfly
wings ar.e m a d ~ Up of tiny
scales, arrq,R'g"ed in
,overlap9tflQ rows.
0160200021 PACKET 2a
Monarch butterflies travel remarkable distances
on their autumn migration. Since they stop to
breed along the way, the butterflies that
make the reverse migration in spring are often
five generations removed from those that originally
migrated in autumn.

The monarch butterfly is
found throughout North and
South America wherever the
milkweed plant grows. The
monarch larvae feed on
various types of milkweed,
which thrives in open spaces,
as well as beside roads, along
woodland edges, on empty
lots, and in overgrazed
pastures. Anywhere milkweed
grows, monarchs thrive.
In early spring monarch but- to breed. Up to five genera-
terflies come out of hibernation tions of monarch butterlies
and begin their migration
north. Many stop to mate and
lay their eggs on milkweed
plants. The eggs hatch into
caterpillars within a few days.
After the caterpillars pupate
and become butterflies a
month later, they also join the
northward flight.
During the flight, the newly-
adult butterflies may also stop
may migrate in one season.
All monarch butterflies con-
gregate at specific winter
roost sites in California and
Mexico.
Right: Monarch caterpillars feed
exclusively on milkweeds.
Far right: An adult monarch
emerges slowly from its cocoon.
SPECIAL ADAPTATIONS
Monarchs have stri king bl ack
and white st ripes and yellow
spots. Their bol d coloration
serves as a warning to preda-
t ors that they are unpleasant to
eat. The caterpillars feed on
milkweed, and t heir bodies
absorb its poisons. These poi-
sons can cause severe vomit-
ing in almost any animal that
eats ei ther a monarch caterpil-
lar or the adult butterfly.


Despite its paper-thin wings,
the monarch butterfly is a
powerful flyer with uncanny
endurance. It is best known for
its annual migration through-
sometimes as far as 3,000
miles-North America to Cali -
fornia and Mexico. Monarch
butterflies that breed in the
temperate parts of North
America migrate so that their
eggs and caterpillars won't be
killed by prolonged winter frost.
For this reason, the autumn
monarch broods are more likely
to migrate than those that are
hatched during the warm
spring weather.
The 5 million monarch
Left: A group of monarchs
converge on their winter roost.
butterflies from western North
America head for a small
number of sites scattered
along the coast of California.
The 100 million butterflies
from the eastern part of the
country head south to Micho-
acan in central Mexico.
During the last 200 years,
the monarch butterfly has also
succeeded in colonizing places
as far away as Hawaii, Fiji,
Australia, and New Zealand.
These tropical monarch
butterflies tend to be less
mobile than their relatives in
t he temperate zones, seldom
needing to travel far from their
warm habitat.
Right: Thousands of butterflies
congregate on tree.
HIBERNATION
The crowded winter roosts of
the monarch butterfly are one
of the natural wonders of the
world. In Mexico, the roosting
sites of the eastern monarch
butterfly consist of a small area
of pine forest. As many as 15
million orange and black
DID YOU KNOW?
butterflies cover the trees at
one time. The temperature of
the roost should be just
above freezing. If it is too
cold, the butterflies will die; if
it is too warm, they will wake
up and expend valuable
energy.
The longest recorded flight travels 16 or 1 7 feet above
of a monarch butterfly is over the ground.
3,000 miles. While migrating,
it can cover 80 miles a day. A monarch in flight.
The monarch butterfly is
believed to have reached
some of the islands it has
colonized by hanging on to
the riggings of ships.
The monarch makes its
migratory flight at speeds of
up to 11 miles per hour. It
GRASSHOPPER
~
CLASS
Insecta
ORDER
Orthoptera
"'" CARD 4 J
'. -~ , j } : : } ,
GROUP 5: INSECTS &: SPIDERS " " " ~
FAMILY
T ettigoniidae or Locustidae
The grasshopper is often hard to see because it blends in with its
surroundings. Some are striped or spotted, and tropical species are
often brightly colored.
KEY FACTS
CHARACTERISTICS
Length: From 1/2-8 in.
Coloration: Varies with species.
Mouthparts: Biting.
Wings: Some have no wings.
Winged forms have 2 pairs.
Ii.:l BREEDING
~ , Mating season: Year-round in the
tropics; summer elsewhere.
No. of eggs: 3-100.
Hatching time: Depends on
temperature and rainfall, but can
be many months.
LIFESTYLE
Diet: Mainly green leaves of plants
and grasses.
Sound production: By rubbing
back legs against wings.
RELATED SPECIES
Various species of cricket.
Range of the grasshopper.
DISTRIBUTION
Found widely throughout vegetated areas worldwide as well
as in more arid regions.
CONSERVATION
Species are in danger only in areas where loss of habitat is
occurring, such as in tropical rainforests. Elsewhere, grass-
hoppers have survived determined attempts at extermination
by man.
FEATURES OF THE GRASSHOPPER
A characteristic feature of the grasshopper is its
powerful and extremely elongated back legs, which
enable it to hop or jump from place to place. Although
all grasshoppers have such legs, not ail use them to
hop. The species shown here is the British meadow
grasshopper.
MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Compound eye
PRINTED IN U.SA
/
T
, Antennae can be short
and thick or long and
threadlike.
0160200421 PACKET 42
There are 10,000 different species
of grasshopper throughout the world.
Often confused with their close relatives,
the crickets, grasshoppers can be
identified by their thick antennae which are
always shorter than their bodies.
~ HABITAT
Grasshoppers are found
throughout the vegetated
areas of the world. But they
are not restricted to grass-
lands as their name would
suggest. Some grasshopper
species live in desert habitats,
but the most attractive and
brightly colored species are
found in tropical rainforests.
Many grasshopper species
are wingless and must hop or
walk to get around. But those
that do have wings are strong
fliers. Locusts, a winged vari-
ety, swarm in huge numbers,
destroying all vegetation in
their path.
~ FOOD & FEEDING
Grasshoppers feed on the
leaves and flowers of plants.
They chew them with their
powerful jaws, called man-
dibles, which move side-to-
side. A relatively few species
2 feed mainly or solely on grass,
~ but most grasshoppers feed
~ . f
gj on an enormous vanety 0
~ herbs, shrubs, and trees.
~ Some even feed on dung.
~ Some of the vegetation
~ eaten by grasshoppers
contains toxic or unpleasant
tasting chemicals. Rather than
causing ill effects in the grass-
hoppers, the chemicals are
absorbed into their systems
and used as a means of
defense that repels would-be
predators by producing an
unpleasant taste.
Below: Tiny grasshopper nymphs
feed on the surface tissue of a
banana leaf.
1.::.,( 1 SPECIALADAPTATIONS ~
The:grasshopper produces its Some females can stridu- !
"song," or stridulation, by late, but it is mostly a male
rubbing the prominent veins sound, used to establish
of its rear legs against a corre- and maintain territory and
sponding ridge of veins on its to attract females with
forewings. whom to mate.
~ DEFENSES
Many grasshoppers have
brilliant, contrasting colors
that serve as warnings to
would-be predators. These
grasshoppers produce an
awful-tasting foam when they
are bothered. Other species,
which do not have such
~ defenses, often camouflage
gj themselves to blend in with
~
per species are sandy colored
to blend in with their dull
environments, but when
disturbed or threatened they
burst into flight, briefly ex-
posing bright red or blue
wings that disappear as soon
as they land. This kind of
"flash coloration" is meant to
confuse predators.
Q
ro
E
<ll
~
an inedible part of their
surroundings, such as stones,
~ twigs, or leaves.
~ ______ " " ~ 2 ! : ! . . . . ! : . __ "":"";::::....IIiii.L. __ "-':'--____ --'---' ~ Many Eu ropean g rasshop-
Below: The Acrida hungarica
grasshopper blends in so well
with its surroundings that it is
barely visible on a leaf.
~ BREEDING
The male grasshopper
perches on the female's
back when mating, which
can last several hours . The
female immediately lays
her eggs in the soil. Her ab-
domen is highly flexible
and can be extended like a
telescope to more than
Left: Mating
between
grasshoppers,
such as these
Zonocerus
elegans, often
takes place on
leaves. Note the
~ typically larger
~ size of the
g, female beneath
~ the male.
~
c
ro
<i'
double its normal length,
allowing her to deposit the
eggs as deep in the soil as
possible.
The eggs are wrapped in a
spongy material, known as
an ootheca. In spite of this
protection, the eggs may be
detected and preyed on by a
variety of parasites, which lay
their own eggs inside the
grasshoppers' eggs.
When grasshoppers first
hatch, they resemble tiny
worms. They soon molt to
become nymphs. Several
more molts then follow, and
the nymphs grow larger as
each skin is cast off and they
become fully mature. Wings
do not develop fully until this
adult stage.
DID YOU KNOW?
The song of every species of
grasshopper is different, and
females can recognize the
sound of males of their own
species. It is also possible for
people to identify different
species in this way.
Some species of grasshop-
per can cover up to twenty
times their body length in a
single leap.
One of the world's largest
grasshoppers, Costa Rica's
TropidiJCris cristatus, was once
mistaken for a bird and shot
by an ornithologist, who was
collecting skins for a natural
history museum.
"" CARD 5
SWALLOWTAIL BUTTERFLY
" GROUP 5: INSECTS & SPIDERS '"
~ ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ - - ~
CLASS
Insecta
ORDER
Lepidoptera
FAMILY
Papilionidae
GENUS & SPECIES
Papilio macheon
The swallowtail butterfly is common throughout much of Europe
and Asia, and it is a familiar sight among grassy hillsides and
flower-filled meadows.
KEY FACTS
CHARACTERISTICS
Wings: 2 pairs, overlapping.
Wingspan: 3-4 in.
Coloration: Yellow and black. Blue
and red spots on hind wings.
BREEDING
Breeding season: Spring-summer.
Eggs: Spherical, laid singly.
Egg to larva: 8-1 0 days.
Larva to pupa: 6-7 weeks.
Pupa to butterfly: 2-24 weeks,
depending on time of pupation.
LIFESTYLE
Range of the swallowtail butterfly.
DISTRIBUTION
Diet: Larvae feed on specific
foliage. Adults drink nectar.
Lifespan of adult: 3-4 weeks.
RELATED SPECIES
Widespread throughout Europe and Asia to Japan. Also found
in North Africa.
CONSERVATION
The closest relative is the Corsican
swallowtail Papilio hospiton. Others
include the scarce swallowtail
Iphiclides podalirius and apollo
Parnassius apollo, both common in
Europe.
Common and flourishing throughout most of its habitat.
lIFECYCLE OF THE SWALLOWTAIL BUTTERFLY
Spring heralds the
emergence of the adult.
It breaks out the
pupa and w
minutes has
expanded its
wings and is
capable of
flight.
4
The caterpillar
fixes itself to a
stem and pupates,
usually throughout
5
the winter months. ___ ---'
MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILpM
~
Eggs are laid
singly on a food
plant. A dark spot
indicates that a
larva is develop-
ing.
2
Newly hatched,
a caterpillar
protects itself by
mimicking bird
3 droppings.
It then changes
to a brighter ___ ---,
color, but
deters pre-
dators by
displaying two
~ .
PRINTED IN U.S.A. 0160200071 PACKET 7
The swallowtail butterfly may live for over half a
year as a caterpillar or pupa, but it survives less
than a month as a butterfly. The adult butterfly's
purpose in the remaining month of its life is to
find a mate and breed. Once it has done this,
its life is effectively over.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING
As do most butterflies, the
swallowtail butterfly eats a
great amount of food while
it is a caterpillar. At this
stage of its life, it will feed
only on the foliage of um-
bellifers-a group of plants
that includes carrot, fennel,
and angelica-and it shows
a marked preference for the
leaves of milk parsley.
The caterpillar-has power-
ful jaws that are ideal for
biting through tough plant
material. It feeds nonstop
and puts on weight quickly,
outgrowing and molting
(shedding) its skin four
times before it changes to
its adult form.
Once it becomes an adult,
the butterfly no longer
grows, so it only needs
enough food to provide
energy for flying and breed-
ing. It gets its food in the
form of sugary nectar, which
it sucks from flowers using its
long, tubular mouthpart
called a proboscis. The
proboscis is coiled up like a
spring when it is not in use_
The adult butterfly eats a
wider range of food than the
caterpillar. It will drink nectar
from a broad range of flowers
including milk parsley, rag-
ged robin, and thistles. It is
attracted both by the scent of
the flower and by its color.
~ BREEDING &: DEVELOPMENT
Young pupate (develop inside
a cocoon) in fall and finally
emerge as butterflies in the
spring. Once the caterpillar is
transformed into a butterfly, it
begins to look immediately for
a mate, since it has only a
month to live. The male is
attracted to a female by her
scent, and they quickly pair.
Spherical eggs are laid singly
and attached to the leaflets of
a food plant-usually milk
parsley or fennel. After 8-10
days, young caterpillars
emerge and start feeding.
The caterpillar's sole activity
is eating. It eats for 6-7 weeks
before binding itself to a plant
Left: The butterfly's wing mark-
ings help to distract predators
away from its body.
~ DEFENSES
The swallowtail is preyed on by
spiders, birds, and small mam-
mals at all stages of its life, but
it is particularly vulnerable
when it is a caterpillar or a
pupa.
Its main defense is disguise.
When the caterpillar first
hatches, it is black in color and
has a white spot, which makes
it resemble a bird dropping.
But after its third molt, it emer-
ges in a bright green skin
stem with the silk it produces.
It then sheds its skin and spins
a cocoon before beginning
the final transformation into
the adult butterfly. During this
Below: The short-lived adults
make the most of the spring
and summer mating season.
flecked with orange and
black spots, which makes it
more conspicuous.
At this stage, it protects
itself by inflating a pair of
orange horns from behind
its head. The horns effec-
tively ward off predators by
producing a smell indicating
that the caterpillar is foul -
tasting if eaten. Although
harder to catch, the adult
butterfly falls prey to birds.
Left: Early in
its life, the
caterpillar
resembles a
bird drop-
ping. In this
way, it
avoids the
unwelcome
attention of
its predators.
process, most of the bulk
amassed by the feeding
caterpillar is broken down to
provide nutrients for a small
core of cells that develop into
the adult butterfly.
When the butterfly is ready
to emerge 2 weeks later, the
In most of Europe, the swal-
lowtail butterfly is a familiar
sight among flowery hillsides
and meadows. Its broad,
yellow-and-black wings carry
it from flower to flower as it
pauses to feed on nectar.
Swallowtail butterflies found
in countries off the European
mainland, like those in Eng-
land, are regarded as a
separate species. They are
smaller, darker, and weaker
in flight. They also occupy a
different habitat-mostly in
marshes. It is thought that,
while all swallowtail butterflies
prefer dry, sunny climates, the
species found in England lives
in marshes because the availa-
bility of its food plant is great-
er there than in more arid
regions.
pupa splits down the back and
the butterfly is released. At first;
its wings are crumpled and
distorted, but as the wi ng veins
are inflated by blood pressure,
they expand and take shape.
The swallowtail butterfly then
flies off to look for a mate.
Above: Hanging by threads of silk
which it produces, the caterpillar
prepares for its long pupation.
DID YOU KNOW?
Some swallowtail butter-
flies occasionally have black
wings due to a condition
called melanism.
The swallowtail butterfly
normally lives in temperate
climates, but one species is
found in Alaska. This
butterfly spends the long,
cold winter in the pupal
state, then emerges t o
produce a single brood
during the short summer.
In 1975, an attempt was
made to reintroduce the
swallowtail to an area in
England. Although 3,500
milk parsley plants were
planted, the attempt failed.
YELLOW-TAILED SCORPION
GROUP 5: INSECTS &: SPIDERS
~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - . - - - - - - - - - - -
CLASS
Arachnida
ORDER
Scorpionida
FAMILY
Chadidae
Scorpions are aggressive hunters and are feared because of their
stings, which can be fatal in some species. Although deadly to its
prey, the sting of the yellow-tailed scorpion is harmless to humans.
KEY FACTS
CHARACTERISTICS
Length: Up to 1 in.
Coloration & form: Yellowish,
with well-developed pincers that
act as sensory organs and a slender
tail with a sting used for hunting
and defense. Sting not harmful to
humans.
Mouthparts: Very small, has to
break prey into small pieces to eat.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 7-8 months.
Mating: During the warmest
months of the year. Range of the yellow-tailed scorpion.
Gestation: Up to a year. The
female gives birth to live young
which molt 7 or 8 times before
becoming adult.
No. of young: Up to 30.
LlFECYCLE
Habit: Aggressively solitary.
Diet: Spiders, flies, moths, and
other insects.
Lifespan: Up to 5 years.
DISTRIBUTION
Found throughout western Mediterranean including Spain,
southern France, Corsica, Italy, and Algeria. Also in the Alps
up to an altitude of 6,500 ft . Also naturalized in areas like
England following accidental introduction in ship's cargo.
CONSERVATION
Common throughout its range and in no need of protection,
despite often being persecuted by man.
FEATURES OF THE YELLOW-TAILED SCORPION
Scorpions have
two strong
pincers, or
palps, which are
used as feelers
and for grabbing
prey. They have
four pairs of
legs.
MCMXCIIMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLI FE FACT FILETM
The segmented _
abdomen tapers
to form a tail
with the sting at
its end. The
sting is used for
both attack and
defense.
PRINTED IN U.SA us P 6001 12012 PACKET 12
Scorpions are found throughout the world
in warm and tropical countries, though they are
secretive and rarely seen. The yellow-tailed
scorpion, a relatively harmless species with
well-developed claws and a slender tail,
is native to Europe.

Scorpions hide during the
day, usually in a damp spot
under a stone or log, and
hunt at night. They some-
times find their way into
houses, where they hide in
clothes, beds, and carpets.
Scorpions have primitive
eyes so they rely on their pin-
cers to act as sensory organs.
The pincers are equipped
with tiny hairs that sense air
and ground vibrations, so they
transmit information about
the scorpion's surroundings
and help it to detect both
prey and predators.
The scorpion's sting is for
defense and for killing small
prey. The yellow-tailed scor-
pion's sting is harmless to
humans.
DID YOU KNOW?
Male and female scorpions
are similar in appearance, but
the male has a narrower body
and a longer tail.
After its first molt (shedding
its skin), a baby scorpion is
ready to leave its mother. It
molts seven to eight more
times before becoming an
adult.
The largest member of
the 800 species of scorpion
grows as long as seven inches.
Scorpions played an impor-
tant part in the religious
worship of the ancient
Egyptians.
In some cultures, certain
species of scorpion are held in
great respect due to their
powerful stings.

The male yellow-tailed scor-
pion initiates mating by facing
the female and grabbing her
claws with his own. As the two
circle each other, they raise
their tails in the air. The male
leads the female, dragging her
backwards and sideways.
The male then finds a patch
of suitably smooth ground and
produces a capsule of sperm,
called a spermatophore, which
he attaches to the ground.
Then he maneuvers the female
over the spermatophore, and
she takes the sperm into her
body. The male quickly moves
away, since the female can
become very aggressive.
The fertilized eggs develop
slowly inside the female, and
approximately a year later she
gives birth to 30 live young.
& HUNTING
The yellow-tailed scorpion
eats spiders, flies, moths, and
other insects. It may actively
hunt prey but often prefers to
wait and seize an unsuspect-
ing insect with its pincers.
When prey is large, the scor-
pion will kill it by arching its
Above: The
mating process
can last for
several hours,
or up to two
days.
Right: Once
hatched, the
young climb
onto their
mother's back
and remain
with her for
about a week.
sting over its back and
thrusting it into the victim.
Scorpions have tiny mouth-
parts, so they must break
their prey into pieces with
their pincers before eating.
Below: A yellow-tailed scorpion
eats a large mantis.

The yellow-tailed scorpion
is somewhat protected from
predators by its sting. Still,
it is often eaten by birds, liz-
ards, and mammals.
Few invertebrates are
capable of overpowering
a scorpion, although the
praying mantis and a Medi-
terranean relative of the
black widow spider-the
malmignette-do hunt
them with some success.
Yellow-tailed scorpions are
extremely aggressive toward
each other. When two meet,
they often fight to the death.
People have generally
feared scorpions because of
their sting and will often kill
them, whether they are
poisonous or not.
GLANVILLE FRITILLARY
GROUP 5: INSECTS Esc SPIDERS
-----;.,..;. .....
CLASS
Insecta
ORDER
Lepidoptera
FAMILY
Nymphalidae
GENUS & SPECIES
Melitaea cinxia
The Glanville fritillary spends most of its life as a black,
spiny caterpillar. The orange-patterned butterfly
lives only a few weeks.
KEY FACTS

CHARACTERISTICS
Wings: 2 pairs.
Wingspan: Female, about 2 in.
Male, slightly smaller.
Mouthparts: Caterpillar has biting
jaws, adult has a coiled tubular
proboscis.
LlFECYCLE
Eggs: Laid in batches of up to
200, usually in Mayor June.
Hatching time: 3 weeks.
Caterpillar to pupa: 10 months.
Pupa to butterfly: 1 5 days.
LIFESTYLE
Diet: Caterpillar eats foliage of
narrow-leaved and sea plantains.
Adult drinks nectar.
Lifespan: About 12 months from
egg to death of adult.
RELATED SPECIES
There are many fritillaries in the
family Nymphalidae, as well as
more familiar species such as the
peacock and red admiral.
Range of the Glanville fritillary butterfly.
-...:...--=====
DISTRIBUTION
Throughout Europe (except much of Great Britain,
Scandinavia, and southern Spain) and temperate Asia.
A subspecies inhabits North Africa.
CONSERVATION
The Glanville fritillary's range in Great Britain is shrinking.
Its future there depends on the conservation of its grass-
land habitat. The species flourishes elsewhere.
OF THE GLANVILLE FRITILLARY
I
4
Adult butterfly:
Lives only a few
weeks. Female
Hangs
from plantain.
Tough outer
casing protects
the insect as it
evolves into a
butterfly.
.0MCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
2
Eggs: Laid in
clusters of
about 200 on
the leaves of
narrow-leaved
Caterpillar: The longest stage in the
butterfly's lifecycle. Hatches
on food plant and eats until
winter. Lies dormant until
PRINTED IN U.S.A . 0160200211 PACKET 21
The warm southern European
climate attracts the Glanville
fritillary more than the cool, wet
northwest does. The butterfly has almost
disappeared from Great Britain.
~ H A B I T A T
The Glanville fritillary inhabits
all types of grassland through-
out continental Europe and
large areas of Asia. In Great
Britain the butterfly lives only
on the coastal slopes of the
Isle of Wight, an island filled
with flowers and grassland.
Its mild climate attracts the
Glanville fritillary.
A slight change in the cli-
mate has kept the Glanville
fritillary from migrating fur-
ther north in Great Britain.
The butterfly was once found
as far north as Yorkshire, but it
prefers the milder, warmer re-
gions rather than the cold.
Left: The orange-
patterned adult
butterfly.
~ LlFECYCLE
The Glanville fritillary spends
most of its one-year lifecycle
as a caterpillar.
After mating, the female
lays her first batch of eggs in
loose clusters under the tips of
Right: The
caterpillar feeds
on plantain,
molting
whenever it
grows too large
for its black,
spiny skin.
Left: Its feeding
complete, each
caterpillar turns
into a compact
pupa. It hangs
from the food
plant for 15
days until
hatching into
an adult
butterfly.
Above: A pair of Glanville
fritillaries settle briefly on the
kidney vetch, a nectar-rich plant.
narrow-leaved plantain or sea
plantain leaves. She then
feeds on buttercups, yellow
vetches, or trefoils by sucking
the nectar with her proboscis
(tongue). The nectar helps her
~ ENEMIES
Glanville fritillaries can live for
two to three weeks, but many
survive for only a few days.
Some dry up in the summer
heat. Others are killed by
butterfly-eating spiders, such
as the crab spider and the
orb-web spinner.
The crab spider waits for
butterflies in flowers, blending
with the color of the petals.
When the butterfly settles to
drink the nectar, the spider
pounces and kills it.
The orb-web spider sus-
pends its web between tall
flower heads, snaring the
butterflies as they pass.
mature a second batch of
eggs. After she lays them,
the female dies.
Caterpillars soon emerge
from the eggs and feed on
the plantain under a protec-
DID YOU KNOW?
The Glanville fritillary is
named for Lady Eleanor
Glanville, 18th-century
butterfly enthusiast.
All insects have six legs,
but the Glanville fritillaries
and its relatives only use
four. The front pair are
too small for walking.
When alarmed, a feeding
group of Glanville fritillar-
ies will jerk their heads in
unison. They may do it to
confuse predators or keep
tiny parasitic wasps from
injecting their eggs into
the caterpillars.
tive silken web. The cater-
pillars soon outgrow their
tough skins. The skin splits,
leaving a new, pliable skin
that will be molted when it
can stretch no further.
By winter, the caterpillars
have molted four times. They
stop feeding and lie dormant
until spring when they re-
sume eating, becoming full-
grown after their sixth molt in
early April.
When the caterpillar sheds
its skin for the seventh time, it
emerges as a legless, non-
feeding pupa (inactive form).
It hangs from a plantain stem
while the insect inside grows
into an adult butterfly.
After 15 days, the Glanville
fritillary crawls out of the
pupa, unfurling its wings so
they will harden in the sun.
Afterflexing its wings a few
times, the butterfly flies off to
feed, mate, and lay another
generation of eggs.
STINKBUG
'\
CLASS
Insecta
ORDER
Hemiptera
GROUP 5: INSECTS & SPIDERS
SUBORDER
Heteroptera
FAMILY
Pentatomidae
Known as the stinkbug because of its ability to spray an unpleasant
odor if it is disturbed, this insect numbers over five thousand species
and is specially adapted to its environment.
KEY FACTS
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~
CHARACTERISTI CS
Length: Varies from 1/4 -2 in.
according to species.
Body: More flattened than in other
insects.
Mouthparts: Sucking.
BREEDING
Breeding season: Varies according
to species.
Eggs: Batches from 10-40.
Hatching time: Depends on
temperature. Delayed until warm.
Sexual maturity: Varies.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Solitary. Free-living.
Diet: Predatory or herbivorous.
Lifespan: Varies according to
species.
NUMBER OF SPECIES
Over 5,000 worldwide. Main
families are Pentatomidae,
Scutelleridae, Tessaratomidae,
Acanthosomidae, and Cydnidae.
FEATURES OF THE STINKBUG
The stinkbug has a retractable rostrum.
This spiny projection is used to spear prey
or vegetation. When not in use, it lies flat
against the abdomen.
It h?s two pairs of
wings; the top pair is
modified into wing
Antennae
Compound eyes
MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILE""
Range of the stinkbug.
DISTRIBUTION
Found virtually worldwide and in all climates, with the
greatest number in the tropics.
CONSERVATION
Most species are in no immediate danger, but some are
considered a pest in certain areas of the world-the tortoise
bug, Eurygester, for example, attacks wheat in Europe, the
Soviet Union, and the Near East.
./
- - - - ~
.. v ~ The stinkbug illustrated is the British
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
species of hawthorn stinkbug, Acan-
thosoma haemorrhoidale.
0160200041 PACKET 4
Although the word "bug" is often used to describe
small insects in general, it actually refers to insects
in the order Hemiptera. Stinkbugs,
of which there are thousands of species,
are among the most interesting.
~ HABITAT
The many species of stinkbug
have adapted to a wide var-
iety of habitats. They inhabit
areas ranging from deserts to
tropical mangrove swamps.
Stinkbugs in the tropics are
among the largest and most
DID YOU KNOW?
A single species of stinkbug
manages to survive in the
Arctic.
The female stinkbug shows
great care for her eggs and
young- more so than any
other group of insects with
L-
spectacularly colored.
About 300 species of
stinkbug can be found in the
United States. Most are plain,
but one exception is the
brightly colored harlequin
bug, Murgantia histrionica.
the exception of bees, wasps,
ants, and termites.
Females of the European
species, Elasmucha grisea, stay
with their offspring for several
weeks after they hatch, then
die.
~ BREEDING
The scent of stinkbugs plays an
important part in their mating
habits. It enables the sexes to
both locate and recognize one
another. Many species also
attract mating partners by the
use of sound. By rubbing their
legs together, they produce a
noise similar to that made by a
grasshopper. This action is
known as stridulation.
During mating, stinkbugs
remain firmly locked together
for several hours in a back-to-
back position. Females then lay
their eggs in batches. Herbivo-
rous (plant-eating) species
often seek out one particular
food plant or family of plants
on which to lay an egg batch,
whereas predatory species are
less particular.
After laying her eggs, the
female stands over them and
guards them vigorously. If
they are bothered, she moves
her body sideways, acting as a
shield between the intruder
and her young, which are
called nymphs once they
hatch.
Stinkbug nymphs look like
small wingless versions of
their parents, with more
rounded bodies. They often
do not display the pattern of
adult coloration until they are
mature. They molt (shed skin)
several times before reaching
the fully winged adult stage.
Penatomidae
stinkbugs.
~ FOOD & FEEDING
Stinkbugs eat a wide variety of
food, which differs according
to species. Many stinkbugs
suck the sap from plants. Her-
bivorous species have a
special bacteria in thei r
digestive tract which breaks
down the plant matter.
Many stinkbugs prey on any
insect that is small enough to
~ DEFENSES
The many species of stinkbug
have defenses that vary
greatly. All are at risk from
predators such as birds.
Stinkbugs that are plant-
eating have coloration that
blends in with the surround-
ing vegetation. Those that
~ NATUREWATCH
North America is home to
many species of stinkbug,
most of which are plainly
colored and have brown or
gray shield-shaped bodies.
Stinkbugs are generally quite
be overpowered, like the
beetle. Soft-bodied insects
such as caterpillars are their
usual prey, but some species
of stinkbug can be cannibalis-
tic and will sometimes eat
other stinkbugs.
Below: A Mexican stinkbug
Oplomus dichorus feeding on a
caterpillar.
feed on leaves and stems are
usually green; those that feed on
tree bark are gray or brown.
Many species feed on plants
which contain toxins. These
poisons are absorbed by the
stinkbugs, causing them to taste
unpleasant to predators.
easy to find . The harlequin bug
can be found nearly year-round
in the south and west. It is most
commonly seen on garden
vegetables and on blackberries
and strawberri es.
EUROPEAN WASP
, , ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~
CLASS
Insecta
ORDER
Hymenoptera Vespidae Vespu/a vulgaris
One of the most feared of insects, the yellow and black
European stinging wasp is beneficial as well: it feeds on
garden pests and the larvae of houseflies.
CHARACTERISTICS
Length: Queens, 3/4 in. Drones
and workers, 1/2 in.
Coloration: Workers, drones, and
queens have the same yellow and
black coloration.
Mouthparts: Biting.
lIFECYCLE
Mating: Fall.
No. of eggs: 300 laid per day.
Hatching time: 4-6 days. Wasps
emerge 2-3 weeks after pupation.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Lives in colonies.
Diet: Small insects, fruit, and meat
juices.
lifespan: Queens: 1 0 months;
drones and workers: 4 weeks.
RELATED SPECIES
Hornets and yellow jackets are
social wasps related to the
European wasp.
Range of the wasp species.
DISTRIBUTION
The common and German wasps are the most abundant
wasp species in western Europe. The Norwegian wasp is
found in Scotland, Wales, and central England, but is rare in
southern and southeastern England.
CONSERVATION
Common and German wasps are both widespread. Only the
European hornet is at risk because of loss of habitat.
SPECIAL ADAPTATIONS OF THE EUROPEAN WASP
Wings: 2 pairs of
transparent wings
aid rapid flight.
Stinger: Un-
barbed; can be
used repeatedly.
Legs: 3 pairs of
jointed legs,
Eyes: 2 pairs of
compound eyes
provide good
vision.
ending in claws for
grasping.
MCMXCIIMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILpM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Jaws: The
~ - - - - .. Queen uses her
tough jaws to
tear pieces of
fiber from trees
and fences.
These are used
to build the nest,
which consists
of a system of
paper cells
(above) within
which the eggs
are laid.
0160200131 PACKET 13
European wasps belong to a group known
as social wasps, which all live in large colonies.
Their nests, built initially by the queens,
are intricate paper structures. The wasps
make them by chewing wood fibers and
mixing them with saliva.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING
In the spring and summer,
wasps feed on small insects.
Workers also feed on nectar,
as well as on a sweet fluid
secreted by the immature
wasps, which are called grubs.
Since wasps do not store
food the way bees store
honey, they die from starva-
tion in the fall. As their insect
prey becomes increasingly
scarce, wasps are attracted to
populated areas where they
can scavenge for food. Only
the queen is able to hibernate
and live on fat reserves.
Right: In the fall, wasps eat the
sweet pulp of fallen fruit.
~ DEFENSES
Wasps have two forms of de-
fense-their coloration and
their sting. The bright yellow-
and-black band of color on
their bodies acts as a warning
to birds, lizards, and small
mammals.
The wasp's stinger consists of
DID YOU KNOW?
Wasps never swarm. Virgin
queens flyaway from their
old colonies in the fall to
mate, hibernate, and estab-
lish new colonies in spring.
Wasp colonies may contain
as many as 20,000 wasps.
Wasps have distinct facial
patterns that help to identify
them. The common wasp
has an anchorlike marking . .
There is a species of wasp
known as the cuckoo wasp
that lays its eggs in the nests
of red wasps, which then
care for its hatching larvae.
a curved, barb-free lance that
can deliver a quick shot of
poison into the skin of a pred-
ator. Unlike a bee, the wasp is
able to withdraw the stinger
t o use it many times. The tree
wasp, Dolichovespulo sylvestris,
is particularly aggressive.
~ LlFECYCLE
Only the queen wasp lays eggs.
She lays unfertilized eggs that
become male workers, called
drones, and fertilized eggs that
become sterile female workers
or queens, depending on the
diet they are fed as grubs.
Mating between drones
and a queen wasp occurs on
sunny days in October. The
queen generally mates with
several drones and stores their
sperm in her body until spring.
Soon after mating, the
drones and workers die, since
food is scarce. The queen,
however, searches for a suit-
able place to hibernate for the
next 6 to 7 months. When the
warmth of the spring sunshine
awakens her, she flies off to
fi nd a nest site where she will
lay her eggs.
When the grubs hatch, they
remain attached to special cells
within the nest and to their egg
cases so that they do not fall
out of the nest.
Newly hatched wasps
emerge from the nest in July
and assume ~ h e work of nest
building and feeding the grubs
from the queen, who continues
to lay eggs. Grubs destined to
be queens are fed protein-rich
secretions.
~ NATUREWATCH
Wasps' paper nests can be
found under the eaves of
houses, on compost heaps,
or attached to windows,
beams, or rafters. Othe r spe-
cies make nests in hollow
t rees or in bushes.
Above: The
queen chooses
her hiberna-
tion site,
usually in a
shed or
greenhouse,
and remains
there, uncon-
scious, for six
to seven
months. She
lives on her fat
reserves.
Left: In spring,
the queen
starts laying
eggs, sticking
them to the
roof of each
cell in the nest
to keep them
secure.
TARANTULA
ORDER
Arachnida
SUBORDER
Myga/omorphae
GROUP 5: INSECTS &: SPIDERS
FAMILY
Theraphosidae
The huge, furry tarantula is among the largest and longest-living of
all land invertebrates. Despite its reputation for being vicious, it is
aggressive only when provoked.
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SIZES
Length: 3 in.
Leg span: Up to 1 0 in.
Weight: Average 3 oz.
I ~ . I
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 3-10 years.
Mating: Varies according to species.
No. of eggs: Up to 3,000.
Hatching time: 2-3 weeks.
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LIFESTYLE
Lifespan: 30 years or more.
Habit; Solitary.
Coloration: Usually various shades
of brown mixed with black. Some
species display striking coloration.
Diet: Grasshoppers, beetles,
moths, woodlice, millipedes, other
spiders. Larger species eat lizards,
snakes, frogs, toads, mice, and
nestling birds.
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RELATED SPECIES
Approximately 300 species world-
wide.
Range of the tarantula.
DISTRIBUTION
Throughout the warmer parts of the world, but mainly in the
American tropics.
CONSERVATION
Some species threatened by over-collection as pets. The
Peruvian Pamphobetus antinous is decreasing because it is
collected in huge numbers for sale to tourists. Species that
live in tropical rainforests face loss of habitat.
FEATURES OF THE TARANTULA
Hairs which cover the body of the
tarantula are extremely sensitive to
vibrations.
MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
The bright colored legs of the Mexi-
can red-kneed tarantula Brachype/ma
smithi provide a striking contrast to
the more usual drab-colored species . .
Eight tiny eyes are capable of little more
than distinguishing light from dark.
Jaws move in an up-and-down movement,
instead of the more common side-to-side
motion found in other spiders.
PRINTED IN U.S.A 0160200051 PACKET 5
True tarantula spiders come only from
southern Europe and rarely exceed an inch
in length. But the name tarantula is
more generally applied to any large,
hairy spider and, in particular, to the
furry bird spiders of South America.
HABITAT
Tarantulas have adhesive
brushlike hairs on the tips of
their legs which allow them
to walk on the slick surface of
leaves. Of the 40 types of
tarantula that are found in
the United States, most
occur in the warm deserts of
the Southwest, where they live
on the ground.
Some species of tarantula
live in burrows. The females of
these species often spend their
entire life inside the burrow.
They feed by seizing insects
that come near the entrance.
DEFENSES
Tarantulas have a wide range
of defenses. Some species ward
off their attackers by leaning
back on their haunches, raising
their head and legs, and ex-
posing their long fangs.
Other species turn their back
on their attacker and squirt an
unpleasant substance into the
adversary's face. Or, the spider
may use its legs to scrape the
very fine hairs from the top of
Right: A
female
Aphonopelma
chalcodes
from Arizona
stands in a
defensive
posture,
exposing her
fangs to
frighten an
enemy.
Below left: A
myglamorph
spider in
Malaysia waits
for prey. Its
silk-lined
burrow is in
moist, weI/-
drained earth
where there is
little danger of
flooding.

Mating among tarantulas
takes place at various times
according to species. After a
rainstorm in the southwestern
deserts of the United States
and in Mexico, vast numbers
of males may be seen wan-
dering in search of females .
After mating, the eggs
develop inside the female's
body. After they are born, the
young do not mature for
its abdomen into the air. Each
hair is covered with sharp
points and, if they come into
contact with either eyes or
skin, they cause pain and even
temporary blindness.
These defenses are used by
t he tarantulas in defending
t hemselves from predators
such as coati mundis, raccoons,
and skunks, which dig
tarantulas out of their bur-
some time. American desert
species can take up to 10
years to fully mature; tropical
forest species take only 3-4
years.
As in all spiders, the taran-
tula's growth proceeds
through a series of molts
whereby it sheds its skin.
Only after the final molt has
occurred can the spider's
sex be determined.
rows.
The tarantula's most deadly
enemy, however, is the
peps is, or spider-hunting
wasp, also known as the
tarantula hawk. The wasp is
much smaller than the
tarantula. It enters the spider's
burrow and paralyzes it with
its sting. It then drags the
tarantula back to its nest and
feeds it to its laNae.
DID YOU KNOW?
Despite their reputation
for being aggressive toward
humans, tarantulas are fairly
placid and will only attack if
provoked.
! Tarantulas eat young
poisonous snakes.
, The largest tarantula,
, Theraphosa febfondi, has a
body length of 3 inches and
a leg span of 10 inches.
FOOD & HUNTING
Tarantulas feed on small
lizards, young snakes and
amphibians, tree frogs, and
small mammals such as
rodents. The smaller of the
forest-dwelling tarantulas and
most of the desert species
prey mainly on grasshoppers
and beetles, as well as on
other types of spiders.
The tarantula spears its prey
with its long fangs and kills it
with its poison. The spider
then crushes its prey with its
powerful mouthparts. The
tarantula produces a special
fluid which reduces the prey
to a pulpy liquid which the
spider can absorb.
left: Tarantula
carrying an
egg case.
Hatching time
varies from
species to
species, but aI/
spiderlings
spend the first
few weeks of
life in the
female's
burrow or
another secure
place.