Did you know...

An ant-eating assassin bug found in Java lures its prey with the promise of a sweet treat. The assassin bug will block the path between the ants and their aphid herd. When an ant approaches, the assassin stands up and flashes its abdomen, revealing a red spot that oozes sticky goodness. If the ant takes a taste, it falls paralyzed by a special tranquilizing agent, and the assassin bug enjoys an easy meal.

_{Source: The Handy Bug Answer Book, Dr. Gilbert Waldbauer}

More Ways to Keep Up With About Insects
Have a bug question? Visit the Insects Forum
Sign up for my free newsletter
Follow me on Twitter: AboutInsects
Become a fan on facebook

Here's an unusual critter! Do you know what it is? Each Wednesday, I post an image of a bug for you to identify. Leave your answer in a comment, and next Wednesday, I'll let you know if you were right. You can also pop over to the forum to see the hints I've left for you.

As for last week's challenge, Christy identified the mystery insect correctly to species - Golden Buprestid, Buprestis aurulenta. Spirula, Moni, and Mike also knew this shiny beetle is a Buprestid. Kudos to all of you!

_{Photo: Clemson University - USDA Cooperative Extension Slide Series, Bugwood.org}

More Ways to Keep Up With About Insects
Have a bug question? Visit the Insects Forum
Sign up for my free newsletter
Follow me on Twitter: AboutInsects
Become a fan on facebook

When the space shuttle Atlantis launches today, thousands of young insect enthusiasts in classrooms nationwide will be watching. Tucked away in the shuttle, which is headed to the International Space Station, is a precious cargo of caterpillars that students will be monitoring from the Web.

Painted ladies will be aboard the space shuttle Atlantis when it launches today.
Photo: © Flickr user jpockele

The insect payload will carry two butterfly habitats - one for painted lady larvae, and the other for monarch caterpillars - with enough nectar and other food to support their development while in space. About 100 lucky classrooms chosen to participate in the NASA project will simultaneously raise butterfly larvae in their schools. The experiment is designed to compare the growth and development of butterfly larvae in the weightless environment of space with those raised in an environment with gravity.

Once the habitats are transferred to the International Space Station, images of the larvae will be taken every 15 minutes, and transmitted daily to viewers via the Web. You can view the butterfly images online at bioedonline.org, a science support and teacher training site of the Baylor College of Medicine's Center for Education Outreach.

More Ways to Keep Up With About Insects
Have a bug question? Visit the Insects Forum
Sign up for my free newsletter
Follow me on Twitter: AboutInsects
Become a fan on facebook

As busy as a bee? Do you need a way to keep track of your schedule? The Xerces Society is happy to offer the 2010 Native Bee Calendar, which was created by Celeste Ets-hokin and produced in partnership with The Great Sunflower Project.

All sales of the 2010 Native Bee Calendar support invertebrate conservation.
Photo courtesy The Xerces Society

With magnificent close-up photos by Rollin Coville, this calendar takes you on a tour of twelve commonly encountered types of native bees. Each month features a full-page pin-up of a different bee genus, accompanied by a brief summary of its preferred plants, nesting needs, and notes on how to identify it--and of course, a complete day-by-day calendar for each month.

But wait! There's more! All monies raised from the sale of the 2010 Native Bee Calendar go toward the Xerces Society's invertebrate conservation programs. You can purchase your 2010 Native Bee Calendar for just $14, including postage and handling. All orders must be received online by Monday, November 30, 2009. Calendars will be shipped to arrive by the holidays.

More Ways to Keep Up With About Insects
Have a bug question? Visit the Insects Forum
Sign up for my free newsletter
Follow me on Twitter: AboutInsects
Become a fan on facebook