Insects & Invertebrates

Black widows have a fearsome reputation due to their venomous bite. While it is extremely painful, it is not exceedingly dangerous and deaths are extremely rare, especially in modern times.

Honey bees are found throughout the world. These iconic insects are industrious flying pollinators that play a crucial role in the life cycles of many flowering plants. Honey bees are most popularly known for producing honey. Western honey bees have been domesticated for honey production and commercial pollination. These tiny insects are both beloved and feared. They inflict a painful sting to protect themselves, their hives, and honey.

Rose lovers have a special affinity for these dainty little insects since they eat aphids, which are the scourge of rose growers. These small beetles are not hermaphrodites as some people believe due to the gender-specific nature of their name. The males are slightly smaller than the females but their coloration and behavior are almost identical. They were named for the Virgin Mary, who was often referred to as the Blessed Lady after the farmers saw the beetles saving their crops from pests. In Germany, their name is Marienkafer, which translates to Mary beetle.

While terrifying to some, the Mexican orange-kneed tarantula, also called red-kneed tarantula, is a very popular pet. Despite their ominous size and fangs, these tarantulas are quite docile. They can throw hair or bite when threatened, but their venom isn’t normally harmful to humans.

Monarch butterflies are known for their massive migrations, which can take them all the way from Canada to Mexico.

Scorpions are not insects, but arachnids related to spiders. They are known for their pinching claws and venomous stingers.

While the term ‘worm’ can refer to any number of different animals, many of which have no relation to each other, here we will focus on the common earthworm. Though originally native to mainland Europe, the common earthworm is one of the most invasive species in the world and can be found in great numbers in North America, Australia, New Zealand, Iceland, South Africa, and Asia. While it is not the most numerous species of worm, it is often the most commonly seen due to their habit of coming to the surface after a rain or at night. They are also often the species used in biology classes for dissection.