Hi there, Thanks Ruud for your new show, it is informative and entertaining, we are all enjoying it! I missed out on this question last week, so I wanted to get it on line early this week. About Cicadas, it was interesting to hear about them two weeks ago, after all these years I had never known how they actually made their very loud song, now I know. Two questions, are they found all over the world and does their sound have any purpose in "cooling" themselves? I have heard that for years and was curious. They tend to be silent more at night and after an afternoon storm...when it cools outside. Summer wouldn't be the same without them! Thanks again and have a good week! Kim
Hi Ruud! I just wanted to say how much I enjoy your show. It is both refreshing and informative. I have one question...in your opinion, which insect species has the nastiest disposition? I guess it is an odd question, but it comes to my mind because my family has been attacked twice by yellow jackets in the past couple of weeks ...we are all okay, but it was hardest on my one dog who already has lyme disease, and didn't appreciate the stings! Incidentally, if you want to visit a buggy place, come to our home in Pennsylvania...we are inundated at the moment ! In spite of the painful encounters, I still love bugs...when something goes wrong--like bee attacks--it probably is a result of human (or canine) interference. I hold no grudge, though my dog might!
Good day Ruud, What is the largest caterpillar, both in length and weight? I've been trying ot figure it out on my own with no luck at all. I think Citheronia regalis must be at the top or close to it, i cant imagine anything bigger. The show kicks ***, and thank you for everything you have done and will do. -Danny
This message has been edited. Last edited by: mod_kelly,
Dear Ruud,im a 14 year old boy and i wuant to now is it dangieres to have a pet turantula wean i have littel brothers becase I rilly wuant a pet turantula BECASE THY ARE fasinating crichers.
Hi Ruud, thanks for having a show out there thats not afraid of telling the world, "Hey, bugs are cool!" I was fascinated few weeks back when you had the Madagascar episode and you featured the living fossil spider. I have scoured the internet trying to find info on this amazing arachnid and can't find a thing. Do you know any internet resources out there that may have some info or at least pictures? And do you know of any good books out there that has a lot of info on arachnids? I am especially interested in learning a little more details than most of the laymans books contain, especially the Salticids. Thanks again Ruud for the awesome show, it is the highlite of my week!
Hija Kim! Cicadas like it hot; that's when they sing! And I have never heard any scientific evidence that they sing to cool themselves down... in fact: I'd say they get really hot doing those muscular exercises. Recently I read in a book that there are species of cicadas that practice some "thermo-regulation": they literally sweat to cool down if it really gets too hot for them! Have fun with bugs, won't you... Ruud
quote:
Originally posted by mod_kelly: Originally posted for the q&a on 7/20:
ks-dallas asks:
Hi there, Thanks Ruud for your new show, it is informative and entertaining, we are all enjoying it! I missed out on this question last week, so I wanted to get it on line early this week. About Cicadas, it was interesting to hear about them two weeks ago, after all these years I had never known how they actually made their very loud song, now I know. Two questions, are they found all over the world and does their sound have any purpose in "cooling" themselves? I have heard that for years and was curious. They tend to be silent more at night and after an afternoon storm...when it cools outside. Summer wouldn't be the same without them! Thanks again and have a good week! Kim
Yes indeed! Like all good mammalian hosts, we, too, have our fair share of parasites in and on our skin. There are mites in our hair follicles and eyebrows, for instance, and having just returned from Okefenokee in Florida, I'm still scratching my legs with those nasty chiggers that burrow into your skin. If you have a problem, please go and see a doctor and get some skin scraping samples taken! cheers and all the best... AND STOP SCRATCHING! Ruud
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Originally posted by mod_kelly: Originally posted for the q&a session 7/20:
pandadmm77 asks:
Are there bugs or worms that live on your skin? I wanted to know because I wonder why my skin itches so much
Hey Lizabeth! Thanks for your kind comments about the show... Yes, grumpy bugs do exist and you're absolutely right: it is usually our fault for upsetting them a bit too much: My favorite grumps are indeed Vespula species (those yellow jackets you have encountered!) but also the large centipedes that take no prisoners whatsoever. I will never touch those last-mentioned critters... very unpredictable! We are on the road again this tuesday but I don't think we're going to be in your neighbourhood, unfortunately. Keep smiling and keep a watch for those stinging Hymenoptera: creatures with a narrow waist ad a short temper! Cheers Ruud
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Originally posted by lizabethmouse: Hi Ruud! I just wanted to say how much I enjoy your show. It is both refreshing and informative. I have one question...in your opinion, which insect species has the nastiest disposition? I guess it is an odd question, but it comes to my mind because my family has been attacked twice by yellow jackets in the past couple of weeks ...we are all okay, but it was hardest on my one dog who already has lyme disease, and didn't appreciate the stings! Incidentally, if you want to visit a buggy place, come to our home in Pennsylvania...we are inundated at the moment ! In spite of the painful encounters, I still love bugs...when something goes wrong--like bee attacks--it probably is a result of human (or canine) interference. I hold no grudge, though my dog might!
Hi Danny Yes - you are looking in the right Family of moths: Saturniidae or silk moths; they truly are impressive! But I thought maybe you might take a look at members of the Family Cossidae; I remember a European species called Cossus cossus and in Australia there are similar wood borers that have huge larvae... check them out on the web! see ya Ruud
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Originally posted by ornithoptera: Good day Ruud, What is the largest caterpillar, both in length and weight? I've been trying ot figure it out on my own with no luck at all. I think Citheronia regalis must be at the top or close to it, i cant imagine anything bigger. The show kicks ***, and thank you for everything you have done and will do. -Danny
No problems! Make sure the tarantula is out-of-reach of the brothers, so they can't hurt it... But do you know how to look after such a large spider? It really takes some time and devotion! Cheerio Ruud
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Originally posted by ninja-loving-squirrel: Dear Ruud,im a 14 year old boy and i wuant to now is it dangieres to have a pet turantula wean i have littel brothers becase I rilly wuant a pet turantula BECASE THY ARE fasinating crichers.
The fossil spider in Madagascar belongs to the genus Archaea. It is not restricted to that island... I'm sure that if you google that name, you'll come up with all sorts of info. That's how our research starts off when we look at segments for the show... Now - as far as Arachnid books in the USA I have had a good look out in your major book shops, and I must say that the popular books (such as the Audubon guide) have very few spiders in them. I suggest you contact your local Entomological Society branch (I know ther is a good entomological society in the USA - possibly even arachnological societies here and there?) you may get some leads to what has been published; checked Amazon.com yet? Another idea is to contact your local University and see if you can browse through their library; honestly! in New Zealand you can often get the OK if you are presenting yourself as a decent scholar and well-mannered amateur... I suppose it's a matter of trust! This, by the way, leads me to a very strong conviction I have about libraries: they should be open to anyone who has a serious interest in reading about any topic! Your local library is probably the most important asset in your neighbourhood! Good luck, Bill! Cheers Ruud
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Originally posted by bindiboi: Hi Ruud, thanks for having a show out there thats not afraid of telling the world, "Hey, bugs are cool!" I was fascinated few weeks back when you had the Madagascar episode and you featured the living fossil spider. I have scoured the internet trying to find info on this amazing arachnid and can't find a thing. Do you know any internet resources out there that may have some info or at least pictures? And do you know of any good books out there that has a lot of info on arachnids? I am especially interested in learning a little more details than most of the laymans books contain, especially the Salticids. Thanks again Ruud for the awesome show, it is the highlite of my week!
By the way: Salticids (or jumping spiders) are just sensational! love them to bits, and was really pleased o see one of them in the middle of the Okefenokee swamp with a juvenile fishing spider in its mandibles Beauty! Oh and one more thing: In New Zealand we have Simon Pollard (at the university of Canterbury) who may well be a great contact for Salticids. He's our expert! Ruud
quote:
Originally posted by bindiboi: Hi Ruud, thanks for having a show out there thats not afraid of telling the world, "Hey, bugs are cool!" I was fascinated few weeks back when you had the Madagascar episode and you featured the living fossil spider. I have scoured the internet trying to find info on this amazing arachnid and can't find a thing. Do you know any internet resources out there that may have some info or at least pictures? And do you know of any good books out there that has a lot of info on arachnids? I am especially interested in learning a little more details than most of the laymans books contain, especially the Salticids. Thanks again Ruud for the awesome show, it is the highlite of my week!
Thanks Ruud for your answers! It's fun to get answers for all the questions we adults have had about about bugs since we were kids! Now we can answer the questions our kids have Have a great week, Kim and the crew
Thank you, Ruud, for the answer to my question about "grumpy bugs..." it seems we humans aren't the only species who can sometimes be sourpusses. I am looking forward to future shows...safe travels to you and your crew.
...we are all okay, but it was hardest on my one dog who already has lyme disease, and didn't appreciate the stings! Incidentally, if you want to visit a buggy place, come to our home in Pennsylvania...we are inundated at the moment 
! In spite of the painful encounters, I still love bugs...when something goes wrong--like bee attacks--it probably is a result of human (or canine) interference. I hold no grudge, though my dog might!
