THE REAL BUG COLLECTION
Welcome to the freaky world of REAL BUGS! Click on any bug below to find out its speed, size and more, plus loads of weird facts and amazing info. Can you collect all 21 bugs?
Chinese Golden Scorpion
Scientific Name
Mesobuthus martensii
Bug Type
Arachnid
Location
Eastern China, Mongolia, Korea, Japan
Environment
Warm, dry areas
Information
The Chinese golden scorpion attacks with its pincers as well as stings with its tail. Chemicals from its venom help scientists in their biomedical research.
LANTERN BUG
Scientific Name
Pyrops candelaria
Bug Type
Leafhopper
Location
Australia, Asia, and South America
Environment
Australia, Asia, and South America
Information
The lantern bug got its name long ago because people thought its snout gave off light. It doesn't, but the name stuck.
POLYPHAGA COCKROACH
Scientific Name
Polyphaga sp
Bug Type
Insect
Location
Eastern Europe, Middle East
Environment
Warm areas
Information
Cockroaches lived during the time of dinosaurs. Some experts believe that the cockroach could survive such catastrophic events as a nuclear war.
KUMBANG PADANG JEWEL BEETLE
Scientific Name
Chrysochroa fulminans
Bug Type
Beetle
Location
Indonesia
Environment
Woods, forests
Information
The iridescence these beetles show off on their shells is not the result of pigments but the reflection of light, the effect being similar to the colorful reflection of a compact disc.
MAN-FACED BUG
Scientific Name
Catacanthus incarnatus
Bug Type
Shield Bug
Location
Southeast Asia
Environment
Wooded areas
Information
The bright markings on this bug look like a human face. Their real purpose, though, is to look like a poisonous bug's eyespots and scare enemies away.
JAPANESE GARDEN SPIDER
Scientific Name
Araneus ventricosus
Bug Type
Arachnid
Location
Australia, Asia, North and South America
Environment
Gardens
Information
This garden spider is from the orbweaver spider family, which means it can spin large, circular flat webs that can be up to six feet in size.
CURCULIONID BEETLE
Scientific Name
Eupholus sp
Bug Type
Beetle
Location
New Guinea and surrounding islands
Environment
Warm areas
Information
Curculionid beetles are some of the most colorful weevils. Their color may be a warning to predators that they are toxic when eaten.
Japanese Emerald Beetle
Scientific Name
Rhomborrhina japonica
Bug Type
Scarab Beetle
Location
Japan
Environment
Deciduous parks and forests
Information
The large and heavy Japanese Emerald Beetle is an awkward flier. It drones, or buzzes, as it flies from tree to tree in search of sap, nectar, or fruits to eat.
FUNNEL-WEB SPIDER
Scientific Name
Macrothele calpeiana
Bug Type
Arachnid
Location
Spain, Portugal, northwest Africa
Environment
Warm areas with high rainfall
Information
The funnel-web spider spins its web near the ground. In the center of the web is a funnel, or tube, that leads to underground tunnels.
JEWELED FLOWER MANTIS
Scientific Name
Creobroter gemmatus
Bug Type
Insect
Location
Asia
Environment
Damp and humid
Information
Although mantises are known to spread their wings in a threatening display of color and design to frighten their enemies, the male jeweled flower mantis is just as likely to run or fly away.
KAEMPFER CICADA
Scientific Name
Platypleura kaempferi
Bug Type
Insect
Location
Japan, China
Environment
Trees
Information
Cicadas are known for their nearly deafening buzz, which is produced by the males mostly during the hot summer months.
MALAYSIAN GIANT SCORPION
Scientific Name
Heterometrus spp
Bug Type
Arachnid
Location
Southeast Asia, especially Malaysia and Thailand
Environment
Warm and humid
Information
The Malaysian giant scorpion is nocturnal and burrows in the ground, where it may stay hidden during its molt while its exoskeleton hardens.
MIGRATORY BIRD LOCUST
Scientific Name
Cyrtacanthacridinae
Bug Type
Bird Grasshopper
Location
Depends on species
Environment
Desert, scrubland, grassland
Information
Locusts can travel up to 80 miles a day in great swarms that devour crops, winning them the black mark of being one of the greatest pests to humankind.
GIANT CENTIPEDE
Scientific Name
Scolopendra cf subspinipes
Bug Type
Arthropod
Location
Depends on species
Environment
Temperate areas
Information
Many species of giant centipede exist. They generally are not aggressive, but you still want to stay away from them - their bite is extraordinarily painful to people.
WASP SPIDER
Scientific Name
Argiope sp.
Bug Type
Arachnid
Location
Worldwide
Environment
Worldwide
Information
The bright white zigzag pattern that the wasp spider spins into its web may be used to attract insects. On the other hand, it may be used to keep large animals from destroying the web. No one knows for sure.
JAPANESE RHINOCEROS BEETLE
Scientific Name
Allomyrina dichotoma
Bug Type
Scarab Beetle
Location
Southeast Asia
Environment
Tropics
Information
Only the male Rhinoceros Beetle has the large horns for which it is named. It uses its big horns to knock other beetles out of the way when he is pursuing a female.
STICK INSECT
Scientific Name
Phasmatodae
Bug Type
Insect
Location
Worldwide
Environment
Forests and grasslands
Information
Stick insects look like twigs. Since they live in trees they are one of the best camouflaged animals on Earth!
Vinagrillo
Scientific Name
Thelyphonidae
Bug Type
Arachnid
Location
Southern United States
Environment
Deserts
Information
The Vinagrillo, a type of whip scorpion, is not a true scorpion; its tail is not equipped with a stinger. Instead, it sprays a stinging vinegar-like acid as a defense, hence its name Vinagrillo.
LONGHORN BEETLE
Scientific Name
Massicus Radde
Bug Type
Beetle
Location
Asia, Europe
Environment
Wooded areas
Information
Longhorn beetles can infest hardwood trees. For that reason, they are considered both great recyclers for breaking down nutrients in forests, as well as pests for destroying trees.
RED PALM WEEVIL
Scientific Name
Rhynchophorus ferrugineus
Bug Type
Beetle
Location
Originated in Southern Asia and Melanesia
Environment
Palm trees
Information
The red palm weevil larva is a huge pest, killing the palm trees it infests. When it matures, it's capable of flying long distances in search of more palm trees.
GIANT WATER BUG
Scientific Name
Lethocerus sp
Bug Type
Insect
Location
North America
Environment
Ponds, wetlands, any slow-moving water
Information
The giant water bug is an accomplished predator. It waits patiently for its prey, pounces on it with a bite that paralyzes, and then quickly sucks it dry.
