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A species of Tiger crane flies
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Phoroctenia vittata stands out for its extraordinary ability to camouflage even within brightly colored surroundings. It interacts with its environment in a captivating way, playing a pivotal role in its ecosystem by preying mainly on aphids, keeping the population in check. Uniquely, it displays a fascinating defensive behavior, releasing an unpleasant scent when threatened. Situated in the top tiers of food chains, this species regulates populations of pests. Phoroctenia vittata's existence, hence, is vital to maintaining ecological balance.
Prionocera turcica is a species of fly in the family Tipulidae. It is found in the Palearctic .
The Antlered Crane Fly is notable for its bright black and yellow colors, which are thought to offer it defense from predators due to its similar appearance to wasps. This species can be differentiated from other crane flies by the unusual twig-like appearance of the male, which is a special adaptation that allows further defense from predators in this insect's native forest habitat.
Adorning a sleek, dark-toned body, giant sabre comb horn cranefly flaunts wings that shimmer with a subtle iridescence when caught by the light. Its lifecycle includes an aquatic larval phase, which eventually transforms into a winged adult, capable of delicate yet determined flight. This species, typically preferring damp environments, plays a crucial ecological role through both its larval and adult stages, contributing significantly to the detrital decomposition process and serving as a prey item for various predators.
Adorning a slender body with elongated legs, antlered crane fly makes a striking figure as it navigates its environment. Its wings beat swiftly, allowing for adept flight abilities, while it feeds primarily on smaller insects, showcasing a predatory edge from a young age. With each transformation from larva to adult, its roles in the ecosystem shift, reflecting a dynamic life cycle intrinsic to its ecological niche.
The giant Western Crane Fly (Holorusia hespera) is an insect that looks like an enormous mosquito. Thankfully, they have no interest in human blood. Instead, they only eat plant debris in their larval stages. They do not eat as adults. It has a built-in gyroscope in the form of club-like structures called halteres that help them fly.
Nephrotoma crocata is a species of cranefly found in most of Europe and northern Russia. The subspecies N. c. luteata is found in southwest France, Portugal, Spain, Morocco, and Algeria.
Nephrotoma virgata's uniqueness lies in its vibrational communication, achieved by twitching their abdomen to signal others of their species. They play a crucial role in the ecosystem as primary consumers, feeding extensively on grass and contributing to the nutrient cycle. In turn, their larval stage feeds voraciously on decaying plants, helping speed up decomposition and fostering soil health. Nephrotoma virgata also double as prey for birds and small mammals, sustaining biodiversity within their habitat.
Western honey bee（Apis mellifera） is the most common species of honeybee in the world. Among the first domesticated insects, its cultural and economic impact on humanity has been vast and far-reaching, providing honey, wax and its services as a pollinator. Western honey bee faces challenges worldwide, such as colony collapse disorder, and populations are thought to be decreasing.
The monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is the most recognizable butterfly in North America. It is best known for its appearance, but should be better known for the fact that it has a 3000-mile migration that takes the butterfly 4 generations to complete. Their diet is also a natural deterrent for predators, as they eat milkweed, a poison that induces vomiting.
The japanese rhinoceros beetle (Trypoxylus dichotomus) is a massive beetle about the size of the palm of a hand. It's distinguished by its long Y-shaped horn, which it uses to fight other males with. It's a nocturnal bug that feeds on sap and sweet fruits. This species is sometimes kept as a pet due to its unique appearance and simple care requirements.
The silken threads produced by silkworm during its larval stage have been highly coveted for millennia, manifesting as a luxurious fabric in human society. Remarkably, this creature has a singular diet, feeding exclusively on the leaves of its primary host plant from which it extracts the necessary nutrients to facilitate its transition into a non-feeding, winged adult.
Menelaus blue morpho (Morpho menelaus) is a gorgeous butterfly with large, royal blue wings. Linnaeus named the genus Morpho the Aphrodite-Ancient Greek goddess of love and beauty for its extreme beauty. It is native to tropical rainforests. Though many butterfly gardens now cultivate them in captivity, there are still many people who never get a chance to see them.
While the atlas moth (Attacus atlas) can't tell you where to find your country on the map, it does earn its name through other means. It is one of the largest moths in the world, with a wingspan that is far larger than its body, creating an abnormal comparison. In India, their silk is gathered in a non-commercial capacity and is considered to be more durable than the domestic silkworm.
Both sexes reach about 5 mm in body length. Females and immatures of both sexes are brown but have color patterns by which they can be distinguished from related species. Also, the males dance to attract females.
Often confused for the ladybug, multicolored asian ladybeetle (Harmonia axyridis) is a separate species that, unlike the ladybug, is a household pest. It is considered particularly annoying for its habit of returning to places from which it is removed. One of the most variable species in the world, there are many different colors and patterns multicolored asian ladybeetle may display, making identification potentially difficult.
