OT:::: lightning bugs/fireflies

[Bad JuJu]

No lightning bugs to speak of here in NW Florida--I've heard it said that the pesticides they spray around to keep the mosquitoes under control also keep the lightning bugs "under control"--dead, that is.

But we've got more than our share of those cool dragonflies!

[CyclChyk]

cow ants (also called velvet ants )are these big orange and black stripped ants that are really wasps but they don't fly. They crawl around and live like ants and they are hard as heck to kill and they make a squeaking kinda noise. It hurts like holy heck if you get stung by one. I've attached a pic.

[Aggie_Ama]

We get june bugs in Texas. My dog, Maggie, loves to play with them and crickets. Regular toys she won't touch, but she loves bugs!

Those cow ants look mean. Glad we don't have them in Texas!

[Evie]

We have lightning bugs coming out the wazoo. I never really thought of places NOT having them! I loved catching them when I was smaller, but one time twenty or so escaped from their temporary container and flew all over my room. It was terrifying.

They're sort of a hazard now that I'm riding instead of running. There are places where I'd LOVE to open my mouth and gasp for precious air, but if I do, I'll choke on a few dozen of them. They're especially heavy around the fields, which makes sense. Oh, and about their two names--around here, it depends on how lazy we're feeling. "Firefly" is much easier to say when you're tired. I think "Lightning Bug" uses more muscles.

There's one incident I still haven't figured out. My friend and I were running on a back road last year, somewhere between a corn field and an Amish church, and there was section of the road, maybe about four feet in length, that was COVERED in fireflies. Absolutely packed with them. We felt terrible running over them, but there was no way around and it was impossible to pick through them because they covered the ground so densely. They were all lit up, even though it wasn't dark. I thought it was some freaky mating ritual, but according to Discovery, they fly around at night, flashing their fancy lights, hoping to attract a mate and maybe a snack. I've never heard anything about laying around in massive groups before sunset.

Has anyone else ever seen anything like that? I'd love to know what they were doing.

[bentforlife]

I remember those from living in S. GA. And they do have a nasty sting!!

We had lots of lighting bugs in June here in N. TX but with the drought and high temperatures we've had lately they've gone away.

I haven't even seen our usual big tarantulas this year. They must be staying underground out of the heat. We've seen an increase in carpenter ants looking for water in the house. The exterminator has tried some less polluting methods to try to get rid of them and it seems to be working.

We didn't even have out usual cricket invasion. The heat has been terrible. I'm ready for rain and cooler weather!!

Donna

[CyclChyk]

I would love to borrow one of those tarantulas! My hubby would squeal like a little girl!!!!!