Insects

Insects

Posted on 11 Dec, 2008 6 comments

Insects are small creepy crawlies who sometimes can fly. We all are familiar with some of the species. There are benificial insects and insects who are a definite plague to us. I can only remember 3 kinds of insects in the Dutch East Indies. The flying termite, called larong, who would loose its wings after its last flight when it usually crashes against the fly wire windows, or when it gets stuck in some cob web and of course will be eaten by frogs or tjitjaks ( small gecko’s ). Then there was the mosquito, the little stinger, who transmits all kinds of tropical diseases, like malaria. Further there were the ants who would always be chasing sweet things. But I cannot remember what colour they were. And the nasty cockroaches, who were so big you’d run away from them.
In Holland we find quite a number of insects. The worst one I think is the wasp. The European wasp is a ferocious creature. It hunts for anything sweet and spoils the outdoor living which already is not so long lived, due to the climate. They even like beer! If you sit on a terrace and the waiter has just put some sweet desert on your table for instance, you bet there’ll be a wasp or two or three, just hovering around, aiming for the icing sugar.which If you are not aware of them, you can get a very nasty sting indeed when you place this delicious spoonful of delicacy in your mouth. Yes, some people even swell up inside their mouth and throat and in extreme cases will have to be taken to hospital. Wasps are mean and nasty. Pay no attention to the sip you are about to be taking from your glass and you could well be stung. I have heard they have mosquitoes in Holland as well, yet I cannot remember them. But there are some houseflies, horse flies, which really can prod you with their prong and take a small bite outof you. And of course there are bees. Sweet friendly bees, who, when left alone, won’t harm you. They are only after nectar from the flowers. I have seen dragon flies in summertime in Holland, bumble bees, beetles, catterpillars and what have you. Yes, in summer there is an explosion of all kinds of small fry.
In the South West of Australia where I lived for a long time, are many insects, some in plague proportions. In spring the blow fly is first to emerge. They are annoying to say the least.Directly they don’t bother us, but indirectly they can make you sick. You have to keep them outof your house, as they will invade your kitchen and lay their eggs in your food. Also, they go on dead things, feaces etc. Not very healthy. But the blowy as he is nick named, will not stay for too long. The very hot weather will kill it, or at least make it leave. A few different kind of mudwasps are next on the list. They fly with their legs dangling down ( the European wasp folds them underneath in its flight ). They paralise smaller creatures like cattarpillars, spiders and so on and then encapsule them in their mud tunnels, which they glue to the walls of houses, underneath the eaves, in window corners etc. They get some mud first, glue it onto something, leaving one side open and a hollow inside, catch their prey and preserve them in there for their next generation. So, of course they lay their eggs in there as well. There are small bush flies, which emerge in October and die off in December at the latest. They can cause eye infections amongst children, when not protected. Shoo fly, don’t bother me is a well known frase and the Australian salute is the waving away of these flies.
Mosquitoes are also present in that area, although more so near the coast, where the nights are warm and where the inlets and rivers run into the Ocean. Spraying programs are followed to control them. The Ross River ( is actually in Queensland ) virus can be transmitted by these mosquitoes as well as Bahrma forest disease. These are debilitating diseases which can last up to 6 months or even 2 years. Painful joints, headaches, general malaise, no energy are always present.It can cripple the workforce if not taking precautions, as you cannot go to work when ill. Horses get bothered by botflies which they ingest by licking their legs or rumps when the botfly eggs are stuck on there. In the stomach they hatch and then attack the lining. So you have to fight them and often rubbing some kerosene on the eggs on the horses will suffice. Of course the story is well known of the sheep here, which get a piece of wool taken off around their backside, as otherwise the blowies will lay their eggs in there and the maggots will eat the sheep away from behind. All horrible things, so prevention is better as there is no cure. Dung beatles have been iintroduced from Egypt and are benificial, as they burry the cow dung in the ground, so no flies can breed in it. White ants are a real pest and all house pads and indeed alll pinewood for building are treated for white ants. They eat their way through just about anything, but prefer the outcasts in the forest. In a jarrah forest they will eat the karri and in the karri forest they will eat the jarrah. ( Eucalyptus marginata trees ) e.g. The forest has native bees as well.
White ants are also present here in the tropics of Australia. There are termite mounds,and can be higher than 3 metres. They are impressive sculptures of nature. Further there are sugar ants, little black ones, bigger black ones and the green ants.These are benificial, as they tidy up all debris. They are the cleaners of the bush. These ants make funny looking nests, folding over leaves on trees, glued together with some spit ( I think ) and in there they live and take their food, and lay their eggs in there too. They do not attack humans or pets or small live animals. They are only after dead matter. But, be careful. They spit acid at you, very sharp sour smelling stuff, when you happen to touch a nest or the branches they walk on. I have had 3 bad encounters already. And then they are mad and actually bite. They are beautiful though.

A very benificial insect is the paperwasp. Also present in other areas, as the South-West, I have found two nests here. They look intriget and resemble beehives slightly. Their eggs are laid in the chambers and then closed up. Perhaps they provide some food for them in there as well. The nest is made by a small colony of wasps and hangs from what looks like a thread from a wooden beam, a branch in a tree or shrub or just stuck onto a water pipe. Anywhere really. The wasps have red bodies and look vicious, but when left alone, they will not attack you.
Flying ants ( the termintes ) of course at certain weather conditions, hot and humid and after rain. Catterpillars, moths and of course butterflies and dragon flies. Oh, I almost forgot the wonderful firefly.
Truly, the insects make up a large part of the ecology and idially should be left alone. They belong in the chain of life. They are wonderful to look at and interesting to observe.

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