Hobbies And Interests
Fruit Chafer Beetles
Fruit chafer beetles are common beetles in North America, they are of the Coleoptera order of species. Adult fruit chafers eat the flowers and leaves of many trees, shrubs and plants but cause little damage. Grub fruit chafers, however, live in the soil and feed on plant roots, they are therefore sometimes considered pests in nurseries, gardens and golf courses. The presence of fruit chafer grubs can be detected when small saplings and tap rooted plants like lettuce, show stunted growth or begin to wilt suddenly. Chafer grubs feed below ground for 3 to 4 years before changing into adult beetles. The adult reaches 40 to 45 mm in length and is covered in short brown hairs, the topple of the beetle is speckled with black marks and it has white hairs on its flanks.
Boll Weevil
The boll weevil is common to North America and is of the Coleoptera order of species. The boll weevil is a major pest of cotton that feeds on the leaf, fruiting forms and petioles of the plant. They lay eggs in the cotton squares and bolls of the plant, the lava then stop the cotton squares; growth and the bolls don't open properly and rot. The larvae are grubs of about 3/8 of an inch in length and are white colored with brown head. The adults vary from 1/9 to 1/3 of an inch in length and begin their lives a reddish brown color before turning to dark gray or black over time. They have mouthparts at the tip of a long snout and two spurs on the upper of their front legs.
Dung Beetle
The Copris fricator or dung beetle are highly beneficial to farmers and landowners in the United States and as such are common. Many species of dung beetle have been introduced to the U.S intentionally. Not only do the beetles remove animal the animal dung from land but their activities reduce the number of dung feeding flies and enrich the soil. Dung beetles can be easily recognized by their black armored bodies, long hind legs and stumpy brown antenna. Many species of dung beetle roll dung into balls others bury the dung.
Fiery Searcher Beetle
The Calosoma scrutator or fiery searcher beetle are large beetles 35 mm in length, their prey on caterpillars and other small insects. Fiery searcher beetles often climb trees in search of prey. They are found in gardens, crop fields and woods throughout the United States and Southern Canada. They are brightly metallic in color with a bright blue body and legs with bright pink and orange linings. They are active during day light and have a large prothorax with a narrow head.
Ladybugs
Ladybugs or ladybirds are shiny red, orange or black with red or yellow markings. They are very common throughout North America. Both adults and larva are predators of plant damaging aphids and thus they are very popular with gardeners and farmers. They are uses as biological control agents and the Asian ladybug was introduced to the U.S for this reason, it is now the dominant ladybug species in North America. Ladybugs often spent winter under fallen leaves, bark or inside outbuildings. Ladybugs received their name during the Middle Ages in appreciation of their work controlling aphid infestations of grapevines and vineyards, they were dedicated to "Our Lady".