What is your favorite insect?

Question

Give me a reason why and post a picture of it. The best pic and explanation wins 10pts.
Im an Entomologist so dont worry about making it an incredibly flashy choice, I love all insects, there is no bias here.....I just love seeing what people are in to!

Well lets open up the filed a little more, it can be any arthropod... that'll make for some interesting results!

FOR KELLY C
Im wondering if it may not be this speices, the Blue dasher (P. longipennis)
http://www.insectimages.org/browse/detail.cfm?imgnum=1366090

Answer 1

My favorite has to be the Green Darner and the Shadow Darner, I just love the way thier eyes look and the colours of thier body. Whenever I go for walks in the woods around here I end up getting an escort of these guys, flying around catching all the black flies and mosquitos that are attracted to me, it is so cool! If you listen closely you can hear when they catch an insect they make a snapping sound. I used to be able to get them to perch on my finger when I was younger but for some reason I am not as good at it as I was, before I used to go up to one that was perched somewhere and just put my finger under him and then walk around with him on my hand..lol Also the way they live in water when they are nymphs and hunt there is so interesting! the are very efficient predators in the water and air...no wonder thier design hasnt changed for thousands of years!... Also I cant help but being awed at how fast they can fly and how well they can manoever about. There is just something about them that fascinates me, and I definitely thank them for keeping the mosquito and blackfly population down whenever I see one zooming by, I always say keep up the good work ! eat as many as those annoying buggers as you can!! that way they dont eat me!

Here are some pics of a Green and Shadow Darner.. http://www.rlephoto.com/odes/shadow_darner001.jpg
http://www.samford.edu/schools/artsci/biology/invert04f/photos/Green-darner-dragonfly--Ana.jpg



Hey also I have seen ones that were only yellow with blue markings but I havent been able to find out what they are called or I would have included them. I know you are good at this sort of thing so maybe you know what they are called or at least give an idea. Thanks!

Answer 2

The best known pollinator and man s best friend among the insects in the honey bee. Besides the pollinating services it renders, this insect provides us with honey which we eat and beeswax which we use in making candles, polishes, inks, and cosmetics. It is hard to imagine what life would be like without the natural pest control, flower pollination, and products provided to us by these beneficial insects.

I'm sorry I couldn't send a picture co'z I wasn't able to paste the picture of the honey - bee in the answer box.

Answer 3

For me, the Praying Mantis is incredibly unique and beautiful. When I was living in Las Vegas there was one that spent about a week hanging around the outside of my apartment door. And last fall here in Indiana I found one in my backyard. We also had one at the zoo where I used to work.

There is no spectacular reason for my choice. I just find them fascinating to watch. Seeing how their body moves.

Answer 4

I like dragonflies.. They're impressive already when they're growing up underwater - the most ferocious little creeps you could find under there. And as adults, they fly better than anything else in the sky, they've got the ability to take out hornets and all.. And yet they're not scary to humans. Well not since the Meganeura days anyway. They're beautiful.

Answer 5

Silk moth.It is gorgeous.It produces silk.The larva is a voracious eater of mulberry leaves.The larva becomes sluggish and begins to produce silk( a fibroin protein) from the salivary gland so that it can sleep within it.One day from the pupa emerges the adult.In most cases pupa is boiled so that it gets killed and the silk fibre can be obtained unbroken.

Answer 6

Butterflies

Answer 7

No question 'bout it.....I adore the praying mantis.
The reason that the praying mantis is my favorite insect is because it is intelligent. They often turn their heads and make direct eye contact with me as if to say, "You are much too big to eat, so what are your intentions?"

Answer 8

It's spider for it's amazing ablity to create webs as well as the variety of appearances from flashing to ugly

Answer 9

I like butterflies of course...but so do a lot of people...but I really like Jerusalem Crickets. Most people think they are creepy..but I think they are really neat looking. Also like velvet ants just because they look furry.

Answer 10

I am indecided.
Jerusalem crickets are just too cute.
But I think solpugids win with weirdness