10 Admirably Beautiful Insects

We would never usually associate insects and creepy crawlies with beauty. In fact, many of us find them more annoying creatures with painful bites or stings. However, if we take the time to really look at them, they do have a few physical features that make them beautiful.
Here are 10 insects that you might not mind admiring.

Stick Insect

At times, beauty isn’t measured with gorgeous colors. With stick insects, you can find their appeal in how they are shaped. They have top rating in camouflage since they look exactly like a stick and are almost impossible to spot when mixed with twigs and leaves.

Christmas Beetle

Imagine a bug that comes in all the colors of the rainbow. The Christmas Beetle’s shell has a shimmering, metallic quality to it that makes it shine and reflect different colors. They may not look the prettiest, but they are the most colorful.

Honey Bee

Something about their stripes and furry bodies make them a favorite subject for photos. Honey Bee are very well loved by gardeners since they help pollenate plants, plus they produce honey, which can make any baked good taste so much more awesome.

Signature Spider

Although most of us hate spiders because they just look scary, signature spiders come in different lovely colors that you’d forget that they make your skin crawl. These are found all over Asia and are generally harmless.

Grasshopper

You might think of these insects as boring because they are commonly seen in either green or brown, but some species of grasshoppers are actually quite colorful. They’re a visual surprise when seen in a group.

Caterpillars

Most prefer to wait for these bugs to turn to butterflies before calling them beautiful, but caterpillars can be a stunning surprise to see on a leaf. They come in all different colors and patterns, some even having textured bodies that just add to their appeal.

Ladybugs

Also known as ladybirds, these insects are probably one of the first things we think of seeing in gardens filled with flowers. They come in vivid yellow, orange, and the most common, red. Although they’re tiny, a closer look on their glossy colorful shells and black spots will make you appreciate them more.

Dragonfly

Delicate and colorful, anyone can say that a dragonfly is beautiful when they spot one. You can see iridescent greens and blues on their wings and thin, long bodies. But since they’re very fast and small, you get to see their full beauty when they’re resting.

Praying Mantis

It sound crazy to call a praying mantis beautiful, but some species come in an array of wild, colorful wings that look amazing when they flutter them. These insects are strangely beautiful.

Butterfly

You can argue that butterflies are the most spectacular insects on the planet. From something that looked more like a worm, to a hard shell that hung from a twig, they emerge with wings that have vivid and outstanding colors and patterns. There’s something calmingly beautiful abut butterflies which makes them even more welcomed in gardens.

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7 of the Deadliest Insects on Earth

Insects were the first few living organisms to have ever walked the planet, but most of us are really not big fans of them. Creepy crawlies scare us, and some of them are actually quiet deadly. Although insects would commonly just runaway when confronted, some of them will bite or attack when threatened.

Below are 7 of the deadliest insects on the planet, and some of them might be found in your back yard.

Hemiptera

Also known as the kissing bugs, they’re considered as “true bugs”. These insects commonly feed on plants, but some species do feed on the blood of large animals. What makes them deadly is that they’re known to transmit the Chagas Disease, which takes time to develop but affects the person’s digestive system, nervous system, and heart.

Asian or Giant Japanese Hornet

These hornets have got to be the stuff of nightmares for most people. They can grow to around 3 inches long and live in nests composing of 20 to 30 individuals. A single sting can hurt a lot because of toxins, which is actually powerful enough to dissolve human tissues, and it’s fatal for those who have allergic reactions. Unlike bee stings, hornets are able to sting repeatedly, adding to their danger factor.

Siafu

Siafu or African Ants may not be as scary when they’re alone, but try taking on twenty million of them. Colonies of these ants have been known to take out vegetation in the African countryside. If they run out of food, the members will stop at nothing to ensure their colony’s survival just to get sustenance. Their bites can cause asphyxiation and 20 to 50 people are reported to die yearly because of these ants.

Wasps

Wasps, in general, are very dangerous. They’re social creatures, living and hunting together. They’re very territorial and protective of their nests. Not to mention that they can sting multiple times since their stingers don’t fall off like bees. Many people are allergic to their stings and there have been some cases where a person died because of one sting.

Locusts

Even the bible says that these insects are dangerous. Although they can’t kill humans directly, these insects are known to wipe out acres and acres of fields of crops. They can strip the land barren and a single swarm, composed of thousands of locusts, can finish off a field in a short amount of time. This results to starvation in the area.

Fire Ants

These ants usually nest in soil or sand, building large mounds and feed on plants and the occasional small insect that comes their way. However, when these ants are bothered, they bite. The sting from their pincers is venomous and results in a burning sensation, hence their name. The bite swells up and becomes more painful. Deaths have been recorded because of these ants and millions of dollars worth in damage in crops.

Mosquitos

They may be tiny, but these bugs are terrible. Since they live off blood, they end up transmitting all sorts of illnesses, specifically Malaria. A huge number of people still get infected, and some die, due to malaria especially in tropical areas.

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7 of the Most Colorful Butterfly Species

Butterflies have long been used as a symbol of beauty and life. These delicate and colorful creatures don’t live that long, but they do play an important role in the eco-system. Sadly, a number of butterfly species have declined in population due to habitat lost. With collective action and conservation, we can save these gorgeously patterned and colored insects.

Below are 7 of the most colorful and stunning species of butterflies.

Purple Spotted Swallowtail

This beautiful purple, black, and green colored butterfly is found in the upper mountains and highlands areas of New Guinea. A member of the Papilionidae family, these lovely butterflies are becoming less and less common in the area because of human interference in their habitat. 

Red Lacewing

The Philippines is known to have a number of beautiful butterfly species and the red lancewing is one of them. This specie is no stranger to the world. It’s also seen in parts of Indonesia and India, even way up to china and Nepal. It has a vibrant orange red wing with white and black accents.

Blue Morpho

These fluttering beauties are known for their metallic color, which makes them look even more precious. They’re seen all over the world, ranging from different subspecies. Wonderfully mesmerizing and glossy in appearance, the biggest ones can reach a wingspan of about 8 inches and can be found in South and Central America, as well as parts of Mexico.

Leopard Lacewing

Native to the far east, these attractive butterflies are seen throughout India, the Malay Ppninsula and Singapore, even in southern China. Their bright orange yellow wings with accents of black and white spots and patters give these insects a unique look.

Peacock Butterfly

Named after the majestic and colorful bird, this butterfly is seen all over Europe and is considered to be one of the most beautiful butterfly specie.  The base color of their wings is a warm rusty red, and each of their wingtips has a unique black, yellow, and blue eye spot.

Australian Painted Lady

Although Australia is largely a desert continent, they still have one of the most beautiful butterflies on the planet. Australian painted lady is found here, as well as in New Zealand. Their striking orange base comes with a brown, black, and white pattern. They migrate in large groups from north to the south, filling the sky with bright patterns.

Monarch Butterfly

One of the most iconic butterfly species, these elegant living pieces of art are known for their rich orange and black wings. Their wingspan grows to about 4 inches and since they travel their migration route in millions, they give any summer day a pop of color.

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6 Small but Deadly Predators

When we think of predators, we often imagine a huge animal with razor sharp teeth and a big scary mouth. However, predators in the animal kingdom come in all shapes and sizes. These animals are designed to survive and stand on top of their ecosystem. Below are 6 powerful but small predators found in the wild.

Praying Mantis

Aside from its ability to blend into the foliage and leaves around it, these alien-looking insects can ambush prey using long, sharp, and spiked forelegs. They aim for their victim’s neck region and bite on it to make them immobile. Praying mantises feed on other insects, as well as bigger animals like frogs, lizards, small birds, and even snakes.

Blue-Ringed Octopus

Who could even imagine that a creature that grows to around 5 to 8 inches could be one of the most poisonous animals on the planet? The blue-ringed octopus has venom that’s so poisonous,  it can kill a few humans with just one bite in a matter of minutes. Thankfully, they feed off shrimps and crabs and would rather run off instead of attacking humans.

Spider Wasp

Unlike bees that leave stingers on their victims, wasps actually bite them, meaning that they can attack again and again. Spider wasps are one of the biggest wasp species and have bites that can paralyze prey. These wasps hunts down large spiders, take them down, and then brings them to their nest. 

Candiru

Candirus are small bloodsuckers that transfer from one host to another, attaching itself to larger fishes. After it has feed off and killed its host, it moves to a new one. People who live near the Amazon River would often warn newbies and tourist about peeing in the water. These creatures have been known to swim into and lodge itself inside human orifices.

Jack Jumper Ants

A carnivorous and large ant specie, they have excellent eyesight which helps hunt their prey down. Lethal venom also comes from their bites which can result to painful stings. Humans that are allergic to this may end up experiencing anaphylactic shock.

Piranha

One of the most infamous carnivores fishes on the planet, Piranhas have small but very sharp teeth that can rip through flesh. They travel in schools and can take on prey much larger than they are, such as bigger fish, cattle, and horses. There have also been a few reports that these fishes have attacked humans.

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8 Animals that looks too Strange to be Real

Animals in the wild are majestic, beautiful, and sometimes strange. Thanks to evolution, there are a few bizarre animal species that roam the earth. Some of these animals are so rare that you’d be lucky to see one alive in your lifetime. But thanks to the net, some photos of these animals are available for everyone to see.

Below are 8 strange looking animals that you wouldn’t expect to be real.

Red-lipped Batfish

Even its name sounds like it’s something off a science fiction story. The red-lipped batfish is seen around the waters of the Galapagos Islands. These fishes are really bad at swimming, so they use their fins to move around the sea bed. They got their name because of the obvious red outline around their mouth, which makes them look like they have red lipstick on.

Lowland Streaked Tenrec

Found in Madagascar, these spiny animals grow to a little under 6 inches in length and looks like something you get if you mixed a duck and a mouse. They live off insects and earthworms and are relatively harmless. But predators do need to watch out for their sharp barbed spines.

Japanese Spider Crab

This animal looks like something that came out of a monster movie. They’re known as the biggest arthropod and can reach a width of 12 feet wide and weigh in at 42 pounds. These crabs are seen around the waters of japan, and are being conserved due to over fishing.

Tufted Deer

Imagine something that’s creepy and cute at the same time, the tufted deer is a small deer spice that has pointy horns and fangs that drop down from their top jaw, which makes them look like little devils. They can be found in certain parts of China and Northern Asia.

Glaucus Atlanticus

One of the most beautiful and mysterious creatures on the planet, these electric blue, white, and black colored sea slugs spend all their days floating in the water, feeding on one of the most poisonous animals in the sea, the Portuguese man-o-war. This makes these beautiful slugs poisonous, which means that you need to be careful when picking them up.

Giant isopod

Whoever decided to name this creature wasn’t really thinking much about how active they are. These giant cockroach-looking crustacean crawls around the deep waters of the Indian and Atlantic Ocean. They look like giant bugs, but are actually related to crabs and shrimps.

Star-Nosed Mole

Although some people find moles to be cute, this certain specie definitely got the ugly end of the stick. Found in the United States and Canada, its nose looks more like little strands of skin that’s clustered together in the shape of a star. It uses its nose to detect subtle seismic waves through the ground.

Blobfish

Its name gives it away. The blobfish looks more like a blob of felly than a fish and is seen in parts of New Zealand and Australia. Its mass actually helps it survive these harsh waters and it spends most of its time floating above the sea bed.

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7 Animals you’ve probably never heard of Native to North America

The Americas are not only home to American pop culture and good Latin American food, but this humongous piece of land also houses a number of unique animal species. Although some of these animals are already well known, such as the American bald eagle, some of these amazing creatures are not as well known.

Here are a few animals native to North America that you may not have heard of.

Ocelot

A wild cat specie that’s looks like a tiny leopard or jaguar, this animal grows to about 3 to 4 feet in length and weigh in at 20 to 40 pounds when fully grown. Like all cats, they’re very territorial and rely on forest or thick vegetation for hunting and shelter. They’re seen throughout central and south America, as well as certain areas of North America.

Collared Peccary

Although it’s commonly mistaken as a feral pig, this creature is a specie of its own. Also called Mexican hogs, musk hogs, and javelin, they’re smaller and more slender compared to regular domesticated pigs and they have a few anatomical differences, such as the number of toes on their feet as well as how their tusk points out. They live in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, as well as South and Central America.

Ringtail

A creature that you think would only be found in the wild forests or Australia is actually seen throughout the West and South coast the United States. This cat/fox/raccoon like creature gets in name from the black rings around its bushy tail. They grow to around 2 feet long and weigh at 1 to 2 pounds. Also called the miner's cat, settlers and miners use have them around as pets to hunt vermin, rats, and mice. 

Gulf Coast jaguarondi

Another wild cat specie that lives in the United States, this endangered and unusual looking wild cat is compared to the otter because of their short, stubby legs, long flat tail, rounded ears, and long body. Their coat ranges from dark grey to rusty brown, depending on their habitat. Not a lot is known about these animals due to lack of studies, but they are being conserved.

Flying Squirrel

You might think that flying squirrels are only found in Asia, but there are actually two species of flying squirrels endemic to the Americas. The southern and northern flying squirrels are as cute as their Asian cousins. They’re nocturnal, feed on fruits and nuts, and have a beautiful blown coat with a black base. Southern flying squirrels are seen in eastern U.S. from Florida to Maine and western states from to Texas to Minnesota. Northern flying squirrel mostly lives in the northwest coast, specifically in Montana and Idaho.

Coati

A relative of the ringtail and raccoon, these animals reside in southwestern New Mexico, southwestern Arizona, and certain areas of Texas. About the same size of a house cat, they hold their tails straight up like a flagpole, which is a big help since they live in groups and need to stick together. They’re also called hog-nosed raccoon because of how the ends of their noses are up-turned.

Luna moth

One huge moth specie, the Luna moth has a distinct green color and reaches a wing span of 4.5 inches. They’re seen through northern Mexico to Nova Scotia and are the biggest moth species in North America. They only mature to reproduce and die 4 days after reaching adulthood.

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8 of the Smallest Birds on Earth

When it comes to birds, the ones that have big flashy feathers, like the peacock, or the fast tough-looking ones, like the eagle, usually have all the attention. However, there are a few bird species that are remarkably tiny, but can still awe you with their beauty.

Here are 8 of the smallest birds on earth.

Red-cheeked cordon-bleu

An African finch specie which is identified by a red spot on their cheek, the red-cheeked cordon-bleu looks like it’s always blushing. They grow at an average of 5 inches tall and weighs in at an average of.35 ounces. Found in east and central Africa, this bird is a popular amongst pet traders.

Verdin

Verdin is a common bird seen in Africa, southwest North America, and Mexico. A specie of penduline tit, they have yellow and blue feathers and grow to around 4.5 inches. These birds feed on insects and plants. Sometimes these birds even feed on sugar from hummingbird feeders.

Lesser Goldfinch

The smallest known North American finch, the lesser goldfinch grows to around 3.5 - 4.7 inches when matured and it weighs at 0.28 to 0.41 ounces. People often see these birds in their yards or near bird baths and feedings.

Goldcrest

These birds are proof that you don’t have to be huge to be a king. The goldcrest is referred to as “little king” and is one of the smallest birds in the European continent. Growing to a height of 3.3–3.7 inches and weighting in at 0.16–0.25 ounces, their small size has nothing on their ability to lay eggs, which often yields 10 to 12 eggs in one season.

Bee Hummingbird

The smallest bird on earth, you can easily mistake these birds as an actual bee flying near your ear. These hummingbirds only grow to an average of 2.4 inches and weigh in at 0.056–0.071 ounces. Their eggs are no bigger than a pea, and they’re native to Cuba and areas around it.

Willow tit

Despite their tiny size, these little birds can survive the coldest of climates. Thriving in northern Asia and sub-arctic Europe, they grow to 4.5 inches long and weigh in at 0.31-0.38 ounces. It looks very similar to its cousin, the marsh tit, but their different vocalizations help identify them.

Spotted Pardalote

Although small, these birds are flashy. They come in all different feather patterns and colors with while spots. Also known as diamond bird, they’re found in south and eastern Australia. They grow to a height of 3.1-3.9 inches and live amongst the eucalyptus trees.

Weebill

These birds got their name because they have a tiny beak. Growing to a length of 3-3.5 inches long, they’re recorded as Australia's tiniest bird species. The Weebill often lives in groups in wooded areas, although they’re also known to stay in eucalyptus forests.

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5 Wonderful Types of Lemurs

Lemurs are one of the most mysterious creatures on the planet. Often mistaken for monkeys, they were named after lemurs, which are spirits or ghost in roman mythology. These animals are endemic to the island of Madagascar and the areas around it. Many subspecies are still being discovered to this day, and some of the subspecies don’t even resemble lemurs.

Below are wonderful and strange lemur species that would get you wondering if they are really lemurs or a whole different type of animal.

Brown Mouse Lemur

Although this little fella looks nothing like a lemur and more like a sugar glider or a squirrel, they’re actually one of the smallest lemur subspecies. They feed on insects, flowers, and fruits. On a sad note, these cute little lemurs have the shortest lifespan amongst all primates, ranging from around 6 to 8 years.

Diademed Sifaka

Their beautiful golden fur is not the only thing that gives them away. The diademed sifaka is one of the biggest lemurs around, not to mention one of the fastest as well. They usually stay in the canopies and rarely come down. Their strong arms and legs help them to move swiftly through the trees. Tagged as critically endangered, there is an estimate of only 10,000 of these colorful lemurs left in the wild.

Mongoose Lemur

One of the two lemur species found outside Madagascar, these ones look like a fluffy teddy bear. What makes them different from most of the animals in Madagascar is that they’re cathemeral, which means they can be active during different times of the day or night, depending on the availability of sunlight and the season. They live off fruits, nectar, and flowers.

Aye-Aye

You’re probably surprised to know that this creepy looking creature is actually a lemur. Locals believe that they carry bad luck and death, but although they’re scary-looking, they’re actually pretty harmless. It lives of eating bugs and worms that they find with their long, boney fingers by tapping on tree trunks. They’re very active at night, which adds to their creepiness.

Bamboo Lemur

They weren’t called bamboo lemurs until around the 1980s. These lemurs were original named gentle lemurs, which is kind of ironic considering that they’re actually pretty aggressive when placed in captivity. Although they might scratch and bite, they only live off bamboo so don’t expect it to attack you if it ever does feel hungry.

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