GRRR! > Spring 2003 >The good, the bad, and the ugly.

Wild About Wild Thornberrys
Catnip and Hairballs
Deadly Destinations
Wildlife Rescue!
Wild World of Bugs

The Wild & Wonderful World of Bugs

Insects might seem like creatures from another planet, but in some ways, they’re a lot like us. In beetle families, both mom and dad stay home to care for the kids. Wasp babies can call out to their mothers for help. We can’t hear them, but they really do talk to each other. Think cockroaches all look alike? Well, they can tell us apart! And some scientists say that insects feel pain—just as we do.

Did you know?
	Only female mosquitoes bite—they need the protein for their eggs. But they’ll leave you alone if you wear long sleeves and light colors.
Earthworms, daddy-longlegs, and other insects help clear away organic matter like dead plants. Without them, we’d be ankle-deep in muck.
	Those roly-poly pillbugs who hide under rocks aren’t really bugs at all:They’re crustaceans.Their big cousins include crabs and lobsters.
Ants have been seen “holding hands” to make a bridge so that others can cross a stream.
	Cockroaches groom themselves with the tiny hairs on their legs, stroking every part of their bodies to remove dust and dirt—like cats cleaning their faces with front paws.

You can encourage bugs to bug off without reaching for the Raid. Here are some of our favorite tried-and-true tips:
• Pour a line of paprika or dried peppermint at the place where ants enter your house—they won’t cross it.
• Carefully trap spiders in an inverted jar and release them outside—instead of squashing them.
• Flies will flee if you leave out fresh orange peel.They think it stinks.
• Roaches won’t stick around unless you feed them.Always clean up dirty dishes and wash out bottles and cans before storing them for recycling.

Images: Dawn Hudson/Giffy Arts

Did you know?