Spring has arrived with full force, and some bug friends are back on the playground. We’ve seen some oldies but goodies like ladybugs and flies, but also some new ones like what you see in the banner picture.
I am too lazy to look them up on the internet, so I’m asking you: Do you know what they are? I can tell you that they are each the size of an ant, but with a long abdomen that might be ….segmented? I don’t know – they wiggled when they walked. I made the mistake of dubbing them ‘train bugs’ since they always traveled in twos. When we found a lone one we would scoop him up with a leaf and try to get him to join a pair, but they would break apart and pair up again. I don’t know.
I do know that the budding entomologists really clogged up trike traffic for a good long while. Sorry, guys, but bugs are important. “Don’t run over the train bugs!!” – direct quote from Autumn & the gang.
Brad says
First of all, don’t you think the “train” formation is mating behavior? That was clever of you to disguise it for the kids.
Secondly, it’s hard to see them with just that one picture, but except for the missing tails, those look just like earwigs to me.
The other thing that comes to mind is those ants that swarm Seward in the summer. They have long abdomens like that, don’t they?
Lauren says
First of all: (hands over ears) Lalalalalala!
Second: (hands over ears) Lalalalalala!
Third: (hands over ears) Why’d I even ask this question if all the answers are going to freak me out?
Brad says
It’s a good thing you’re putting your hands over your ears, what with all the earwigs at the CDC.
Mrs. B says
I was going to say earwigs, too.
Lauren says
Nobody should ever say earwigs. 😉
Peggy says
I don’t know what they are, but I don’t care for them. I glad you tried to stop their mating.
Amy says
I think I just need to say
“EWEWEWEWEWEWEWEWEWEW”
thank you,
Amy
Mark says
Rove beetles.