There are many kinds of insects in Texas. Some of them might bother you or even scare you. On the other hand, not all insects are bad. Some are necessary for the environment and help people in different ways. If you live in Texas, there are seven bugs that you should never kill. Here are some reasons why you should.
1. Praying Mantis
Gardens, fields, and forests are all places where you can find the interesting praying mantis. The way they stand, with their front legs together as if in prayer, gives them their name. However, they are not very calm because they eat a lot of other insects, even bugs like aphids, caterpillars, and grasshoppers.
They can also see very well and turn their heads 180 degrees to follow their food. Praying mantises help keep pests away naturally and protect wildlife. In some cultures, they are also seen as a sign of good luck.
2. Ladybug
People often think that seeing a ladybug, also called a ladybird, is a sign of good luck. Another great use for them is in gardens and farms, where they eat aphids, scale insects, and other bugs that eat plants and hurt flowers and crops.
A ladybug can eat up to 50 aphids every day, and in its whole life, it can eat up to 5,000 aphids. Ladybugs also have a chemical defense that keeps predators away, and they can make enemies stay away by releasing a stinky fluid from their legs.
3. Dragonfly
When it flies, the dragonfly is graceful and quick. It can pause, dart, and change directions at the speed of sound. They are also some of the oldest bugs in the world, having lived more than 300 million years ago. As feeders, dragonflies eat mosquitoes, flies, gnats, and other flying insects.
This means that they can help lower the number of these bothersome and possibly dangerous pests. Dragonflies are also good markers of water quality because they need clean, healthy water to live in and breed. People respect dragonflies for their beauty and speed. In some countries, they are also linked to bravery and happiness.
4. Honey bee
One of the most important animals for people is the honey bee, which pollinates about one-third of the world’s crops, such as nuts, flowers, fruits, and veggies. Many of the things we enjoy would not be around or would be much more expensive and hard to find without honey bees. Honey bees also make honey, wax, and propolis, all of which are useful and healthy for people in different ways.
Insects like honey bees live in groups called colonies. They talk to each other through sounds, dances, and hormones. Loss of territory, chemicals, diseases, and parasites are all things that put honey bees in danger. We need to protect and preserve them.
5. Firefly
The firefly, also called the lightning bug, is a kind of beetle that can make light from its stomach. They talk to each other, find mates, and scare off enemies with this light. Night-dwelling insects called fireflies can be seen flashing their lights at night, making for a beautiful and magical sight. Fireflies eat snails, slugs, worms, and other soft-bodied bugs.
They don’t hurt people or plants. Also, fireflies are bioluminescent, which means they can make light without heat. This is a rare and useful natural ability. Light pollution, ecosystem loss, and chemical use are all things that put fireflies in danger, and we need to treat them with respect and care.
6. Butterfly
The butterfly is a pretty and delicate bug that changes amazingly from a caterpillar to an adult with wings. Honeybees and butterflies both feed on flower juice and help seeds get from one plant to another. Other animals, like birds, bats, and spiders, eat butterflies as well.
Butterflies come in many different colors and patterns, and the different shapes and patterns on their wings help them hide, warn, or imitate other animals. In many countries, butterflies represent change, hope, and happiness. They also serve as inspiration for art, writing, and science.
7. Ant
Ants are a small but strong bug that lives in groups of thousands or millions of them. Ants are social insects that work together and talk to each other. They live in a complex, well-organized society where everyone has a job to do. Ants are scavengers that eat different kinds of organic matter. They also help the soil recover nutrients and break down trash.
Ants are also very good at engineering. They can change their surroundings to meet their needs and build very complex nests and tunnels. Ants are tough and flexible, so they can live in almost any environment. Also, ants show how to work hard, get along with others, and be smart.