What's your favorite...
By JJ
@JolietJake (50190)
December 22, 2016 4:35am CST
BUG!!!
Okay...admittedly. most bugs are rather creepy, and we mostly want them to just stay away.
But there is one bug that I just think is the coolest bug there is.
The Praying Mantis.
These are really rather passive bugs...if you hold your hand out, normally a mantis will climb right on...but keep your hand raised, because they like to be up high, and if you lower your hand it will normally scurry up your arm and either onto your shoulder or the top of your head.
However, should you try to grab one, and you don't grab it properly, these guys can give a MEAN bite.
I have been known to bring them INSIDE my house and turn them loose...they are rather voracious little hunters, and will eat about any bug they can get their claws on.
They are rather lousy to their mates though.
As soon as (sometimes even before) a pair of mantis's are finished mating, the female will reach behind her, grab the male, and bite his head off.
Ouch.
Sounds like my ex... 
Do you have any bugs you like? Or do you find all of them creepy?
Okay...admittedly. most bugs are rather creepy, and we mostly want them to just stay away.
But there is one bug that I just think is the coolest bug there is.
The Praying Mantis.
These are really rather passive bugs...if you hold your hand out, normally a mantis will climb right on...but keep your hand raised, because they like to be up high, and if you lower your hand it will normally scurry up your arm and either onto your shoulder or the top of your head.
However, should you try to grab one, and you don't grab it properly, these guys can give a MEAN bite.
I have been known to bring them INSIDE my house and turn them loose...they are rather voracious little hunters, and will eat about any bug they can get their claws on.
They are rather lousy to their mates though.
As soon as (sometimes even before) a pair of mantis's are finished mating, the female will reach behind her, grab the male, and bite his head off.
Ouch.
Sounds like my ex...
Do you have any bugs you like? Or do you find all of them creepy?21 people like this
26 responses
@owlwings (43902)
• Cambridge, England
22 Dec 16
Praying mantises are not indigenous to these cold climates but I know some people who have kept them as pets and fascinating they are, too. In England, a 'bug' refers only to certain kinds of insect, mostly ones which crawl but don't fly and generally feed by sucking juices from plants or animals. Bed bugs are bugs but fleas, apparently, are not and nor are ladybirds (which aren't birds but are beetles!).
If we're talking about things other than insects, then my favourite, I think, is the monkeypea (a woodlouse) which can curl itself up into a ball and roll away from danger. I also admire the garden spider which spins a beautiful web overnight and can be seen (mostly in the autumn) sitting in the middle of it with a silver cross on its back.
3 people like this
@JolietJake (50190)
•
22 Dec 16
I'm not sure if our garden spiders are the same as yours, but they spin beautiful orbs. I used to toss bugs into them and watch them wrap them up for storage.
The monkeypea here is known as a 'ball bug'.
@Ladyzombie (45)
•
22 Dec 16
Your autumn sounds like a fun time.
Really awesome infos, nice share. I thought the terms 'bug' are the same in every regions. We knows the bug as insects too.
@owlwings (43902)
• Cambridge, England
22 Dec 16
@Ladyzombie Bugs are, strictly speaking, one particular kind of insect but, in the US and other places, almost any kind of small insect (as well as other invertebrates with legs) is popularly called a 'bug'.
@LilyBeBack (1994)
• United Kingdom
22 Dec 16
I wasn't aware until now, but my favourite bug is that specific praying mantis in the picture. Look at it! He's clearly my best friend, so cheerful 
1 person likes this
@LilyBeBack (1994)
• United Kingdom
22 Dec 16
@JolietJake 
Thankfully he's not carrying mistletoe, probably doesn't know it's Christmas...
Thankfully he's not carrying mistletoe, probably doesn't know it's Christmas...1 person likes this
@JolietJake (50190)
•
22 Dec 16
...and sooo happy to see you, threw his arms up to give you a big ol' bughug
1 person likes this
@JolietJake (50190)
•
22 Dec 16
@LilyBeBack You just sent my mind here
? Lyrics ? (Paul Young) It's Christmas time There's no need to be afraid At Christmas time We let in light and we banish shade (Boy George) And in our world ...
1 person likes this
@toniganzon (72545)
• Philippines
22 Dec 16
A ladybug. I've always wondered why it's called Lady.
1 person likes this
@toniganzon (72545)
• Philippines
22 Dec 16
@JolietJake Oh, so they bite too. Haven't encountered one that bit me...yet.
1 person likes this
@JolietJake (50190)
•
22 Dec 16
I used to like them more until the Asian variety started appearing...that kind bites
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25809)
• United States
22 Dec 16
@JolietJake I understand completely. My oldest son was bitten by a wolf spider about 6 years ago, and I still kill any wolf spider I see on sight. I don't hold a grudge against other spiders, though, and I love the webs the yellow garden spiders spin.
1 person likes this
@JolietJake (50190)
•
22 Dec 16
@DWDavis I used to toss grasshoppers in the orbs, when I lived in the country we had a dozen or more in the bushes around the house.
1 person likes this
@JolietJake (50190)
•
22 Dec 16
Spiders fell into my disfavored category several years back when I got bitten by a brown recluse. Basically can't handle them near me since then.
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21742)
• Canada
22 Dec 16
Now I'm going to have to search for my photo of a praying mantis. I rarely even attempt a photo of a bug....but one was siting on top of my deck lamp. I could get close to it....it stayed long enough for me to take multiple shots.
Even as I read your first line....the praying mantis came to mind as my favourite (relative term) bug.
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21742)
• Canada
22 Dec 16
@JolietJake its me that becomes skittish around bugs....mind you....I don't screech and run off... I'm more likely to use a shoe to squash the bug.
1 person likes this
@JolietJake (50190)
•
22 Dec 16
@Morleyhunt I get house centipedes occasionally...those always freak me out a bit...waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too many legs
This one showed up near the living room ceiling back in February, I went and got the Raid...wanted to make sure it didn't drop down and scurry off. 
This one showed up near the living room ceiling back in February, I went and got the Raid...wanted to make sure it didn't drop down and scurry off. @JolietJake (50190)
•
22 Dec 16
They really aren't very skittish, rather calm little things most times 
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
23 Dec 16
I do think the better question would be what bug do you dislike the most. In my case it's the moth, hate the way they flutter around my light and then get in my house.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
23 Dec 16
@JolietJake Nasty fluttery things.
1 person likes this
@JolietJake (50190)
•
23 Dec 16
@fishtiger58 Have no clue where they came from, but they've been annoying me badly for a month now, just all over the house
1 person likes this
@JolietJake (50190)
•
23 Dec 16
I've got these little danged brown ones in the house, don't know if they are millers or what, but they seem to be evertywhere
1 person likes this
@allen0187 (58574)
• Philippines
25 Dec 16
That's cool. Didn't know that about the praying mantis until I read your post. Favorite bug? A lady bug i guess.
1 person likes this
@topffer (42155)
• France
22 Dec 16
I like damselflies and household crickets, but there is no household crickets in the middle of a city. In my previous house I had a big spider hiding behind a heater, a Tegenaria. These spiders are harmless and shy, and they can become pets : they recognize voices, and they come to the call of their name if you offer them a candy fly times to times.
1 person likes this
@JolietJake (50190)
•
23 Dec 16
I used to see the occasional damselfly when fishing, but the dragonflies were more numerous....a bit hard to get photos of, they wouldn't stay still long enough.
1 person likes this
@averygirl72 (38526)
• Philippines
22 Dec 16
I don't like any bugs they are all creepy
1 person likes this
@JolietJake (50190)
•
22 Dec 16
Most I can't stand, but I have always found the mantis to be rather cool
1 person likes this
@JolietJake (50190)
•
22 Dec 16
Some kinds of women will just drain the life right out of you
1 person likes this
@yugocean (9963)
• India
22 Dec 16
@JolietJake these women have to feed till their tummy full or they eat you
1 person likes this
@jhechorain (1198)
• Susanville, California
22 Dec 16
That mating fact is a tad bit creepy. I do like praying mantis but my favorite are butterflies! There are so many different kinds and they are pretty and gentle. They don't bite at all, I think? 1 person likes this
@JolietJake (50190)
•
22 Dec 16
I got a fair shot of a tiger swallowtail in a tree this summer
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
22 Dec 16
Actually, you are right; the Praying Mantis is really a cool creature. They are very unique and actually quite pretty @JolietJake .
1 person likes this
@JolietJake (50190)
•
22 Dec 16
I don't see them as often as I used to, but I don't get out as much as I used to, so...
1 person likes this
@Ladyzombie (45)
•
22 Dec 16
Obviously, i like butterfly. They have an incredibly detailed wings but with a short life spans.
I can tell that you really love the praying mantis, they are timid in looks but vicious once in contact with human. Those bite it gave are painful you know..i never know that there's actually a way to handle it. Nice infos!
1 person likes this
@JolietJake (50190)
•
22 Dec 16
Grabbing them by the long 'neck' behind the head, but far enough back to where they can't turn and bite...learned the 'hard' way when I was younger
1 person likes this
@Ladyzombie (45)
•
22 Dec 16
@JolietJake Ouhh..that seems tough..You might have a skills to do so.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (163570)
• United States
22 Dec 16
I quite enjoyed my summer spider. I really do not feel much one way or the other. I wish these fake ladybugs would go away though.
1 person likes this
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
23 Dec 16
mantises are cool.i love the way their eyes follow you around.
favorite bug.um..spiders and blue monarchs i guess.i saw a few of the monarchs in tucson,and i like the variety over the common orange ones.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (226590)
• Chile
23 Dec 16
I like praying mantis but I don´t think other bugs will like them.
1 person likes this
