A parasite that can control minds of snails!? That's oddly interesting. Yet the bird eating the snail and pooping it out in the other end sounds really disgusting, yet I guess that's how nature works. This wants me to search up insects now. Anyway really interesting thread!

Singelli : I remember learning about a fungus that controlled the mind of ants... but this I think is even more strange. It is truly amazing how much more there is to learn about nature on earth.

You know I remember hearing about it. Also the fungus that Light Knight mentioned as well. I think that fungus also affected other insects as well but its been awhile since I last looked into it. But back to the mind control, that is a very most interesting and complex thing. But also very sad and deadly. Its utterly mind blowing that there is the tiniest of micro-organisms that has such an effect on another living creature...not to mention..quite sinister, to say the least. 

It is something we could truly put more study into, as long as us as race doesn't try to mess with it. Something could go very wrong if we try..just like typical sci-fi movies. That aside, understanding just how this parasite causes the mind control could open quite a few doors in research I suppose. 

An interesting insect I found over time may also use a form of mind-control but uses spiders as a means of reproduction. I can't remember its name but it uses spiders to hold larvae and all that. But, while the larvae uses the host as a means of food, a chemical is released from the larvae into the spider which changes the spiders behavior and makes it create a brand new web. The new web doesn't look too much like your standard spider web of course but the foundation for a cocoon for the new larvae once the host dies. The larvae leaves the spider, cocoons itself, matures, and then lives on to continue the process. Its pretty scary that even insects themselves have a way to control the mind of other insects. But that's mother nature for you: scary as can be but oh so fascinating! XD

All the science and history that I have studied has been out of school. I love science and history, I watch more documentaries then any one man should. One of the most interesting bugs to me is the Bombardier Beetle. This beetle basically breaths fire! It has two different chemical compounds in its abdomen that is used to kill or harm its enemies. 

If you know where this grasshopper comes from, you'll know where I come from...Um, that doesn't sound right... Anyway, you will know my country of residence! (there you go!)
It's called a Black foam Grasshopper.  I had an encounter with one of these when I was little.  Let me just say it wasn't very nice.  This charming little critter produces such a nauseating stench that it surrounds the grasshopper in a protective chemical umbrella extending up to 1 m all around it.  Lovely.

I have always loved 'mind controlling' fungi. Even though it technically isn't complete mind control, it is fascinating. For example (I forget the name right now), but there is one that infects rollie pollies. Now, this fungi reproduces best in the GI tract of birds. So when it infects rollie pollies, it makes them leave the environment of under large objects where it is cool, dark, and moist. By 'mind control', it simply secretes a compound that inhibits the rollie pollie's perception of light and temperature. So it pretty much dulls the senses key to identifying it's preferred environment, so it doesn't feel the difference between cool/moist/dark from warm/dry/bright. They become easy targets for birds. Birds eat the bug, and the fungus can now inhabit the GI tract of the bird. It spreads as the bird defecates where there might be rollie pollies, and the process starts over again.

Oh man, I'm totally enjoying this thread!  I wish more people would post in it with more interesting things.  I've actually thought about creating other threads based off this one, but with different subjects.  (Interesting animals, for example.)  However, I wanted to see how successful this thread would be before I spam vizzed with a bunch of threads nobody is interested in.

SoL@R :  That is one COLORFUL bug!  Wow! It kind of reminds me of these grasshopper like bugs I used to see here in Alabama.  Their size always TOTALLY creeped me out.  They kinda look like this, but even bigger, and usually with red stripes:



I'm actually not someone to typically be disturbed by bugs... and especially such common bugs.  However, just.... I imagine people stepping on these and the way they would pop and it's just.... ew.  Not only that, but the possess this super-bug strength that is downright creepy. I think that's where my dislike of them stems from, actually. I think I tried to catch one once, and the way it pushed against my fingers just totally freaked me out.  Bugs should NOT be that strong.  (teases. )

Anyways, it's AMAZING that the hopper you show has such a STRONG effect!!!  Can you yourself smell it a mile away, or is it only the chemical affects that are in existence throughout the mile radius?  Also, does it create black foam with it's mouth?  How do you guys deal with such pests, or are they not dealt with and just left alone?

rcarter2 :  I figured you'd have at least one interesting thing to add to this thread.  Your fungi kinda sounds like the parasite I mentioned. It's absolutely fascinating!  I have to wonder though.... why rollie pollies?  LOL I mean, aren't there more attractive bugs for meals? It's so interesting the way nature works....

Also, I think you're the first person I've spoken to that actually calls them 'rollie pollies'.  They were quite excessive in Alaska and are kind of a 'fond' (?) memory for me, as odd as that sounds.  Many of my bug adventures in Alaska dealt with the silly things, and they were probably my favorite bug to play with and catch and watch. I remember looking for them under rocks and watching them scurry away. Grandpa gaed ones that were pale, Big shiny ones, ADORABLE baby ones....

Okay, am I getting too weird? haha!

Singelli : I would assume that at one time it did infect other insects, technically. But since the compound present in their secretion when releasing spores inhibits perception of moisture, temperature, and light, rollie pollies were the things significantly affected. For bugs that aren't nocturnal or prefer that kind of condition, it would just make them stay out at night while the birds aren't awake. So those bugs don't get eaten by birds, so all spores infecting those insects don't get a chance reproduce. So the ones reproducing the most are the ones infecting rollie pollies. Fingi are known to mutate and adapt pretty quick, so they adapt to the environment of rollie pollie infection (since the ones that infect other insects don't get a chance to pass down their traits). 

As far as the rollie pollie thing, I wasn't aware that wasn't a common name for them pretty much everywhere. I live in Kansas, and they are super easy to find. If you have a wooden porch that you can go under, you will find a city population of them. Lift up a large concrete slab or rock that is flattening the ground underneath, you will find hundreds to thousands of them. They are fascinating things.



Since we are on the topic of parasites, I have a thought I find interesting. We define parasite as something that latches onto a host, grows and survives by taking resources from the host, and providing no helpful benefit to the host. Couldn't a pregnant woman be considered to have a very large parasite? I mean, the baby constantly takes portions of the nutrition from what the mother eats. The only benefit is not really a direct benefit. You love the baby, so it does that for you, sure. But physically, all it does for the mother is make them larger, slower, more fragile, bloated, emotionally unstable (at times), give them morning sickness, and the list of annoying things goes on. It really makes the woman (not just in humans, but any animal) more vulnerable to outside threats. Babies kind of are parasites

Singelli :

LOL. 1 mile. Wow! Now that would've been something Sorry, I should have been more specific. It's 1 meter. I actually did not see the foam, because I just wanted to get away from it as quick as I could after prodding it. I think it secretes it from its body and not from the mouth. I know there's a similar grasshopper (can't remember now where it's from) that secretes the foam from openings in his hind legs.

Here's another (chill up my spine) buggy bug bug.




Solifugae, aka, Camel Spider.

This thing is quite common in the Northern parts of our country. It's blooming fast and they have huge chelicerae (pincers) that can even cut through small bones of birds!  They are not spiders and also not entirely from the scorpion familiy.  They are somewhere in between. They are really aggressive when provoked (I can testify to that). They are not poisonous, but I'm sure they can deliver a painful bite.  I fortunately have not experienced that part (yet). Just looking at it gives me the creeps. Yes, I'm more scared of bugs than of snakes.

Got one. 

I heard about Argentina fire ants in school before . They are one of the most aggressive ants (and possibly insects) in the world.  They can invade different ant holes,  go through cracks,  and can live on almost everywhere.  They also can mingle with nearby Argentine ants and mingle with no problem,  making huge colonies and all.  


That's about it of what I can recall.  


Here's a picture 

SoL@R : I know this is picky of me, but it is one of those pet peeves of mine. It is kinda stupid, so I hope you are not offended. But the word you are looking for is venomous, not poisonous. Almost everyone uses them interchangeably, but they are completely different. Like there is no such thing as a poisonous snake or spider (even though camel spiders aren't spiders, but still applies). Sorry for that. But everyone has those little stupid things that they can't help. Venomous/poisonous is one of those things for me.



Here is one. The Paraponera clavata. AKA the 24 hour and or the bullet ant. 


These guys are commonly considered to have the most painful sting of any known insect. Their venom is a neurotoxin (poneratoxin) that paralyzes insects, but mainly causes extreme pain in humans. Many insects like wasps and other ants have this kind of venom. But the bullet ant is FAR more potent. A single sting from one has been compared by many to getting shot with a weaker handgun. If you have heard of the Schmidt Pain Index (made by an entomologist who subjected himself to the sting of almost every known stinging insect that is not potentially fatal to develop the scale), one sting is described as being like walking barefoot on hot coal with a long nail jammed in your foot. 
The other name for it, the 24 hour ant, is due to the pain from a single sting takes over 24 hours to subside. If you are subject to multiple stings, your body tends to twitch and the stung area can become temporarily paralyzed. Nasty devils. I have been very fascinated by these for years. I actually got to see a colony while I was in Costa Rica last year. I actually wanted to experience the sting for myself. I was close to grabbing one, but I couldn't make myself move my finger that last half inch. 

The Emerald Cockroach Wasp or Jewel Wasp stings and paralyzes a cockroach's front legs, stings it again making it into a zombie of sorts, leads it to its burrow by pulling its antennae like a leash, and lays its eggs in the roach.

Here's a pic:

rcarter2 :

Thanks for the grammar lesson  I'm not at all offended.  I actually appreciate it if people correct me, especially when it comes to these type(s?) of things.  You must be a teacher, right? English is not my first language, but I always try to get it 100% right.  I do not have many hang ups, but one thing that really chaps my khakis are people that write or type in sms / text style. Especially in e-mails and on forums. Example:  Cn u plz tke dis wid u n w8t fr sumtim der? Ey rply fst, I hve wrk..  What is that?! It's like a 2 year old German, stung by a venomous insect on the lip, trying to speak Ukrassianese.  Let me rather make another contribution to this thread...

Now if really want to torture me, chase me with this thing:



I think I just died again.  My wife love to chase me around with this Satan spawn.  I know I really sound like a girl, but you can give me snakes or any type of reptile anytime, but not this.  It even has a weird name.  It's called Eugaster longipes and they  make a really horrid screeching sound when provoked.  Worst thing of all, they are cannibals.  I think they also secrete some kind of mucus when threatened.  I did not hang around long enough to find out...

http://images.nationalgeographic.com/wpf/media-live/photos/000/007/cache/walking-stick-insect_745_600x450.jpg

Stick Insects are interesting and not as disgusting looking since they just look like sticks. According to national geographic they spend much of their day motionless, hidden under plants and live up to 3 years. They are willing to loose a limb or two during battle though I don't know who would want to fight one in first place.

If you are into bugs I suggest getting this, its sorta like easy bake oven except with bugs:
http://www.creepyfun.com/BoxFCCreepy.JPG

I was trying to find interesting bugs because I'd like to hear from more vizzed people on the topic.  I ended up finding this: 





Some of you that had fun science field trips like I did, might recognize these as midge larvae.  They live in water, and apparently, there is one kind that can live in liquid nitrogen for THREE days.  Talk about insane! I wonder if a cockroach could do that?

UFO :
I actually absolutely love stick insects.  They fascinate me and I love to photograph them or even catch them if they don't allude my grasp. They always look so fragile that I'm usually afraid to touch them though.

Where did you even find that silly toy? LOL

SoL@R :
A lot of bugs are cannibals, so that doesn't really bother me. However, that grasshopper does look pretty freaky. It looks like it's wearing five pounds of armor and could probably push a small child down.

vanelan :  I've actually seen jewel wasps and think they're very beautiful. However, I never knew they participated in such odd behavior! Wow! I'd love to see that happen some day. I would be so amazed. I'm sure I'd be unable to take my eyes off of it. LOL

rcarter2 :  Yes, I've heard about bullet ants. I don't think I'd ever even WANT to stick my hand near one even for the sake of curiosity though.. haha... glad you snapped to your senses on that one!

Singelli : In all honesty, I wish that I had. It sounds crazy, I know. But you know me. I have a scientist curiosity when it comes to nature(comes with making biology one of your teaching fields ) But that would be something that not many people could say they have experienced. If I end up teaching biology again, that would make a very good connection story for my students. And it would satisfy my curiosity . Might even make the thought of being bitten or stung by any other insect not so scary. I could just thing "Well, it's no bullet ant".

I just caught the COOLEST bug. I'm sure some of you have seen them before.  Here are some of MY shots:



And here are some more pretty, professional photos from the web, since I broke my camera.  



These are called Scutigera coleoptrata, or "domestic quickfoot".  they have 30 legs, and the taller legs at the back trick predators into attacking their back end instead of their head.  They can run the human equivalent of FORTY TWO miles per hour. Isn't that incredible!  I think it's a terribly pretty bug, and it seems like it's actually a good bug to have around the house!  They have extremely good sight and although they're slightly venomous, they seldom bite and aren't very toxic.  Someone who gets bit might describe the pain as being a 'minor nuisance".  Have you guys ever seen one of these?

I didn't read through all of the posts to see if anyone said this yet, but there is a parasite / fish thing called a Candiru that is attracted to urine. Legend has it that if you pee in the Amazon, it could swim up your pee stream and attach itself in your you-know-what.