Meet The Live Bugs at Camp!
Common Name: African Tailless Whip Scorpion
Scientific Name: Damon variegatus
Where?: Primarily in Kenya and Tanzania, with patchy distribution from Congo to Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Namibia.
Also known as the giant African whip spider, these arachnids live in rainforests and caves, are nocturnal, and can grow up to 8 inches including leg span. They eat small vertebrates and insects and live for about 2-3 years. African tailless whip scorpions are extremely quick and agile and rely on camouflage and speed to avoid predators.
Common Name: False Widow
Scientific Name: Steatoda grossa
Despite looking similar to the iconic and dangerous black widow spider, false widows are considered relatively harmless. While False widows do have a venomous bite, the venom will most likely only cause slight pain around the bite site, with the pain being no worse than that of a wasp sting. False widows in general are quite aloof and very unlikely to bite humans.
Common Name: Western Black Widow
Scientific Name: Latrodectus hesperus
Where: Western United States, especially in the southwestern states. Highly venomous, one of the most well-known spiders. They make messy tangled web with their "comb" feet. Their web is very effective at catching unsuspecting prey.
Common Name: Indian Stick Bug
Scientific Name: Carasius morosus
Where?: Throughout tropical and subtropical regions, predominantly Southern Asia and South America.
The Indian Stick Insect is probably the best pet walking stick. They are robust, large, tropical, stick insects originating from the Palmi Hills of Tamil Nadu, in Southern India. They are very popular in Europe, where they are legal to keep, and are frequently seen in European classrooms. In the United States, you need to get a permit from the USDA in order to keep them, because this species can be a potential pest species. The Indian Stick Insect only lives from 6 months to 1 year on average, but it is asexual with adults laying up to 3 eggs a day, so it makes up for it's short life. Males of this species are extremely rare, but they do exist. The Indian Stick Insect is the hardiest out of all the walking sticks, making it a great captive stick insect!
Common Name: Giant Rainforest Mantid Scientific Name: Hierodula majuscula
•Habitat: Australia.
•Diet: crickets; rodents; snakes; crickets; roaches; mealworms; waxworms; locusts; and moths
•Behavior: males: nervous females: friendly
•Predators: birds, and other mantis
Common Name: Ghost Mantis
Scientific Name: Pyllocrania paradoxa
•Facts: the natural habitat is Madagascar. Colors vary on humidity
•Diet: flies
•Behavior: likes to stay still and mimic a dead leaf
•Predators: birds, bats, spiders, snakes, and lizards.
Common Name: Budwing
Scientific Name: Parasphendale affinis
•Facts: wings only reach half way down the abdomen
•Diet: crickets and flies
•Behavior: aggressive and chase their prey.
•Predators: frogs, lizards, birds, and invertebrates.
Common Name: Two-spotted Assasin Bug
Scientific Name: Platymeris biguttatus
•Facts: needle like mouth parts designed for sucking juices out of plants or insects instead of chewing
•Diet: cockroaches, crickets, flies, darkling beetles and caterpillars
•Predators: birds, rodents, praying mantis, spiders and other assassin bugs
•Venom: if threatened spits blinding venom. Has a poisonous bite
Common Name: Emperor Scorpion
Scientific Name: Pandinus imperator
Where?: West Africa
These scorpions are found in rainforests and savannas and can live for 6 to 8 years. They are one of the largest scorpion species in the world, averaging 20 centimeters in length. The emperor scorpion is actually relatively docile and has a mostly harmless sting to humans. They will burrow under the dirt and rocks and area often found hiding in termite mounds throughout their habitat.
Common Name: Spiny Leaf Stick Insect
Scientific Name: Extatosoma tiaratum
•Facts: the natural habitat is Australia. Colors vary on humidity
•Diet: Various plants
•Behavior: likes to stay still and mimic a dead leaf
•Predators: birds, bats, spiders, snakes, and lizards.
Common Name: Dune Scorpion
Scientific Name: Smeringurus mesaensis
The Dune scorpion lives in western US deserts where it can reach very high densities of 1,000s of individuals in an area the size of an average backyard. They are more venomous than the more common taxa, not not nearly as venomous as bark scorpions. Their sting is as painful as a hornet sting.
Common Name: Stripe-tailed ("devil") scorpion
Scientific Name: Paravaejovis spinigerus
Where?: Arizona and Southwestern New Mexico
Often confused with the more venomous Arizona bark scorpion, the Devil scorpion can be easily found in desert chaparral and mountainous desert landscapes. Unlike their desert counterparts, these scorpions venom is not considered a threat to humans but can still deliver a solid sting! All scorpions have a compound in their exoskeleton that glows under blacklight. Devilscorpions are one of the most common scorpions in Arizona, so make sure you bring out a blacklight when night hiking in hopes of seeing one of these little guys. They feed primarily on crickets and other small invertebrates.
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Common Name: Asian Forest scorpion
Scientific Name: Heterometrus longimanus
Where?: India, Indonesia, and Malaysia
These giant black forest scorpions are even more aggressive than the Emperor scorpion, very territorial, and need to live alone. However, the venom of their sting is relatively mild to humans. These scorpions eat smaller insects or other invertebrates. The asian forest scorpion hunts at night and hides under logs and rocks during the day.
Common Name: Pink Zebra
Scientific Name: Eupalaestrus campestratus
Where?: Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina
Pink Zebra tarantulas are widely known as one of the best tarantulas to have as pets. This is due to their calm demeanor, hardy nature, and their likelihood to live their entire life spans - which is up to 20 years for female pink zebras! These spiders' primary mode of defense is its urticating hairs that cover its body which can cause irritation when “flicked” from the spider.
Common Name: Brazilian Giant Blonde (baby!)
Scientific Name: Nhandu tripepii
Where?: Brazil
The Brazilian Giant Blonde is a large terrestrial tarantula with long pinkish hairs all over its body, giving it an overall pink appearance. These tarantula’s are generally known for being rather docile but will flick their urticating hairs if provoked. Overall, the Brazilian Giant Blonde are considered gentle giants.
Common Name: Brazilian Pink Salmon
Scientific Name: Lasiodora parahybana
Where?: Brazil
The Brazillian Pink Salmon comes from the tropics of Brazil in areas with an average of 90 inches of rainfall per year! These tarantula’s require large amounts of water to successfully grow to their full size of 10 inches. They are known for their bold personalities and aggressive eating habits. They are generally known as a beginner friendly tarantula.
Common Name: Greenbottle Blue
Scientific Name: Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens
Where?: Northern Coast of Venezuela
The Greenbottle Blue tarantula is known for its skittish and docile demeanor. The tarantula’s metallic blue legs and orange abdomen make it incredibly visually striking and highly sought after as possible pets. They have a tendency to make large funnel webs whether in captivity or the wild.
Common Name: Darkling Beetle
Scientific Name: Tenebrionidae (family)
Darkling Beetles are common insects in Arizona and there are thousands of species but most are black, they just differe in size and shape. Like the name, they love to hang out in dark places! They are omnivores, and scavengers too - so they enjoy things like other dead insects, fresh and rotting plants & leaves, and fungi. In some species of Darkling Beetle the larva are called mealworms and superworms. These mealworms/superworms are very common as food for pet reptiles, birds, and fish - so you might have dealt with some of these beetles already, just in their baby form!
Darkling beetles are sometimes called “Stink bugs” because many put their hind end in the air and emit a strong chemical that deters predators. While they do have wings, Darkling beetles do not fly, and they can extract water from their food so they can long periods with a water source.
Common Name: Dubia Roach
Scientific Name: Blaptica dubia
Where?: Central and South America
Dubia Roaches, unlike other roaches, cannot climb or fly, making them a great pet/feeder option. As long as they are in a smooth sided glass or plastic enclosure, the Dubia Roaches cannot escape. They are easy to care for, only requiring a consistent moisture source, a full diet, and plenty of hiding spaces.
Common Name:Madagascar Hissing Cockroach
Scientific Name: Gromphadorhina portentosa
Where?: Madagascar
These cockroaches are one of the largest species of cockroach, reaching 2 to 3 inches at maturity. They are native to the island of Madagascar, where they are can be found inside of rotting logs. It is one of 20 known species of hissing roaches from Madagascar. Unlike most cockroaches, they are wingless and are excellent climbers. Males can be distinguished from females by their thicker, hairier antennae and the very pronounced "horns" on the pronotum
Common Name: Orange Head Cockroaches
Scientific Name: Eublaberis posticus
Where?: Mexico, Central and South America
Orange head cockroaches are best known for their longevity and hardy nature. Female orange heads are about to survive up to a year and half on just water! Orange heads are considered the best cockroaches to have as pets due to their “cleaner” nature, overall lack of smell, lifespan, and cute large antennae.