Giant Roach
Did you know that there are about one million species of insects – more than any other type of animals? Scientists are continually discovering more species, many in habitats thought to be uninhabitable. Unfortunately, many are lost each year due to the destruction of their habitat, especially the rainforests. Many of these species disappear before we ever knew they existed. Who knows what secrets their existence held? Possibly some hold cures for diseases or act as pollinators to important plant life.
An insect’s body is divided into 3 parts, although they not always obvious. These are the head with amazing sense organs, the midsection, called a thorax, and the hind end, called the abdomen. They generally have two antennae for surveying their environment, six legs, and compound eyes for good vision.
Cockroaches or “roaches” as they are commonly known are winged insects. Most are about the size of a thumbnail. The world’s largest cockroach is the Australian Giant Burrowing Cockroach and Central American Giant Cockroach, reaching 3¾ inches.
Cockroaches are among the hardiest species on earth. Some remain active after a month without food, or 45 minutes without air. Some can survive on the glue from the back of a postage stamp.
Mexican Red-kneed Tarantula
Brachypelma smithii
Tarantulaa are the largest spiders in the world, but don’t let them scare you. If you leave them alone, they are happy to leave you alone. Like all spiders, tarantulas have two body segments; an area with the head and thorax combined called a cephalothorax and an abdomen. Of course, they all have 8 legs, unlike insects which only have 6 legs.
They have very strong jaws with fangs to bite their prey and inject venom. The venom kills their prey and liquefies it to enable the tarantula to suck out the liquid. Their diet does not include humans, only insects, other spiders, frogs, mice and other small animals.
Tarantulas are known for their hairy legs, but these legs serve a purpose other than grossing out humans! Many tarantula species use their legs to flick special hairs called utricating hairs, off their abdomens when disturbed. These hairs are barbed and lodge in the eyes and mucus membranes of would-be attackers, causing irritation.