Entomologist’s Halloween
This Halloween we’re shining a light on some eerie, unusual creepy crawlies that haunt the natural world 🕷️
Death’s-head Hawkmoth Acherontia atropos
So-called for the skull-like pattern on the back of their heads, death's-head hawkmoths are the largest moths in the UK and are active only at night. Though often seen as omens of death, they have a surprising fondness for honey. Their love for it is so intense that they’ve evolved a remarkable ability to mimic the scent of bees, enabling them to slip into hives undetected. If threatened, they emit a squeaking sound through their proboscis, hoping to deter people and predators from getting too close.
Earwigs
There are approximately 2000 species of earwigs in the world although only five are native to the UK, two of these are quite rare, and one of them the Giant Earwig, has only been found a couple of times historically.
Earwigs are thought to get their name from the habit of crawling into people’s ears when they are asleep at night. This has certainly been recorded as happened but very rarely- all species have a preference for hiding in warm, moist dark crevices during the day so it’s probably a genuine mistake on the part of the earwig and not done intentionally! Earwigs do possess fearsome looking pincers or ‘forceps’ formed by enlargement of the rear appendages called Cerci that most insects have. They are not afraid to use them for defence and in courtship.. males are typically curved. They also use them for unfolding their membranous hind wings which are tucked beneath the case like forewing. The earwigs appearance is not normally considered beautiful but look more closely- they are truly fascinating!
Earwigs exhibit an extraordinary level of parental care compared with other insects- females tend to eggs and young protecting them from threats and even cleaning them with an anti fungal agent.. some species feed the young until they are at least two moults old - and one species takes this to the extreme as mother herself ultimately becomes her offspring’s dinner before they eventually disperse!
Old Mother Shipton Callistege mi
Old Mother Shipton was according to legend born during a thunderstorm in a Yorkshire cave in 1388 and grew up to be a prophet and witch. She is said to have predicted the Spanish Armada and the great fire of London with startling accuracy and described as having a hooked nose and pointed chin. You can make out her distinctive profile on a day flying moth Callistege mi, her namesake ‘the Mother Shipton’ which can be found in neutral grassland meadows in May - June.
Devil’s Coach Horse Ocypus olens
The devil’s coach horse Ocypus olens has been associated with the devil since medieval times. It is said that the beetle has eaten the core of Eve’s apple and are capable of placing a curse on people by pointing their abdomen at them. Perhaps this comes from the beetle’s defensive posture in which it arches its abdomen skyward and opens its formidable jaws in a threatening manner - vaguely reminiscent of a scorpion. This beetle is not venomous as a scorpion but is capable of delivering a painful bite when handled. The scientific name olens refers to the strong unpleasant smell it produces from two glands in the abdomen tip when threatened. In fact the devil’s coach horse is a very beneficial insect, commonly found in gardens and compost heaps where it is an effective predator of slugs and other pest species.. It is the largest member of the family Staphylinidae which numbers about 1000 species in the Uk. Put another way, one in four beetles found in Britain will be members of this family. And many of which are tiny devils to identify!