Totally Buggin News

Ever wonder what your state’s official butterfly is? Check out the names and photos of the official state butterfly for all fifty states at:

List of U.S. State Butterflies

Over 2725 butterfly species live in or pass through North America (although around 2000 of these are from Mexico.

But how about just in San Diego county? The size of the list may surprise you! How many of these species have you seen?

http://www.sdnhm.org/research/entomology/sdbutterflies.html

From http://www.naba.org/qanda.html :
How many kinds of butterflies are there?
There are approximately 20,000 species of butterflies in the world. About 725 species have occurred in North American north of Mexico, with about 575 of these occurring regularly in the lower 48 states of the United States, and with about 275 species occurring regularly in Canada. Roughly 2000 species are found in Mexico.

False. While there’s some dispute over the origin of the name “earwig,” there’s no dispute whatsoever among entomologists as to the insect’s fabled fondness for the human ear — it’s balderdash. (Earwigs aren’t particularly keen on devouring your brain, either.)

According to the Colorado State Cooperative Extension, “other than an occasional pinch, earwigs can’t harm people.”

For the full story, including the possible origins of this myth, go to
http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/owt/blowt-earwig.htm

For years, the rumor that people annually swallow a number of spiders while sleeping has circulated around the internet. Happily, two sources refute the myth, and one even goes so far as to explain the origins of the tall tale.

http://www.snopes.com/science/stats/spiders.asp
http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mspidereat.html