Scorpions

I know that all of the bug pictures might be a deterrant for those who may want to visit us. Please do not be alarmed. These pictures have been accumulated over the past 2 months. Also, we are really trying hard to find these creatures. It is not as if we turn down our beds to find them crawling beneath the sheets...or do we...Hoo Hoo Hahahahahaha...

Notice the feared scorpion. This is only the 2nd we have found in our house since moving in:) In the immortal words of Roger Gross, "All together now: Oooooooooooo, Ahhhhhhhhhhh!"

I refrained from posting the picture we took after smashing this little bugger with the 1994 version of Webster's College Dictionary. It was incredible how resilient the hard exoskeleton was considering the estimated 50 joules of force that were applied to it.

This insect resembles a twig - delicate and unpretentious (what am I critiquing wine here?). Clearly it is an example of Mullerian Mimicry, much like the example of the Monarch and Viceroy Butterflies. Or is it Batesian mimicry? I don't remember, I haven't taken comparative animal physiology since 1997.

And of course the very benign lady bug - very common and unexciting.