Bug Babies are Tough!

So like the title says, bug babies are tough. Like really tough. Let’s talk about caterpillars and cocoons. First of all, some caterpillars are poisonous. Like whoa! I totally didn’t know that! I thought they were all just cute, fuzzy, and looking for leaves to chew on. Nope. Those fuzzy little hairs will sting you. Their cocoons are strong too! I thought they were going to be flimsy, leafy, and easy to break open. I was so wrong. They’re super strong and pretty hard. I dropped one on the concrete and it still didn’t open! The galls of the goldenrod fly are also super strong. I tried to crack one open and couldn’t get it. I attempted to open the gall with a shoe, a knife, and a hammer but I couldn’t open it without destroying the fly larvae inside. In the end I had to chip away for about thirty minutes in order to open it. Those galls are tough and the goldenrod parents have done their best to ensure that their baby matures to adult age so that they can mate and have their own babies. Speaking of bug parents that do a lot for their babies, let’s talk about the parasitic wasp. This wasp lays her eggs into a caterpillar, thus making the poor caterpillar into a nursery and all you can eat buffet for the babies. This wasp has ensured the survival of her babies by taking advantage of another insect! It’s a dog eat dog world. Or a wasp larva eat caterpillar world. Praying mantis babies also have a pretty tough egg case or ootheca if you want to sound extra smart and scientific. The mother mantis puts her eggs into this egg case which is made from a frothy mass secreted from her abdomen. Bug babies are more prepared for the world than we think!