20cm

The largest mantis in the world is known to grow to about 20 cm. This mantis, called the Giant Malaysian stick mantis and also known as the dragon mantis, inhabits Southeast Asia.

5 pieces

Bees have two large compound eyes and three small simple eyes on the top of their head, for a total of five eyes. A compound eye is an eye composed of multiple lenses, while a simple eye consists of a single lens. Bees use their compound eyes to see shapes and movement, and their simple eyes to detect the presence or absence of light.

aphid

Ladybugs are known in nature for eating mostly aphids. If you keep ladybugs at home, it’s said you can also raise them with foods like apples, honey, or insect jelly.

married couple

Many people might think piggyback grasshoppers are parent and child because a large grasshopper carries a smaller one on its back. In reality, however, it’s an adult female carrying an adult male, so the two are actually a mating pair (like a married couple).

a candy-like smell

Pond skaters emit a sweet, candy-like smell from their bodies. This trait may be quite surprising, but in fact pond skaters are relatives of stink bugs! Knowing that, it makes sense that they produce an odor. Incidentally, there’s a theory that their Japanese name, “amenbo,” comes from the candy-like smell they give off.

20 times

Rhinoceros beetles have the strength to pull weights about 20 times their own body weight. This power helps them protect themselves from enemies and capture prey.

flower nectar

A mosquito’s staple food is flower nectar. In general, mosquitoes suck blood to obtain nutrients for laying eggs, and it isn’t their regular diet! That’s why only female mosquitoes drink blood.

Eat nothing

Many adult fireflies have short lifespans and spend their adult stage without eating. Therefore, once they become adults, they do not feed. Incidentally, firefly larvae live in water and eat a type of freshwater snail called kawania (Semisulcospira) that lives in rivers.

Only the males sing

Male cicadas produce distinctive calls to attract females. For this reason, only male cicadas sing. Also, the time of day when cicadas call is generally determined by the species.

to flail the trapped hand

If you wave your hand around when a stag beetle is pinching you, it may get more excited and clamp down harder. If a stag beetle pinches your hand, set it on the ground to calm it, or, if it still won’t let go, dip it in water and it will release.