Insects: Seeing the Beauty in Six-legged Beasts

By Scott Johnson

Insects are truly a remarkable group of organisms. At present, Entomologists (scientists who study insects) have identified over a million insect species. It is estimated that there are over 10 quintillion insects on earth, that is 1018! For millennia, insects have played important roles in humanity, from agricultural pests and vectors of disease to helpful pollinators and even food. People often lump spiders, centipedes, and millipedes, with insects, but these animals do not fit within the definition of insects (creatures with two pairs of antennae, three body segments, one or two pairs of wings, two compound eyes and three pairs of legs). The Bahamas is home to thousands of insects. Here are a few types to know.

Over 1,000 recorded species of butterflies and moths have been found in The Bahamas. Some, like the Bahama Swallowtail Butterfly are large and beautiful, but can be a problem for citrus plants. They lay their eggs on the leaves of citrus plants and the larvae can wreak havoc on said trees. Their caterpillars look like bird droppings. If you see bird droppings on your citrus plants, look at them very carefully.

The Frangipani Caterpillar Moth also has larvae that can be problematic. The caterpillars of this species feed on Frangipani trees and can grow to 6 inches in length. Their bright coloration indicates that they are poisonous (if ingested).

The Bahamas is home to many species of endemic insects. Insects like the endemic Bahamian Cicada comes out during the warm spring and summer months and advertise their presence with an intense, deafening shrill, a sound they produce by a special organ called a tymbal which lie below each side of their upper abdomen. They are the loudest insects in The Bahamas and are locally referred to as “singers”.

The Bahamas has its own endemic species of stick insect. The Bahamian Stick Insect is found on several Bahamian islands such as Andros, New Providence and Eleuthera.

Wasps are one of the most feared groups of insects in The Bahamas and for good reason. Their venomous stings can hurt, A LOT! The Bahamas is home to several species of wasps. Some, like the paper wasps, are social, while others are solitary. Wasps are very beneficial to humans because they are predators that feed on insect pests, especially garden pests like caterpillars, and other harmful arthropods. They also pollinate flowers.

Insects play vital roles in our ecosystems. They decompose animal and plant matter, pollinate flowers, and provide food for thousands of animals. Some people may not like insects because they can bite or sting, or damage crops, but insects are more beneficial than harmful in terms of their value to ecosystems. The use of chemicals like pesticides is not encouraged as they can wipe out large numbers of insects, which in turn can negatively affect other organisms in the ecosystem. Let us aim to keep our ecosystem healthy and thriving by helping to maintain insect diversity. UA

MRS. SHAVAUGHN MOSS is the lifestyles editor at The Nassau Guardian 1844 Ltd., The Bahamas’ oldest newspaper, and has three-plus decades of experience. She currently writes on a wide range of topics. She is known as the country’s premiere “foodie” and has traveled extensively in her culinary quest for the best bites (and some interesting ones as well). Shavaughn studied Mass Communication in the United States, and has done advanced courses in the United Kingdom as well.