Kids Ask Dr. Bug about the curious things found in the garden

This question reminds me of a joke: What is worse than finding a worm in your apple? Finding half a worm! The worms in apples are actually caterpillars, often from the codling moth. When adult codling moths lay their eggs on the leaves or developing fruit of apple trees, tiny caterpillars hatch from those eggs and these hungry little caterpillars make their way to the center of the apple to feast on the apple core. The caterpillars feed for about three weeks before heading back out to hide in the bark of the tree and become a pupa so they can develop into an adult.

Not all apples have worms in them! Farmers work really hard to protect apples from these caterpillars. They use various methods to prevent the moths from laying eggs, like setting up special traps, using preventative sprays on the apples, or encouraging natural enemies, such as birds and parasitic wasps that kill the moths. The apples in stores and farmers markets go through careful inspections before they reach you, to make sure that you can enjoy worm-free apples.

Is a wasp sting worse than a bee sting?

Both wasp stings and bee stings can hurt, but the pain might feel a little different. Some people say that wasp stings can be more intense and sharper, while bee stings might feel more like a strong pinch. This might also depend on the species of the wasp and bee. Each species has different ingredients in their stinger recipes, and this affects how much it hurts, as well as how long it hurts and how it affects our bodies.

An entomologist (a scientist who studies insects) named Dr. Justin Schmidt created the Schmidt Sting Pain Index to measure how painful the stings of 83 species of stinging insects compare to one another on a scale of 1 (mild) to 4 (severe). Sweat bee stings are barely a 1, Western honey bee and yellow jackets were both rated as a 2, whereas the tarantula hawk wasp sting was rated as a 4. You can learn more here: https://youtu.be/ B3puIOg0xE8 and https://youtu. be/CUjRKwr5qps (or scan the QR codes).

Careful! The tarantula hawk wasp has a sting rating of 4 out of 4.

It’s important to note that bees and wasps don’t seek you out to sting you, but you can unintentionally irritate them and get stung. Also, wasps can sting you multiple times, while honey bees can only sting once. So, please be careful outside – stay calm and avoid bothering bees and wasps. If you do get stung, watch for allergic reactions, such as hives, swelling or trouble breathing. If you or someone you know gets stung and has trouble breathing or feels very sick, it’s important to tell an adult right away, as they might need to get some help from a doctor.

How far can insects jump?

Some insects have remarkable jumping abilities! The distance they can jump varies among different species, if they can jump at all. Let’s explore some of the impressive jumpers.

Fleas are renowned for their incredible jumping skills. These tiny insects can jump up to 200 times their own body length (20 cm/8 inches height as a 1mm insect). That’s like a person nearly jumping over the Empire State Building in a single bound! Grasshoppers are also known for their remarkable jumping abilities. With their long hind legs built for leaping, they can cover distances up to 20 times their body length. That’s like a human jumping the length of a football field!

Another insect, the froghopper, also known as the spittle bug, is the winner when it comes to jumping, though. This extraordinary jumper can propel itself vertically with astonishing force, reaching heights up to 70 cm (28 inches). To accomplish this impressive feat, the froghoppers hind legs are specialized and only used for jumping. When just walking, the hind legs are simply dragged along although they are ready to jump at a moment’s notice.

Next time you see a grasshopper springing through the grass or a flea or froghopper leaping through the air, take a moment to appreciate their incredible jumping abilities.

What is the fastest insect?

“Fastest” can be measured in many ways: fastest runner, fastest flyer, fastest wing beats. Scientists can measure “fastest” in absolute terms such as miles per hour or in relative terms such as body lengths per second. Not all insects have had their speed measured, and sometimes different life stages move faster than others. There is still a lot to learn about insects! Below are the documented record holders, so far.

Fastest runner (absolute): Australian tiger beetles running almost 6 miles per hour.

Fastest runner (relative): Cockroaches moving 50 body lengths per second.

Fastest flyer (ground speed): Black cutworm moth flying at speeds of 60-70 miles per hour.

Fastest flyer (air speed): Hawk moths and possibly desert locusts flying average airspeeds of 33 miles per hour.

Fastest wing beats: No-see-ums beating their wings 1,046 times per second.

There are likely other insects that fly and crawl faster, but their speeds have not been accurately measured yet. For example, it is claimed that dragonflies can fly as fast as 60 miles per hour and horse flies at 90 miles per hour, but these speeds have not been proven. Wow!

Do you have questions for Dr. Bug? Send them to ReallT@Missouri. edu or https://bit.ly/KidsAskDrBug. Please include your name and age. To help me learn what you learn from this column, consider filling out this survey: https://bit.ly/ KidsAskDrBugSurvey.

Kansas City summers can be brutal on roses. The combination of heat and humidity can quickly increase blackspot disease. Japanese beetles begin causing damage in June. And, as the temperature rises, the size of the blooms becomes smaller and declines quickly in the summer heat.

All of this sounds discouraging, but I want to encourage you to hang in there during July. The care you give the roses during that time will greatly reward you later in the year.

Here is my list to help you succeed with roses in July.

Supply roses with 1 to 2 inches of water a week. (If you aren’t sure on how much an inch of water using a watering wand, fill a 5-gallon bucket to the top and time how long