new rules for clasifying insects

eeyore · #1 (**permalink**) 17-07-2006, 12:41 PM

Just to let you know my volunteers and I have made an innovvative decisionm which will revolutionise insect identification and clasification, no more of this linnean stuff and having to learn latin to understand why the species names were given

From now on insects will be devided into just two classes

Nice - Butterflys, dragonflies,bumble bees, and other cute fluffy ones which look pretty and bring everyone joy

and

nasty - wasps, hornets and others that bite and sting, particularly the little black critters that live in reedbeds and which fly down your waders before biting you on the unmentionables !

Eeyorean clasification will shake the scientific world to its very roots, remember you heard it here first ....

Gill Catton · #2 (**permalink**) 17-07-2006, 12:47 PM

awww but I like Wasps I think they are ace!!

Chalk Downlanders · #3 (**permalink**) 17-07-2006, 12:56 PM

Good idea. We could do the same with plants.
Pretty flowers and 'orrid stingy / prickley ones. All the fungi can go into the latter group 'cos there so hard to identify

canonman · #4 (**permalink**) 17-07-2006, 03:21 PM

Hi
Anything that bits your unmentionables, should be out in a clasification of it's own.
Can't wait to see what you call it
Mick

Wild-Woman · #5 (**permalink**) 17-07-2006, 03:30 PM

Yeah but what about the ones that sound horrid but are actually rather cute like wart-biters Eeyore? Julie

DL · #6 (**permalink**) 17-07-2006, 03:32 PM

Does this mean that all those blokes you see standing around in rivers in waders are actualy wearing nothing underneath. No on second thoughts dont answer that.

Alan · #7 (**permalink**) 17-07-2006, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

Yeah but what about the ones that sound horrid but are actually rather cute like wart-biters Eeyore? Julie

They're the ones that bit eeyore

Airehead · #8 (**permalink**) 17-07-2006, 09:31 PM

According to my recent experience with a new digital camera, they could be separated according to which run/fly away when you approach with a camera and those that pose nicely. If they actually attack you, that makes a third category in keeping with Eeyore's plan.

glsammy · #9 (**permalink**) 17-07-2006, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

awww but I like Wasps I think they are ace!!

Gill, you must be joking!! I HATE wasps, or more to the point they seem to LOVE stinging me!!

Beryl · #10 (**permalink**) 17-07-2006, 10:51 PM

Parden me but what are the cute fluffy ones please. Moths?

Imaginos · #11 (**permalink**) 19-07-2006, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beryl

Parden me but what are the cute fluffy ones please. Moths?

And Bumblebees, no hang on they sting, but they are very fluffy, but they bite too, and they're cute...hmmm

Gill Catton · #12 (**permalink**) 19-07-2006, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glsammy

Gill, you must be joking!! I HATE wasps, or more to the point they seem to LOVE stinging me!!

Wasps are great! not only do they eat lots of other invetebrates in your garden that might otherwise cause damage but for an insect they seem quite intelligent when you compare then with a house fly for example which will spend all day batting against a closed window whereas I've watched a wasp systematically try all the windows and then seemingly remember where it came in anyway turn around and fly straight out. I've seen one eating a poster presumably to use the paper for it's nest - much easier than chewing up wood!!
I watched a wasps nest resist three of my attempts to destroy it each time clearing out the dead and starting again and I developed a respect for them! I don't think the sting hurts that much really..... and they only sting if you squash them or threaten them and I quite like that they fight back!

Imaginos · #13 (**permalink**) 19-07-2006, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

for an insect they seem quite intelligent when you compare then with a house fly for example

Watching them cut insects out of spiders webs reinforces their seeming intelligence, or perhaps adaptability.

Bees carry a mental map around with them which helps them find their way, I'm sure that wasps, being closely related, could have too hence Gill's window example.

Beryl · #14 (**permalink**) 20-07-2006, 07:08 AM

I read that Bumble Bees rarely sting and some don't have stings.
I quite like Bumbleis.

Imaginos · #15 (**permalink**) 20-07-2006, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beryl

I read that Bumble Bees rarely sting and some don't have stings.
I quite like Bumbleis.

They do have stings although you're right they very rarely use them, the queens are more likely to bite and have powerful jaws.

Mr Mag00 · #16 (**permalink**) 20-07-2006, 09:35 AM

I like hornets!!!!!!!

Chalk Downlanders · #17 (**permalink**) 20-07-2006, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Mag00

I like hornets!!!!!!!

So do I

I read that although their sting is mighty powerfull, they are less likely to use it than wasps. Is that true?

Alan · #18 (**permalink**) 20-07-2006, 09:53 AM

They are more docile than other wasps, and if they are going to sting - which would usually be your fault, they do it by dive bombing!

I found a Hornet nest last month. Spent some time trying to photograph them. Couldn't get near them though - deep in brambles. They are fantastic, like mini model aeroplanes buzzing about!

Chalk Downlanders · #19 (**permalink**) 20-07-2006, 09:59 AM

Heres a quote from a Pest Exterminator on the subject of Hornet stings... "It's like being repeatedly shot with a nail gun". Best you don't go too near that nest Alan.

Alan · #20 (**permalink**) 20-07-2006, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chalk Downlanders

Heres a quote from a Pest Exterminator on the subject of Hornet stings... "It's like being repeatedly shot with a nail gun". Best you don't go too near that nest Alan.

Who dares wins lol

I was trying to get them in flight, I certainly wasn't going to use a macro on the nest

Mr Mag00 · #21 (**permalink**) 20-07-2006, 10:44 AM

I was in contact with a hornet expert a couple of years ago when i had a nest near a school site!!
I was assured they are no worse than a bee as they to produce honey and therefore it is a deterent against mammals. I have no experience of this and have no wish to experience it!!

There are designs for hornet nest boxes online somewhere i will try to find the liink again. I am still looking for a suitable site?

henrya · #22 (**permalink**) 20-07-2006, 12:37 PM

My neighbour shared her shoe with a Hornet a couple of years ago. She got stung twice, but reported that it was certainly no worse than a wasp sting. Hornets are said to be less aggressive than other wasps. But no doubt they would go for a Pest Exterminator, and who can blame them?

henrya

Chalk Downlanders · #23 (**permalink**) 20-07-2006, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by henrya

.... But no doubt they would go for a Pest Exterminator, and who can blame them?

henrya

But they do have a very nasty reputation, more so than wasps. From what I hear they don't live up to it.

eeyore · #24 (**permalink**) 20-07-2006, 04:51 PM

a couple of years ago i opened a Dormouse box and disturbed a hornets nest which promptly swarmed - I dont know if their intentions were docile or not - i was too busy running away !

Jonny · #25 (**permalink**) 20-07-2006, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eeyore

a couple of years ago i opened a Dormouse box and disturbed a hornets nest which promptly swarmed - I dont know if their intentions were docile or not - i was too busy running away !

I wondered what your dancing avatar was about, now I know.........

As for bumblebees, its only the females that can sting.

I love hornets too, and wasps, its them little persistant things I don't like, midges, gnats, thunder flys (I'm still scratching, Canonman), and mozzies........My wife left the bedroom window open the other evening with the light on, when I went to bed, all I could hear was mopeds, buzzing about. Had to turn on the light and squash about 10 of them before I could settle down.