Insects and other obsessions

I have adored insects for as long as I can remember, and, unlike many of my passions which tend to fade, my love of insects seems to only deepen. Insects offer endless hours of enjoyment - they are beautiful, bountiful and beneficial. Just check out these recent sightings in our yard (okay I did not take these pictures, Jakub is our resident photographer and he was not about so these are courtesy of Kathy Keatley Garvey, author of Bug Squad, a very cool UC Davis blog).

Ladybug with aphid on her back.

Soldier beetle eating aphids.

These beneficial insects feast on aphids, keeping our garden plants healthy. In recent years people have taken to releasing high concentrations of these beneficials in their yards - putting them to work so to speak. I recently read another human use of insects, though this one is on the darker side - insect warfare. In "The Scary Caterpillar", not to be confused with the sweet children's book, "The Hungry Caterpillar", Jeffrey A. Lockwood, explores historic use of insects in warfare. It is a gruesome yet fascinating account and one that has prompted me to locate Lockwoods book "Six Legged soldiers: Using Insects as Weapons of War."

After reading either Bug Squad or "The Scary Caterpillar" I'm sure you'll agree that insects are amazing!