Nature Series here are more insects in Monmouth County Classic Features & Variety The Monmouth County Park System has two than people. Insects are the most populous Insects have three body parts: a head, thorax, and environmental centers dedicated to nature Tanimals on the planet! abdomen. They also have an exoskeleton, (hard education. Each has a trained staff of naturalists outer shell) 2 antennae, 6 legs, and (usually) wings. to answer visitor questions about area wildlife and Insect Categories natural history. Insects There are so many different kinds of insects Some insects have two wings, others have four; of Monmouth County some have only wing “buds.” it is helpful to categorize them to aid with Calico Penant The Huber Woods Environmental Center, on identification. There are more than 20 insect Dragonflies & Damselflies Dragonfly Brown’s Dock Road in the Locust Section of Orders (the groupings used by scientists). Middletown, features exhibits and activities about White-faced Fly Ailanthus Webworm (Moth) Dragonflies and the similar Here are some of the ones discussed looking damselflies (sometimes plants, wildlife and the Lenape Indians. There’s a bird in this brochure. called “darning needles” for observation area and a reptile house. Miles of surrounding trails offer many opportunities to enjoy • Diptera; flies and • Orthoptera; crickets, their slight build and fast and view nature. mosquitoes grasshoppers motion) can look scary, but • Hemiptera; true bugs • Mantodea; mantids don’t let their appearance fool (assassin bugs and • Blattodea; roaches you. water striders) • Isoptera; termites • Homoptera; cicadas • Anoplura; lice The adults are harmless to humans, but nymphs Eastern Amberwing Dragonfly • Hymenoptera; ants, • Coleoptera; fireflies in the water are voracious predators and you bees and wasps and beetles (such as could risk a nip should you attempt to capture • Siphonaptera; fleas the ladybug) one. These hunters have translucent wings and • Lepidoptera; • Odonata; dragonflies jewel-like coloring that make them a vision to see butterflies and moths and damselflies near the water. Spreadwing Specializing in Monmouth County’s wetland ecology, Like all insects they have six Damselfly the Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center, legs and can hold onto prey Field Cricket Beetle on Georgia Tavern Road in Howell, has water-related with the front legs while wildlife displays, hands-on activities and a bird and latching onto grasses and Bald Eagle observation area. Features include an shrubbery with the others. interactive watershed map, aquarium, live animals, Their four wings can function and a fossil wall. independently, allowing Milkweed Bug Aphid Ant Fruit Fly them great speed and the ability to hover and fly backwards. Visit the Manasquan Reservoir or any other park with bodies of water, such as Holmdel Park Source: Kate St. John Illustrations by Elayne Leighton birdsoutsidemywindow.org or Turkey Swamp Park during summer to view dragonflies and damselflies. Insect Life Stages: Metamorphosis Insects do not just grow bigger; instead they go through distinct stages of development

called “metamorphosis.” Many insects change appearance dramatically as they “morph” from Monmouth County an egg to larva then to pupae or nymph, and finally to their adult form. Board of Chosen Freeholders www.MonmouthCountyParks.com Board of Recreation Commissioners G18478-8/18 Butterflies & Moths Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (3-6”) Black Swallowtail (3-6”) Seeing Bees The Bad Flea (enlarged) Have you ever watched the Monarch, one of this Honey bees, brought over here from Europe in Fleas are very unwelcome area’s most common, beautiful and recognizable the late 1600s, are part of an elaborate social guests in our homes. They can butterflies? They go through a complete structure, while carpenter bees are solitary. live on cats, dogs, people, rats, metamorphosis during their life cycle. They start Fortunately, neither are likely to sting you. raccoons, opossums, and birds. They feed on the blood of their as eggs, then hatch into caterpillars (the larval Honey bees are by nature calm, but more Source: Robert Hock 1665 stage). Next, they shed their outer skin as they New Jersey’s State Butterfly importantly, should one sting you it will be the host and can carry disease. engraving, Wikimedia Commons About the size of a sesame seed, fleas can also live grow and pupate by attaching themselves to a Cabbage White (1 1/2”) Varigated Fritillary (2-4”) end of her (as she will leave the stinger and a rear surface to become a chrysalis. After their body has portion of her abdomen with you!) Male carpenter in carpet and furniture fibers. completely changed structure, they emerge as bees, on the other hand, do not even have a stinger, adult butterflies. although they may bite if you pester them, The Bugly and can bore damaging tunnels into wooden Most true bugs have hard fore wings, similar to Metamorphosis of a Monarch Butterfly structures such as decks, eaves, and sheds. beetles, but the tips are membranous where they Early and late stage caterpillar (larvae) Honey Bee Carpenter Bee overlap. True bugs also have sucking (as opposed to chewing) mouthparts, and feed by piercing the Common Buckeye (2 1/2”) American Lady (1 3/4-2 5/8”) outer covering of their prey—which may be plant or animal. Many have a scutellum, a triangular, breast-plate like covering, which is why they are commonly called shield bugs. Native Stink Bug The spined soldier bug, a kind of stink bug native to Pupae and early chrysalis Late stage chrysalis The Good, Bad & Bugly Luna Moth (3-7”) Walnut Sphinx Moth (1 1/2-3”) this area, can emit a strong There are beautiful insects and destructive insects. odor to repel enemies; Some we find repulsive, and others do important note the “armor” like jobs for us. Source: www.uniprot.org/ taxonomy/29025 Ladybug plates. Do not confuse with the non-native (Asian) The Good Non–Native Stink Bug Lady bird beetles, also known marmorated stink bug, as ladybugs, have hard colorful which has stripes, bands and/or dots along it’s outer Source: TG Barnes fws.gov wings on the outside to protect their diaphanous and edges and antennae. Adult There are approximately 10 times more moth delicate inner wings, which Butterflies have a species in North America than butterflies. stay folded inside. When Some true bugs are found in preferred, host plant Most are active at night (nocturnal), have rapidly the outer wings lift up, the inner unfold to take fresh water such as ponds Water Strider beating wings, land with their wings open, and on which they flight. Ladybugs have biting mouthparts and are and lakes. The water strider only live a few weeks to mate and reproduce. deposit their eggs. predators to many of the harmful insects that can even walk or skate on In some parts of the world moths and butterflies Visit the large devour our crops. the surface of water. Tiny “milkweed meadows ” are an important food source for humans, with hairs or setae and a wax of Thompson Park or Dorbrook Recreation Area caterpillars that are calorie-dense and rich They range in color from red (with or without coating on the legs help it to see Monarchs during summer. in minerals. black spots) to pink, yellow, striped, black or white. stay afloat.