belostomatidae

Americans have a tendency to call all insects “bugs”. I first thought the terms were interchangeable, but I’ve learned that while all bugs are insects, not all insects are bugs.

The key difference between true bugs and other insects is their mouth parts. True bugs have rigid piercing/sucking mouthparts that look like a long beak and act like a straw. Most suck plant juices, but some feed on animals. Water bugs are venomous; they liquify then drink their prey. Yum!

Thanks to Trisha Nichols for another fun and informative lesson.

nursery

Our local hardware store and nursery is a rambling collection of small rooms built around big sycamore trees. It’s such a pleasing change from the big box corporate places, which might offer lower prices but can’t compare to the shopping experience here. I like poking around in the sinuous nursery, just to spend time with the plants.