Indiana is home to a plethora of insects, whether they be in one’s backyard, a state park, or simply on the sidewalk somewhere. Here are five interesting bugs to find in Indiana.
The water strider can be found on the surface of still water in Indiana. They are best known for their ability to glide effortlessly across bodies of water. They can do this by relying on their buoyant legs.
According to the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, “the water-repellent hairs found on the middle and hind leg pairs not only enable the insect to ‘walk’ on the water’s surface but also allow the body to stay dry. The buoyancy created by these leg hairs and associated grooves can support 15 times the strider’s weight without the insect sinking.”
Mt. Vernon junior and recreational entomologist Hannah Hummel went so far as to say that “the water strider is the best bug out there. They have such cute, silly eyes and long legs. Oh to be a water strider – to skip across the water so carefree.”
Luna moths are a particularly beautiful moth that can be found in Indiana. They are actually quite common but are rarely seen due to their nocturnal nature and the fact that they live for about a week. However, the Vermont Atlas of Life claims that the luna moth is “perhaps the most visually spectacular moth in the northeast.” According to the same source, the moth’s scientific name is Actias luna and its “otherworldly aura has made it perhaps the most famous and beloved member of the nocturnal insect world.” They can be found in the summer, between the months of May and July, and are active only at night.
Tiger beetles also make for an intriguing encounter. They are known for being incredibly fast and being remarkable predators. Relatives of tiger beetles found in Indiana, Australian tiger beetles, are the fastest insects in the world, being able to reach an average speed of 5.5 miles per hour, an incredible feat for their small stature. In Indiana, tiger beetles can be found in sandy or dusty areas and are typically a stunning green color.
Antlions are well-known for their remarkable ability to trap and kill ants. They are rarely seen, living just beneath holes that they make in sandy or loose soil. They are also known as doodlebugs. According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, this is because when antlions “walk about on sandy surfaces, they leave behind meandering, scrawl-like patterns.” Their larva form, interestingly enough, can only walk backward. Antlions are most active in spring and summer.
The last bug to find in Indiana is the damselfly. They are similar to dragonflies but have slimmer bodies. They come in many colors, such as yellow, red, brown, and blue. These insects, like dragonflies, are normally found near bodies of water in Indiana. Damselflies have been on Earth for over three hundred million years and are found throughout the world. They are always a beautiful sight in Indiana.
Indiana is a state with a multitude of insects. Though they may sometimes be elusive, spotting them is oftentimes worth the time taken to find them.
