Spiders 600, Slugs 30.
There are 600 species of spider in the UK. All are harmless. And I can go with this. You can do a lot with your basic spider design. 600 interesting and different spiders. More perhaps than I would have bothered with but, yeah, ‘s OK. 30 species of slugs? Why? A slug is a slug. You need a slug, so you make a slug. Do you really sit there and think, hmm, I can have fun with this. No, you’ve done your slug, go back and do more spiders.
Despite a lunchtimes surfing I have been unable to find out how many species of beetle reside in this country. But I’m betting it’s a lot more than 600. I’m betting its way too many. I know I go on about the number of different beetle species a lot. But its weird. Come on, admit it, its weird and disturbing. I lie awake at night. More species of beetles than anything else? Its just not right.
Despite a lunchtimes surfing I have been unable to find out how many species of beetle reside in this country. But I’m betting it’s a lot more than 600. I’m betting its way too many. I know I go on about the number of different beetle species a lot. But its weird. Come on, admit it, its weird and disturbing. I lie awake at night. More species of beetles than anything else? Its just not right.
posted by Old Man Rich at 11:40 AM
8 Comments:
According to the ZSL (Zoological Society of London) there are 4,000 species of beetles in the UK.
The teacher I spoke with said they are finding more species but 4,000 was about right for documented species.
http://www.zsl.org/
I called the education department
4000! See. See. 30 slug species, 600 spider species and 4000, yes 4000 species of beetle. Theres something spooky about that.
Huge thanks for the info MN - I was going to stay sober tonight, but 4000 species of UK beetle? That's going to require some drink.
Beetles are our friends - creepy, oogy, slimey beasty friends but friends none the less =)
oooh I am not a fan of bugs at all...I know that we NEED them to "keep the planet's ecological balance in order".....but ewww they are so gross and creepy...and they are gross and creepy in so many different ways...I don't mind bugs as long as they stay out of my home and food. I also prefer that they do not come in contact with my skin..even briefly...they can do their bug thing in uninhabited natural areas...at least that is what I wish. Great link maggi-nifica!
I haven't been here in a bit so I am catching up. I love your blog, Rich. 4000 is creepy and gross. I have no idea why, but insects give me the damn willies. I have crippling fears of ants covering my body for some reason I can never explain. I was also pinned into a corner once by a tarantula as we have them all over here. I wasn't really pinned by the spider at all (the ones here are only about 6 inches from legtip to leg tip) I was pinned in the corner by my absolute inability to move in it's presence. I'm such a pussy.
And if it helps, I'm a blog whore too, so don't sweat it. Until later...
1 giant centepede!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050831/ap_on_fe_st/creepy_centipede
Briton Finds Venomous Centipede in House
The story reads:
LONDON - Aaron Balick expected to find a tiny mouse rustling behind the TV in his apartment. Instead, he found a venomous giant centipede that somehow hitched a ride from South America to Britain.
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"Thinking it was a mouse, I went to investigate the sound. The sound was coming from under some papers which I lifted, expecting to see the mouse scamper away," the 32-year-old psychotherapist said Wednesday. "Instead, when I lifted the papers, I saw this prehistoric looking animal skitter away behind a stack of books."
He trapped the 9-inch-long creature between a stack of books and put it in a plastic container.
The next day he took it to Britain's Natural History Museum, which identified the insect as a Scolopendra gigantea — the world's biggest species of centipede.
Stuart Hine, an entomologist at the museum, said it was likely the centipede hitched a ride aboard a freighter, likely with a shipment of fruit.
"Dealing with over 4,000 public and commercial inquiries every year, we have come to expect the unexpected. However, when Aaron produced this beast from his bag I was staggered," Hine said. "Not even I expected to be presented with this."
The Scolopendra gigantea has front claws that are adapted to deliver venom when it stings, which can lead to a blistering rash, nausea and fever. The sting is rarely life-threatening, but painful.
MN, adding a centipede picci blog just for you.
Sally, Im pretty sure Stag Beetles are protected so you can probably get your brothers lockeud up.
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