The Animal Kingdom

Three cats - well, two cats and a kitten, one dog - well, puppy and various other animals seem to be drawing my focus. I'm sure I'll get to the pets but first, let's talk bugs. I work in the local community college and outside my office is a big window-wall. Outside I can see the ceiling of the entrance to the college. On that ceiling is the bug world.

Most fascinating of all has been the wheel bug. It turns out it is a beneficial insect but one that will give a mean bite with that red beak! But look at it - it's like a dinosaur bug. I found it fascinating and went looking for this bug with a spiky ridge on its back and found. That is some bug! It makes the mantis and very large moth I saw not even worth talking about and forget about the huge horsefly - it's still a FLY. The best thing on the web about the wheel bug was found at this site:
http://www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek030901.html