Bug Life

OK, before i am deluged by a flood of angry messages from well meaning entomologists let me just make it clear that i am well aware that spiders are arachnids and therefore not technically "bugs". I was just having trouble coming up with a cute and clever title that covered all categories of creepy, crawly, buzzing and fluttering denizens of garden, field and forest so i settled on Bug Life. Sometimes poetic license trumps scientific accuracy.
I've always had a fascination with these seemingly alien creatures even if they do frighten or repulse me at times. Often the first thought we humans tend to have when encountering an insect or spider is either to smash it or run away screaming (butterflies may be an exception). Certainly they have far more to fear from us. What is it exactly in our mammalian programming that triggers this unreasonable fight or flight response? Sure, there are a few poisonous spiders out there as well as some sneaky and vampiric bloodsuckers that have rightfully earned our distain, but the vast majority of insect and arachnid life is actually extremely beneficial, in fact, essential to our ecosystem and therefore our very survival. And oh my, the ingenious and beautiful variations of form and function.

(please click on images for an enlarged gallery view)

All Photos ©David Sorcher 2016

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