Scorpionflies are one of the first insects to arrive on a fresh corpse. So, although they cannot help the deceased, they allow forensic experts to gauge an idea of how fresh a corpse is. 1) Dobsonflies Adult male eastern dobsonfly. Photograph by Lyle J. Buss, University of Florida. The design in some ways ‘popped’ into my head also, from a combination of toy and paper theatre, diorama style layering and Wayang puppetry inspirations. The visuals of the show began to meld together as a starting point, repurposing an old box we’d used in a previous show, became the base for the concept to creep out from. Scorpionflies are found across the globe, and they actually have some surprising benefits for humans. Welcome to the unique world of forensic entomology. The first ugly insect on our list is the Giant Water Bug. Alongside the scientific Lethocerus americanus, this less-than-attractive creature goes by many names. They include Toe-Biters, Electric-Light Bugs, and Alligator Fleas. Centipedes are common in homes with moisture problems. You may find them under sinks, in bathrooms, or damp basements. However, these long, multi-legged bugs rarely infest a home but are more of a nuisance.

Using their modified mouthparts, they feed primarily on the blood of other animals, including humans. The larva has a plump abdomen and a small head, complete with long, grasping jaws. Their jaws are laced with an enzyme that aids in prey digestion.Most of these insects don’t pose a danger to humans, but all have unique features making them ugly and scary to some. Have a favorite? Let me know in the comments. So next time you go to squish a bug, just remember, not every creepy crawly is out to get you. References Titan beetles tend to live in the rainforests of South America and are generally considered non-aggressive toward humans (unless you start waving pencils in their faces). Giant silkworm moths are beautiful if slightly nauseating creatures. Their larvae, however, tell a different story. Their appearance can be quite hypnotizing, but they are incredibly venomous, and a single touch can be fatal if one does not receive immediate medical attention. They live exclusively in South America, however, so you likely won’t ever have to worry about such a horror story. Let this serve as a cautionary tale to you: Assassin bugs are found everywhere in the continental United States: that includes Florida. They can’t kill you, but their bite is extremely painful. If you see one of these wheel-shaped terrors, it’s best to steer clear. But don’t kill them! They tend to prey on invasive and harmful species such as caterpillars and Japanese beetles.

Found in the decaying leaf litter of the Madagascan scrub, they are important decomposers and food sources for other animals. With a tail like a scorpion, wings like a dragonfly, and head like a weevil, it’s hard to know what you’re really looking at. House bug Identification: Houseflies are identified by their small dark gray body, large pair of eyes, and tendency to fly erratically and buzz around light sources or windows. All in it’s taken many hours of fiddly finger work, painting, head scratching and occasional cursing from mainly myself and Will making the design become a reality. My mum has done some much needed seamstress fabrication too! And the behind the scenes aspect of creating the show itself includes a wonderful pair of directors, Ben and Mandeep Glover, a fantastically creative and talented cast of Will alongside our tag team Bellas Charlotte Parker and Loretta Hope. And also James Kerr has edited away hours of footage, as the process was captured and generally getting the show on the road!

Miscellaneous Tracklist

This is all part of the challenge that makes selecting materials that could be entirely hand painted, like illustrations from a book, particularly, well… challenging. Botflies are treacherous little bugs that plant their eggs in mosquitoes, who in turn inject those eggs into humans, where they incubate due to our warm body temperatures. Then, when the eggs hatch, they eat their way out, not unlike the infamous Alien birth scene. Lovely. They mostly live in South America and Mexico, so it is unlikely, but not impossible, to be affected by them in Florida. An adult botfly will lay a single egg upon the skin of a mammalian host, often humans. The hatched larva buries deep within the host’s skin, where it develops.

Centipedes range in size from a few millimeters up to 12” (30 cm) long. You can usually find centipedes in dark, secluded areas, and they typically come out at night. However, many play a vital role in the health of our ecosystem as nutrient recyclers and soil mixers. Journey into the depths of lakes and ponds across the globe, and creepy insects can be found lurking in the shadows. Their most frightening characteristics, however, are the formidable-looking mandibles. Curved and sharp, they can reach lengths of up to 2 inches.

Such an appropriate name for a surprisingly harmless bug. Although it really does look like a scorpion with wings, the stinger, despite popular belief, is harmless, and the terrifying tip of their heads only poses a threat to human cadavers. Do I need to explain these guys? Certainly, you’ve seen them before, in your basement, or that weird unfinished room on your top floor. Harmless as they are, they still trigger a fight or flight response in me every time I see one.

Will also made a perfect fit for ‘the Herald of the Ball’, Robert Robberfly, a fun little nod to my love of Entomology and the passion Erica McAlister, the author of ‘The Secret Life of Flies’ has for these little critters as her favourite fly. (As a little side note, I’ve had a cup of tea with Erica at the National History Museum, she’s delightful and her almost romance novel to the fly is worth a read if you want to discover more about these little pollinators of chocolate.) Scary, creepy, huge, and ugly are just some of the words that may come to mind when describing dobsonflies.Often mistaken for the cordyceps fungus, a parasitic fungus that takes over a host’s body, the tentacles are, in fact, specialized organs known as coremata, or hair-pencils. Despite their scary armored façade, titan beetles have more to fear from us humans, as deforestation threatens their population. 11) Antlion The antlion larva is covered in sensory hairs to detect vibrations. Photograph by James Castner, University of Florida. Depending on who you ask, this one-inch-long ant is capable of delivering the world’s most painful insect bite. Some bite victims have compared the experience to being shot, hence the name. If you ever needed a reason not to vacation to South America, let this post be that reason, as these ants can only be found there. On the other hand, if you are the ultimate adrenaline junkie, perhaps I’m giving you some devious ideas.