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Frequently Asked Questions
Introduction
This list contains questions that are frequently asked. Please check them before you send a question to Dr. Bug.
Requests for information about Jerusalem Crickets are so numerous that they have their own page.
1. Does a butterfly die if you wipe the scales off its wings?
No. This myth probably has its origin in the observation that when someone wipes scales off the wings, the wings are inadvertently broken and the butterfly cannot fly away to escape its predators and will certainly die. If scales are removed gently, the wings are not broken and the butterfly can fly away. Dr. Bug does not recommend the removal of butterfly scales.
2. Do earwigs crawl in your ears?
Yes. On occasion they will crawl into your ears but only when you are sleeping outdoors on the ground and they are looking for a dark place to hide. This is not very common and they generally do no harm when they invade the ear canal. This is a very rare situation, not worth losing sleep about. Dr. Bug has been sleeping outdoors on the ground for over 40 years and has never experienced this.
3. Do Ladybugs (Ladybird Beetles) bite?
Yes. They have powerful mandibles with which they chew up aphids, scales, and mealybugs. Occasionally they will give you a little nip but rarely break the skin.