A cicada of the genus Magicicada, which are known for their long life-cycles and 17-year emergence pattern. This year will mark the 17th year in the life-cycle of a large generation (Brood II), meaning the north eastern coast of the US will see swarms of these beauties and be overcome by the cacophony of their mating calls through the late spring and summer. Next summer, the midwest will see the emergence of Brood III. This phenomenon has been affectionately referred to as cicadapocalypse.

Despite being large and ominous-looking, cicadas are entirely harmless. They neither bite nor sting and they aren’t excessively destructive to vegetation or infrastructure.

Photo © Richard Leung

Common terrestrial pill bug (Armadillidium vulgare)

Contrary to popular belief, pill bugs are not bugs. They are not classified into the class Insecta, and aren’t even in the same subphylum. Pill bugs are crustaceans, specifically isopods, which are more closely related to lobsters and crabs than they are to insects.

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This whitebanded crab spider (Misumenoides formosipes) caught itself a tasty fly meal. Most species of spider crabs choose to live on flowers with which they can easily be camouflaged against so their jobs as predators are that much easier.

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Resembling a prehistoric mix of dragonfly nymphs and tadpole shrimp, eurypterids were some of the earliest arthropods that flourished in Europe and North America from Ordovician to Permian periods.

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The shocking pink dragon millipede (Desmoxytes purpurosea) was initially described in 2007 from Thailand and belongs to a genus of spiny “dragon” millipedes. Like many large millipedes, this species secretes bitter, poisonous hydrogen cyanide when bothered by predators. The startling color serves as a warning to any would-be attackers.

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Burrowing shrimp (family Callianassidae) make U- or Y-shaped underground networks of burrows in the fine substrate of shallow waters. They are soft-bodied crustaceans, predatory on small organisms and worms. In many species of burrowing shrimp, one of the first thoracic legs is larger than the other to aid in the creation of their subsurface homes.
Pictured are a Callichirinae sp. and Callianassa californiensis.

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Belonging to the subclass Branchiura, members of the family Argulidae are commonly called fish lice. Their mouth parts are modified for sucking, enabling these parasites to feed on marine or freshwater fishes. A fish infested by them may get fungal infections or even die. Fish lice have a cephalothorax (the head fused with the first thoracic segment), a three-segmented thorax, and a two-lobed abdomen. Pictured is Argulus foliaceus, belonging to the largest genus in the family.

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The family Scolopendridae contains the largest centipede in the world (top left picture), the Peruvian giant yellow-legged centipede, also called the Amazonian giant centipede (Scolopendra gigantea). Scolopendrids are nocturnal hunters and can tackle prey quite a bit larger than themselves. It is not uncommon to see a centipede from this family catch and kill frogs or mice with their venomous claws. In fact, the smallest species are the most deadly within this family and are very capable of holding their own against small vertebrates.

Pictured:
Top Left - Scolopendra gigantea
Top Right - Scolopendra morsitans
Bottom Left - Scolopendra cingulata
Bottom Right - Scolopendra hardwickei