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Zoo Chatter
From time to time, we will feature articles in this section that highlight some of the behind-the-scenes activities here at the Zoo, written by our staff members, including the keepers who tend for the animals on a daily basis. This is our fifth Zoo Chatter feature - some thoughts from one of our staff members about BUGS! Check back at this section of the site for new articles!
I love bugs! Do you? Don’t be ashamed to say that you don’t. You are definitely in the majority when it comes to the subject. I am not an entomologist (someone who studies insects), rather I am an enthusiast—I am addicted to learning and searching for and educating others about our many-legged friends. Unfortunately they get a bad rap, and for some reason the majority of people I come across are either afraid, disgusted or creeped out by insects, bugs and spiders. However, for the same reason that I think a lot of us are “creeped out” by them, I am utterly fascinated by them. They are beyond our comprehensions sometimes with their odd diets, shape, colors, and the most “icky” factor—the number of eyes and legs they have.
 But what we don’t realize (usually because we can’t get past all the above things) is that they are amazingly complex creatures that we depend on a lot more than we would think. They are all around us, all doing very important jobs. Most insects are a great food source (and sometimes the ONLY food source) for so many of the animals on our planet. But many insects and spiders are so much more than that, and many perform such complex jobs that most of us either are not aware of them or we take them for granted. Worms are slimy and gross to some, but without them our soil would not be fertile and able to produce much of the food we eat. Bees are sometimes thought to be aggressive stingers, but without them our flowers and food plants would not be pollinated. Flies and cockroaches are constantly causing us grief, but without them we would have a much bigger job of cleaning up. And just when we think there are too many insects, the spider comes in to help decrease some of those numbers, and many people don’t like them either! It seems that if you have more than four legs you are doomed! So I am here to tell you about some of the remarkable things about bugs.
I am always amazed and awed at the natural world. I turn into a five year old when I find a new bug or flower or see an animal in the wild for the first time. I thrive on learning all the tiny and sometimes unbelievable abilities and complexities of these wonderful creatures. Some of my most productive and fun hikes did not even get past the beginning of the trail, because I had to stop and see so many smaller things going on. Sometimes it is about the big picture, and sometimes it is about all the tiny little things that make the big picture work.
The prominent biologist E.O. Wilson refers to insects as “the little things that run the world,” and this is certainly true! The tree is beautiful, but what about the little things on the underside of the leaves, or the critters that live in the holes or under its bark? The flower is fragile and stunning, but what about the tiny organisms that helped that flower grow and bloom? This is what I am passionate about, because I feel that we overlook all of these marvelous things sometimes. Insects can be big or small, depending on whom you ask, and each one has a VERY specific job, and sometimes they have multiple jobs. Insects can also be a huge indicator of how other species are thriving, or not thriving, and can indicate the health of the surrounding environment.
One of my most favorite things about all of this is learning how different types of organisms work together—whether they work together as a team or if one is simply the nourishment of another. Did you know that there are over 24,000 different types of beetles in North America alone? We still do not know how many insects, bugs and spiders there are in this world, and are only at the beginning of understanding their very important role they play in our lives. We owe a huge amount to these magnificent creatures, “icky” or not.
 Being the resident “bug girl” in both my work department and real life, I have been an advocate for introducing and educating our patrons at the Zoo about all of these wonderful things. My colleagues and friends are always bringing me bugs, or if they are less enthusiastic than I, they will kindly get me and point out the interesting creature. I don’t expect everyone to be as interested in and tolerant of insects as I am, but I think it is necessary to have an understanding and respect for the creatures on this planet, and I believe that education is key in fostering respect of the natural world. On that note, I am thoroughly excited to announce that we have recently acquired a group of Australian walking sticks that can be seen on exhibit in Critter Corner in the Encounters area. If I am around (which I usually am) I would love to talk to you about them, and any other creepy crawly that you may have a question about. Please stop by to see these amazing creatures up close, and while you are at it say hi to the tarantula, millipedes and hissing cockroaches too!
So the next time you go on a nature hike, take a walk, get some fresh air, mow your yard or play fetch with your dog, stop to take a look around you. Check under leaves, search through the grass, examine branches, overturn rocks and explore! You might be surprised, and maybe even excited and intrigued about the cool creatures that you may find!
Stephanie Schuck
Encounters Keeper
Indianapolis Zoo
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