Bugs & Insects That Live Underground

Print this article

By Nickey Ronacher, eHow Contributor updated April 01, 2011

Related Searches:

Bugs Control Insects for Sale

Ants are a type of insect that found in abundance underground.

There are many bugs and insects living underground. Many of these soil-dwelling creatures are known to be small in size and display physical features which have been adapted in order to survive in their underground environment. They hunt for food such as plants, roots, worms, other insects' eggs and larvae. Living underneath the earth is ideal for these creatures because it provides them with vital protection from various predators and extreme climates.

1. Ants
o
Ants are strong and remarkably hard working insects that live in colonies of about 100 or more in nests that can be as far as 15 feet deep underground. Ants are assigned different jobs such as the worker ants who use their legs to dig many underground tunnels and chambers. Each chamber is designated for a special purpose such as storing food, resting and a nursery where the queen ant cares for the colony's baby ants.

Subterranean Termites
o
Subterranean termites live in underground colonies. Each member of the colony is given a specific job to support the community. These job titles include that of the brown-headed soldier termites that protect the colony, the larger sized reproducers that repopulate, and the cream-colored workers in charge of building the colony's underground home. The workers build tunnels called "mud tubes" which provide protection from outdoor elements and important access to cellulose- rich food sources.

Jerusalem Cricket
o
The Jerusalem cricket is a nocturnal insect that lives underground. It has been commonly referred to as the "potato bug" and can be found throughout the western United States, Pacific Coast and Mexico. This cricket is distinctly known for its large size which can reach up to 2 inches long and its black and orange banded back.They also have strong jaws for digging underground and legs that when rubbed together produce a drumming sound.

Grubs
o
Grubs are the larvae of insects such as Japanese beetles and Chafers.They are found in abundance underground because the sub-terrain environment is ideal for vulnerable larvae as it offers protection from many above ground predators such as rodents and birds. Most grubs are white and C-shaped. The diverse species of grubs are

distinguished by the arrangement of bristles on the underside of the abdomen which is their "raster pattern." Their main source of food is underground grass roots.

Read more: Bugs & Insects That Live Underground | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/info_8147167_bugs-insects-liveunderground.html#ixzz1Zj1SxWQH