Creepy-crawlies of PNG 6: Ants and bees

Ants are very industrious creatures, as Proverbs 6:6 testifies: "Go to the ant, O sluggard" (although in the case of termites we'd sometimes rather say "Go to the sluggard, O ant!"). We see lots of them in PNG, and many varieties as well. They are very quick to find any scrap of food not disposed of properly, and alert their fellow ants about a great new food source.

And then some bees...

In a banana flower.

Beehive.

A burrowing bee.

Bees dancing on their nest – an amazing sight!

Creepy-Crawlies of PNG 5: Beetles and bugs

Again, I'm not going to be very scientific here, but here are some beetles and other bugs.

We do see cockroaches from time to time. Thankfully we haven't
had any infestations. 

It really is blue... 

Perhaps this one should have gone on the caterpillars and millipedes post,
but I missed it at that time.

This one was actually in Australia, but I couldn't resist including it.

This one was also in Australia, but we've seen similar in PNG.

Creepy-Crawlies of PNG 4: At the beach

Here are a few creatures seen at the beach:

Starfish. This one actually got stuck to the person who was
holding it (not one of us).

Jellyfish. We've seen a few in the water, but have never yet been stung.

Scorpion. We have never yet been stung (and this is the only one
I've ever seen).

Water snail.

And a few crabs to finish off.

Creepy-Crawlies of PNG 3: Caterpillars and millipedes

I know, I know, caterpillars and millipedes are very different creatures. But I will be unscientific and class them together as "long, thin, many-legged little creatures," and then throw in a few pupae as well. 

These first few specimens are from Chimbu province in the Highlands. I've never been there myself, but one of the young men from our church took my camera up to his village and he took some great shots (thanks, Elijah!).

A few from our own garden:

Here are a few pupae, heading towards butterflyhood. I find these fascinating... the very process of a caterpillar becoming a butterfly inside of a motionless casing is mysterious, but so is the appearance of some of them. God is incredibly creative!

We've seen several of these in our backyard.
But I'm perplexed as to how those 1-inch bits
of sticks get on... Any ideas?

Another pupa, this one in Ukarumpa
(Eastern Highlands Province). Amazing
how it makes a net around itself!

And finally, a few millipedes...

Creepy-crawlies of PNG 2: Butterflies and moths

For those who didn't like the spiders, most of these look a little more friendly...