Who isn’t awed by the sight of a majestic elephant or a charging rhino, a bathing hippo or an African buffalo? It is often these more charismatic animals that take the spotlight when it comes to southern African wildlife. However, there is another spectacular world beneath most of our feet, which offers as much wonder.
From the fascinating to the furious, from the hideous to harmful here is a round-up of just some of the creepy crawlies that have recently crossed the path of the Peace Parks team. We give you Africa’s ‘Small Five’!
Armoured Bush Cricket
Commonly known as a “koringkriek” in South Africa, these armoured bush crickets are particularly abundant during seasons of high rainfall. Being fat and flightless though means they are on the menu for many larger predators. To defend themselves, they choose from a remarkable armoury including vomit, spikes, and, if all else fails, squirting blood from seams in their exoskeletons.
Dung Beetle
Believe it or not there are more than 5 000 species of dung beetles. What unites them is that they all love dung, or animal faeces. This type likes to roll it into balls to use as a food source or in their tunnels. Dung beetles have an acute sense of smell, which they use to find dung. After finding it, they roll it in a straight line confronting any obstacle in the way. After reaching a safe spot, it either eats the dung or stores it to eat later.
Dung beetles also steal dung balls from other beetles, so they always appear to be in a hurry, as if trying to stop another beetle from stealing their find. And another incredible fact: dung beetles can roll dung up to 10 times their weight!
Golden Orb Spider
This spider is well-known for its huge and magnificent golden webs that vibrate to attract their prey. The webs are so strong that small birds and bats have been known to get trapped in them. Luckily the spiders are harmless to humans and animals.
Mopane worm
Despite its name this is an edible caterpillar of a species of emperor moth known as Gonimbrasia Belina. Some consider them a delicacy, others pure bush food but all agree that as a source of protein, they are very nutritious. During harvest time, a few weeks into the rainy season, people hand pick them from the trees, dry them and eat them all year round.
Matabele ants
These Matabele ants are named after the fierce African tribe who were known for their fighting abilities. Often seen marching like this in search of food, these ants live in colonies, are highly organised and a model of cooperative working. Larger soldier ants provide protection for smaller worker ants when they march. They organise themselves into armies when attacking termite nests. It is also thought that they not only rescue and carry their wounded home but they also go to great lengths to nurse them back to health, holding hurt limbs in place with their mandibles and front legs and licking the wounds for a few minutes. This is thought to help prevent infections and help heal the wounded ants.
