05/10/2026
Happy Mothers Day! 🌸💛
To all the moms out there, you’re doing a great job. Remember you are exactly who your children need 💛
Did you know that some of the best mothers in the insect kingdom are earwigs, wolf spiders, and shield bugs?
Earwigs are remarkably devoted mothers, which is very rare among insects for providing extensive maternal care. They build nests, protect eggs from predators, and clean them to prevent mold. After hatching, mothers guard and feed their nymphs, sometimes through regurgitation, for weeks. In a final act of devotion, some species are eaten by their young, known as “matriphagy”. Talk about giving it ALL to your kids 🫣
Wolf spiders known for exceptional maternal care, carrying their egg sac attached to their spinnerets and, upon hatching, carrying dozens to hundreds of spiderlings on their backs for several weeks. They are active hunters, not web-weavers, and continue to hunt while transporting their young…..and I thought it was hard to go grocery shopping with 3 kids 😵💫
Shield bug mothers exhibit "helicopter parenting" by guarding their eggs for weeks, protecting hatched nymphs from predators, and even transferring vital symbiotic bacteria to their young for digestion. This dedication to nourish and protect her babies is extremely rare in the bug kingdom. 🛡️🪲
