Bitten by the bug

My three and a half year old is crazy about bugs and worms and anything from a related species.  Me, not so much, but I've come to appreciate her deep fascination and awe with discovering critters of various shapes, sizes and motivations.  Our very wet spring provided a robust insect breeding environment this year -- some of those buggers are huge!

Here's an awesome tip for relieving bug bites, direct from our pediatrician: Use Adolph's meat tenderizer on mosquito bites, bee stings, all of the critter bites.  Add a few drops of water to make paste, apply directly to the bite area, leave on for a few minutes, then brush it off.  I cover the area with a band-aid or sterile gauze pad if the kiddos are squirmy.  It really reduces the swelling.  The papain in the tenderizer breaks down the protein toxins in the bites.  Who knew??  Well now we all do.  I found Adolph's in the spice aisle at Target for $2.50. 

Just For Fun: 

Because who can resist a great list of Bug Fun Facts?  And this list might give you nightmares (especially the fact about the mosquitoes.)

This is one photogenic beetle.  And pretty terrific photography (by a human).

If you haven't been to the Minnesota Zoo Big Bugs! exhibit, go.  It's fun.

So beautiful -- Genetically unusual butterflies.

This song is a perfect "earworm" for your day -- Enjoy!

Riloh discovered this baby hopper on the side of our garage.  It was less than 1/4 inch long!