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Invertebrate Ambassadors

Our Invertebrate Ambassadors travel with us to schools and outreach events around Missoula.  They are a great way to engage kids of all ages in the fascinating world of insects and their close relatives.  Below are our “regulars” – the ambassadors you’re most likely to see if you come visit us at an event.  We also may bring more seasonal insects, such as Painted Lady Butterflies, Cecropia Moths, and Praying Mantises.

The Noisy Crew:

Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches
Home Range: Madagascar
Habitat: Moist tropical forests; found under dead bark and in decaying vegetation
Wild Diet: Opportunistic scavengers
Life span:  Usually 2-3 years; occasionally up to 5 years

Greta - Giant Vinegaroon
Home Range:  Southern United States and in Mexico
Habitat:  Underground burrows that are dark and damp; in rotten logs or under rocks and natural cover
Wild Diet:  Preys on insects, worms and slugs
Life Span:  6-8 years
Interesting Fact:  The Giant Viegaroon gets its name from the vinegar (acetic acid) that it emits to scare away predators.  The front legs are not used for walking, but serve as sensory organs along with the whip-like tail.

Rosie - Chilean Rose Tarantula
Home Range: Bolivia, Argentina, and Northern Chile
Habitat: Lives in shallow burrows in forested areas; also deserts and scrublands
Wild Diet: Mostly large insects such as crickets, grasshoppers, beetles and roaches; will also eat smaller tarantulas and other spiders, frogs, and baby mice
Life Span: 15-20 years for females; 1-2 years for males

Max - Emperor Scorpion
Home Range: West Africa
Habitat: Deep burrows in tropical rainforests
Wild Diet: Invertebrates and small vertebrates such as lizards
Life Span: Approximately 2 years in the wild

Elvira - Black Widow Spider
Home Range: Five different species of widow spiders are found throughout the U.S. and southern Canada.
Habitat: Found in dry, sandy, or rocky areas.
Wild Diet: Will eat almost any insect they can catch in their web.
Interesting Facts: The Black Widow is the most poisonous spider in North America.  However, only the female can bite.  Black Widow spiders are typically not aggressive, and bite as a defensive measure when they are attacked or feel threatened.