All bugs are insects, but are all insects bugs? In common usage, most anything that’s small, with lots of legs, with wings, and that’s creepy, crawly, and skittery, is referred to as a bug. But, in academia, a true bug possess tough forewings, has no teeth, and has a mouth shaped like a straw (stylet) that is used to suck juices from a plant, or from you; think the bed variety. Furthermore, spiders, ticks, and scorpions are neither bugs nor insects, they are classified as arachnids. However, when a many legged, creepy, crawly critter wanders around the inside of a house, either it is immediately escorted outside, or arrangements are made for its quick demise, without ever considering its classification. Right?

Most bugs, insects, and arachnids just love the tropics, so Hawaii is home for many. The University of Hawaii Insect Museum houses over 250,000 specimens. Dating back to 1908, the collection is an invaluable record of changes in Hawaii’s biodiversity.

Not to be outdone, the Bishop Museum collections are estimated to hold more than 14,700,000 specimens from all over the Pacific, including the Pacific rim, and dates back at least 175 years.

Opinions vary as to how many different kinds of insects live in Hawaii now. One website, Insect Identification, states that Hawaii is home to 417 different species, and displays 417 full color pictures for instant recognition of whatever it is that’s crawling up the wall.

Another website, Only In Your State, simply concerns itself with ten species; the scariest, the most poisonous, or the ones with the most painful stings and bites. Their full color ID pictures should make it relatively easy to give these few unfriendliest a wide berth.

The State of Hawaii maintains a web page that lists invasive species, which also includes plants and animals. However, the nettle caterpillar, first found on the Big Island in 2001, and since spread to all Islands, is considered important enough by the State to have its own special web page. This spiney little caterpillar is not just unfriendly, it’s downright disagreeable. The poisonous spines give a painful sting, with burning, itching, and swelling that is followed by a rash that can last for weeks. Avoid.

Not every insect, bug or arachnid living in Hawaii is out to get us, though. Butterflies are a joy in any garden on any day, ladybugs bring out the sing-song child in us all, and we marvel at the fragile looking damselfly, and the delicate lacewings. Colorful banded garden spiders help keep our gardens pest free, and we all know that a cricket in the house brings good luck. Mostly these small creatures just want to live and let live. As we do. Let us all cooperate.