This insect poop guide provides insights and solutions to identify the pollinators and pests in your yard. From Ants to Wasps, we cover the 17 most common insects in our yards and homes. Helping you promote the pollinators and remove the pests.
Insects are critical to pollinate and control pests in our yards. Bees and mosquitoes will pollinate, while wasps and dragonflies will eat crop-destroying pests. Learning to identify insects from their poop or feces, provides insight into the garden’s health and any needed pest protection.
Below we’ve created a reference guide to identify and provide information on the creatures living in your yard, based on the poop they leave behind. Use this source as a guide for identifying the mysterious droppings that may be appearing in your yard or home. Below we provide reference points, fun facts, and solutions for infestations that may be impacting your life. Read on to learn more.
Ants
Do Ants Poop?
Ants are one of the most prolific insects on the planet, with strict social rules and ranks within their society. With such strict rules for the colonies, even their elimination habits adhere to colony scrutiny.
Ants poop tiny dark specks, ants also pee. Both waste products are excreted from the ants gaster. Ant feces color varies based on diet. During nest flooding some species of ants will drink any water that has flooded into their nest, and then all go outside and pee.
The world of ants is amazing, and extremely regimented based on the ant’s caste. Some ants are protectors and some ants feed their nestmates by defecating in their mouths. The life of an ant is complicated.
Ant Fecal Facts
Ants are extremely interesting creatures living deep below ground, crawling through dense networks of self-created tunnels. The success of an ant colony is dependent on every ant fulfilling its assigned role within the colony.
Some ants are foragers, soldiers, and some deal with the cleaning and feeding duties of the colony. Ants work to keep poop and feces out of their colonies, to reduce the spread of disease and harm to the larva.
Not all feces are dangerous to the ant colony. Some ants will feed other ants with their own vomit or feces. This also transfers helpful bacteria through the colony, to aid in the digestion of organic matter in the ants’ gut.
Along with the larva’s safety, is the protection of their fungus garden. Some colonies of ants maintain fungus gardens within the colony, to supply the colony. This is used in areas where natural food sources may be limited.
When ants do defecate in the nest, they will have a worker ant remove it to a safe space that will not cause infection. There are even cases where ants will remove sick and dying ants from the colonies to limit the spread of the disease from decimating the colony.
Do Ants Fart?
Ants can’t fart. Many forms of ant pest management involve compounds that cause the ant to swell up and then explode, as ants cannot pass the gas the pest control creates in the ant’s system.
Do Ants Eat Poop?
Ants are foragers and can dig through any organic matter to locate partially digested food. Some species of canopy ants collect bird droppings poop and feed it to their young. This can also spread nematodes which are prolific parasites that appear in every living creature on earth.
If you are experiencing an infestation of ants, the first step is to contact a local pest control professional to discuss the options to exterminate the infestation.
A professional will be able to address the current infestation and then apply a barrier to prevent future infestations. There are also options you can buy at your local home store, though it may be beneficial to still consult with a professional before tackling the nest on your own.
Cover image: Red wood ant_formica rufa on green grass_© antrey
Butterflies
Do Butterflies Poop?
Butterflies are beautiful visitors to our gardens. However, when they appear in large swarms, like the monarch’s migration, their numbers can be intimidating due to the volume of butterflies traveling together. Fortunately, the poop trail the butterflies leave behind is not as messy as you may think.
Butterflies do poop. The poops texture and consistency will change through the butterfly’s lifetime. Caterpillars have solid poops because it is eating leaves and other organic solids. The adult butterfly consumes only liquids and the adults’ poops are excreted as a fine mist from its rectum.
The metamorphosis of caterpillar to adult butterfly changes the insects’ entire body, both inside and out. The changes to the adult butterflies’ digestive tract change the way food is consumed, digested, and excreted. The interesting change is why butterflies visit our gardens for nectar, helping with pollination along the way.
To see the awesome power of butterfly pollination, read our article below on 40 beautiful plants to add to your yard to attract Monarch butterflies. See the beautiful images and the overwhelming volume of millions of Monarchs during their annual migration.
Read more about Monarch butterflies here: 40 Beautiful Plants That Attract Monarch Butterflies to Your Garden! Beautiful images!!
Butterfly Fecal Facts
Butterfly Poop Color
The color of butterfly poop depends on the butterflies’ stage of life. Adult butterflies do not poop solid materials and only release a mist of liquid. However, when a butterfly first emerges out of its chrysalis the butterfly may excrete red waste, called Meconium. Read below about red Meconium.
Do Butterflies Poop Red?
Butterflies do not poop red. Butterfly waste is expelled as a fine liquid mist. Adult butterflies may excrete red liquid after it hatches from its chrysalis. This is the adult butterfly expelling organic material from its caterpillar stage, that was not consumed during the chrysalis growth phase.
Do Butterflies Pee Red?
Butterfly waste is a clear fine mist made up of mostly water and excess sodium from the butterfly’s system. However, when the butterfly first emerges from its chrysalis, it excretes a red semi-solid called Meconium.
Do Butterflies Eat?
Butterflies eat through their entire life. However, the stage of the butterfly’s life will determine the food source that butterflies will require.
Adult butterflies do not eat solid food and consume only liquids. Most of the butterflies’ nutrients come from nectar. However, butterflies will land on human skin or animal poop to drink any excess salt or other minerals the butterfly may not get from nectar alone. This is called Mud-puddling.
If you would like to invite more Butterflies into your garden, read our article below where we provide dozens of beautiful pictures of the plants that will attract butterflies to your yard. The best part of these plants is they will grow in almost any size garden, from a window sill garden to a full-scale royal English garden. We provide beautiful images and ideas for your next Butterfly garden.
Read more about attracting butterflies here: 50 Beautiful Plants to Attract Butterflies: Annuals and Perennials Beautiful images!!
Caterpillars
Do Caterpillars Poop?
Caterpillars have one goal and that is to eat and grow larger to prepare for their pupa state of transformation. Caterpillars will molt up to four times before they build a chrysalis and transform into butterflies. Although caterpillars are very efficient at utilizing and absorbing nutrients, they do not absorb 100% of the organic matter they consume.
Caterpillars poop frequently and eat constantly. Depending on the species, caterpillars eat leaves, fruit, insects, and even other caterpillars. The food source determines the poops appearance. Some caterpillars poop dry brown pellets, and some poop brown or green piles of wet slimy droppings.
There are many similarities between caterpillar species, and there are several questions we’ve answered below regarding caterpillars’ poop. In the section below we’ve answered many frequently asked questions on how caterpillars poop, and what its impact is on the caterpillar’s environment.
Caterpillar Fecal Facts
Caterpillar poop is also known as Frass. Caterpillar droppings are excreted in dense pellets or loose and slimy piles of frass. The consistency of the poop is based on how fibrous the food source is for that species of caterpillar.
Caterpillars are very efficient at digesting and absorbing nutrients. Their only job is to eat and prepare for their next life cycle stage; building themselves inside a cocoon or chrysalis and beginning the transformation to an adult butterfly.
Species like the Monarch butterflies only lay eggs on Milkweed plants, as the Monarch caterpillars are only able to digest milkweed. The annual migration of the Monarch is a beautiful site to see, with millions of beautiful butterflies making the journey from the cold North, to the warm South.
You too can support the Monarch migration with the addition of a few beautiful plants in your garden. Check out the articles we’ve written linked below for lots of beautiful pictures of the Monarchs in migration, and many beautifully colorful plants to incorporate into your garden to support their annual journey.
Read more about Monarch butterflies here: 40 Beautiful Plants That Attract Monarch Butterflies to Your Garden! Beautiful images!!
How Do Caterpillars Defecate?
Caterpillars defecate through their anus. The caterpillar’s digestive system is a straight line from mouth to anus. Food moves from mouth to the gut where it is broken down and absorbed by the caterpillar. Liquids are retained in the caterpillar, and any unneeded solid matter is excreted.
A caterpillar’s main goal is to eat as much as possible and grow big. The anatomy of the caterpillar is designed to support this, with a digestive system that quickly moves food through the caterpillar and quickly defecates any indigestible material.
Do Caterpillars Pee?
Caterpillars do not pee as they retain most fluids. Excess fluid is excreted within poop. Caterpillars have a hemolymphatic circulatory system where plasma carrying hemocytes circulates freely in the caterpillar. Hemocytes cells are like blood cells aid in delivering nutrients to growing tissue.
The Merriam-webster definition of hemolymph is: “the circulatory fluid of various invertebrate animals that is functionally comparable to the blood and lymph of vertebrates” source: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hemolymph
Do Caterpillars Poop in Their Chrysalis?
Caterpillars do not poop in their chrysalis. During the chrysalis phase, the caterpillar’s body completely transforms from the inside out, and normal eating and pooping do not happen during the change. Once the butterfly emerges it often poops red for the first few poops.
Red waste is organic material that was not utilized during the transformation from caterpillar to butterfly.
Green Caterpillar Poop
Caterpillars who eat green leaves will defecate green poop, as they cannot completely digest every nutrient from dense fibrous leaves. Organic leafy greens often have piles of green caterpillar poop on them, left by the caterpillars that were eating the plant. Always wash your produce thoroughly.
Creating a safe nourishing environment for caterpillars will promote more butterflies to visit your yard. Attracting adult butterflies to your yard provides beneficial pollination and beautiful varieties of colorful butterflies to view.
Read more in our article below where we provide beautiful images of 50 different plants and flowers for any size yard. Find the perfect match for your garden and see some new fun ideas for your next butterfly garden!
Read more about attracting butterflies here: 50 Beautiful Plants to Attract Butterflies: Annuals and Perennials Beautiful images!!
What Does Caterpillars Poop Look Like?
Caterpillar poop can look like dry brown pellets or green piles of wet poop depending on the caterpillar’s food source and hydration level.
How Often Do Caterpillars Poop?
Caterpillars poop a lot, and when butterflies lay their eggs, they can lay dozens of eggs on the same plant. When the caterpillar larva hatch, they begin to consume the plant they hatched on. The caterpillar’s poop everywhere in the garden, from fruits and veggies to backyard furniture.
Cockroaches
Do Cockroaches Poop?
Cockroaches are very adaptable and there are several hundred species that live in various conditions. Many species live in familial clusters and communicate through pheromones alerting other cockroaches of the presence of family or foe. The discernment method of these pheromones may surprise you.
Cockroaches poop feces in small dark pellets or in long smear marks, both types of feces also contain pheromones the cockroaches use to communicate. Cockroaches often live in familial clusters congregating around a shared food source. The multi-generational cluster generates a massive poop pile.
Cockroaches communicate with poop, and interestingly their communication is sophisticated. Living in communal environments with close ties, helps the cluster to grow and thrive against the elements and predators.
Cockroach Fecal Facts
Why Do Cockroaches Poop Everywhere?
Cockroaches have a unique way of communicating with their nestmates.
Cockroaches live in familiar nests and identify each other by pheromones. Pheromones are dispersed through the Cockroaches anus, mixed with the cockroach’s feces. Different species have different styles of dispersing excrement, from small dark pellets to long smear marks stretching over inches.
Cockroach Eggs vs Cockroach Poop
Cockroaches lay one egg pod that has 30 to 40 eggs inside. The egg pod is bright white, and the cockroach nymphs are also bright white. Cockroach poop is excreted in small pellets or as a long poop smear, depending on the species of cockroach.
What Do I Do If I Find Cockroach Poop?
If you find a cockroach den, it is best to call a professional exterminator to learn your options. Cockroaches can feed on many food sources and live in many hidden spaces. A professional exterminator can take care of the current infestation and provide barriers to prevent future infestations.
If you are experiencing an infestation of cockroaches, the first step is to contact a local pest control professional to discuss the options to exterminate the infestation.
A professional will be able to address the current infestation and then apply a barrier to prevent future infestations. There are also options you can buy at your local home store, though it may be beneficial to still consult with a professional before tackling the nest on your own.
Crickets
Do Crickets Poop?
Crickets tend to be nocturnal, and their eating and elimination habits are not frequently seen by humans. However, crickets have interesting and diverse daily habits within each different species.
Crickets poop dark brown or green feces, based on their diets. Crickets’ diets vary by species, some being herbivores, omnivores, or carnivores. Crickets are very efficient at converting food to body mass and excrete very little liquid. Crickets do not pee, they expel liquid with their feces.
Crickets tend to live a solitary life, only making their presents known through a chirping song in the dark. However, these interesting insects have an important role in our lives and our yards.
Cricket Fecal Facts
Crickets are solitary insects and tend to live dispersed with relatively large territories the males protect and defend. We find crickets in woodlands and meadows, and we hear the songs they sing to attract mates.
With this large spread of cricket territory, you will not often find large clusters of cricket poop. Instead, crickets leave their feces in plants and garden beds, adding beneficial nutrients to the plants the cricket lives on.
Crickets eat a large amount of food and will go through ten larval stages before reaching adulthood and mating. With so many growth periods it is important for cricket to consume and absorb as many nutrients as possible.
Crickets are extremely efficient at converting food to body mass and are able to consume a significant amount of food. This results in less excrement than you’d think from, an insect so large.
Dragonflies
Do Dragonflies Poop?
Dragonflies are beautiful insects, often seeming elusive as sightings may be rare. The dragonfly does not pester humans or feed on our gardens, so their consumption and elimination habits raise questions to the casual observer.
Dragonflies excrete poop out of their anus, which is located at the end of their long tail-like abdomen. Dragonflies eat small insects like gnats, ants, and termites; and their feces will change consistency based on their diet. Most dragonfly poop is excreted as small dark brown pellets.
Dragonflies are interesting creatures with relatively long life spans. In their lifetime they can reproduce and consume at considerable rates. However, few see the daily habits of these elusive insects, as their lives often unfold in serene secluded locations.
Dragonfly Fecal Facts
Dragonflies tend to live in trees and plants that overhang water sources. This living location means that most of their poop is excreted near the water’s edge, and may not accumulate in or around our homes. Making it more unusual to see dragonflies defecate.
Dragonflies tend to live near water as the males fight for waterfront territory because that is where females like to lay eggs.
Dragonfly larva hatches as nymphs and not worm-like creatures.
Nymphs spend the first several molts underwater, breathing through their gills located in their anus. The dragonfly nymph can also use its butt to propel itself through the water, kind of like jet power farts.
The final molt and metamorphosis are when the dragonfly nymph’s respiration system transforms and begins breathing air.
Dragonflies’ larva and adults are predators and can feed on small insects and even tadpoles.
Do Dragonflies Pee?
Dragonflies excrete liquid from Malpighian tubules that remove (excess sodium and proteins) from the cytoplasm in the plasma membrane. The liquid flows through the Malpighian tubules and exit out of the dragonfly’s anus.
Do Dragonflies Only Live for 24 Hours?
Dragonflies clutch can have over a thousand eggs (up to 1500 eggs) and take up to 3 weeks to hatch. Dragonflies are not born as larva, rather they are small nymphs with legs and sharp mouthpieces.
Some species of dragonflies go through up to 15 nymph stages (molting from stage to stage) before final metamorphosis into an adult. The transformation from nymph to adult can take three months upto three years in smaller species, and over four years in larger species.
Why Do Dragonflies Sit on You?
Dragonflies perch on people and plants to look for prey or mates. Usually, Dragonflies perch on plants surrounding bodies of water. Water attracts prey insects, also females lay egg clutches near water as nymphs hatch then fall into the water where they will spend the first part of their life.
What Do Dragonflies Eat?
Dragonflies are predators and their diets vary based on the species. Some dragonflies eat gnats and small flying insects, while others feed on ants, termites, and tadpoles. Dragonflies tend to live near water, as the proximity to water provides a better chance of finding food.
Some dragonflies are even known to catch prey mid-flight, thanks to their eyesight and excellent flight control.
Fleas
Do Fleas Poop?
Finding fleas on your pet is a terrifying discovery, and requires immediate action to stop the spread of the flea infestation and remove the mess they leave behind.
Flea poop is excreted as dark dense flakes made of undigested dried blood. Blood is the flea’s only food source. Fleas do not pee; they excrete excess liquid with their feces. Fleas also lay eggs on host mammals. Flea eggs are small dark specs, often mistaken for flea dirt. Flea dirt is poop.
Fleas can live on our pets, on farm animals, and even feed on humans. Learning the signs of a flea infestation can help identify and remove the infestation before it becomes a danger to health.
Flea Fecal Facts
Often you may see flea dirt but no fleas. This happens when the flea is locked on the host and feeding, as the flea itself can be difficult to see due to its opaque light color. However, the flea’s feces is dark-brown and contains dried blood that the flea did not digest.
When a flea lays its eggs on a host it can lay several dozen, and when several hundred fleas are laying eggs the larva hatchlings can number in the thousands.
Flea larva hatch near the adult fleas feeding area on the host. The flea larva, with still-developing mouthparts, often eat dried flea poop or other organic matter off the host’s skin.
Flea larva is not able to cut into the host and drink fresh blood. Eating flea poop ends in the fleas larva stage, and adult fleas only eat fresh blood.
When there are many generations of fleas living on a host a large amount of flea poop accumulates and can begin to look more like dirt on the host instead of poop.
What Is Flea Dirt?
Flea dirt is flea poop, and it is found on host mammals in large amounts in and around flea colonies. Fleas have sharp mouths that are designed to slice a host’s skin and drink its blood. Fleas also have strong hooks on their feet allowing them to latch onto the host animal at the feeding site.
If you are experiencing an infestation of fleas, the first step is to contact a local pest control professional to discuss the options to exterminate the infestation.
A professional will be able to address the current infestation and then apply a barrier to prevent future infestations. There are also options you can buy at your local home store, though it may be beneficial to still consult with a professional before tackling the nest on your own.
Flys
Do Flys Poop?
Flies are essential insects to our environment; however, they are filthy and leave harmful bacteria everywhere they land. Much of the bacteria on flies is self-generated excrement.
Flies excrete poop in semi-solid droplets colored black and white. Flies do not pee; their uric acid is excreted as white paste with their feces. Flies expel digestive vomit from their mouth to pre-digest food outside of the fly’s body. Flies poop and vomit frequently when landing on potential food.
Flies often seem to be pests in our day-to-day lives. However, they are extremely important and underrated insects in our ecosystem.
Fly Fecal Facts
Flies spread diseases, feed on feces, and dead animals. After their feeding, they land on our food or our skin and defecate wherever they land. There are many negative aspects that flies create. However, flies are essential to our survival.
Flies are the second most prolific pollinators behind only Bees. Flies tend to contribute largely to pollinating in cold wet climates and conditions. These are the conditions bees lack resilience.
While they are important, we should also take measures to make sure their feces do not contaminate our environment.
How Often Does a Fly Poop?
Flies do not poop every time they land. However, flies do poop and vomit prior to feeding. If a fly lands on you or your food with the intention of feasting on you or your food, then chances are the fly will poop and vomit on your food. Fly vomit predigests food, liquifying the meal for the fly.
How Do Flies Poop on the Ceiling?
Flies can often poop on ceilings. Flies have special feet that allow them to hang upside down on ceilings. Flies also forcefully excrete feces that is semi-solid and can stick to surfaces, this results in fly poop on the ceiling.
Do Flies Poop Worms?
Flies do not poop worms. Flies mainly consume liquids as they do not have the features required to chew food. Flies poop a semi-solid stool that contains indigested organic matter as feces, and uric acid as white paste.
Honey Bees
Do Honeybees Poop?
Honey bees are wonderful pollinators to have in your yard. However, they can also leave an unexpected amount of poop near large swarms or near beehives. Bee poop is very unique, leading to a lot of questions we’ve answered below.
Honeybee poop is sticky, yellow, and excreted in droplets or a line. Most bees only poop while flying outside the hive. If Honeybees poop in the hive, it is removed from the hive by house bees. Honeybee poop is not honey, it is just feces. Bees do not pee. Liquid waste is expelled with the poop.
The color and texture of honeybee poop resembles honey and raises a few more questions we clarify below.
Do Bees Poop Honey?
Bees do not poop honey. Bees have two paths in their bodies, for digestion and one for nectar storage. Nectar is stored in the bees’ crop or honey stomach. Forager bees return to the hive with a crop full of nectar and vomit into the mouth of a worker bee that stores the liquid in a honeycomb.
The process of honey production is very interesting and travels through a different path than the bee’s feces and digestion system.
Is Honey, Bee Vomit?
Bees do not produce honey in their body. Forager bees collect nectar in its crop or honey stomach. The forager bee returns to the hive and vomits the mix into a worker bee’s mouth. The worker bee vomits the mixture in a honeycomb. Each bee adds enzymes to the mix, turning it to honey as it ages.
Another frequent question we received is which end of the bee does honey come out of? Read on to find out.
Bees do not produce honey in their body. The production of honey is more of a team effort, between several bees.
While bees are out foraging for nectar, they will drink nectar and eat pollen as a part of their diet. Some of the nectar is consumed and travels down the bees’ digestive track, some of the nectar will be stored in the bees’ crop or honey stomach.
Read more about honeybees here: 50 Best Plants That Attract and Support Honey Bees! Beautiful images!!
The Crop or Honey sac is a second stomach in the bee designed to hold the nectar. In the crop, the bee also has special digestive enzymes that are introduced to the mix of nectar and pollen. This enzyme begins to break down the mixture in preparation for the next phase of honey development.
When the forager bee arrives back at the hive it will vomit the contents of the crop into the mouth of a worker bee. The worker bee will store the liquid in its own crop, where additional enzymes will be added from the worker bee.
The worker bee then brings the liquid to the honeycomb and vomits the mix into the honeycomb and seals it in for a type of fermentation process. Once the nectar is in the honeycomb it will mix with the different enzymes of the bees’ crop; this is when the vomit mixture becomes the sweet honey we love.
The nectar and pollen the bees eat, travel through its digestive system, leading it through a different path away from the crop.
The bees’ digestive system comprises a foregut, midgut, and hindgut.
The Foregut contains the mouth, esophagus, and crop or honey stomach.
The Midgut is where food is digested by enzymes and nutrients are absorbed into the bee’s body.
The Hindgut is the ileum (small intestines), and rectum.
Food that is consumed by the bee for nourishment will travel from the bees’ mouth directly to the bees (Ventriluous) which is digestion through the guts and waste is excreted out of the anus.
The rectum absorbs as much water as possible from the waste before the bee poops. This is why bees do not pee or urinate, the water is too important to their survival.
How Often Do Bees Poop?
Bee culture is highly structured, and the colonies work to maintain many healthy and productive behaviors. One such behavior is cleanliness within the colony.
Bees poop frequently, though bees can hold their feces for extended periods of time if they must stay in the hive during inclement weather. Bees work to maintain a hygienic hive and will poop outside of the hive. If a bee defecates inside the hive, it will be cleaned and removed by worker bees.
Bees work diligently to maintain a clean environment within the hive, to keep disease and germs away from their young larva, and their food supply of honey. One of the standards enforced is, no poop left in the hive. Bees will work to intentionally poop outside of the hive while they are out on foraging missions. This can lead to a build-up of bee poop under a hive as bees poop when they leave or before they re-enter the hive.
Bees can even hold their feces in for extended periods of time. This occurs during extreme heat or cold, or heavy winds and rain.
If a bee does defecate in the hive, it is quickly cleaned and removed from the hive by worker bees. This is a common practice as some bees may never leave the hive. Many bees may be tasked working deep within the hive to raise the next brood of larva or working with the queen during the process of birthing the next generation.
Is Beeswax Bee Poop?
Beeswax is critical to the bee colonies’ ability to store food and protect their vulnerable larva. Beeswax is also used by humans in different day-to-day practical use situations. The question arises; what is the wax actually made of, and how?
Beeswax is not bee poop. Beeswax is produced when sugars from honey are metabolized in wax glands of worker bees. The clear wax is secreted from wax glands on the sides of bees’ sternum. The worker bees collect the wax scales and begin to chew the wax forming it into honeycomb.
The differences between beeswax and bee poop production are detailed below.
Worker bees create the beeswax that is used to build the honeycombs of the hive. The honeycombs are essential to the hive’s successful development, as the honey is the food source for the larva that will become worker bees. The larva that is destined to be a queen, will be fed a secretion from worker bees called royal jelly, made of water, protein, and sugar.
Beeswax is produced as a by-product when sugars from honey are metabolized in specific wax gland fat cells on worker bees. The wax is secreted as clear scales from wax glands on the sides of the bees’ sternum. The wax scales are collected by worker bees and the clear wax is chewed by the bees to make it malleable. As the bees chew the wax it turns yellow from the introduction of pollen in the bees’ saliva. Once the wax is malleable, the bees begin to build the honeycomb cells that will store honey.
Bee Garden!
Adding plants to your yard is a great way to support the honey bee population and to benefit from their prolific pollination. Read our article below to learn the 50 best plants to invite and support honeybees into your yard.
The article below provides beautiful images of 50 different plants that can be added to a wide range of gardens. From window sill gardens to large yard landscapes. View the beautiful pictures and fun ideas for your yard.
Read more about honeybees here: 50 Best Plants That Attract and Support Honey Bees! Beautiful images!!
Ladybugs
Do Ladybugs Poop?
Ladybugs (also known as ladybirds or lady beetles) provide a beneficial service in gardens by eating aphids and other insects that can harm crops. Ladybugs are also considered to be good luck in many cultures and many gardeners intentionally introduce ladybugs into their gardens. Ladybug Scientific name: Coccinella
Ladybugs poop and pee. However, it is difficult to see without magnification. Ladybugs have two predator defenses that are frequently mistaken for poop and pee; blood drops and a smelly yellow liquid. Blood drops known as reflex bleeding and a yellow smelly liquid, are both used to deter predators.
With a little preparation, you can invite ladybugs into your garden without an infestation beginning in your home. Below are ways to improve your garden without ladybugs creating a fecal mess on your fruits and vegetables.
Ladybug Fecal Facts
Ladybug’s poop and pee as part of their normal digestion cycle. Ladybugs are great for a garden as the ladybug eats aphids and other insects that would otherwise damage the crops. Additionally, ladybugs rarely eat the plants they are living on and instead eat the invading insects.
A ladybug can live over two years in some climates. Within the ladybug’s lifetime, it eats an estimated 3,000 to 4,000 aphids and insects. Making these friendly insects a great addition to any garden. Ladybugs are so effective that many companies sell ladybugs online and in garden centers.
On the downside, ladybugs can thrive outdoors in the Spring, Summer, and Fall, then the ladybugs begin to hibernate and look for somewhere warm to spend the winter. This is when we see ladybug infestations begin to spike in homes.
If you are experiencing an infestation of Ladybug’s, the first step is to contact a local pest control professional to discuss the options to exterminate the infestation.
A professional will be able to address the current infestation and then apply a barrier to prevent future infestations. There are also options you can buy at your local home store, though it may be beneficial to still consult with a professional before tackling the nest on your own.
Cover image: Ladybird attacking Aphids on the endangered plant_© dimijana/123rf.com
Maggots
Do Maggots Poop?
Maggots are the larva of flies. Flies lay their eggs in manure and decomposing organic matter, and within 24 hours the eggs begin to hatch, and the larva begins to feed. The maggots will feed constantly during their larva stage which can last 2 to 4 weeks before their metamorphosis into the pupa stage.
Fly larva known as maggots, excrete semi-solid poop droplets colored white and black. Maggots do not pee; they excrete uric acid as white paste with their feces. Maggots spit digestive vomit on their food to pre-digest it, and then drink the liquified food. Maggots often eat manure and dead animals.
Maggots are not seen as often as flies because maggots do not roam far from the manure or rotting food that they are born in. As we don’t see maggots too often, there are several questions that come up when you find maggots and the poop they have left behind. Below we have answered some of those questions to help you identify and eliminate pooping maggots in your home.
Maggot Fecal Facts
Maggot is not a specific technical term and is broadly applied to many insect larvae and grub worms. Maggot as we define here is the larva of flies, from the common species including housefly, horsefly, and mosquitos
Hopefully, we are not finding maggots in our daily life. As flies tend to lay their eggs in manure or dead things that will provide food for the fly larva as soon as they hatch. The decomposing material will provide a great source of easily consumable nutrition for the maggots.
Maggots have saliva they vomit out to predigest and liquefy their food; the maggot can then drink up the meal. Once the maggot drinks up its food, the maggot retains as much nutrients and liquids as possible from its meal. The maggot then excretes any matter it could not fully digest. The poop is excreted from the maggots anus, along with the uric acid waste.
What Do Maggots Excrete?
Maggots excrete a semi-solid feces stool. The maggot’s digestive track is similar to the adult flies. The maggot does not have strong mouth mandibles to chew food. The maggot spits digestive fluid on its food to pre-digest the meal to a liquid form. Then the maggot drinks the liquefied food.
If you are experiencing an infestation of maggots or flies, the first step is to contact a local pest control professional to discuss the options to exterminate the infestation.
A professional will be able to address the current infestation and then apply a barrier to prevent future infestations. There are also options you can buy at your local home store, though it may be beneficial to still consult with a professional before tackling the nest on your own.
Mosquitos
Do Mosquitos Poop and Pee?
Mosquitos are definitely unwanted insects when we are fighting them off outdoors. Interestingly though, they are essential to many ecosystems that support bio-diverse conditions.
Mosquitos excrete poop that is semi-solid and colored dark brown or black due to their liquid diet of blood and nectar. Mosquitos do not pee. However, when a mosquito is feeding and getting full, it will excrete unwanted liquid from the blood it is feeding on. This waste is excreted as a liquid.
Mosquitos are as interesting as they are annoying. They are extremely resistant to weather and extreme conditions, carry disease, as well as provide beneficial support to a thriving ecosystem.
Mosquito Fecal Facts
Mosquitos have sharp straw-like mouths designed to slice open flesh and suck up blood. In most species of mosquitoes, the females are the only ones that drink blood, while males drink nectar. Females need blood for their lipids (fats) and proteins, which are used in the development of eggs. The female can produce hundreds of eggs in its short lifespan of only a few weeks.
Even though the mosquito is only consuming liquids, they still excrete a semi-solid fecal stool. The female poop tends to be darker as only the female mosquito drinks blood in most species, the male mosquitos drink nectar. The mosquito is a prolific pollinator and tends to have a greater impact pollinating in areas where butterflies and bees are less prevalent, like swamps or other wetter environments.
Do Mosquitoes Pee?
While a mosquito does not pee or urinate uric acid, the mosquito does excrete excess liquids when it is feeding. The excretion of liquids helps the mosquito maximize space to store only the needed lipids (fats) and proteins consumed from blood.
Do Mosquitoes Have Teeth?
Mosquitoes do not have teeth or any features to allow them to chew food. Mosquitoes have a straw-like mouth called a proboscis, used to quickly consume enough liquid nutrition to last for several days. Mosquito’s mouth is a sharp straw that cuts the skin and drinks the blood of the mosquito’s prey.
Moths
Do Moths Poop?
Moths are unique flying insects that feed on everything from plants to clothing. With their wide range of food sources, moth species are frequently balancing between helpful pollinators and destructive pests.
Most moth species excrete poop feces through their anus. The poop is excreted as small brown specks, color or texture change based on diet. Some species of moths do not eat as adults, and they do not poop. Species like the Luna moth only eat during their larval stage, the adults do not eat or poop.
There are over one hundred thousand species of moths, with only a small number classified as pests. Aside from the pest moths, the species is diverse; and very interesting to watch the transformation from larva to moth adult.
Moth Fecal Facts
Several species of moths are classified as pests, as their larva or caterpillars eat and destroy agriculture crops.
Some species of moth, like the Luna Moth, do not eat at all as adults. As adults, they live off the nutrients they have stored up during their caterpillar or larva stage. The Luna moth does not have mouthparts or digestive tract required to process and digest organic matter.
Some species of moths drink nectar and are key pollinators in mountainous regions.
Does a Luna Moth Poop?
Luna moths do not poop, as they do not eat anything as adult moths. The Luna moth caterpillar consumes a lot of food and stores the nutrients in its body. When the Luna caterpillar becomes an adult it loses its mouthpieces and digestive tract and no longer consumes food.
What Do Moths Eat?
Moths eat nectar and organic matter like plants or wool and fibrous materials. Some species of moth do not eat at all when they are adults, as they do not have mouth parts or a digestive tract. The adult Luna moth does not eat, its nutrition is all consumed when the moth is in its larva stage.
There are many home remedies and products on the market to keep moths from eating your clothes; from mothballs, dried lavender, to cedar cabinets. All are designed to deter the moth with fragrances the moth finds offensive.
Spiders
Do Spiders Poop?
Spiders provide a needed service in our garden ecosystems by reducing insects and pests. However, they also leave behind some unwanted additions to our homes and gardens.
Spiders excrete poop in semi-sold droplets, colored white, black or brown. Spiders do not pee. Most spiders only consume liquids and excrete uric acid with feces out of the anus. Spiders inject digestive fluid into prey to liquefy its insides, then the spider drinks the prey. Some spiders chew prey.
Spiders are rarely seen hunting or eating, and their elimination process is even more discreet. Read below to learn more about the interesting process spiders use to liquefy their victims.
Spider Fecal Facts
Spiders defecating frequency depends on their available food source. A Spider will catch prey in its web and inject the prey with their often toxic saliva. The spider’s saliva will begin to break down the cellular structure of the prey and turn the prey’s insides into a liquid.
The spider will then drink the prey’s insides slowly feeding on the dead or dying creature. This strategy is great for catching the flying insects that can become pests in our gardens, like mosquitoes and moths.
The benefits of spiders diminish greatly when they take up residency in our homes. Spiders give birth in large numbers.
If you have ever seen spider eggs hatch you may be shocked, and possibly terrified, to see waves of tiny spiders dispersing into the cracks of your home. However, spiders can easily be controlled with store-bought pesticides or contacting a local exterminator.
In the end, spiders are a wonderful addition to our ecosystem, We always try to catch the spiders in our home and release them into our garden for pest control.
If you are experiencing an infestation of spiders, the first step is to contact a local pest control professional to discuss the options to exterminate the infestation.
A professional will be able to address the current infestation and then apply a barrier to prevent future infestations. There are also options you can buy at your local home store, though it may be beneficial to still consult with a professional before tackling the nest on your own.
Is Spider Web Their Poop?
Spider web is not spider poop. Spider web is made of silk and is dispensed from the spider’s spinnerets located right below the anus. The spinnerets expel silk that is produced in the silk gland, located at the bottom of the spider’s abdomen. Spider feces are expelled from their anus.
Do Spiders Poop in Their Webs?
Spiders do not poop in their web. The feces are excreted and fall to the ground under a spider’s web. The spider poop begins to smell as it piles up under the spider web. Spider poop can become dangerous to people and pets if the feces begin to significantly collect.
How to Clean Spider Droppings?
Cleaning spider poop requires a household cleaner and scrub pad or brush. Spider poop is difficult to remove from most surfaces and requires a lot of scrubbing. There are many products on the market specifically to clean spider poop.
Termites
Do Termites Poop?
Termites are interesting species that communicate through pheromones and physical touch, as most termites are blind. There are many species of termites that feed on food sources other than wood, due to the bacteria in their gut. So how does all of this play into their digestion, and excretion?
Termites poop. Termite poop has many functions in the colony. Termite poop can look like small saw-dust colored pellets or long streaks. Most species of termites are blind and they use their poop to communicate with each other by adding in different pheromones depending on the situation.
The use of poop and pheromones in termite colonies helps the nest identify friend from foe, and acts as trail markers during excursions away from the nest.
Termite Fecal Facts
There are over 3000 species of termites, and many colonies can range from thousands of termites to millions.
A termite queen can live up to 50 years and lay up to 1,000 eggs per day and over 20,000 eggs per day in some species.
Termite colonies are considered superorganisms, as the colony acts as a self-regulating colony. The termite nest is known as a termitary or termitarium
Termites require special microbes in their gut to digest materials like wood pulp and other organic fibers. Termites are not born with these microbes, but they acquire these from feeding on organic matter and through a process called Trophallaxis.
Trophallaxis is a process where termites share nutrients with each other by passing digested food from mouth to mouth or anus to mouth.
In most species the workers acquire these microbes and are then able to feed other casts of termites within the colony, thereby passing the gut microbiota on to other termites.
Termites that manly eat wood can leave saw-dust-colored pellets that are firm and made of the indigestible fibers from the wood.
Termites that lack the gut bacteria to digest wood will eat from many varieties of food sources, including feces, soil, decomposing wood, and floral matter.
Fungiculture: Some species of termites maintain gardens of fungus. The fungus grows on the termite’s feces. The termites will poop in a central location and actively care for the poop garden to make sure the fungus grows and continues to grow.
The termites then eat the fungi, and any undigested fungi pass through the termite and are excreted in their poop fecal pellets. The fungi then germinate on the feces and the poop garden cycle repeats itself. This method of farming allows the termites to spread to areas that may not be nutrient-rich.
As mentioned above, there are different casts of termites within the same colony. In addition to this internal differentiator, there are also two classifications of termites based on their diets.
There are two classifications of termites, Lower Termites, and Higher termites. The lower termites’ guts have the needed bacteria to digest wood, and they primarily feed on wood.
The higher group of termites do not have all the needed bacteria in their gut to digest wood, so instead they eat a wide range of food sources from feces and soil to most decaying organic wood or flora matter.
Most termites are blind and communicate by using their antennae and through pheromones. The pheromones are secreted through a frontal gland while trail pheromones are secreted through the anus mixed with feces.
Feces with trail pheromones are often left in streaks called runways, that lead from the nest to a food source and then back to the nest. Termites can also leave fecal deposits in different forms depending on the food source.
One of the termite’s defense mechanisms is to secrete an alarm pheromone through feces. The alarm pheromone is only mixed with the feces when the termite is under threat. Once the threat has ended the termite will no longer add the alarm pheromone to the feces and may instead return to secretion feces with the trail pheromones.
What To Do When You Find Termite Droppings?
If you are experiencing an infestation of termites, the first step is to contact a local pest control professional to discuss the options to exterminate the infestation. Termite nests can number in the millions of termites, and they can nest deep within the walls of your home.
A professional will be able to address the current infestation and then apply a barrier to prevent future infestations. There are also options you can buy at your local home store, though it may be beneficial to still consult with a professional before tackling the nest on your own.
Ticks
Do Ticks Poop?
Ticks feed on a wide variety of hosts, and they are able to stay attached to hosts and feed for days without being noticed. While the tick is feeding it is also leaving behind refuse and possibly leaving deadly pathogens.
Ticks excrete feces as small black specks; ticks excrete urine or pee as liquid uric acid. Ticks feed exclusively on blood; tick poop contains excess organic matter like iron, lipids, and protein. Some species of tick lay eggs on a host animal, the small round black eggs may be mistaken for poop.
A tick can feed for days unnoticed, as the tick’s saliva has antiseptic properties that allow the tick to feed on a host without causing discomfort to the host.
Tick Fecal Facts
Different species of ticks can feed on one host anywhere from a few hours to several days. Bird ticks can stay connected to birds during the bird’s migration. The tick will continue to excrete waste when needed, during its feeding session.
Some species of ticks can lay eggs on host mammals. A single female can lay several dozen eggs in one clutch. The number of eggs depends on the species.
More importantly, a healthy clutch depends on how much blood the tick was able to consume. More blood means a larger healthier clutch.
When a tick lays eggs on a host it ensures the larva will have an instant source of food once they hatch. These tick colonies can develop on wild animals like deer, birds, and rabbits. Ticks also colonize on domestic pets and livestock. Ticks in domestic animals tend to thrive unnoticed in pets’ ears, and on their underside.
Ticks don’t jump or fly, they hunt by questing. Questing is when the tick lays in wait for prey to walk by and then attaches to the prey once it makes contact. Ticks hang off plants and brush with their front arms extended out waiting for a host to walk by, at that point the tick latches on to the host.
A tick can land on you and take from 10 minutes to several hours to begin feeding on the host.
Ticks grab onto hosts, cut skin, and insert a straw-like feeding tube. The tick’s saliva is antiseptic. This prevents the prey from feeling the tick cutting open its skin and inserting the sharp feeding tube into the cut epidermis (skin). This allows ticks to feed for days unnoticed by the host.
Ticks secrete a sticky substance that keeps them in place while feeding.
Ticks feed on blood at every life stage. A tick will stay attached to a host until it is full, or removed by the host. Once a tick is full from drinking blood, it will drop off the host and begins preparation for the metamorphosis to the next phase.
Once it emerges in the next stage, it will then be able to transmit any disease it has acquired in the last feeding phase.
If you are experiencing an infestation of ticks, the first step is to contact a local pest control professional to discuss the options to exterminate the infestation.
A professional will be able to address the current infestation and then apply a barrier to prevent future infestations. There are also options you can buy at your local home store, though it may be beneficial to still consult with a professional before tackling the nest on your own.
Wasps
Wasp is a common term to include both Yellowjackets and hornets, and though the two have different features, they share similar consumption and elimination processes.
Wasp poop is excreted as long white stools that also contain liquid, making the feces appear wet and runny. Wasps eat other insects and drink nectar for their nutrition. Wasp poop may change in consistency based on its diet, though the digestion process leaves the stool an opaque color.
Wasp’s role in the ecosystem is not easily identified. As the majority of interactions with wasps are cleaning up their droppings or removing their nests from human habitation. The wasp family is extremely interesting and a bit sneaky while achieving their dominance in nature.
Wasp Fecal Facts
Wasp is a common term to include both Yellowjackets and hornets. Wasps share a common ancestor with ants and bees.
Some wasp species live in eusocial colonies with queens and sterile workers. While many other species are solitary, with the female living and hunting alone. The female will lay eggs close to food sources so the larva have food as soon as they hatch.
Many solitary species of wasps will lay their eggs in the nests of other wasps or other insects. When the larva hatch, the hosts will take care of the larva. When the larva is strong enough it will eat the host insects. This egg-laying tactic makes wasps an excellent form of natural pest control, as the wasp larva can destroy entire nests of insects that may feed on agricultural crops.
Adult wasps also enjoy nectar and may drink nectar directly from flowers, or even join hummingbirds at a hummingbird feeder. Adding a hummingbird feeder to your yard is a great way to attract hummingbirds. However, you may also attract wasps or other less desirable insects.
Read our article below to learn more about adding a hummingbird feeder to your yard. With a little planning, a hummingbird feeder can make a wonderful attraction to any yard.
Read more about hummingbirds here: Do Hummingbirds Poop Around Feeders? Beautiful images!
Do Yellow Jackets Eat Poop?
Yellowjackets, also known as wasps, do not eat poop. Wasps primarily are predators of insects and spiders, though they regularly drink nectar from flowers.
Do Wasps Make Honey?
Wasps do not make honey. Wasps lack the needed digestive enzymes to produce honey. Bees produce honey by storing nectar in their crop (second stomach) and adding digestive enzymes to the mix. The mix is then vomited into the mouth of other bees to add enzymes, then stored in a comb to age to honey.
What Is a Wasps Purpose?
Wasps are primarily important for their pest control ability. Wasps feed on pest insects that damage crops. Wasps also lay eggs in the nests of pest insects and the wasp larva hatch and then eat the host insects in that nest. This helps reduce harmful insects in the ecosystem.
Do Wasps Pollinate?
Very few species of wasps are pollinators, though many species drink nectar. Wasps lack the hair-like fibers on their legs that bees have to carry pollen between plants. Instead, wasps will carry pollen in their crop (a second stomach) and pollinate as they consume nectar from multiple plants.
There are over a thousand species of wasps that are the sole pollinators for fig trees. The wasps will drink nectar and eat pollen as part of their diet. While the wasps are feeding, they will store some of the nectar and pollen in their crops. The crop is a second stomach that is used in bees and wasps to store food for later consumption and pre-digestion. Food can be stored in the crop and then brought back up to feed
Do Wasps Lay Eggs?
Wasps lay eggs. Many wasp species are eusocial, a queen lays eggs and the workers are sterile. Other species of wasp live solitary lives and females lay their own eggs. Emerald wasps will lay their eggs in the nests of other wasps and insects so the larva can eat the host insects when they hatch.
Additionally, some species of wasps will stockpile dead insect prey in their own nest and then lay eggs. This ensures the eggs will hatch and have plenty of food on hand.
Should I leave a Wasp Nest Alone?
If you are experiencing an infestation of wasps, the first step is to contact a local pest control professional to discuss the options to exterminate the infestation.
A professional will be able to address the current infestation and then apply a barrier to prevent future infestations. There are also options you can buy at your local home store, though it may be beneficial to still consult with a professional before tackling the nest on your own.
Next Read, Butterfly Garden!
Click the image below to read our article on 50 Beautiful Plants and Flowers to Attract Butterflies to Your Yard!
In this article, we provide beautiful images and fun ideas for gardens of any size. From window sill gardens to large backyard landscapes. Find the perfect flowers for your next Butterfly Garden! Click below to read!
Next Read, Hummingbird Garden!
Click the image below to read our article on 50 Beautiful Plants That Attract Hummingbirds to Your Yard!
In this article, we provide images of beautiful flowers to attracts and support hummingbirds. There are plants for nearly every growing condition and garden size. Click the image below to learn fun new flowers that will bring these beautiful birds to your yard!
The sources below were used for additional research and clarification for this article:
Google.com
Wikipedia.com