Harry for President ’08

If This Look Worked For George Washington, Then It Can Work for Me

Everywhere you go, you hear people and insects talking about two very unique and important people. I bet you can guess who: Obama and McCain. The election to determine who will be America’s next president is less than a month away and nobody can stop talking about it!

I didn’t know who to support. I did a bit of research, and boy, was I shocked at what I found. Neither McCain nor Obama said anything about insect issues!

What about fair treatment for Daddy Long Legs? They’re constantly in risk of being smushed, but in reality, they work hard to ensure that mean bugs stay away from your home. They’re like your own private police force! Or what about gender equality for ladybugs? The boy ladybugs are always being teased. It’s not their fault they’re ladybugs.

The government is seriously underestimating the voting power of the insects. With more than a million different determined species of insects, we could really dictate the outcome of the election.

Jiminy crickets! I know what to do! We should start our own Insect Party. We’ll be right up there with those Democrats and Republicans. Maybe, if it’s not too late, we can even have one of us run in the election! Hm, maybe I’ll do it. Could you imagine that? Me? Running for president? Woody can be my campaign manager and Miley can help with all of my speeches. I need to get hopping, there’s so much to do!

I’m Like Butter—I’m On A Roll!

I'm No Dane Cook, But My Stuff Is Still Pretty Good

A few of the fish at the Audubon Aquarium are organizing a comedy show, and it sounds like the perfect event to show off my great sense of humor. Let me know what you think of my act. Drumroll, please!

What does a caterpillar go to sleep on? Any guesses?
A CATERPILLOW!
Miley the Monarch Butterfly loves that one!

How about this one?
Why was the inch-worm angry?
He had to convert to the metric system!

Speedy loves jokes, and has a few good ones himself. When he laughs, he just can’t stop! Here’s one of his favorites.
What did the guy millipede say to the girl millipede?
You’ve got a lovely pair of legs. You’ve got a lovely pair of legs. You’ve got a lovely pair of legs. You’ve got a lovely pair of legs. You’ve got a lovely pair of legs. You’ve got a lovely pair of legs…

And finally…
What is Atlas the Leafcutter Ant’s New Year’s resolution every year?
To turn over a new leaf!

Atlas was too busy helping feed his colony to laugh at that when I told him, but I think it’s funny. I guess some people just can’t appreciate my sense of humor. Wish me luck!

Hide-And-Seek Champ

Hide-And-Seek Is Too Easy! Can You See Me?

Whew, I’m exhausted! And I bet you wouldn’t believe it, but I just came back from the longest game of hide-and-go seek in all of insect history. (It’s true! Ask the cockroaches! They should know. They’ve been around for quite some time… 300 million years, to be precise.)

To hide, I made a beeline for the Butterfly Garden because it’s full of trees and plants, perfect camouflage for me. I found a cushy spot so I could rest comfortably while the others struggled to find good hiding places. They were less than successful.

Woody was ‘it’ and found Miley first—her large wings easily gave her away behind a sign. Even I could see her, and I was in the other room! Soon, Woody discovered the entire gang, and they teamed up to try to find me.

I waited, and waited, and waited, when Miley unknowingly landed next to me. It felt like she was staring straight into my eyes—I was practically invisible. As she fluttered her wings to take off again, some dust flew up and… and ah! Ah! Ahhchooo! I just couldn’t hold back my sneeze!

I can’t deny it though, I was pretty proud that I hadn’t been discovered and that my legs hadn’t given out after waiting so long. Coy Koi may have snapped me up and eaten me for an appetizer! Speaking of food, I’m starving. I wonder what’s for dinner?

Harry Falls for Football

Could There Be A Bigger Tulane Fan Than Me?

What a weekend! When we woke up Saturday morning, fall was in the air. It was a perfect day for football.

My friend Woody the Termite has lived in New Orleans his whole life and is a huge Tulane fan. When he gave me the sign, we snuck out of our habitats and headed to the Superdome.

Tailgaters packed the parking lot. Food was everywhere. Andouille sausage! Crawfish pie! Gumbo galore! Now that’s something worth rooting for.

Woody and I cheered right along with the crowd. But I didn’t need any face paint—I’m already green!

The Green Wave, the football team’s nickname, had regrettably lost their first two games, and we Green-folk (being all Green insects, and Green-painted fans) were looking forward to a victory against Louisiana-Monroe. After all, if you have us insects on your side, the chances of losing are almost nonexistent.

Tulane ended up pulling out a victory! The fans were going crazy! These Louisianans sure know how to cheer a winning team on.

It was so exciting! In fact, I want to start a football team at the Insectarium. With my keen eyesight and quick moves, I think I’d make a great quarterback. Now if I can just find a football small enough…

Termites Can Eat!

Being Buried Under a Mountain of Sawdust Is Not As Much Fun As It May Sound

All I can say is ‘wow’. When Woody the Termite and his friends challenged me to an eating contest, I had no idea what I was up against.

Woody the Termite and his pals invited me to join them for lunch today. I don’t eat wood, so when I went to their exhibit I brought some leftovers. Just before I took my first bite, Woody said, “Wait! I have an idea! Let’s have an eating contest. You try to eat your meal before we finish this piece of wood.” I was pretty hungry so I agreed. Besides, the piece of wood was huge compared to Woody and his friends. I figured there was no chance for me to lose.

Have you ever agreed to do something and immediately realized it wasn’t a good idea? Well, that’s what happened to me. When the contest began I ate as fast as possible, but a cloud of sawdust immediately blinded me and I had to stop. Woody and the other termites had eaten the piece of wood before I could even finish half of my meal! That stick must have weighed a full pound and they gobbled it right up.

Later, Woody explained that they were playing a joke on me because they knew I could not win. All termites do is eat, he said, night and day. They don’t even stop to sleep. Well, we praying mantises do and I headed back to my exhibit after that for a nice long nap.

I love living here at the Insectarium, because I learn something everyday. And today I learned that termites are the eating contest champs of the insect world!

I’m hoping to get out this weekend.

Check in soon!

Rain, Rain Go Away

I Might Look Like The Gorton's Fisherman, but a Mantis Has to Stay Dry

As many of you know, the weather around New Orleans hasn’t been the most pleasant; in fact, it’s been about as grumpy as Coy Koi - on a good day!

I’m ‘praying’ for good weather this weekend, but Ike may not be willing to accomodate. If I can, I’m planning to catch a glimpse of the International Arts Festival on Saturday. Miley the Monarch Butterfly has been raving about how much fun the festival has been in the past, and she can’t wait! That Miley. She’s fluent in Spanish and English, and she loves dancing to all of the international music. Her fun-loving attitude is contagious, too. One thing’s for sure: going to these festivals encourages everybody to smile and relax, even in hurricane season! That reminds me, I should try to get Atlas the Leafcutter Ant to come along as well. What a workaholic! I’m sure it’ll do him some good to get out and laugh a bit!

Things here at the Insectarium have been mantastic this week! From the millipedes to the dung beetles, we’re all super excited to have visitors back. (Don’t tell the dung beetles I said this, but they sure have a funny/smelly way of showing their excitement.)


Oops, I gotta go. The security guard is coming my way, and I was supposed to be back in my exhibit 30 minutes ago. Eek!

Check back soon!

I’m Back!

Welcome Back Y'all

Sorry it has taken me awhile to write. If you’ve watched the weather lately then you know that things have been pretty chaotic around here.

Picking up where we left off, I didn’t have to work on Labor Day after all. Or all week, for that matter. But it wasn’t quite the break I anticipated. The Insectarium closed because most of the city evacuated to avoid Hurricane Gustav. My pals and I rode out the storm, and we’re doing just fine.

But that shouldn’t surprise you. People often call bugs the ultimate survivors because we showed up around 400 million years ago, and we’re still around. We’re strong and feisty, just like New Orleans.

After only a week to recover, the city is starting to buzz again. We watched the first Saints game of the season yesterday in the Terminix Immersion Theater, and boy was it good. The Saints pulled out a win in the end, and we celebrated the victory with a round of high-fives.

Try that with a millipede! My friend Speedy can give all of us a high five at the same time with legs to spare. And you should see his victory dance!

Maybe he’ll perform one tomorrow when the Insectarium reopens to welcome everyone. On second thought, it might make him nervous. Do you know what he does when that happens?

Probably best not to go there—but don’t let it keep you from coming here!

I’m off to say my prayers and grab a bedtime snack. Until tomorrow!