Welcome to Bug (and insects- and otherwise-) of the Month!
These are small entries "written by" my character Haruto. Just a fun little feature for the site. I'll try to keep up with it. Sprites used are from nookipedia. Enjoy!

OCTOBER 2025: ATLAS MOTH

ヨナグニサン
Attacus atlas
After spending some time as a caterpillar and growing to about 4 inches, it must be time to pupate...

Around 4 weeks pass inside the cocoon before the adult moth finally emerges. It's Atlas! Named after the titan from Greek mythology. Despite the glorious appearance, the Atlas moth is actually quite unsteady and weak when it comes to flight. They save their energy by flying as little as possible, and are mostly active during the night.

Worse yet, they are actually born without a mouth, meaning they can only survive for a few days. During this time, their sole purpose is to find a mate. The female will actually wait for a male to come along, so she can be fertilised, lay eggs, then die.

The ends of their wings resemble the head of a snake, so it feels like an appropriate choice for a month like October.

There is a sub-species in the Yaeyama Islands in Okinawa Prefecture, that has larger triangle markings on its wings. Its Japanese name comes from the fact it was first discovered on Yonaguni Island. (The endangered indigenous horse from Okinawa, the Yonaguni Horse is also from this island.) It is still being researched, but Yonagunisan is thought to be the largest of them all!

★★★★★
I quite enjoy a moth. I would really like to see Yonaguni Island one day.

★★★★★
It would be tragic to live only a few days without a mouth. Here's my condolences!

SEPTEMBER 2025: GOLIATH BEETLE

ゴライアスオオツノハナムグリ
Goliathus goliatus
This month's entry was chosen by user "Solarbyte" for a "fat beetle like me" as her birthday is in the month of September. Happy Birthday. I hope that you have a good year ahead.

Anyway, looks like it is another giant beetle this month. That's fine with me. Named after the biblical giant, Goliath beetles are thought to be one of the largest insects in the world. They might even be the heaviest. Even their name, in Japanese, is a real mouthful.

Much like our previous entry, Goliath beetles have sexual dimorphism. The female has a flat head that helps her dig underground to find a good place to lay her eggs, while the male - once again - has horns to fight off rival mates. It's tough being a beetle, isn't it? ;;;( ´・∀・｀)

Mr. Goliath is native to the tropical regions of Africa and enjoys eating the fruit and sweet sap from the trees. However, in captivity, they have been successfully reared from egg to adult using things like commercial pet food. Hm... I guess this tough beetle likes that high-protein diet.

★★★★★
It's a giant beetle, again...

★★★★☆
The largest insect in the real world would happen to be myself, but that's a really good try Mr. Goliath!

AUGUST 2025: ELEPHANT BEETLE

ゾウカブト
Megasoma elephas
I had a phase where these were my favourite beetles of all. Most beetles held that spot at some point, though.

Anyway, Mr. Elephant. These beetles are black in colour, being covered in fine microscopic hairs which give their body its iconic yellowish-orange colour.

Their common name comes from the longest horn resembling an Elephant's trunk. Although, the females don't even have one. Hmm. The horns are used for defense and competition amongst other males.

Elephant beetles predominantly live in rainforests, with their activities focused during the night. They're quite attracted to light, so watch out.

The name 'Megasoma' comes from Ancient Greek. "Megas" meaning "Large" and "Soma" meaning "Body". It's quite literal.

★★★★★
It's a giant beetle, so it's great. I want to see one in real life.

★★★★★
It's yellow, just like me!

JULY 2025: EVENING CICADA

ヒグラシ
Tanna japonensis
A species of Cicada, the Evening Cicada or Higurashi is my personal favourite of all. During Autumn, and notably towards the end of Summer, you can often hear its sad cry during the morning and evening hours. When the weather is overcast, you might hear them during the day time as well.

Their cry is commonly associated with a melancholic feeling. It is one of my favourite things about them. They sing their feelings for everyone to hear, without worrying what they might think of it. Well, that's bugs, I suppose.

They have a turquoise, reddish-brown body, and transparent wings, with the male's abdomen being longer and thicker than the female, making them quite easy to tell apart.

★★★★★
As I said, my favourite. I could say quite a lot.

★★★★★
I have to agree! I quite enjoy falling asleep to their evening cries.

JUNE 2025: FIREFLY

ホタル
Photuris lucicrescens
Lampyridae are a family of soft-bodied elateroid beetles, often known as fireflies. (Even though they aren't flies...) There's more than 2000 species of these mostly light-emitting guys.

They usually appear in humid regions of Asia and the Americas, where they light up the night together, thriving in tropical regions… They're thought to feast on pollen and nectar (if they find the time in their short adult lives) but their larvae like to eat worms and snails.

Some won't hesitate to eat another firefly, either..! They can disguise themselves as a female from another species, mimicing the mating flashes, and then… ( T∀T)

Their iconic light, called bioluminescence, lights up their abdomen and allows them to communicate with other fireflies, attract a mate, and even defend their territory and deter predators. Every Firefly has its own unique flashing pattern. Their light can be yellow, green, or orange, and is the most efficient light in the world! 100% of that energy is emitted as light. There's no heat here.

Fireflies aren't tasty. They shed drops of blood when they're attacked, full of bitter, sometimes poisonous chemicals. Most animals won't waste their time.

★★★★★
I like fireflies. They're a five star entry. They have Firefly tours in my hometown. They're known as "Jinjin" in Okinawan language.

★★★★★
Their glow is so relaxing, I could watch it always. It is charming! It is magical!

MAY 2025: ORCHID MANTIS

ハナカマキリ
Hymenopus coronatus
For May I think it's fitting to have the very nice Orchid Mantis. May means flowers, and flowers mean Orchid Mantis. Right?

The Orchid Mantis fools all the other insects by disguising itself as a flower. It skillfully avoids predators, but watch out if you're just a little bug looking for some nectar. Before you know it, the Orchid Mantis might make a meal out of you. Most creatures kill their prey first, but this guy does not hesitate to start munching away. ;;;;( ´・∀・｀)

As the name implies, they're primarily found on Orchid flowers, the flower they evolved to replicate. The males are much smaller than the females. About half the size, in fact!

★☆☆☆☆
I hate to be so rude, but are you aware who the Orchid Mantis likes to eat for dinner?

★★★★☆
I'll deduct a star because my best friend happens to be a bee. It must be rough getting eaten on the job.

APRIL 2025: HONEY BEE

ミツバチ
Apis cerana japonica
When we think of spring, the honey bee is likely one of the first that comes to mind. For our very first "Bug of the Month," it only makes sense to highlight the humble honey bee.

Honey bee's are famous for their teamwork. They gather nectar from flowers and are known for making honey. They have five eyes, six legs, and four wings total.

Unlike the wasp or bumble bee, a honey bee's stinger is connected to its internal organs. When it uses its stinger, it can't pull back out without dying. Honey bee's aren't aggressive unless threatened, so it's best to stay calm and still if one happens to land on you.

Otherwise, you might both end up with a nasty fate… ！Σ(×_×;) ！！

When fighting against the giant hornet, they swarm and form a ball around its body, causing its temperature to increase dramatically. The hornet overheats and eventually dies.

Now being stung seems like the better option…

★★★★★
In my ranking they are one of the best. I do not believe there are many people who dislike the honey bee, even if they might be a little bit afraid of them.

☆☆☆☆☆
Fanbeemon would have given them a five star ranking, but I had to disqualify him from this round. Sorry.