Very exciting news to all of those keen to meet the bugs (and me) in the real world, I will be one of four animal encounter people working the Deadly Days Out tour this year. Events are held on Sundays, with last week's (my first) at Lydiard Park in Swindon. More details can be found on the BBC.
The Swindon day was great fun, with loads of live (and deadly) animals. Including this rather lovely Nile Crocodile that I am holding in my excellent bright yellow animal encounter hoodie. Wowing the crowds we had Xena (the Goliath Birdeater), Indiana (the Whip Scorpion), Marjorie (the Diapherodes gigantea stick insect) and a couple of hissing roaches called Mr. & Mrs. C.
I also got to meet the brilliant Jungle Jonathan and catch up again with Pete the Bugman as well as getting to say hello to the legendary Steve Backshall.
At this weekend in Glasgow the newest member of the Bug Explorers Bug House will almost certainly be making an appearance. Talulah, The Antilles Pink-Toe (Avicularia avicularia) as you can see below from the picture with Mrs. Jim, she's a gorgeous arboreal spider with lovely orangey-pink toes. Come say hello in Glasgow (or another Deadly Day Out soon)!
Yes that's right, somebody wants to spend the rest of their life with not just me, but a whole house full of bugs... Hard to believe!
But as Mrs. Jim is just as keen on creepy crawlies I suppose it's not too much of a hardship, in fact we (honestly, both of us, not just me) want to make bugs part of the wedding. But how?
Idea #1 - Tarantula-based petting zoo for the wedding reception, downside: it may reduce the number of guests willing to come.
Idea #2 - insect based wedding outfits
Downside: prohibitive cost of bespoke mantis headdress
Idea #3 - Roast goliath birdeating tarantulas for the meal
Downside: Waaaaaah! Poor ickle spiders don't be so MEAN!
Idea #4 - Praying mantis table ornaments - now we're onto something!
So at our wedding the bugs will be dinner guests, but of the non-edible kind. Instead there will be a different species of mantis on each of the 12 tables, and the table itself will be named after the Latin name of the mantis. A perfect conversation piece during the meal!
Any suggestions for types of Mantis of other exciting bug-themed wedding ideas are welcome in the comments below.
