It's a Bug's Life!!!

So ... rainy season has begun in Niger.  It actually seemed to come early as the rains started early May!  It seems to have tapered off, or rather - the third month of rains that come every 3-4 days has not yet started.  But with rainy season in Niger comes a plethora of little creepy crawlies.

By far, my favourite is what I call the "red velvet bug"

Though, the Fulani call it "child of the rain" ... these bugs live deep in the ground and come up during the rainy season - I started seeing these little guys around mid-May!  They are cute ... and they do feel like velvet to pet them!

However, when I was out another day - I saw this interesting guy ... who also, according to the Fulani,  is called "child of the rain"!  

Sensing a theme??  It appears that all bugs, no matter how many and nor variety of insect, which come during the rains are all classified as "children of the rain"!


And, I've seen a few other little crawlies lately:

These worms (?) interestingly - from my height and the speed of their movement, I thought was one worm with a black joint in the middle and whose body moved disjointedly from the front to the back on either side of the black joint!!!

It wasn't until I saw the photo and zoomed in that I saw it was two separate worms that must have been following each other precisely in a game of tag!!

Last, but not least, just before the rains began, I saw this spider.  I hate spiders!  But, I had to capture a photo of said big guy.  

okay ... okay ... that is with my zoom!  But really, his detail is stunning ... and honestly, any spider in my opinion is "big"!

Plus, he kinda blends in with his environment - again, honestly ... kinda scary in my opinion!  I wouldn't have seen him except that as I exited my truck he went scurrying away to find new shelter as my tires had disturbed his last hiding place!  And yes - I am standing as far back as I can - with my camera on zoom and my hand extended - just to get a picture "this close-up"!!

The Fulani of this courtyard came to see what was of interest to me on the ground ... and they were treated to my "spider squeal/dance" as the spider decided to high tail it back from whence it came - and unfortunately, I was between it and said location!

Side note ... but, speaking of fears: this day, my Fulani friends learned that I am also scared of heights!  When inspecting a well, I stood back to take pictures ... and then crawled to the edge to peek over!!  


Our conversation went something like this:

Village Rep:  You don't like "deep"?

Me:  No, I don't like what is deep.  (or perhaps, it is a fear of falling??)

Village Rep:  Really??!?!?  You are scared of "high"?

Me:  Yes.  Much much.

Village Rep:  But, you are not scared of your truck?

Me:  No.

Village Rep:  Really??!?  You are not scared at all to enter your truck and drive around?

Me:  Nope, not even a little.

Village Rep: Kay!!  (*expression of shock!)

He was duly impressed of my lack of fear to drive my truck - while also duly amused that I was scared of heights!   

To each their own!