Do bugs really have the ultimate secret to survival?

The praying mantis, a survivor and the state insect of Connecticut. "Insects will outlive the human race!" I can still hear my zoology professor telling us that so many years ago. At the time, I was quite put out. How could small insects beat us at the survival game?

Now, after many attacks by biting ants, stinging bees and more, I am inclined to agree with the wise professor. Insects seem to have the upper hand.

Take ants for example. They never let go, even in death.

Watch an ant drag a grasshopper or even a pebble (the load can easily be 60 times the ant's body weight, the equivalent of a 200- pound man dragging 6 tons). If the ant is killed during the process, its head remains clamped to its load.

Froghoppers, also known as spittlebugs, take a more cowardly approach. They hide. But we have to give them credit for creating their own hiding place on grasses and plant stems throughout the United States. This defenseless, soft-bodied insect secretes a liquid from its abdomen and, using its rear legs, whips the liquid into tiny bubbles that completely cover its entire quarter-inchlong body.

The next time you walk through tall grass, look for a bubble mass that resembles beaten egg whites. If you take a twig and part the bubbles, you'll likely find the insect inside.

Adult insects have an exoskeleton (outer skeleton) just like their relatives the lobster and crab. Most adult insects have six legs. Many people are surprised to learn that butterflies and moths are also insects.

The monarch butterfly uses one of the most sensible defenses in the animal kingdom: It tastes bad to those that would prey upon it, such as birds. The monarch secretes an acid that birds dislike, so they leave monarchs alone. The monarch lays its eggs on milkweed (which the larval caterpillar eats). Not only does the acid from the milkweed tastes bad, it's poisonous to many birds. So birds stay away from the monarch's eggs, too.

My children's school in Connecticut petitioned the state legislature to declare the praying mantis the state insect. The kids learned enough about this amazing, beneficial insect to select it for special recognition. The Greeks believed the praying mantis had supernatural powers. Although this seems unlikely, the mantis is the tiger of insects. It eats mosquitoes, flies, caterpillars and many other insects. Exceptional eyesight and the ability to rotate its head allow the mantis to easily spot prey. It uses its long, spiny forelegs to snatch and devour other insects. A South American species even attacks small lizards, frogs and birds.

The mantis is a ferocious fighter. If confined,

it can turn cannibalistic. During mating, females often bite off the male's head. Even in death, the male's abdomen can continue to mate (a fun fact that's caused a chuckle in many a biology class). We all know something about bees. Most are social insects, working together for the good of the whole hive. Like many insects, they are not built to withstand cold weather. But they can survive cold temperatures

by cooperating. During cold weather, bees gather into a ball in the hive. The bees in the center of the ball move continually, generating heat. These ingenious insects constantly change places so all keep warm.

And then there's the infamous mosquito. This insect has had more than 150 million years to sharpen its survival skills. They coexisted with the dinosaurs — and look who survived.

Mosquitoes have excellent eyesight. They can hone in on small amounts of carbon dioxide exhaled by mammals, and can even detect sweat a mile away.

The longer I live and the more I encounter a variety of insects, the more I am convinced my college professor was right all along. Insects will win in the end. What do you think? Lee Belanger is a seasonal volunteer

trail and canoe guide at Collier-Seminole

State Park. To contact her, e-mail

Lungwort@aol.com.

Take a hike or grab a paddle and bring bug spray)

Although guided canoe tours and hikes have ended for the summer, there's much to discover on your own at Collier-Seminole State Park:

>>Rent a canoe - Paddle down the Blackwater River through a mangrove forest toward the Gulf of Mexico. Enjoy birding, fishing (salt water license required) or just a relaxing paddle in this outdoor wonderland. Rentals available from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

>>Hike 11 miles of trails - Experience pine flatwoods, cypress areas and rare royal palm hammocks. One of three trails is interpretative, another allows for off-road biking, and a third has a remote campsite. Be sure to stop to register at the ranger station for the two longer trails and call ahead to reserve the campsite. Trails are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

The park also offers picnicking, birding, fishing, camping, a boat ramp and a chance to see the historic "walking dredge" that was used to build the Tamiami Trail.

The entrance to Collier-Seminole State Park is at 20200 U.S. 41 East, eight miles east of Highway 951. Park entrance fee is $4 for up to eight people in a car; there is an additional fee for camping.

Call 392-3397 for more information.