The mole cricket is an insect which enters our houses during night times. It flies for some time, and then crawls along the floor. It has two very strong shovel-like legs to dig sand, as it lives underground. They fed on other insects and roots of plants, making them an agricultural pest. They are brown in colour and may be around one to two inches in length. Adult mole crickets have wings only during their breeding season, to fly away in search of a mate. It chirps a loud sound at night. These crickets are not venomous.
Pill Milipedes are a type of Milipedes which are found in many parts across Sri Lanka. The colour varies from brown to black. They are known to curl up to a ball when frightened. These are creatures with exo-skeletons who roll for protection of their softer bellies. The exo-skeleton is made out of a protein which is quite hard and gives protection from predators. They have tiny legs, are slow moving and active mostly during the night. They feed on dead organic matter such as dead wood, dead leaves etc. They are known as ’Kithul Ataya ’ (= Kithul seed) as they look exactly like a Kithul seed in colour, shape and size when curled up. These insects are not venomous nor do they bite us. They are quite innocent and silent creatures which need to be left alone if you come across.
The Naked Truth About Us... Sri Lankans, no doubt from childhood are closely connected to nature and wildlife in where we used to use terms like 'Happa' or ' Kaiya ' in native laymen language to describe insects or animals in common as kids, especially when the name of the particular animal is unknown. Eventually we grew up to be adults but still, names of majority of animals in English and Sinhalese are still unknown to most of us(Unless you are a wildlife enthusiast or researcher). Then comes the other issue ! When kids ask as what the perticular animal is called as. in English and Sinhalese, we are dumbstruck and merely utter whatever the name comes to our mind. This is how wrong details are passed upon generations. In here, I expect to correct these errors and provide the reader community with correct information on wildlife of our country.
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