Metamorphosis Of Perception
In the lush paradise of Maui, there exists many tiny worlds teeming with life, the closer you look the more you will see. Sometimes these small and occasionally big creatures come out from their hidden spaces and into “our” world.
Let's start with the most commonly seen insect and possibly the most disliked. Cockroaches, now, many people do not like these little guys, but let's try to shift our perspective a bit and learn about some of the things cockroaches do for our ecosystem along with just how cool they actually are.
Cockroaches come in a range of sizes and colors. The American cockroach is one of the largest cockroaches in Hawaii, measuring over two inches long. They are a reddish-brown color with a cream-colored cowl shape behind its head. Although these guys can be frightening to some, they are not aggressive and even though they are able to bite it is very rare that they ever do. Cockroaches play an extremely important role in nutrient cycling. A majority of cockroaches are detritus (debri) feeders and, with the help of endogenous cellulases (enzymes which assist in turning cellulose into glucose), play an important role in degrading plant material. Additionally, they are a good food source for a number of organisms including arthropods, birds and mammals. Primitive roaches have been on this earth for 350 million years! Their survival adaptability is unmatched, they can live up to three months without food, a month without water and can hold their breath for 40 minutes.
There is no doubt the cockroach is a remarkable creature, but let's move on to some of the many more creatures you come across living in Maui; Geckos. There are several species found in Maui, some of the most common being the gold dust day gecko, vibrant in color and identified by their flower-like markings and gold “dust” along their body, and the mourning gecko, coming in a variety of colors with softer, more delicate skin.
Although geckos are not endemic to Hawaii, they came to the islands with polynesian voyagers 1500 years ago. Apart from being a little messy, geckos are of no threat to humans, they are great at eating all the unwanted insects in your home like moths, ants, cockroaches, fruit flies, even that little spill you made when making a smoothie. Not only do they tidy up around the house, their ecological impact is much more important. Since they feed on insects, they help control the populations, therefore, keeping the balance. They also are a food source for many species of birds, spiders, and mammals. Geckos are incredibly adapted to their environment, they are able to walk on any surface, vertically and even upside down. The specialized pads on their feet are covered with microscopic hairs called setae. Their remarkable grippy feet have inspired biomimetic research in creating climbing robots.
Geckos are such a beautiful creature to see when lucky enough to spot one, another creature that also displays a beautiful bright color is the Hawaiin garden spider, also known as banana spiders. Originating from Taiwan and Gaum the Hawaiian garden spider is an import that made Hawaii its home. The female is 4 times larger than the male, exhibiting beautiful yellow and black colorings. Although they have venom, it is harmless to humans. They are very docile spiders, once settled in their web that is where they stay, you can think of them as a natural bug eating decoration to your home or garden. Although spiders generally give humans the heebie-jeebies, these spiders have a great ecological importance by being a food source for many native birds and by controlling the flying insect population. The Hawaiin garden spider is not a picky eater and will eat anything caught in their web, unlike other spiders that will kick bugs out of their web that seem questionable, like the pesky blister beetle who when touched can give humans a nasty blister that can last weeks.
Although some of these creatures mentioned may make your skin crawl, it's important for us to recognise how important each one is to our world. In this intricate tapestry of life, each living creature, plants, insects, humans alike enriches and fulfills a great purpose on earth.