Today, I am journaling about the Billywig. I find it interesting because of a seeming gap in its description. The Billywig is described as having one sting, but the lesson also states that one can follow a Billywig and "collect stings as they sting animals and people." This implies that Billywigs, like bees, leave their stinger in their victim, but also that they can sting multiple times like wasps. Because bees leave their stingers in their victim, bees die. Because wasps do not leave their stingers, wasps live to sting again. How then, do Billywigs survive losing their stingers and how does their body produce and store multiple stingers?

While wandering in Australia, I suddenly felt a sharp sensation and looked down to see a small blue insect flying away. Given that I began giggling a moment later and felt my feet leave the ground just slightly, I knew it must have been a Billywig. I pulled the stinger from my arm and put it in a small vial I always carry around, but I did not pursue the Billywig further. After all, I had no idea if I might be allergic or not, and I didn't want to risk moving around much while I was partially levitating.