Big Bugs Of New Jersey

I'm not going to lie. It scared the crap out of me. Even though I've seen it a thousand times before, this time I jumped out of my pants.

Photo by David Clode on Unsplash

The largest bug in Ocean County has been there a very, very long time. And we've all driven by it hundreds of times, but for some reason, on my way back from a meeting in Lakewood, I caught it out of the corner of my eye, and it was like a War of the Worlds kind of moment.

Of course, in case you haven't figured it out yet, we're talking about that Jurassic era praying mantis looking monster of a lawn decoration in front of Ozane Termite & Pest Control

Google Maps

So, I called to get the details about this large Mantodea. And in case you didn't know, Ozane and the amazing Insectropolis are all on the grounds there on Route 9 near Church Rd. Now it makes perfect sense

And if you think Ozane is alone with this, you haven't traveled on Route 34 in Wall that often. Because if you did, you'd know there's another humungous insect awaiting you.

Monmouth County's version of the Great Ozane Praying Mantis is the Amazing Ant in front of Allison Pest Control.

Google Maps

Here's the background on that big ant. It was made in Maine and transported here by flatbed truck The ant is about 13 feet long and first prowled the Allison Pest Control lawn about 20 years ago.

Locals look forward to its holiday season appearance every year. It's become a real area holiday tradition.

So, the big question immediately becomes, of course, who would win the ultimate battle of the bugs. Who would win The Bug Battle - Monmouth vs. Ocean County Edition?

We went to the source. We checked with the Department of Entomology in New Brunswick to find out if we could declare a hypothetical winner in this epic battle.

As you might suspect, the very busy and very smart people there may just be too preoccupied with actual science to answer my ridiculous questions, so let's just call it a draw.

These are two great local businesses. Support them whenever you can and definitely whenever you need them.

Even Though They All Have Bugs - The Best Places To Live In NJ

Stacker compiled a list of the best places to live in New Jersey using data from Niche. Niche ranks places to live based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather. Cities, suburbs, and towns were included. Listings and images are from realtor.com.

On the list, there's a robust mix of offerings from great schools and nightlife to high walkability and public parks. Some areas have enjoyed rapid growth thanks to new businesses moving to the area, while others offer glimpses into area history with well-preserved architecture and museums. Keep reading to see if your hometown made the list.