Everybody wins! "H" is for house...
A human dwelling, seen as wildlife habitat, has many similarities with a city. While they both lack natural fresh water and native flora, they do provide consistent warmth and protection from the elements, and a steady flow of edible refuse. It's not surprising, therefore, that many urban animals have the word "house" in their names.
The House Mouse (Mus musculus) may be the most well-known of these. Its association with humans is lost in antiquity, going back as to when humans first had dwellings in southern Asia. Their small size meant that they could stow away in cargo, and their prolific breeding (sexual maturity: 8 weeks, gestation: 3 weeks, average litter: 6-12) meant that they could quickly establish a foothold anywhere they stopped off. Their appearance in ancient Egypt led to the domestication (and deification) of the house cat (Felis catus) causing that desert animal to become introduced nearly worldwide as well. House mice eat very nearly everything edible, but especially like the grains that humans have based their diets on. They have been domesticated themselves, and due to their service as medical research animals, have become among the most beneficial animals in modern history.
The House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) is nearly as widespread as the house mouse. Originating from African weaver finches, the house sparrow was on the scene when the domestication of grain plants occurred in the Fertile Crescent. Feeding on waste grain, and nesting in cavities in buildings were the keys to the early success of this bird's association with humans. They were established in Europe by the time of New World colonization, happily eating undigested grain from the floors of the stables. (Allegedly, this is the origin of the saying that something deplorable is "for the birds.") Partly out of nostalgia, and partly out of a desire to control caterpillars, 19th century Americans shipped crateloads of "English" sparrows. After numerous attempts, house sparrows were established in urban areas across North America; the process was repeated in Australia, South Africa, and anywhere the United Kingdom's colonies reached. They are now the most familiar songbird on earth.
The House Fly (Musca domestica) is familiar to all. Its habit of frequenting garbage, feces, and foodstuffs endear it to no one. Like the cockroach, it may be originally a tropical animal, but it has accompanied humans for so long that we all may claim it. Modern improvements in how we transport sewage and garbage mean that it is no longer the major disease vector it once was. Mostly it persists as a harmless irritant, or a sign that its time to clean the dorm.
One predator of the house fly is the House Centipede (Scutigera coleoptrata). This distinctive creature, as I have mentioned before, causes more distress than any other animal, by weight. It looks like a set of animated false eyelashes, or a quick moving dust ball. It dashes along on 30 long legs (as an adult--they are born with 7 pairs and add a pair each time they molt and grow) at a disconcerting speed. When smashed with something (a common fate when discovered) they reveal themselves to be practically insubstantial. The house centipede is native to the southeast coast of North America, but since it has discovered the warmth and protection of human dwellings, its range has greatly expanded. Despite the urge to kill that they provoke, they are beneficial animals, eating less desirable house prey such as flies, moths and roaches.
Another predator of insects is the spider, of course, and depending where you live, any number of species may be called House Spider. The American House Spider (Achaearanea tepidariorum) is the animal responsible for "cobwebs." It's a small spider with a spherical abdomen, often seen guarding its egg case in a tangle on an uncleaned windowsill, or in the rafters of the basement. Like all predators, its numbers are regulated by the amount of prey available. While no house can be entirely free of insects, an increase of flies or moths can result in a big jump in your house spider situation. Wild house spiders probably originally lived in dark sheltered places, such as the base of large trees or natural caves, near enough to insect-attracting forces like flowers or carrion to guarantee a food source. Houses provide the shelter and the food sources to the modern household animals.
The House Mouse (Mus musculus) may be the most well-known of these. Its association with humans is lost in antiquity, going back as to when humans first had dwellings in southern Asia. Their small size meant that they could stow away in cargo, and their prolific breeding (sexual maturity: 8 weeks, gestation: 3 weeks, average litter: 6-12) meant that they could quickly establish a foothold anywhere they stopped off. Their appearance in ancient Egypt led to the domestication (and deification) of the house cat (Felis catus) causing that desert animal to become introduced nearly worldwide as well. House mice eat very nearly everything edible, but especially like the grains that humans have based their diets on. They have been domesticated themselves, and due to their service as medical research animals, have become among the most beneficial animals in modern history.
The House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) is nearly as widespread as the house mouse. Originating from African weaver finches, the house sparrow was on the scene when the domestication of grain plants occurred in the Fertile Crescent. Feeding on waste grain, and nesting in cavities in buildings were the keys to the early success of this bird's association with humans. They were established in Europe by the time of New World colonization, happily eating undigested grain from the floors of the stables. (Allegedly, this is the origin of the saying that something deplorable is "for the birds.") Partly out of nostalgia, and partly out of a desire to control caterpillars, 19th century Americans shipped crateloads of "English" sparrows. After numerous attempts, house sparrows were established in urban areas across North America; the process was repeated in Australia, South Africa, and anywhere the United Kingdom's colonies reached. They are now the most familiar songbird on earth.
The House Fly (Musca domestica) is familiar to all. Its habit of frequenting garbage, feces, and foodstuffs endear it to no one. Like the cockroach, it may be originally a tropical animal, but it has accompanied humans for so long that we all may claim it. Modern improvements in how we transport sewage and garbage mean that it is no longer the major disease vector it once was. Mostly it persists as a harmless irritant, or a sign that its time to clean the dorm.
One predator of the house fly is the House Centipede (Scutigera coleoptrata). This distinctive creature, as I have mentioned before, causes more distress than any other animal, by weight. It looks like a set of animated false eyelashes, or a quick moving dust ball. It dashes along on 30 long legs (as an adult--they are born with 7 pairs and add a pair each time they molt and grow) at a disconcerting speed. When smashed with something (a common fate when discovered) they reveal themselves to be practically insubstantial. The house centipede is native to the southeast coast of North America, but since it has discovered the warmth and protection of human dwellings, its range has greatly expanded. Despite the urge to kill that they provoke, they are beneficial animals, eating less desirable house prey such as flies, moths and roaches.
Another predator of insects is the spider, of course, and depending where you live, any number of species may be called House Spider. The American House Spider (Achaearanea tepidariorum) is the animal responsible for "cobwebs." It's a small spider with a spherical abdomen, often seen guarding its egg case in a tangle on an uncleaned windowsill, or in the rafters of the basement. Like all predators, its numbers are regulated by the amount of prey available. While no house can be entirely free of insects, an increase of flies or moths can result in a big jump in your house spider situation. Wild house spiders probably originally lived in dark sheltered places, such as the base of large trees or natural caves, near enough to insect-attracting forces like flowers or carrion to guarantee a food source. Houses provide the shelter and the food sources to the modern household animals.