INSECTS

This insect was found for the first time since 1980.

‘Extinct’ Monte Gordo Grasshopper Spotted on African Island for First Time in 45 Years

A rare grasshopper once believed to be extinct has been spotted for the first time since 1980—but habitat loss may threaten its future.

This puny creature packs a powerful sting.

What to Know About the Invasive Asian Needle Ants Spreading Across the U.S.

Asian needle ants may look small, but their stings are no joke.

Bees are being exposed to microplastics, and that's not good for anyone.

Bad Buzz: Microplastics Are Affecting Bee Cognition

Inhaling and ingesting tiny bits of plastic are giving bees memory issues—and can even kill them.

Interactive Cicada Map Shows Where You Can See (and Hear) Brood XIV This Spring

Use this map from the University of Connecticut to check if 17-year periodical cicadas will appear in your neighborhood soon.

Three outer cases of the “bone collector” caterpillar decorated with insect body parts.

This Newly-Identified Carnivorous Caterpillar Wears the “Bones” of Its Prey

The Hawaiian caterpillar adorns itself in dead bug parts—and its gruesome habits might be key to its survival in spider webs.

They might seem icky, but we can‘t live without them.

Fly Migration Is Essential to Our Ecosystem, Study Finds

Flies aren’t just decomposers—they’re also pollinators and pest predators. Researchers shows it’s time to appreciate these misunderstood insects.

Meet the Darwin’s Bark Spider, Weaver of the World’s Largest Webs

The web of a Darwin’s bark spider can span 82 feet.

Not quite a Brundlefly, but still too close for comfort.

What Happens When a Fly Lands on Your Food?

Learn more about how common house flies eat (and poop), plus what’s really going on when one of them ends up in your dinner.

Your Thrift Store Finds Probably Have Bugs in Them—Here’s How to Tell

Shopping secondhand? Learn how to avoid common pests like bed bugs and clothes moths during your next thrift store haul.

15 of the World’s Most Beautiful Moths

From the luna moth to the Madagascan sunset moth, these species rival the most stunning butterflies.

'Psylla frodobagginsi' (left) and Elijah Wood as Frodo Baggins in 'The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring' (2001).

10 Cool Animals Named After Lord of the Rings Characters

These creatures don't live in Middle-earth—but they sound like they could.

Can You Guess the Animal Phobia?

See if you can spot the names of these common (and not so common) terms for animal apprehension.

Meet Bathynomus Vaderi, the Foot-Long Sea Bug Named After Darth Vader

Bathynomus vaderi is a supergiant isopod that can grow 12.7 inches in length.

Velvet ants aren‘t actually ants. They‘re fluffy wasps.

‘Ultra-black‘ Velvet Ant Reflects Less Than 1 Percent of Light

Meet the insect with an exoskeleton so dark it absorbs almost all light.

Absolutely the last thing you want to see in your hotel room.

Study Identifies Genetic Mutations That Make Bed Bugs Hard to Kill

The bloodsucking hitchhikers have good reason to scoff at insecticides—they’re freakishly resistant to them.

The monarch butterfly is facing challenges.

Monarch Butterflies May Soon Be Protected By the Endangered Species Act

Conservationists warn that the monarch could die out by the end of the century unless action is taken.

New Study Reveals the Source of the Corpse Flower’s Horrible Stench

Research (and lots of dry-heaving) has revealed why the flower reeks of weeks-old road kill.

A black-throated green warbler perches on a funerary statue at Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.

From Snakeroot to Salamanders, Life Thrives in Cemeteries

Three historic cemeteries, designed as refuges of the dead, are bringing their landscapes back to life for native plants and animals.

These creepy crawlers must defend themselves from many predators, such as lizards, snakes, and birds.

Tarantulas May Have Evolved Hair to Defend Against Army Ants

A new study on tarantulas reveals surprising insights into their relationship with army ants.

Make a pollinator’s life easier by providing it a place to stay.

How to Make a Bee Hotel in Your Yard

The solitary bee population is declining—here’s what you can do to help.

Why Do We Say “Make a Beeline”?

Making a beeline for the buffet table? You’re buying into some bee stereotypes.

Air pollution may keep these pollinators from doing their jobs.

Air Pollution May Prevent Bees From Smelling Flowers

Air pollution is making it hard for bees to pollinate flowers.

You won’t bee-lieve how honeybees give directions.

5 of the World’s Most Interesting Directional Systems

Not everyone gives directions the way you do—in fact, the way people tell others how to get where they want to go can vary by city, town, and culture. Some of these directional systems might just change how you navigate the world.

Even this cricket wants to know the answer.

Why Do We Say “Crickets” When It’s Silent?

Cricket chirps can reach 100 decibels. So why do we use them as a byword for ‘silence’?