INSECTS

A trap-jaw ant queen, prepared to smell like dessert if she's murdered.

Surprise! Some Ants Smell Like Chocolate

Trap-jaw ants have more tricks up their figurative sleeves than just trap jaws. And odorous house ants aren’t called that for nothing.

The Windshield Phenomenon: Why You See Fewer Bugs Splattering Cars Today

You may be grateful that your car's windshield is cleaner than it used to be, but the lack of bugs on the road isn't something to celebrate.

100 Things We Learned in 2021

From really expensive NFTs to newly discovered shipwrecks to the latest developments in the world of K-Pop, here are a few things we learned in 2021.

Vengolis, Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 4.0

Listen: Honeybees Alert Their Pals When Killer Hornets Are Nearby By Letting Out a Horrific ‘Scream’

Asian honeybees have developed a disturbing defense mechanism against hornet attacks: "screaming" with their wings.

A hover fly living up to its name on a thistle.

Watching 15 Common Insects Fly in Slow Motion Is Fascinating and Kind of Terrifying

Do praying mantises fly? Sometimes—and watching them take off nearly 200 times slower than normal is undeniably cool.

A Joro spider snacking on a grasshopper.

Gigantic Joro Spiders Have Invaded Georgia—Here’s Why They Might Be Welcome Guests

Joro spiders, an invasive species in Georgia, aren’t your enemy. (Unless you’re a brown marmorated stink bug.)

"My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my plants. Prepare to die." —What you should say if you see this in your yard.

If You See a Spotted Lanternfly, Officials Say ‘Kill It! Squash it, Smash it … Just Get Rid Of It!’

For this invasive species, it’s best to adopt a ‘Take no prisoners’ mentality. And that may mean drowning spotted lanternfly eggs in alcohol.

A WSDA pest biologist holds a dead murder hornet in July 2020.

The Murder Hornets Are Back—Consider Yourself Warned

What is a murder hornet, a.k.a. an Asian giant hornet? An invasive species that likes to tear the heads off honeybees.

Brood X cicadas are sending their offspring off to burrow underground for 17 years.

Cicadas Are Beginning to Rain From the Sky

The Brood X cicada nymphs are starting to hatch, heading underground to begin their incredible 17-year lifecycle before emerging in 2038.

What's worse than a single mosquito? Mosquitoes that don't want to be single.

Funnel of Love: Mosquitoes Looking for Mates Formed ‘Mosquito Tornadoes’ in Siberia

A mosquito bite eventually goes away. The image of a mosquito tornado, meanwhile, will live in your brain forever.

Surprise! A leopard slug's penis is located on its head.

10 Truly Bizarre Animal Penises

The animal kingdom features a wide variety of penises that vary in shape, size, and function. Here are some of the most unusual of them.

An illustration of cochineal insects, which brought vivid red hues to Europe.

The Bug the World Fought Over

The Cochineal insect creates a red dye so incredible, Europe nearly went to war over it.

The 20 Most Mosquito-Infested Cities in America

No matter how much insect repellent you pack, you're likely to encounter mosquitoes while traveling to these U.S. cities.

MATTHIASRABBIONE/iStock via Getty Images

The Best Way to Treat a Bee Sting

If you think you've been stung by a bee, you should act fast. Here's how to remove the bee stinger and treat the sting.

Curious About Eating Cicadas? Here Are 5 Things You Should Know

Testing some cicada recipes is the best way to get back at Brood X cicadas for all that incessant shrieking.

Curious About Eating Cicadas? Here Are 5 Things You Should Know

Testing some cicada recipes is the best way to get back at Brood X cicadas for all that incessant shrieking.

Brood X Cicadas Are Screaming About Sex in Georgia, and Cops Are Tired of Hearing About It

The Brood X cicada has emerged to mate, and their ear-splitting screams for a partner have Georgia residents contacting authorities.

Weather Advisory: It’s Raining Cicada Pee

If you plan on hiking where the Brood X cicadas have emerged this summer, bring an umbrella to block the cicada pee (or at least wear a hat).

Watch a Time-Lapse Video of Brood X Cicadas Emerging

Brood X cicada shells are covering surfaces in many parts of the United States, and this creepy video shows how they got there.

Dogs Everywhere Are Munching on Brood X Cicadas—But Are They Safe to Eat?

The long-dormant insects are out in the billions, but dogs that consider them a snack may wind up having to see a vet if they eat too many.

7 of the Most Destructive Invasive Insects

They may be small, but these invasive insects have caused serious damage to agriculture and the environment since invading the U.S.

7 of the Most Destructive Invasive Insects

They may be small, but these invasive insects have caused serious damage to agriculture and the environment since invading the U.S.

7 of the Most Destructive Invasive Insects

They may be small, but these invasive insects have caused serious damage to agriculture and the environment since invading the U.S.

Louder Than Traffic: Listen to the Deafening Sounds of a Cicada Chorus

When the Brood X cicadas emerge in late spring 2021, their mating calls will rival the volume of lawn mowers, car stereos, and low-flying planes.

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