Entomology

Bug-like monsters are a staple of sci-fi and horror fiction...but nature has produced some equally disturbing beasts, including glue-spitting velvet worms and frog-eating beetles.

Diminutive social insects found almost anywhere on Earth, ants exhibit some extraordinary adaptations, ranging from floodproof nests to explosive workers!

Butterflies and moths come in many varieties. Whether infiltrating ant hills, stealing tears or living underwater, here are eight of the strangest Lepidoptera.

The wasp mantidfly ("Climaciella brunnea") is a fascinating insect known for its mimicry of wasps and parasitic behavior during the larval stage. Explore this unique insect’s lifestyle.

Trap-jaw ants have been the subject of numerous scientific studies, particularly their impressive jaw speed and force. They have also been studied for their unique social behaviors and complex colony structures. This article will introduce you to these villainous-looking creatures of the ant world.

Although various wasps can lay their eggs in ladybugs, this article deals specifically with the green-eyed wasp and its parasitic relationship with ladybugs.

Madagascar, one of the world's most biodiverse hotspots, is slightly smaller than the state of Texas and home to some of the planet's strangest and most fascinating creatures. The giraffe weevil (Trachelophorus giraffa) is undoubtedly one of the country's most exciting and unique insects.

Some caterpillars make you smile and laugh, while others make you scream and run for cover. Check out these fascinating critters. Who knows how you'll react?

Praying mantises are fearless insects that exhibit remarkable confidence in their behavior, such as consuming caterpillars known to be toxic to other predators. This article will examine how the Chinese mantis achieves the lofty goal of eating a toxic Monarch butterfly caterpillar.

If you're a farmer or a gardener and you find fiery searcher beetles in your garden, it's good news. These beetles are mainly carnivorous and actively hunt the caterpillars that can damage your crops. This article will explain how to recognize them and how they can benefit your garden area.

The glassy-winged sharpshooter is an insect that seriously damages many crops, particularly grapevines, and is endemic to the southeastern United States and northeastern Mexico.

The American burying beetle is a critically endangered beetle species. Learn about how they feed dead carcasses to their larvae and about conservation efforts to save them.

Believe it or not, cockroaches offer a few advantages to humans and the ecosystem. Learn about their positive attributes and why they still deserve all the hate.

Army ants form some of the largest insect societies on the planet. Approximately 200 species of army ants are nomadic and notoriously famous for destroying any plant and animal life in their path. We'll learn more about these unpopular insects in this article.

The world is full of insects and bugs. Some of them are known for their unique appearances, vibrant colours, flying skills, humming and even long jumps. Some of them have bizarre shapes and are annoying, dangerous and destructive. Ten beautiful insects and bugs are presented in this article.

There are many special reasons to love and appreciate dragonflies. They are beautiful and colorful, delicate and sensitive, and fiercely powerful. One of the greatest reasons to love dragonflies is because they protect us and the environment.

These pretty beetles, including the tiger beetle and flower beetle, will make you think twice about what you thought were boring little bugs.

This article will display the most beautiful butterflies on the planet, from one that is like a miniature night sky to one that resembles a dry leaf.

Think you just saw a bee or wasp? You might have been fooled by one of these master mimics!

This article will take a closer look (including photos) at some of the vampire moths that actually drink human blood.

These gigantic insects and bugs must be seen to be believed!

These bugs and insects may be responsible for your nighttime bites.

They may look innocent, but these insects can bite if you don't treat them right!

Some insects just need to be seen to be believed!

Bright colors and beautiful wings may hide a fierce predator!

These dangerous-looking insects and bugs all have one thing in common – they are absolutely harmless and cannot hurt you.

The similarity of these bugs' markings to a face is remarkable. Read on about the praying mantis, death moth, white ghost spider, and more.

This guide helps you identify the kinds of moths that come to lights.

Here are the most common insects that you will find early in the year in North America.

Identify the caterpillars on your oak trees with this handy identification guide. Photos included!

This quick and easy guide will help you identify the butterflies you may see on milkweed flowers.

Identify the black and dark-colored butterflies you see with the help of this guide. Includes photos.

Female Joro spiders are large and colourful. Males are smaller and duller. The females build dense and deep webs to trap prey. The webs may be a major nuisance.

Black insects or bugs can be harmless, or they can be a sign of trouble. This quick and easy guide to black insects can help you tell the difference.

Phantom and western hemlock loopers are geometer moths. Their caterpillars are known as inchworms and are interesting to observe, but they may harm trees.

This guide to white and light-colored butterflies of the US will help you identify and learn more about the butterflies you see around you.

Many insects are heard but not seen. This guide to singing insects takes you behind the music to meet the crickets, grasshoppers and cicadas making all that noise.

Explore pictures and descriptions of the more common swallowtail butterfly species of the US and Canada.

Are the bees and wasps around your home anything to worry about? This guide tells you what you need to know.

Need to identify a brown caterpillar? Use this guide to determine its name, type, what it eats, if it's rare, if it's invasive, if it stings, if it's poisonous, what it turns into, and more.

The Carboniferous Period is known as the age of giant insects. This article examines some of the largest bugs of this time period. It provides an in-depth analysis of their basic characteristics and feeding habits.

Fireflies are light-producing insects. They are also known as glowworms or lightning bugs and have approximately 2,000 species.

Did you know that the Massachusetts state insect is the ladybug? Teachers and students can use this guide to learn about every state's official insect or butterfly.

Learn about the official state insect of Rhode Island!

Learn more about the beautiful Sandia hairstreak butterfly, Callophrys mcfarlandi, including its food plants and early forms.

Learn more about the beautiful Karner blue butterfly, Plebejus melissa samuelis, including its food plants and early forms.

Learn about Mississippi's state butterfly, the beautiful spicebush swallowtail ("Papilio troilus"), including its food plants and early forms.

This article is written by a teacher for teachers, students, and citizen scientists. It discusses the migration, feeding peculiarities, and lifecycle of the beautiful monarch butterfly.

Can beetles fly? Or do they just hover? After all, these insects come in many varied shapes and sizes, and they look far from being built for effective flight.

Everything teachers, students, and citizen scientists need to know about the state butterfly of Kentucky, the viceroy ("Limenitis archippus").