If there is one thing Mother Nature is good at, it’s coming up with cool defense systems for insects to use. Insects have an incredible amount of survival strategies, such as claws for hunting, powerful jas, camouflage, auditory signals, and even chemical warfare.By far though, the most hardcore insect is […]
If you have ever squished an insect, you have probably noticed the greenish-yellow fluid that comes out. It looks kind of like blood, but is it actually blood? Credit: Babbage via WikiCommons CC-BY-SA 4.0The answer is no. Insects do not have blood, or at least not blood […]
The walking stick is the colloquial name for insects in the Phasmatodea taxonomic order. Walking sticks, also known as stick bugs, or stick insects, are most known for their unique camouflage that gives them the appearance of sticks and other vegetation. The name Phasmatodea comes from a Greek word meaning […]
Insects are old. Like really old. According to phylogenetic data, the first group of insects emerged about 479 million years ago during the Early Devonian Period. This makes insects older than dinosaurs and most other currently living organisms.Ancient insects were notably different than their modern counterparts. First of all, ancient […]
Insects are one of the world’s most potent vectors for disease transmission. Insects are carriers for a wide range of debilitating conditions, including yellow fever, West Nile, Lyme disease, and the plague (yes, that plague, the Black Death). One of the most serious insect-borne diseases in the world is malaria. […]
Insects and arthropods are some of the most diverse creatures on the planet and have developed a number of clever techniques for hunting and survival. From butterflies that have evolved mimicry patterns to avoid detection to the blister beetle that literally shoots poison at its enemies, insects and arthropods are […]
The monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is one of the most famous insects in America and possibly the world. Monarch butterflies (also known as milkweed butterflies, tiger butterflies, or wandered butterflies). Monarch butterflies are known for their brilliant orange colors, unique dietary habits, and annual mass migrations to the south. Monarch […]