Spiders are one of the most diverse classes of arthropods and have developed a wide range of tactics for survival and hunting. Jumping spiders, as the name implies, are known for their small stature and impressive jumping abilities. Jumping spiders are the single largest family (Salticidae) of spiders, with over […]
Centipedes are pretty high up there on peoples’ lists of most-hated bugs. These creepy crawlies are known for their many legs and are found on every continent in the world except for Antarctica. Centipedes are a common household pest and give people the heebie-jeebies with their writhing legs and proportionally […]
Climate change is perhaps the single most pressing issue affecting human beings. According to the IPCC, we will likely face up to 2 degrees-C of warming over the next few decades. Climate change is expected to cause radical changes in agricultural production and weather patterns across the world. Changing weather […]
When most people see a cockroach, their first instinct is “ewwww gross!” Cockroaches are associated with decay, grime, and uncleanliness and have been known to spread germs and other harmful bacteria. Despite their negative reputation, cockroaches are one of the most interesting and resilient pests in the world. Cockroaches have […]
Do you get uneasy at the sight of bugs? Just be thankful you don’t live in prehistoric times. Hundreds of millions of years ago, Earth was populated by massive insects. We’re not talking about a few inches long—we’re talking bugs the size of dogs and vermin the size of cars. […]
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 […]