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Do Insects Have Blood?
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 […]
Walking Stick Natural History
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 […]
What Is the Oldest Known Insect?
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 […]
Mosquitoes and Malaria
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. […]
Trap Door Spider Biology
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 […]
What Are “Murder Hornets” and How Dangerous Are They?
If you have been paying attention in the past few months, you probably have heard a lot of talk about so-called “murder hornets.” Nests of murder hornets have been popping up in the American Northwestwest, drawing attention and concern from national health agencies. “Murder honrets”—another name for the Asian giant hornet […]
Monarch Butterfly Natural History
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 […]