Insect news, features and articles

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A bumblebee searching for nectar on a daisy near Leaser Lake, Pennsylvania

American bumblebee could be officially declared endangered

By Ben Turner published

If the species is placed on the endangered species list, developers and farmers could incur legal liability for killing them.

Bees & Wasps
A periodical cicada from Brood XIII, which emerged in 2007, sits on a fence at a forest preserve in Willow Springs, Illinois.

Cicadas: Facts about the loud, seasonal insects

By Mindy Weisberger published

Cicadas are winged insects that are known for their cyclical lifespans and loud choral songs.

Insects
The Glanville fritillary butterfly, out of which the trio of stomach-bursting parasites emerge.

'Russian doll' set of stomach-bursting parasites released inside butterfly on remote Finnish island

By Ben Turner published

Despite the remoteness of the island, the parasites are even better than their hosts at surviving — a feat researchers believe was accomplished through superior flying skills.

Butterflies
A leafcutter ant (Atta cephalotes) uses its metal-laced mandibles to cut through a leaf.

These vegetarian ants have steak knives for teeth, new study finds

By Joanna Thompson published

Zinc and manganese atoms keep tiny arthropods' natural tools sharper for longer.

Insects
Parantica cleona, an Indonesian butterfly, contemplates its next meal.

Milkweed butterflies tear open caterpillars and drink them alive

By Mindy Weisberger published

These ghastly meals provide male butterflies with chemicals that they use to produce mating pheromones, which female butterflies find irresistible.

Butterflies
An Asian giant hornet queen rests on her soon-to-be destroyed nest in near Blaine, Washington.

'Murder hornet' nest leads to discovery of 180 adults, 1,500 larvae

By Laura Geggel published

A "murder hornet" nest in Washington had 113 adults and 1,500 developing Asian giant hornets inside.

Bees & Wasps
Image on the left shows a wasp nest and wasps under white light; image on the right shows the same nest under UV light and parts of the nest are glowing bright green

Strange wasp nests glow neon green under UV light

By Nicoletta Lanese published

With UV flashlights, researchers could spot the nests dozens of yards away.

Bees & Wasps
Though originally identified as a type of long-horned beetle, Pulchritudo attenboroughi belongs to the frog-legged beetle group.

49 million-year-old beetle looks like it was squashed yesterday

By Mindy Weisberger published

Meet "Attenborough's Beauty," an ancient beetle that was so exceptionally well-preserved you can still see the colorful patterns on its wing case.

Beetles
Adults of the Asian giant hornet can be distinguished from other hornets by their big “cheeks” (which hold muscles for savage biting), teardrop-shaped eyes and a scalloped structure above the mandibles in between the eyes.

Invasive 'murder hornets' are officially back in the US

By Jeanna Bryner published

An invasive and destructive "murder hornet" has been spotted in Washington state for the first time this year, and the alien-looking insect was behaving accordingly — attacking a hive of paper wasps.

Bees & Wasps
Close up of a monarch butterfly.

Monarch butterfly: Facts about the iconic migratory insects

By Erin Banks Rusby published

With their bright orange hues and lengthy migration, monarch butterflies are one of the world's most iconic insects.

Butterflies
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