Insects & Invertebrates
"It's often infected with a parasite, which can be transmitted to humans. Untreated, it can lead to heart failure, damage to the nervous system and death.."
This is one bug you don't want to be 'kissed' by
Why do cockchafers have such weird, feathery antennae?
10 deadliest, most venomous spiders on the planet: Are these dangerous spiders as fearsome and lethal as their reputation?
Here are the most venomous spiders in the world, but just how deadly are they really?
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“This colossal, complex city – the size of 2 tennis courts with thousands of rooms, from classrooms to ventilation units – was built by millions of hard-working architects”
Scientists observed the hunting behaviour of tarantulas – and discovered something groundbreaking
Tarantulas may combine learning-based navigation and cue-based orientation to adjust their movement and hunting behaviour
A tiny mollusc helped bring down the Spanish Armada. Here's how
Wood-eating shipworms played an important role in the huge losses suffered by the Spanish Armada in 1588.
"They actually perform amputations. Those that injure their legs above the femur have their whole leg lopped off..."
There are certain species of ants that have been observed treating injuries of their nestmates, with some even performing successful amputations…
It looks like something from an alien world – with a bizarre, otherworldly form that appears spun from glass
How long do ants live? Some survive only days, while others can reach a staggering 7 years – yes really...
Some ants barely make it through the week—while others live long enough to outlast your pet. Here’s why their lifespans vary so wildly
"It makes one or two priming pumps of its abdomen, before starting to secrete the first of many clear liquid droplets from its anus..."
Nick Baker takes a look at cuckoo spit, a common sight in our countryside also known as spittlebugs, and its role in protecting and nourishing the juvenile common froghopper
6 biggest spiders in the UK, including one with a humongous 7cm leg-span: look for them in canals, gardens, ditches... and under your bed
Don't be fooled in thinking large spiders live on exotic shores as the UK is home to a few giants..
"She emerges, not looking like a moth at all, but rather a peculiar pale thing with reduced legs and antennae that you could easily mistake for a maggot..."
Nick Baker takes a look at the weird and fascinating life of a bagworm
"It has five limbs covered in hundreds of hydraulic, rubbery feet and no head – or even a defined front, back, left or right" – what on Earth are echinoderms?
Stuart Blackman explains all you need to know about echinoderms and how they evolved
"While all insects could be called creepy-crawlies, not all creepy-crawlies are insects." What are insects? And just how many insects are there in the world?
What are insects? And how many species of insects are there? Stuart Blackman explains
Could climate change bring malaria to the UK?
Entomologist Richard Jones answers your wild question.
“Far more than pollinators.” New TV series shows bees can build structures, solve problems – and even eat meat
Take a ‘bees-eye view’ of this incredible, yet often overlooked, insect with TV series Secrets of the Bees
"It's highly territorial and if one of their 192 tentacles come into contact with neighbouring individuals they become extremely hostile"
Discover seven fascinating facts about the beadlet anemone in our expert guide by Buglife.
Scientists looked inside a bee hive. What they saw is remarkable
Researchers wanted to learn more about the insect's famous 'waggle dance'. Here's what they found.
“Effects range from internal bleeding to manipulating behaviour or liquifying a host.” These are the deadliest weapons in the animal kingdom
Powerful punches. Flesh-tearing teeth. Deadly talons. We explore the best (or is it the worst?) weapons in the natural world.
Why do some animals find poop so tasty?
It might not be our choice of a tasty snack but for some animals it is as good as chocolate
There's a tropical island in the middle of the Panama Canal that's home to a bright pink animal with an astonishing trick
Researchers on Barro Colorado Island say the animal changes colour from pink to green. And they think they know why
“They bore the marks of an attack, including rib fractures, internal haemorrhages and specific teeth marks.” 5 animals that kill excessively – seemingly just for fun
Some animals have been observed to kill prey but not eat it – which is known as surplus killing. Meet the creatures that take part in it
"I would wonder if I was just seeing things.” Scientists make illuminating discovery in South Carolina swamp
Researchers in Congaree National Park have uncovered how fireflies synchronise their bioluminescent light shows.
Devoured, paralysed, enslaved: The alien-like horror that drills inside and turns its victim into a very sinister, nursery
Discover a sinister creature that is like an alien character from Star Trek
