Insects
Bumblebees Learn to Open Puzzle Boxes From Each Other
New findings might suggest the insects have a capacity for culture, researchers say
Scientists Discover Oldest Known Fossils of Pollen-Carrying Insects
It’s unclear whether the creatures were pollinating prehistoric plants or just getting a snack
Rare Jurassic-Era Insect Discovered at Arkansas Walmart
The species had not been recorded in eastern North America for more than 50 years—and never documented in the state
These Tiny Bugs Urinate by Flinging Droplets of Pee
Sharpshooters are the first example of “superpropulsion” in a living organism, according to new research
The Real Zombie Fungus That Inspired HBO's 'The Last of Us'
Humans will probably never face a fungal apocalypse, but in the insect world, mind-controlling fungi can pose a serious threat
These Ants Were Trained to Sniff Out Cancer
In just ten minutes, an ant could learn to identify urine from mice with cancerous tumors, a new study finds
These Awe-Inspiring Images Capture the World's Little Details
See this year's winners of the annual Close-up Photographer of the Year competition
‘Super-Resistant’ Mosquitoes Can Survive Insecticides in Southeast Asia
Researchers found high numbers of a genetic mutation linked to this resilience in Cambodia and Vietnam
This British Zoologist Wants to Reinvent Color
Andrew Parker has produced some of the brightest hues in the world. So, what’s his secret?
Scientists Just Discovered That Ants Make Milk
Adults and larvae consume a nutrient-rich fluid released by pupae
Scientists Translate the Oldest Sentence Written in the First Alphabet
Inscribed on a Canaanite comb, the words reveal a struggle with head lice
Invasive Mosquito Tied to Malaria Outbreak in Ethiopia
The species can survive the dry season and infect residents of urban areas
Honeybee Swarms Can Produce as Much Electric Charge as a Storm Cloud
Denser swarms create more atmospheric electricity, new research suggests
Mosquito Larvae Launch Their Heads to Capture Prey
Advances in technology allowed researchers to film these cannibalistic insects hunting for the first time
An Estimated 20 Quadrillion Ants Live on Earth
The weight of the world’s ants exceeds that of all wild birds and mammals combined
How Migrating Death's-Head Hawkmoths Fly Along a Straight Path
No prior study had continuously monitored wild, nocturnal migrating insects
First U.S. Sighting of Massive Atlas Moth Confirmed
The insect may have escaped from an illegal cocoon-selling operation
How Can Mosquitoes Find Humans So Easily?
A sophisticated sense of smell makes the Earth’s deadliest animal hard-wired to hunt us
People are ‘Hunting’ Invasive Spotted Lanternflies—And You Should, Too
Officials urge the public to squish the bugs, which are damaging crops and trees in the eastern U.S.
Large Lyme Disease Vaccine Clinical Trial Begins in U.S. and Europe
If approved, it would be the first new shot to combat the misunderstood disease in the U.S. in 20 years