Insects
People Are Spotting Rare, Blue-Eyed Cicadas Around Illinois
As two broods of periodical cicadas emerge across the U.S. this spring, people have discovered a few of the bugs that don’t have their trademark red eyes
Did Body Lice Spread Bubonic Plague? Research Suggests the Parasites Are Better Vectors Than Thought
These blood-sucking insects are capable of transmitting the bacteria that caused the Black Death, according to a laboratory study
DNA Reveals How German Cockroaches Came to Dominate the World
A new paper looks at the genes of the most common cockroach species, tracing its historical journey alongside humans, from Asia to the Middle East, Europe and beyond
These Funky Spiders Are Lurking by the Water
Some make nests inside seashells, while others tote bubbles of air on their backs
Has the Term 'Keystone Species' Lost Its Meaning?
More than 50 years after Bob Paine’s experiment with starfish, hundreds of species have been pronounced “keystones” in their ecosystems
From Dinner Parties to Restaurants, Cicadas Are Landing in the Kitchen
Professional and amateur chefs nationwide are preparing to serve cicada dishes as the rare double brooding begins
Bumblebee Nests May Be Overheating With Rising Global Temperatures, Study Finds
Across various species and regions, bumblebee nests thrive between 82 and 89.6 degrees Fahrenheit—and climate change could make it harder to find habitats in that range
Move Over, Cicadas: These Living Things ‘Go Dark’ For a Long Time, Too
From frogs to orchids, many organisms go dormant or move underground for lengthy stints
Hibernating Bumblebee Queens Can Survive Underwater for Up to a Week, Study Finds
Researchers discovered the insects’ unexpected superpower during an accidental laboratory snafu
Why Do So Many Beetle Species Exist?
Diet played a key role in the evolution of the vast beetle family tree
Up to a Trillion Cicadas Could Emerge in the U.S. Later This Spring
Two specific broods will appear together for the first time since 1803
Five Fascinating Science Projects Using the Total Solar Eclipse to Illuminate New Discoveries
The NASA-supported experiments are mobilizing legions of researchers and volunteers to capture wide-ranging observations during totality, from amateur radio operations to elusive solar plumes to unusual animal behavior
Don't Look Up: Cicadas Produce High-Speed Jets of Urine
The noisy, winged insects produce pee the same way that much larger animals do, according to a new study
See Incredible Insects Up Close With These Creepy-Crawly Photos
Bug out with 15 shots of insects and arachnids of all shapes and sizes from the Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest
Giant Locust Swarms Could Expand to New Areas With Climate Change, Study Suggests
In the coming decades, erratic periods of rain and drought could create new hot spots for the ravenous grasshoppers in west India and west central Asia, threatening crops and food security
Where Did Butterflies Come From? This Scientist Is On the Case
Akito Kawahara has spent his life devoted to lepidoptera. Now he’s correcting the record on where they first evolved
Earth’s Migratory Animals Are in Peril, According to U.N. Report
The Convention on Migratory Species warns that many birds, mammals and fish face numerous threats, but they can be saved
Air Pollution Makes Flowers Smell Less Appealing to Pollinators, Study Suggests
Nocturnal hawk moths are less likely to visit primroses in air polluted by nitrate radicals, which break down important wild fragrances, researchers find
Monarch Butterflies Wintering in California Are Down 30 Percent From Last Year
The insects' population is slowly rebounding from a historic low in 2020, but they remain in crisis, having declined by more than 95 percent since the 1980s
Why Are Flying Insects 'Attracted' to Lights? Scientists May Finally Have an Answer
Moths and other insects might turn their backs toward the brightest source of light around—which has historically been the sky—to determine which way is up and which is down, according to a new paper
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