Insects

When people think of the tropics, they often imagine lush green forests, towering trees and flashes of color flitting between the leaves. One of the most iconic and dazzling sights in this landscape is the morpho butterfly, especially the brilliant blue morpho.

By Nico Avelle

The mourning cloak butterfly might not win any contests for flashiest insect, but this species breaks the mold in some surprising ways.

By Nico Avelle

Some spiders blend into the background. Others? They demand your attention. Colorful spiders light up forests, flowers, and even backyards with a dazzling range of hues—and there's more to that brilliance than meets the eye.

By Nico Avelle

You’ve seen them in your garden, fluttering like confetti across the kale and broccoli. That pale insect flitting around your vegetables? That white butterfly is most likely Pieris rapae, better known as the cabbage white butterfly.

By Nico Avelle

Some moths wear camouflage, blending right into bark or leaves. Others? They're the bold dressers of the insect world. These colorful moth species aren't shy about showing off.

By Nico Avelle

The yellow butterfly gives other insects a masterclass in adaptation, camouflage and transformation. One yellow butterfly in particular stands out: the eastern tiger swallowtail.

By Nico Avelle

Butterflies aren't just colorful decorations fluttering around flowers. They are one of the most diverse groups of insects, with more than 17,000 known species.

By Nico Avelle

Butterflies don’t just pop out of eggs with wings and flair. The butterfly life cycle is one of the most dramatic transformations in the animal kingdom.

By Nico Avelle

The monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is one of the most iconic insects in the natural world.

By Nico Avelle

Few insects are as eye-catching as the swallowtail butterfly. Known for their vibrant colors and uniquely shaped hind wings, swallowtails belong to the family Papilionidae and are found worldwide except in the Arctic regions.

By Nico Avelle

Bees are some of the world’s most important pollinators, but not all species behave the same. When it comes to bumble bee vs. carpenter bee species, these two often get confused.

By Nico Avelle

Not all ants are created equal, especially when it comes to carpenter ants vs. black ants. Though both are common ant species and household nuisances, their behavior, nesting habits, and potential for damage are quite different.

By Nico Avelle

Grasshoppers and crickets often get lumped together. After all, they both hop, chirp, and love grass.

By Nico Avelle

When tiny insects with wings start swarming your home, it’s easy to panic. Knowing ant vs. termite differences can save you time, money, and stress.

By Nico Avelle

When it comes to creepy crawlers in kitchens and bathrooms, the water bug vs. roach confusion is real. Both have six legs, long antennae, and oval-shaped bodies. But their biology, habitats, and behaviors reveal they’re not the same.

By Nico Avelle

When a buzzing insect makes a beeline for your picnic, it’s tempting to call it a wasp. But in yellow jacket vs. wasp comparisons, there are key differences worth noting.

By Nico Avelle

When tiny flying insects take over your kitchen or hover around your houseplants, you're probably facing one of the most common flying insects. But how can you tell if they're fruit flies vs. gnats?

By Nico Avelle

Ants are among the most common insects on Earth, and they’re more diverse than you might think. With over 12,000 known ant species, these social insects vary widely in behavior, nesting habits, and impact on homes and gardens.

By Nico Avelle

You hear a low hum near your porch, glance up, and spot a fat, buzzing bee. Does it matter if it's a carpenter bee vs. bumble bee?

By Nico Avelle

Butterflies may look more delicate than other insects, but they’re tough travelers and expert survivalists. From gardens to jungles, there are so many types of butterflies are everywhere—flashing colors, fluttering wings, and fueling ecosystems along the way.

By Nico Avelle

Moths often live in the shadow of their flashier cousins, the butterflies, but the many types of moths are surprisingly diverse and intriguing.

By Nico Avelle

They glow in the dark, they flit through summer evenings, and they’ve filled countless childhood mason jars. But why do some people call the glimmering flyer a lightning bug vs. firefly?

By Nico Avelle

Ladybugs might look alike at first glance, but not all of them are beneficial garden guests. If you're looking at a potential invader and unsure if it's an Asian lady beetle vs. ladybug, your confusion is entirely valid.

By Nico Avelle

You spot a many-legged crawler in your bathroom and wonder, "Centipede vs. millipede ... does it matter?" This quick guide breaks down the key differences in the age-old confusion.

By Nico Avelle

Think all wasps are just angry insects looking to ruin your picnic? Think again. There are types of wasps that build nests underground, some that live in solitary splendor and others that are downright helpful to your garden.

By Nico Avelle