Insects and Arachnids

When you think of the most dangerous creatures on Earth, you might picture big animals like sharks or lions, but the insect world is filled with tiny critters capable of causing serious harm. The most dangerous insect can kill by spreading deadly diseases, and others achieve the same end with toxic venom.

By Zach Taras

When it comes to stinging insects, wasps are some of the most feared creatures out there. Unlike honeybees, which can only sting once, most wasps can sting multiple times, injecting painful venom with each strike.

By Nicole Antonio

Get ready to explore one of Africa's most notorious insects: the tsetse fly. These tiny flies may not look like much, but they play a major role in spreading sleeping sickness, aka human African trypanosomiasis (HAT).

By Nicole Antonio

If you're not a big fan of spiders, brace yourself, because the Brazilian wandering spider we're about to go into a lot of detail about one of the most dangerous spiders on the planet. With a venom that can cause intense pain and even some serious medical conditions, it's no wonder people give these critters a wide berth.

By Zach Taras

Assassin bugs (also known as ambush bugs or thread-legged bugs) are one of nature's stealthiest hunters, known for their precision strikes and ability to subdue prey with incredible efficiency.

By Talon Homer

Insects are everywhere, from the deepest jungles to your backyard. They may even make some unwanted cameo appearances in your kitchen. Ideally, those bugs would be smaller and less intimidating than the world's largest insect - a supersized creature you'll have to see to believe.

By Mack Hayden

These miniscule, winged insects can be a common sight when the weather turns warm, but they might also leave some people puzzled. After all, ants can't fly - can they?

By Marie Look

Bees can learn, make decisions and have a sense of smell 100 times more sensitive than ours. And most don't live in hives. Here are some cool facts about bees.

By Stephen Buchmann

Like something out of a horror film, this parasitic worm invades a snail's eyestalks, where it pulsates to imitate a caterpillar, attracting the ultimate target, a bird.

By Mark Mancini

Estimating ant numbers and mass provides an important baseline from which to monitor ant populations amid worrying environmental changes.

By Mark Wong

The most iconic agricultural pest of the past 200 years just wants to eat your potato plant.

By Jesslyn Shields

While they may incite fear due to their impressive dimensions, these spiders play crucial roles in their ecosystems and have become subjects of significant scientific interest and study.

By Jesslyn Shields

If you see a small hummingbird zip by your face, take a second look - what looks like a hummingbird may actually be a moth.

By Laurie L. Dove

For decades scientists assumed these insects looked so much like orchids as a form of camouflage. But they were wrong. They look this way because they're deceptive predators.

By Allison Troutner

Creating an insect hotel gives local bugs and pollinators a place to live and people of all ages a super cool garden project.

By Jesslyn Shields

The Atlas moth is one of the largest moths out there, with a wingspan of up to 12 inches, but the 'cobra' faces on its wings are even more frightening to predators than its size.

By Laurie L. Dove

A bullet ant's sting will hurt for a long time, but it probably won't kill you.

By Jesslyn Shields

Native to East Asia, the Joro spider has adapted to life in the southern U.S. and, as far as we know, is a beneficial addition to the ecosystem.

By Talon Homer & Allison Troutner

They love your lawn and, in 2021, they're everywhere. Here's what to do about armyworms and how to spot the little critters.

By Jesslyn Shields

The invasive spotted lanternfly is spreading across the Eastern U.S. Here's what you need to know about this voracious pest.

By Frank A. Hale

Spiders don't have wings, so technically can't fly. But some arachnids can soar through the air with the greatest of ease.

By Mark Mancini & Talon Homer

Most of us think all bees live in colonies, or hives, but there are far more species that don't produce honey, don't sting and live mostly solitary lives underground.

By Jesslyn Shields

And we mean really loud. Like up to 100 decibels loud. Get all the buzz on what's making these bug-eyed bugs return.

By John Cooley & Chris Simon

The praying mantis is a powerful predator, and not as robotic (or as romantic!) as it seems.

By Jesslyn Shields

Black widow spider venom can be deadly but how likely are you to be bitten? It might surprise you that these arachnids are on the shy side.

By Jennifer Walker-Journey