Insects
While there are a million different types of insects, all have a hard exoskeleton which is segmented into three parts. In fact the word "insect" is derived from the Latin meaning segmented.
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The secrets to ladybugs' wing-folding could yield new designs in flying robots and even newfangled umbrellas.
By Amanda Onion
For one species of dragonfly, the hassle of dealing with aggressive suitors is worth playing possum over.
And its special endowment is not the thing that intrigues scientists the most.
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In a state already teeming with pythons, tourists and Jimmy Buffett singalongs, the flesh-eating screwworm makes Florida a little more menacing.
Of course they do. You're an attractive person. But what is it about you specifically that draws them in for a tasty meal?
If people had exoskeletons and wings maybe they'd be around forever, too. Insects are born survivors because they have certain traits that other animals don't.
It's not to entertain the insect. Figuring out how mantises perceive the world could lead to tiny, energy-efficient robots with depth perception, too.
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The bright colors of this Malaysian spider, first described in 2009, earned it comparisons to the flamboyant styles of David Bowie.
You were a soldier ant. Each day you mostly did that job until one day a scientist came along, jabbed a needle into your brain and your behavior changed.
Scientists wanted to figure out how desert ants found their way home without tree shadows to guide them. This is how they did it.
Think spiders are terrifying? It turns out that spiders with a taste for human blood are actually our allies in the fight against malaria.
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Bugs can destroy crops and spread disease, but those little critters also pollinate our plants. These are just a few of the reasons they're important - and even cool! - to study.
By Erin Wright
Bugs are insects, but not all insects are bugs. What differentiates the two?
Mating shouldn't be something you lose your head over, but tell that to the male praying mantis. This poor creature has long been the butt of countless procreation jokes, but does he even deserve this unfortunate reputation?
The world is split between people who eat protein-packed insects on purpose and those who accidentally snack on them along with their packaged foods. But let's be honest: Bugs are far from the worst thing you've eaten in the past week.
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Periodical Cicadas are pretty strange insects. They burrow in the earth for 17 years only to spend four weeks aboveground en masse before dying. Why do they do this - and do you really have to wait that long to see them?
You probably couldn't draw a mole cricket if someone asked you to, but you almost certainly could depict a ladybug. Or maybe you don't know as much as you think you do about this backyard beetle.
If those buzzing and biting black flies are preventing you from truly enjoying the great outdoors, you'll want to know how to stop black flies from biting. Read this article to learn how to stop black flies from biting.
You love observing caterpillars become butterflies and want to know how to take care of a cocoon so that a butterfly will emerge. This article will tell you how to care for a butterfly cocoon.
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Want a good scare? Check out these pictures of the biggest bugs on our planet!
Why do my home and office seem to be infested with gnats in the summer? Where are they coming from?
With DDT on the no-no list and international travel more common than ever, the little parasites known as bedbugs are showing up in record numbers across the country.
By Julia Layton
You know you love the taste of it, but do you know exactly how honeybees make honey? And what exactly is honey? Find out how bees make honey here.
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The world is a dangerous place for butterflies. Raindrops loom as big as bowling balls, and well-meaning fingers can threaten flight and life. What's a winged one to do?
Wonder what would happen if everyone you knew disappeared? Don't call the authorities yet. A mysterious condition called Colony Collapse Disorder affects beehives, causing some bee populations to vanish and possibly die.