Bugs
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
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
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
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
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
Cicadas Are Coming: Rare 'Dual Emergence' Could Bring One Trillion of the Bugs This Year
The 13-year and 17-year broods that will emerge from underground this spring will be appearing together for the first time in 221 years
The Scientist Using Bugs to Help Solve Murders
At crime scenes around the world, the forensic entomologist Paola Magni is taking her field into uncharted waters
Seven Scientific Discoveries From 2023 That Could Lead to New Inventions
Biologists learned lots about animals and plants this year, and their findings could inspire better robots, medicine and environmental technologies
Huge Cicada Broods Have Ripple Effects on Birds, Caterpillars and Trees
When Brood X emerged in 2021, scientists measured how the influx of billions of insects affected the ecosystem near Washington, D.C.
Genetically Modified Silkworms Can Produce Spider Silk That's Stronger Than Kevlar
The sturdy, biodegradable fibers could one day be used for surgical sutures or armored vests
Scientists Reveal Why Asp Caterpillar Stings Are So Excruciatingly Painful
A toxin in the insect's venom, which can punch a hole in cell walls, could inspire new drug-delivery methods in humans
Mormon Crickets Are Creating Havoc in Nevada
In Elko, the insects have caused accidents on roads and problems in town
The Illuminating Science Behind Fireflies
A dedicated ornithologist with a passion for lightning bugs scours bogs and beaches to discover previously unknown species
How You Can See Tens of Thousands of Fireflies Flash in Unison
The lottery for viewing these bioluminescent bugs at Great Smoky Mountains National Park opens Friday
Carnivorous Plants May Lure Insects With Specially Tailored Scents
Pitcher plants appear to use different odor cocktails to attract bees, moths, ants and other bugs into their death traps
Have Any Animals Evolved to Adapt to Human Activity?
You’ve got questions. We’ve got experts
Man's Rare Tickborne Illness Was Caused by an Unexpected Bacteria
Until now, the bacteria from a lone star tick had not been reported to cause tickborne relapsing fever
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
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