Insects

Find out everything there is to know about insects and stay updated on the latest insect research with the comprehensive articles, interactive features and insect pictures at LiveScience.com. Learn more about these fascinating species as scientists continue to make amazing discoveries about insects.

Related Topics: Biodiversity, Butterfly, Predators, Invasive Species

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ciacada molting

Prime numbers protect Brood X cicadas from everything but zombie fungus

By Stephanie Pappas

Most predators are stymied by the cicadas' 17-year life spans, but the insects are still vulnerable to being zombified.

The recently rediscovered species of Australian masked bee

Rare Australian bee rediscovered after nearly a century

By Harry Baker

A rare Australian bee has been spotted for the first time since 1923. It was previously believed to be extinct.

The two oak capricorn beetles found in the bog.

Perfectly-preserved 'bog beetles' nearly as old as Egypt's pyramids

By Laura Geggel

Beetles that lived during the late Bronze Age in a bog look as though they died yesterday.

This female springbok mantis sustained a (now healed) abdominal wound during a wrestling match with a male.

Scientists set up mantis 'gladiator matches' to see why some males keep their heads after sex

By Laura Geggel

Male springbok mantises that attack females can sometimes escape cannibalism.

The house fly is known for its evasive maneuvers.

Why are flies so hard to swat?

By Mindy Weisberger

High-speed cameras show that flies' modified hind wings help with their speedy takeoffs.

Vespa soror, pictured here, is a giant hornet found in Asia, and a sister species to the infamous "murder hornet" Vespa mandarinia.

Bees defeat 'murder hornet' relatives with poop

By Mindy Weisberger

Asian honey bees defend their hives by attaching animal dung around the doorways, a behavior that was previously unknown in bees.

Close up of three honeybees crawling on a honeycomb.

Here's all the buzz about honeybees

By Greg Uyeno

There are 20,000 species of bees, but honeybees have a special relationship with people.

An Asian giant hornet (aka "murder hornet") prepares to emerge from a cell in a nest discovered in Washington State.

200 'murder hornet' queens found inside first US nest of this invasive insect

By Stephanie Pappas

There were nearly 200 new queens poised to start their own colonies in a 'murder hornet' nest destroyed by Washington state entomologists.

Wearing protective suits, Washington State Department of Agriculture workers vacuum up a nest of Asian giant hornets on Oct. 24, 2020, in Blaine, Washington. Working in the pre-dawn darkness, the workers are illuminated by red lamps as they search, trap and use dental floss to tie tracking devices to the so-called murder hornets.

1st 'murder hornet' nest in US found and destroyed

By Stephanie Pappas

The invasive wasp is a threat to honeybees.

Crush-resistant elytra — hardened exoskeletal forewings — protect the diabolical ironclad beetle against piercing and crushing predatory strikes.

You can't squish this 'iron' beetle. Now, scientists know why.

By Mindy Weisberger

A tough exoskeleton in ironclad beetles protect them against piercing and crushing, and scientists recently uncovered the unusual interlocking structures that strengthen the insect's hard shell.

This pus caterpillar looks like a harmless little toupee but it's way more dangerous than that.

Weird venomous caterpillars that look like walking toupées are invading Virginia

By Rafi Letzter

Pus caterpillars have among the most venomous stings of any animal in the United States. And they're having a boom year in Virginia.

Neurons in a female mosquito's skin-piercing stylet light up as they detect the taste of blood.

Mosquito 'tongue' neurons ignite like fireworks at taste of human blood

By Mindy Weisberger

The taste of your blood ignites a burst of sensory neuron activity in mosquito mouthparts.

A locust swarm flies through a wheat field.

What are locusts and why do they swarm?

By Greg Uyeno

Locusts are described by their two dramatically different behavior patterns: Either docile and solitary, or active and sociable, forming gigantic, ravenous swarms.

Researchers have documented large population declines in beetles, including carabid beetles, like the one shown here.

Insect apocalypse? Not so fast, at least in North America

By Matthew D. Moran

Recent reports of dramatic declines in insect populations have sparked concern about an 'insect apocalypse.' But a new analysis of data from sites across North America suggests the case isn't proven.

Photomicrograph from top view of the hell ant, Ceratomyrmex ellenbergeri, restraining its prey, an extinct cockroach relative called Caputoraptor elegans, preserved in amber.

Scythelike jaws of Cretaceous 'hell ant' clutch a baby cockroach in an amber tomb

By Mindy Weisberger

The death strike of a Cretaceous "hell ant" from 99 million years ago is preserved in amber, revealing how these demonic-looking ants hunted.

West Virginia University researchers were part of a team that discovered how Massospora, a parasitic fungus, manipulates male cicadas into flicking their wings like females — a mating invitation — to tempt and infect other males.

Mind-controlling fungus makes zombie cicadas lure other cicadas to a zombie fate

By Mindy Weisberger

Not only does the fungus Massospora infect cicadas, eat their bodies and turn them into mind-controlled zombies, it forces them to attract more cicada victims.

A new fly named for Marvel's Deadpool

Ruthless Australian 'assassin flies' named for Thor, Deadpool — and Stan Lee

By Brandon Specktor

Biologists named 5 newly-described species of Australian "assassin flies" after Thor, Loki and other Marvel heroes.

The Australian bees of genus Tetragonula produce strange, spiral nests. Scientists think they know why.

Strange, spiral bee combs look like fantastical crystal palaces. Now we know why.

By Brandon Specktor

The stingless Tetragonula bees build nests in strange, spiral shapes. New research offers a reason why.

A Madagascan marbled praying mantis grabs at a dangling fly.

High-speed video shows every second of a praying mantis's lethal strike

By Mindy Weisberger

Researchers captured slow motion video of praying mantis strikes, revealing what makes these insects such effective predators.

An image shows a murder hornet's distinctive face.

Here's how to tell a 'murder hornet' from other nasty wasps

By Rafi Letzter

A new paper gathers images of invasive Vespa hornet species worldwide, and offers clues to help identify them.