Arachnids
Arachnids have four pairs of jointed legs, two body sections and simple eyes. Arachnids are aggressive predators and include spiders, scorpions, mites and ticks.
- Spider FactsLove 'em or hate 'em, you've got to admit that spiders are some pretty impressive, well-equipped animals. They have a top-notch sensor array, a built-in construction set, a heavily armored body and a highly effective venom-injection system.
Cicadas
Cicadas are part of the Insect Class and within the order Hemiptera. Cicadas do not bite, but they are noisy insects. Some produce sounds up to 120 dB at close range.
Flies
While most insects have four wings, flies are two-winged insects that are part of the Order Diptera. Flies are found all over the world, even in Antarctica.
Ants, Bees & Wasps
Ants, bees and wasps are all part of the Insect Class and within the Order Hymenoptera. Most ants, bees and wasps have two sets of wings and undergo a complete metamorphoses from egg and larva to adult.
- Are figs really full of baby wasps?If you're snacking on fig bars, make sure to check the nutritional content for wasps. Wasps risk their lives to provide enough figs to satisfy every fruit and cake-related craving.
- How Bees WorkBees exhibit many traits found in stories and myths -- traits that have led many cultures to view them with reverence or awe. Explore how bees make honey and examine the potential causes and effects of Colony Collapse Disorder.
- How Colony Collapse Disorder WorksWonder 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.
- How do honeybees make honey?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.
- How Wasps WorkDespite the fact you'll never find anything called "wasp honey," wasps perform a vital service by helping to pollinate the world's plant life -- and eliminate various six- and eight-legged pests.
- What's the difference between bees and waspsWasps and bees are different, yes. But how can we distinguish? Here's a hint: The bee's the one near the flowers. The wasp's the one buzzing around your turkey sandwich.
- AntsAn Ant is a small insect that is known for the complex societies that it creates and lives in.
- BeesA Bee is a flying insect that feeds on pollen and nectar gathered from plant blossoms.
- WaspsA Wasp is a stinging insect related to bees and ants.
- SawflyA Sawfly refers to any of a group of four-winged insects.
- How Bees Work (Video)With their ability to produce honey and communicate through dance, bees are some of the world's most amazing insects.
- Killer Bees (Video)On Discovery Channel's series, "Hazard Pay," host Curt Doussett dons protective gear to ensure he won't get stung by thousands of killer bees.
- Ant Communication (Video)Watch this NOVA video podcast to learn more about how ant communication works. Fire ants, apparently, have about 10-15 "words" which they can convey to the rest of the colony, although it's primarily done by using pheromones.
- Ants Can Multitask (Video)Watch this TED video featuring Deborah Gordon as she discusses her research into how to create complex systems. She studies ants because they're insects that can successfully multi-task without any language, memory or visible leadership.
Butterflies & Moths
Butterflies and moths are part of the Insect Class and within the Order Lepidoptera. Wing colors can vary depending on pigments in the scales of their wings and can be used for camouflage or attracting a mate.
- How Caterpillars WorkA caterpillar spends its life eating -- foliage, some animals like ants and snails, and even its own skin it previously shed. What do caterpillars do with all of this stored up food? And why do they use their waste as projectiles?
- What's the difference between moths and butterflies?The difference between butterflies and moths is a lot like the difference between frogs and toads. There are some rules of thumb you can follow to tell them apart, but there are also exceptions to those rules. So how do you tell the difference?
- Where do butterflies get their striking colors?The brilliantly colored orange wings of a monarch butterfly are as recognizable as the plumes of a peacock. Why are butterfly colors some of the best and brightest in nature?
- Will a butterfly die if I touch its wings?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?
- Butterflies and MothsButterflies and moths are insects with two pairs of wings that are partly or wholly covered with tiny overlapping scales.
- Corn EarwormThe Corn Earworm is one of the worst corn pests in the United States.
- Tent CaterpillarThe Tent Caterpillar is the larvae of certain types of moths.
- Gypsy MothThe Gypsy Moth is a native of the Eastern Hemisphere.
- CankerwormThe Cankerworm is a caterpillar that destroys tree leaves.
Subject Guide
Beetles
Beetles are all part of the Insect Class and within the Order Coleoptera. There are more than 350,000 species of beetles worldwide; this makes up about 40% of known insects.
Bugs
Bugs often creep people out, but they are truly quite amazing animals. Learn all about the biology of bugs in this section.
Locusts & Grasshoppers
Locusts and grasshoppers are very similar, and both are within the Order Orthoptera. Grasshoppers can make clicking sounds by rubbing their hind legs against their abdomen or forewings.
