Come learn about bugs!

Crane flies are famous for being mistaken for giant mosquitoes, but that is the least interesting thing about them. The adults are brief and harmless; the larvae are where the real story is, from decomposition and stream ecology to the smaller set of species that can become turf pests.

Ladybugs are more than cute red beetles with spots. They are chemically defended lady beetles, many of them voracious predators of aphids and other pests, and some—like the multicolored Asian lady beetle—have become invasive indoor nuisances with real ecological impacts.

People usually talk about aphids like they are already explained. Tiny green bugs. Bad for the roses. Spray them, squish them, move on. That is not wrong. It is just a very small version of the story.

Tiger beetles are some of the most charismatic insects on Earth: metallic, sharp-eyed, absurdly fast, and every bit as predatory as their name suggests. Come learn how they hunt, why their larvae live like tiny trapdoor monsters in the soil, and what their decline says about the fragile open habitats many other species need too.

Katydids are leaf-mimicking insects usually seen in green, though rare pink forms occur due to erythrism. New research on Arota festae shows some can shift from pink to green in about 10–14 days, suggesting their camouflage may adapt to changing plant colors over time.