Dr. Rebecca Maldonado talks about her journey finishing a PhD and what comes next for her.

Dr. Rebecca Maldonado - Recently Minted PhD

Spencer Doepel of Ecoflys talks about the black soldier fly, its life cycle, and how to rear it.

Spencer Doepel of Ecoflys - Rearing Black Soldier Flies

The most dangerous insects and arachnids are usually not the most cinematic ones. If you measure danger by disease burden, exposure, and medical importance instead of pure shock value, mosquitoes, ticks, kissing bugs, tsetse flies, sand flies, and black flies rise fast, while famous scary bugs like killer bees, giant hornets, camel spiders, and deathstalker-type arachnids need more context than hype.

What are the most dangerous bugs?

Entomology feels ancient because people have always noticed insects, but the science itself took shape slowly. From Aristotle and Aldrovandi to Swammerdam, Merian, Linnaeus, Riley, and modern IPM, the history of entomology is really the story of how insects kept forcing biology to get more precise.

A Brief History of Entomology

From the first fruit flies to Skylab spiders, ISS ants, and JAXA silkworm experiments, bugs have been part of space research for decades—not as a gimmick, but as useful test subjects for questions about radiation, behavior, development, and life in microgravity.

Which Bugs Have Been to Space?

That face-hovering spring carpenter bee is usually not trying to sting you. The behavior people find aggressive is mostly territorial bluffing by males, while the real issue is repeated nesting in exposed wood over time and the need for targeted management instead of indiscriminate spraying.

Why Carpenter Bees Seem Aggressive in Spring

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.

Crane flies are more interesting than the giant-mosquito myth

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.

What ladybugs really are

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.

Aphids: Tiny Pests, Weird Lives, and a Bigger Ecological 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.

Tiger Beetles

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.

Pink Katydids!

Learn the real difference between bugs and insects, including what makes a “true bug” unique and why not all insects qualify as bugs.

What is the difference between bugs and insects?

How many insects are there on Earth? The best current estimate is about 5.5 million insect species and roughly 10 quintillion individual insects alive at a time. Here is what scientists know.

How Many Insects Are There on Earth? 5.5 Million Species Explained

Discover how many insect species exist on Earth—scientists estimate around 5.5 million, but only 1 million have been described. Explore what this means for biodiversity, why most species remain undiscovered, and why insect diversity matters for ecosystems and agriculture.

How many insects are there?

At first glance, the monarch butterfly seems built for beauty, not endurance. Its paper-thin wings look like they could tear in a strong breeze, and its delicate body appears better suited for floating between flowers than crossing continents. Yet these seemingly fragile creatures pull off one of nature's most incredible feats: a 3,000-mile migration. Just like geese, caribou, and senior citizens, they undertake this migration to avoid the harsh winters of the north.

Monarch Butterflies and their extraordinary migration

Explore the paradox of entomologists killing insects for science. Learn why insect collections are crucial, how they compare to other forms of insect mortality, and their role in tracking biodiversity. Understand the necessity of specimen collection in advancing entomology.

Why do entomologists kill bugs?

Why are people afraid of spiders? Learn how biology, culture, myth, and social learning shape spider fear, and why most spiders are much less dangerous than people think.

Why Are People Afraid of Spiders? Fear, Myth, and Biology

Why are we afraid of spiders? Is it innate or learned? Discover how cultural differences, misconceptions, and social factors shape our perception of these misunderstood creatures. Learn why spiders are less dangerous than you think and challenge your own fear of spiders.

Why are we afraid of spiders?

Ever been stumped by a bug? Discover the fascinating world of owlflies - those weird dragonfly-butterfly hybrids with huge eyes and clubbed antennae. Learn about their unique features, lifecycles, and cool behaviors in this personal encounter with one of nature's most intriguing insects.

Owlflies - Fool me once

Ticks: tiny parasites, big health risks. This guide covers tick biology, behavior, and disease transmission. Learn effective prevention strategies to safeguard against Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses. Essential knowledge for outdoor enthusiasts and homeowners alike.

Ticks - Not my favorite

Introducing Bug Word of the Day

Atlas moth facts, size, wingspan, range, and life cycle. Learn where Atlas moths live, how large they get, what adults eat, and why their snake-like wing tips stand out.

Atlas Moth Facts: Size, Wingspan, Range, and Life Cycle

Explore the captivating world of Atlas moths, the majestic giants of the moth kingdom, renowned for their immense wingspan and striking appearance. Delve into their fascinating physical characteristics, behaviors, life cycle, habitat preferences, and conservation status.

Atlas Moths

Do mosquitoes have any redeeming qualities? What stops us from completely eradicating them from off the face of the earth? What good are mosquitoes?

Are mosquitoes any good?

David Bradt shares his experiences as an entomologist in the US Army.

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Dr. Rebecca Maldonado - Recently Minted PhD

Spencer Doepel of Ecoflys - Rearing Black Soldier Flies