Insects

Dandelions are more than just a stubborn nuisance in a lawn. Their flowers attract various butterflies and bees while their leaves provide food for a wide range of animals, from rabbits to minute…

The loblolly pine, botanically known as Pinus taeda, features reddish-brown cones and dark green needles in clusters of three. Loblolly pines thrive from southern New Jersey southward to central…

Primrose, not to be mistaken for evening primrose, is a flower native to Europe. This flower, commonly known as the English primrose, is subject to attack by various critters ranging from mites to…

Deserts are large biomes that cover around one-fifth of Earth's surface. The dry environment makes a desert an arid region, where only few specified plant and animal species can exists. Desert biome…

The first line of defense against insects that eat sweet peas is growing the most vigorous plants possible. Also, trellises keep vines off the ground, providing protection against crawling pests. In…

There are a number of different ways that you can reduce insect pest damage on cabbage. Find out how you can reduce insect pest damage on cabbage with help from the founder of Gardenerd in this free…

Pine trees are one of most common evergreen trees in the United States, with over 35 species living within this country's borders. While most pine trees live to be over 100 years old, the lifespan of…

How you will sketch an insect depends entirely on which insect you are trying to replicate. Sketch an insect with help from an artist in this free video clip.

The willow acacia (Acacia salicina) tree is indigenous to Australia and common throughout U.S. Department of Agriculture Plant Hardiness Zones 7 through 10. It is often used as erosion control in…

A bowl of juicy blackberries and the long, warm days of summer naturally go hand-in-hand. Humans aren't the only creatures who like to snack on fresh blackberries, though. Pests, particularly insects,…

A variety of insects choose wood as their preferred habitat. Insects may infest structural wood and finished wood products or unfinished wood in the yard, such as firewood and other stored lumber.…

Identification of insects and pests helps find the cause of many plant problems, such as curling or spotted leaves. A wide variety of insects and pests live on plants in zone 5 in the northwestern…

While a lily pond can enhance any yard, unfortunately it can quickly become a breeding ground for insects, primarily mosquitoes. That is especially true if the lily pond has no fish to eat insect…

Rhododendrons are flowering plants that produce beautiful flowers, but are also subject to discoloration due to a handful of pesky insects. Most of these insects only feast on rhododendron leaves…

Most people do not enjoy insects residing inside their home. Critters often find a way into a house through door and window cracks or damaged screens. One way bugs may get indoors is through the…

Few things will give you the creepy crawlies more than having to wander down to your basement and sort through the bug-infested mess to find something. Basements that aren't well taken care of often…

Contact local tenant associations or housing organizations to get information on your landlord's responsibility for bug infestations. Landlords are usually responsible for maintaining pest-free…

Flour beetles, grain beetles, meal moths, and weevils are all types of insects that infest flour and grain items. They find their way into bags of dry food and proceed to lay eggs. This is a…

Less than one percent of insects in gardens and soil are harmful pests, according to Cornell University’s Department of Horticulture. The majority of insects benefit the health of the soil and…

The sweet-smelling, bright white blossoms produced by gardenia plants will be damaged and distorted by unchecked insect damage. Pests may attack the flowers whether they're grown outdoors or indoors.…

Insects love warmth and moisture, so the soil of potted houseplants is a haven for them. If your houseplants are infested with insects, there are methods of eradication and control. For most common…

Earth Day is dedicated to helping protect the environment; green initiatives, such as recycling, are promoted and encouraged at Earth Day celebrations. To teach your kids about the importance of…

Children are often curious about the environment, animals and nature. In addition to developing creativity and motor skills, crafting about rainforest insects is a way to bring art to a science unit.…

Many people seek natural alternatives to pesticides, and oil of oregano is among the most popular choices. The primary ingredient in oil of oregano is carvacrol, which helps to repel insects such as…

Enjoy the ambiance of your room without having a creepy-crawly waving at you from within the slider doors. Insects, on the search for food or a mate, may become trapped in the slider doors. Their…

There are a wide variety of insects that can damage your home and the trees in your yard. Familiarizing yourself with the different types of wood boring insects will help you identify problems in…

Vacuum packing is a good way to protect food from insects. Insects need oxygen to survive, but vacuum packaging removes oxygen from the food package. One method of vacuum packaging involves replacing…

A northeastern woodland native, the hemlock is a graceful, finely needled member of the pine family. This beloved landscaping tree forms an intense, dark green pyramid that regularly reaches 75 feet…

Potted orchids provide color and visual interest to indoor and outdoor spaces. The soil of these and other potted plants is subject to invasion by many soil-dwelling creatures – some innocuous…

Various boring insects are among the primary pests of roses (Rosa spp.) in the United States. Borers are the larval form of various insects, including beetle and moth species, that drill into the…

Many animals like to escape from the cold temperatures during winter, including insects. Insects have different methods for survival in the cold, which, according to the Smithsonian Institution,…

Squash grows equally well in the summer and fall and, when no issues arise, you end up with the edible vegetable portions of both the squash and blossoms. If you notice wilting blooms or damaged…

Carrots and beets are different from many vegetables because the edible part of the plant grows underground instead of on the surface plant or bush. This means that carrots and beets aren't vulnerable…

Orchids, with their showy flowers, adorn homes and greenhouses around the world. Depending on the species, these ornamental plants grow in soil, on tree trunks or on rocks. Many insect pests,…

The same lush, green foliage and fragrant, radiant blooms that earn roses so many accolades also attract less-desirable attention. A trio of green insects regularly infest roses to feed on their…

Deciduous forests are forested areas where the majority of tree specimens are deciduous trees. These type of trees lose their foliage from late fall to early spring. Deciduous forests provide shelter…

Most people carry a set of keys just about everywhere. Give your friends a homemade key chain that they can keep close to them. You can make a key chain from wire and beads into a variety of garden…

Trumpet vine (Campsis radicans) also called trumpet creeper is a perennial vine that can grow to 30 feet or more when given support. Trumpet vines bear yellow trumpet-shaped flowers and a pod-like…

According to a 2010 Alabama Farmers Federation assessment, 59 of Alabama's 67 counties produce cotton crops. In 2005, Alabama farmers sowed almost 550,000 acres of cotton, totaling approximately…

"Battle of Giants" is a series of games for the Nintendo DS where various giant monsters explore and battle each other. There are games with Dinosaurs, Dragons and Mutant Insects. Each of them…

DDT, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, was a commonly used insecticide used to kill and repel mosquitoes during and after World War II, according to Duke University. DDT is still used in some…

Without the pollination services of insects, most of the food we eat, or gardens we tend, would not exist. Flowers have traits that attract specific pollinators. A malodorous scent attracts flies and…

Pineapples originated in Paraguay. Once the pineapples were discovered by Columbus, they spread to all tropical locations. The pineapple, which resembles a large pine cone, is topped with prickly…

Cultivated for centuries, lavender (Lavandula spp.) is a hardy perennial herb prized for both its sweet fragrance and its lovely flowers. Lavender is a good choice for xeriscapes, because it requires…

Unsightly dirt mounds springing up all over your lawn, garden and even driveway and sidewalks can be troublesome for many reasons. Besides being unattractive, these mounds can harbor damaging and even…

Squash and cucumbers belong to the cucurbit family along with pumpkins, gourds and melons. As relatives, squash and cucumbers share many common insect pests. From vine-boring beetles to sap-sucking…

The Japanese red pine, or Pinus densiflora, is a smaller evergreen tree native to Japan. People often grow Japanese red pines to use as bonsai trees. Outdoors, a healthy Japanese red pine will reach…

Insects have developed defensive and coping mechanisms to survive predators and their environment. Insects have adapted using virtually invisible camouflage to hide from predators. Some insects have…

While many insects may produce galls, gall wasps are the most common. Out of the 2,000 species of gall-producing insects, 1,500 of these are either these tiny wasps or gall midges. Galls occur on…

Irises are often chosen for home gardens because they add a splash of color to the landscape. While irises are generally healthy flowers, they are susceptible to infestations of thrips and iris borers…

Insects -- six-legged animals with segmented bodies -- are the largest class of animals on Earth. Though some insects are viewed as pests, the overwhelming majority of these animals are harmless and…

Grapevines in vineyards are susceptible to a variety of insect pests that damage the health, vigor and overall fruit production of the plants. Protect your vineyard from common pests so you harvest a…

Most insects experience a resting stage during their life cycle designed to either encourage or suspend development and growth. In some cases, the resting stage of an insect is the biological response…

Insect egg sacks are the first step to raising or breeding any type of Insect, and the skill of caring for them is essential for any insect enthusiast. By following a few simple rules and guidelines,…

Bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.) is a warm season type of turf used for residential lawns, athletic fields and golf courses in the South where winters are warm and rainfall is moderate to high. In…

You can easily get rid of insects either at your home or office by implementing a single or multi-faceted approach. You can adopt varied approaches to exterminate insects and all need to be deployed…

Succulents are often used as indoor plants as well as outside in the yard or garden. While these plants are usually hardy, they are susceptible to a variety of insects that can cause damage to the…

Sexual reproduction, which involves male and female individuals, is the most common form of reproduction among animals, including insects. However, some species of aphid, ant, parasitic wasp, bee,…

Because of its strong aroma, many common plant-eating insects, such as aphids, do not eat lavender plants. In fact, some gardeners use lavender as a natural insect repellent by planting it amongst…

Spring-blooming daffodil bulbs illuminate landscapes with showy, trumpet- or cup-centered blooms of white and shades of yellow, pink and orange. Their arching, narrow, green leaves continue providing…

Bamboo is a large, graceful grass that grows quickly and spreads easily. It is used by gardeners as a privacy screen or as a simple ornamental. Sadly, this garden favorite is susceptible to numerous…

Zucchinis are a popular vegetable to grow in gardens because they are relatively easy to maintain and the harvest is usually plentiful. The plants bear not only zucchini, but also edible flowers.…

The honeybee, or Apis mellifera, is an insect that has the ability to turn plant nectar into a concentrated form known as honey. The resulting honey product is sweet to the taste for humans, mammals…

When packaging frozen insects for export it's important to make sure that everything is sealed and prepared correctly. Insects that aren't packaged correctly and eaten can cause food-borne illnesses…

Every butterfly undergoes a process of complete metamorphosis before it grows into an adult butterfly. The process of metamorphosis is often the same throughout different species, but the length of…

Insects, devastating to turf, cause the most damage, often before anyone notices. By the time most people realize that they have an insect problem, the damage to the roots has occurred. To control…

Black widows, common house spiders, and other insects like to nestle in boxes of clothing, papers and other items. The impending doom of getting an insect bite after arriving makes the job of…

The family of insects known as the Mutillidae, or wingless wasps, are often described as velvet ants for their thick fuzzy skin and can be seen throughout the continental United States and in Oregon…

Learning the insights of biology offers a perplexing conundrum. Although each answer found satisfies a question, it also usually opens up more questions than it answers. DNA converts into RNA, which…

Dragonflies are commonly found in countries all around the world -- in woods, yards and even in metropolitan areas. Even though dragonflies share part of their name with the common fly, they are not…

There are more species of leafhopper than the combined species of birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians in the world. Leafhoppers survive by sucking the sap from the vascular system of plants. It is…

Aquatic insects, microscopic though some may be, are an integral part of the Earth's ecosystem. If a body of fresh water, large or small, sticks around for a week or so, chances are at least a few…

Ants are some of the most widespread insects in the world, living almost everywhere except where the ground is frozen all year round. They can even be found in the Sahara desert. Ants have been around…

Whether you are an budding entomologist, a budding lepidopterist or a student preparing for a science fair, mounting bugs on a display is the easiest way to keep up with the insects you have…

Insects are the most successful, widespread and prolific members of the animal kingdom. They are members of the phylum Arthropoda, which also includes arachnids, centipedes and crustaceans. All…

The world of insects differs drastically from mammalian development. Insects undergo metamorphosis, which falls into one of two types. Incomplete metamorphosis consists of youthful insects -- or…

Most toddlers have short attention spans and high levels of energy. Keep toddlers busy with some entertaining classroom ideas about insects. From games to crafts to educational activities, a…

Children learn about animal life cycles in elementary school. This concept is usually taught by explaining butterfly or frog metamorphosis because it is an easy concept for young children to grasp.…

Collecting and preserving insects became a popular hobby in the early part of the 19th century when discoveries in natural science were introduced to the middle classes. For professionals and…

Bloodworms, which belong to the phylum Annelida, are found in the ponds and standing water throughout the United States. The skin of these larvae, causing their red bodily fluid to show through,…

A member of the antelope family, the addax is also called the "screw horn antelope" because of its spiraling horns that can reach 3 feet. It weighs up to 300 pounds and stands up to 5 1/2 feet high.…

Crafting with kids builds fine motor skills and encourages creativity. Incorporate crafts about insects into your science unit or make these buggy crafts for fun. These bug-inspired crafts will keep…

Mud daubers are a type of wasp, but they are not the wasp most people think of. The term "regular wasps" refers to the more common and more harmful social wasps, like hornets, yellow jackets and paper…

Surface tension appears more like a phenomenon than a physical reaction between two unlike surfaces, especially on a microscopic level. The properties and textures of surfaces, along with weight and…

Northeast America serves as a natural habitat to its own families of dragonflies. This fast-flying insect is characterized by six legs, four wings, compound eyes and an elongated figure. Seven…

After you have collected insects, you need to mount them appropriately. However, after insects die, they become stiff, and mounting them without breaking their bodies, wings or limbs becomes…

Dragonflies are flying insects that zip across water. Dragonflies are one of the fastest flyers in the insect world, according to the University of Florida's Book of Insect Records. The Austrophlebia…

Insect collections, with neatly pinned and labelled specimens, are used for both decorative and educational purposes. A collection of colorful butterflies can be hung on a wall as exquisite artwork…

As ubiquitous to summer as mosquitoes or lightning bugs, dragonflies are large-bodied insects with wide, transparent wings. The insects begin their lives in the water, where the dragonfly larvae eat…

Metamorphosis is the process of change that an insect goes through. Complete metamorphosis, which means change of form, consists of four stages of an insect's life cycle. Many insects, including…

Both invertebrate members of the animal kingdom, mollusks and crustaceans would at first seem to have a lot in common. In reality, these two phyla are wildly different, with different body types,…

There are 20 species of armadillo in North and South America, ranging from central Missouri to the southern portions of Argentina. These species inhabit most warm and temperate biomes, including rain…

Collecting insects, including beetles, is an inexpensive way to teach children about the insect world, which make up more than half of all animals living on earth, according to the University of…

Collecting insects can be a fascinating and rewarding pastime, but to share your specimens with others you must properly preserve and display your collection. Larvae, soft-bodied insects, and smaller…

The varieties of spiders living across the globe inhabit many different environments and have adapted to a number of pressures. Many of these are prey-related, while others are environmental. Spider…

Butterflies may be small but their carefree flight sparks our imagination. The metamorphosis, when a caterpillar transforms itself and emerges as beautiful butterfly, fascinates young and old.…

Mammalian and crustacean hearts differ in only a few ways. The mammalian heart has multiple chambers and blood is pumped in through one artery and out another. The crustacean heart pumps blood in…

Insects feed on various types of food sources including, nectar, green vegetation, cellulose wood, decaying organic matter and other insects. Sometimes, as is the case of the bee and the flower, the…

Distant ancestors of the armadillo were similarly shaped and armored but were roughly the size of a modern rhino. Now, although these creatures have kept their defensive plating, they have become much…

Insects are classified as six-legged arthropods with exoskeletons. Insects play an important role in the environment. For example, a honey bee plays the role of food-maker by creating honey and…

Although bats are mammals and have many common mammalian features such as being warm-blooded and having fur, the main adaptation that separates them from other mammals is their ability to fly. Bats…

You can see dragonflies make sharp stops and turns, and then stop again and hover for a while. They have to make the most of their flying time as some adults live for only a few weeks. Dragonflies are…

Watching an electric-blue flying machine swoop over water is an amazing experience. Blue dragonflies are sometimes mistaken for blue damselflies. A damselfly holds its wings parallel to its body when…

Silverfish are ancient insects that have been around for hundreds of thousands of years. They are commonly found in the home, especially around sources of water, like faucets or pipes. There is only…

Wisconsin is home to hundreds of beetle species. Some of these are beneficial, while others are considered by farmers and gardeners to be pests. The tableau of beetles in the state is varied and…

A common school project assigned to sixth-graders is making a bug collection. A bug collection teaches students how to identify various bugs and how to group those that share common characteristics.…

Four-fifths of all the animal species on earth are insects, and they communicate with other insects in a different way from how humans communicate with one another. Many of our language skills are…

You might be surprised to learn you can fly an airplane in the U.S. without a pilot's license. What you must have is an "Airmen's Certification," the Federal Aviation Administration term for what…

Massachusetts is home to several different types of flying insects such as the lady bug, wood wasp, summer fruit tortrix moth and the giant wood wasp. These flying insects don't mean any harm to…

The crayfish is a crustacean that looks like a small lobster. It lives on the muddy or rocky bottoms of quiet, running streams and creeks. The grasshopper is an insect that lives on land. Both…

Symbiosis between species appears frequently throughout nature. Mutualistic symbiosis occurs when two species in the same habitat benefit one another. Nesting birds and trees are an example of…

Just like other aquatic insects, aquatic insects in the state of Washington begin life under water. Adult females lay their eggs in streams, lakes and ponds throughout the state where the larvae…

Numerous factors have contributed to the extinction of some insects, and to the continued threat to existing insect populations in the United States. The most notable causes are environmental issues,…

An insect collection allows you to closely examine the structures of insects' bodies and share them with others. Once you catch the insects for your collection, you need to kill them in a nonviolent…

Walking outside during a humid summer afternoon without any protection is a great way to get stung or bitten by a flying insect. There are ways, however, in which you can protect yourself and those…

Atlanta is the capital of Georgia, a hot and humid subtropical state teeming with bugs and insects. It is nearly impossible to traverse through Atlanta (or any of Georgia, for that matter) without…

Sometimes the only clue that certain bugs are around is not sight of the bug itself, but what it leaves behind. Puzzling ink pen-like marks on sheets and mattresses are a case in point. These pen-like…

Ranging from New Mexico and Missouri to Florida and Georgia, the nine-banded armadillo burrows into the ground to create nests. Armadillos create extensive underground burrows that seriously damage…

Bees and ants may look and act very different, but since they are both members of the same biological phylum, class and order in the animal kingdom, they must have some similarities. Most people think…

Insects and certain other organisms go through several stages of growth as they age. Metamorphosis refers to the developmental process undergone by these creatures. Students often learn about…

Black Flag fogger units are available in many types such as a spray bottle, a manual pump, a unit that uses propane gas or an electric fogger. An electric fogger by Black Flag requires electricity to…

The State of Wisconsin covers just over 34 million acres, of which roughly 16 million acres, or 46 percent, are covered in trees. Most of Wisconsin's forests are in the northern part of the state with…

The state of Washington has a number of aquatic insects. The majority of these insects spend their existence on or under the water and serve as the major food source for fish in all types of water…

Leeches are a type of segmented worm that can be found on land, fresh water and salt water. There are various types of leeches that feed, grow and reproduce in different ways. All leech types however…

Some beetles have interesting and colorful names, either because of appearance, habits, plants they feed on, or a characteristic that reminds people of another animal. Beetles are usually from the…

Africa is a haven for dangerous insects that use venom to paralyze their victims. A bite from a venomous insect may or may not be fatal to humans but can still cause a lot of pain and severe illness.…

Unless a spotlight nearby draws them out, most stinging insects do not fly at night and instead stay inside their nests. However, hornets are a type of wasp, and one of those hornets -- the European…

You've just caught your prized butterfly. It's more than just a specimen, it's a work of art. There's no way you can shove it in a drawer with the rest. This is a trophy to be displayed. Or you've…

Metamorphosis is what happens when a caterpillar turns into a beautiful butterfly and a legless tadpole becomes a hopping frog. Insects and amphibians are the only creatures that go through this…

Responding to natural seasonal cues, vast swarms of flying ants emerge once every year, usually after a heavy summer rain. Swarming over the tallest places in the immediate vicinity, they mate in…

One of the most revolutionary changes in nature happens the moment a newly transformed entity tears out of its cocoon to take flight into a world seen through different eyes. Such is the fate of…

For more than 50 years, citronella has been used in lotions, sprays, candles and rubs to deter biting insects. A safer alternative to the traditional DEET insect repellants, citronella oil is…

Along with arachnids, crustaceans and insects belong to the same group---arthropods. Sharing distinctive physical characteristics, such as absence of backbone, hard exoskeletons, jointed legs and…

Collecting insects can be a fascinating hobby for a young naturalist. But once you have the insect captured, you need a way to kill it without damaging it. Insects are fragile and easily squashed. The…

The yellow wattlebird belongs to a species of Australian birds called honeyeaters. It is Australia's largest honeyeater and is native to the islands of Tasmania, King Island, Three Hummock and Hunter…

Coastal deserts are commonly located near the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, as the name suggests they reside on the coast. There is a diverse range of fauna in these deserts. The three major…

Ants and grasshoppers are insects that have been around for millions of years, but ants have a few characteristics that grasshoppers don't. These differences can be seen in how ants and grasshoppers…

A silverfish is not a fish at all, but a remarkable -- some may say disgusting -- insect. The number of insect species exceeds that of all other animal species combined. The variety is simply…

Flying Insects are a sub group of the class of anthropods, or animals that have an external skeleton. Flying insects are the only known invertebrate species to have developed flight. Not much is known…

Flora and fauna share a symbiotic relationship, each being essential for the other's survival and reproduction. Without insects and birds to carry pollen, many plants would not be able to share their…

Just 10 miles from the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Mounds View is located within Minnesota's Ramsey County. The town has a population of nearly 13,000 people and is home to 130…

In folklore, foxes have a reputation for slyness and cunning and are often portrayed as tricksters that use cleverness to get by despite their small size. Real foxes may not be as quick witted as…

The study of insects is an area of focus during junior high and high school. There are many different types of insects to study. An effective way to show off your knowledge of insects is to create a…

Phalaenopsis Sogo Vivien, or Sogo Vivien, orchids are a type of orchid flower with bright purple petals and deep, dark purple veins. The Sogo flowers have a similar physical composition to most other…

Although insect repellents and exterminator chemicals are safe and effective for removing and preventing bugs in the home, some parents and pet owners want a chemical-free method for keeping their…

Starting an insect collection helps you understand and learn more about nature and insects. Catching, preserving and displaying the insects will teach you about how they live, what they look like and…

"Cold" and "desert" may be two words that you never thought could appear together. But it is not temperature that defines a desert, but a very low average annual rainfall, which makes places like…

Termites are colonial insects that are found across the globe in one form or another. According to the Termite Infestation Probability Zones, both eastern and western Texas are located in zones with…

Humans are not alone in their need to cool down their homes when the temperatures rise. Some insects have been doing it before humans were even around. In fact, because they are cold-blooded (unable…

Mosquitoes annoy people with their buzzing and bites, invariably leaving angry red bumps that can be extremely itchy. It's important to have an efficient insect fogger available when you're enjoying a…

Diagnosis of insect pest problems can be challenging. Many insect pests are small and secretive and work at night when they are hard to observe. Often reliance for identifying the problem has to be…

Wasps are insects with three distinctive body parts: a head equipped with antennae, a middle thorax region and an abdomen often armed with a stinger. You may cringe at the thought of stinging wasps…

Lucite is a common name for polymethyl methacrylate, which is a transparent thermoplastic. It has an appearance similar to glass but is chemically much different. Preserving insects in a plastic resin…

The phylum Arthropoda includes both insects and crustaceans. Crustaceans such as crabs and shrimp are strictly aquatic, whereas insects may be found just about anywhere. Even so, aquatic environments…

Anteaters belong to a category of animals known as insectivores. Although an anteater has no teeth, its elongated tongue enables it to catch and eat thousands of insects each day.

Scientists believe pheromones may be one of the keys to physical attraction, according to BBC News. Scientific discoveries support this theory, though studies have focused on insects and animals more…

People interested in collecting insects as a hobby have numerous tools to help them collect specimens. Insect collection tools are also used by entomologists, professionals who study different aspects…

The cricket, that enigmatic insect featured in literature and ancient tradition for over two millenia, is a nocturnal creature known for its loud "singing," or chirping sounds. The cricket is a member…

Surface tension is a phenomenon that most people encounter on a daily basis. Although you may not realize it, surface tension impacts your life in several important ways. There are many common uses…

Frogs are amphibians that are found on almost every continent. Some areas of the world have high frog populations, but there may be a specific reason for seeing many frogs in one place.

Insect collecting is a fun hobby that many people enjoy. The act of finding and labeling the bugs is interesting and educational. There are many different ways to collect insects, and many ideas for…

Fungi that kill insects, called entomopathogens, are widespread in nature, and there are many different types of them. These types of fungi kill insects by releasing spores that germinate on the…

Stick insects are found all throughout world, and according to the National Geographic website there are over 3,000 different stick bug species. The insect's stick-like exterior allows it to blend…

Some of the more common types of crustaceans are lobsters, crabs, shrimps and barnacles; there are also terrestrial crustaceans such as the wood louse. The majority of insects have wings, but there…

As a general rule, insect legs are the same from side to side, but can vary a lot from the front to the back of the animal. Also, within the insect kingdom there is a wide variation in leg functions,…

There are many different types of grasshoppers that vary in size and color. But grasshoppers also share some characteristics, no matter the species. These insects are commonly found all over the…

Florida's environment is attractive to many different types of insects. The weather is hot and humid much of the year. Plenty of rainfall and waterways mean that insects have lots of places to…

The Midwest state of Wisconsin is home to a great many species of insect. With a large portion of the state made up of rural farmland and natural wilderness, it is the perfect environment for many…

The lacewing is an insect of the taxonomic genus Neuroptera and is found across North America and northern Europe. It favors meadows, grasslands and gardens. Lacewings are crepuscular insects, being…

The silverfish (Lepisma saccharina) is a small, wingless insect belonging to the Thysanura order. It is characterized by a silvery-blue color and a movement pattern reminiscent of a fish in water.…

Forensic entomology is the legal application of the study of insects and their arthropod relatives to determine when and/or where an individual died. More specifically, the medicolegal branch of…

A sachet is a small, frequently disposable, bag that is filled with powdered or granulated materials. Some sachets are used to perfume clothing in drawers, others use larger materials and are used to…

Entomology is the scientific study of insects, their biologies, histories, behaviors and their impacts on other organisms and ecologies. While the study of bugs may not sound all that important, it is…

Some insect life cycles include egg, pupa, larva and adult, and their life span begins when the insect emerges from its egg. Butterflies, moths and beetles undergo a complete metamorphosis in which a…

Insects are a diverse group of creatures that all have the same main body parts, which distinguish them as a member of the class Insecta. All insects have six legs and a body divided into three…

Found throughout the world, termites are renowned and reviled for their ravenous wood-eating appetites. In societies that use wood as a common architectural material, termites can wreak incredible…

Like all other insects, dragonflies consist of three main body parts: the head, thorax and abdomen. Dragonflies are made for flying, with delicate muscles guiding each of their four wings. These…

There are many flying insects that commonly buzz both outside and inside. Some, such as the house fly, can carry disease. Others, such as bees, hornets and mosquitoes can cause painful stings. Flying…

From a distance, yellow warblers appear to be entirely yellow in color, although their tails and upper part of their body have a slight greenish tinge. The male of the species may be identified by…

Insects can be annoying at best. With mosquitoes, gnats, and midges buzzing around and landing on your favorite foods, a day out in the sun or an hour at a picnic celebration can be anything but fun.…

In the autumn when the weather begins to cool, a chorus of cricket songs fills the night air. These are the songs of male crickets trying to attract a female. The beauty of a cricket's song isn't…

Insect display cases allow you to display your collection of creepy crawlies. Displaying an insect collection requires more attention to detail than simply throwing dead bugs into a glass-top cabinet…

Though aquatic insects exist, they do not spend their entire lives truly living in water. All insects breathe air and follow some sort of terrestrial lifestyle. Insects are characterized by having six…

Deaths from wasp and bee stings are more numerous than those from snakebites in the United States. Insects also cause more injuries and deaths than bombs and bullets during major wartime conflicts,…

Wasps are not popular insects with most people, as they don't provide many of the same benefits as honey bees and yet are extremely aggressive. Many animals don't care for wasps and avoid them, so…

With their large eyes, distinctive mouthparts and elongated back legs, grasshoppers are one of the most recognizable insects in the animal kingdom. Being herbivores they do not "catch" their food in…

The painted lady butterfly (Vanessa cardui) is a commonly found butterfly across the United States. This butterfly can be found on all continents worldwide except for Antarctica and Australia. The…

While some people collect shot glasses or stamps, a large group of professional and amateur entomologists collect insects. (Entomologists are scientists who study insects.) Collecting insects involves…

The flowering dogwood (Cornus florida), a small tree of the Eastern United States, is important as an ornamental and in the ecosystems in which it exists. The flowering dogwood is attractive…

Many flying insects prefer to live in your home during different times of the year. They are attracted to homes because of a constant food supply, shelter or other reasons. Luckily, there are…

In the spring and summer, insects are all around us. If you spend a few minutes in a garden, you're sure to see a few fluttering butterflies or hear the sound of bees buzzing around a flower. Did you…

Animals are often a source of wonder because of the relationship between their size and strength. Sometimes when talking about strength, people think it is always relative to size. For instance,…

Insects form part or all of the diet of many types of reptiles, with even baby alligators in the United States stalking and consuming bugs. Lizards and turtles in particular will eat insects, finding…

Termites are similar to several types of insects in terms of behavior and characteristics. These insects live in organized colonies. The older termites delegate duties within the colony and make a…

"Different fields, different grasshoppers; different seas, different fish" says an Indonesian proverb. This is the essence of adaptation--the ways that the physical features of different creatures…

An important step in preserving an insect for display in a collection is the spreading of its wings. Whether the insect is recently dead and still fresh and pliable, or is discovered after drying,…

Scientists estimate that some 2 million or more species of insects, many as yet unidentified, exist on this planet. Insects all share some common characteristics that separate them from other…

A few different lizards have blue tails in their youth, but the one commonly called "blue-tailed" is the five-lined skink. A skink is a type of lizard, and the broadhead skink and Great Plains skink…

Many species of flowering plants and insects participate in symbiosis, a mutually beneficial interaction between species. Flowers provide food for the insects, while the insects assist the flowers in…

Although close relatives of the grasshopper, crickets belong to a distinct group of insects that possess very large back legs in proportion to the rest of their body. Crickets come in many different…

With a mix of hot, humid environments and plentiful rain during half of the year, Florida is a breeding ground for many different types of insects. These creepy crawlers can be found all over the…

Butterflies are insects that can often be distinguished by their large, colorful wings. They are active during the day and belong to the order Lepidoptera, which also includes moths. Though there are…

Glycerin, or glycerol, is a viscous liquid that can be used as a preservative for insect specimens. It is hygroscopic, meaning that it will absorb water from the air as well as dissolve easily in…

Insect droppings--while minute and seemingly inconsequential--litter every nook and cranny of the planet. They can be potentially hazardous to humans or quite beneficial to the earth's ecology,…

In the world of insects, there are many anomalies. For the grasshopper, barbs (or spines) have three main reasons for growing on the legs.

After going through the tedious work of finding and identifying insects for your collection, take care to follow the proper pinning techniques so that you can attractively display your work. Because…

For many people and businesses, recycling aluminum is a part their daily and weekly routines. But instead of simply tossing aluminum cans into a bin, there are other ways of recycling this versatile…

During the Cenozoic period that began 65 million years ago the first bees, butterflies, moths and wasps started appearing, conveniently at the same time the flowering plants were diversifying. Flowers…

Since bluebirds do not build their own homes, these birds will often welcome the sight of a well-placed bluebird house. However, proper placement of these birdhouses is key to attracting the right…

Termites are destructive insects and can cause extensive damage to a home if not caught early. It's important to have your home inspected regularly to spot the signs of termite infestation.The visual…

Egyptian fruit bats live mostly in caves in much of Africa and especially in Egypt where they can be close to fruit trees. They are also known for roosting in large colonies where they crowd close…

Approximately 80 percent of all animal species are insects, according to Clemson University. Entomology is the scientific field of study devoted to species of insects.

A mixture of sugar water and detergent is commonly used to trap insects. The sugar attracts the bugs, and the detergent creates a sinking water trap for the insects.

Moles are small mammals of the Talpidae family; voles are small rodents of the Cricetidae family. They have little in common, albeit a rhyming name. They are different in appearance, habitat,…

Since the beginning of time, insects have plagued humankind. We have battled with flies, roaches, termites and even blood-sucking fleas in our homes and workplaces. Knowing how to indentify pest…

Buffalo horns have traditionally been used as decoration as well as to create powder horns and similar containers. Though the harvesting of new buffalo horns is often not possible due to legal…

Someone who goes into their attic and opens a box full of their old newspaper clippings can find that silverfish have been at work. These insect pests frequently will invade dark places and cause…

Florida's wetlands, from its salt marshes, rivers and mud flats to its bays, estuaries and watersheds, are essential not only to the sustainability of many species, but also to Florida's water supply…

Damage from insects can devastate a forest, causing harm or death to millions of trees. Insects are identifiable by the nature of their attack, but generally an insect outbreak in evergreens is too…

There are two different types of bloodworms. One is from the genus Glycera, a group of bristly worms. They are actual worms that grow to be 15 inches long and live at the bottom of shallow, saltwater.…

Pheromones are chemicals released from the bodies of insects and other species for communication purposes. These potent chemical messengers are carried by wind over great distances. During the…

There are a number of methods you may choose for collecting insects, from simply catching them by hand and storing in jars to more sophisticated techniques, dependent upon the type of insects you are…

The process of biogenesis is best described as life begets life. Chickens lay eggs, which hatch into chicks. Cows give birth to calves. A basic tenet of biogenesis is that a non-living organism cannot…

Making an insect collection can be a great summer hobby or a school science project. While a collection typically can't be completed in one day--finding all of the insects you need may not be…

Caterpillars' bodies are designed to eat and grow. Their lifespan is typically two to four weeks. A caterpillar's body is divided into three main sections: the head, the abdomen and the thorax.

Insects are an epidemic during the summer months, and it seems as though they come back regardless of what you do to prevent their return. Commercial bug sprays are expensive and contain harmful…

Deserts occupy 20 percent of Earth's land surface and are characterized by annual rainfall of less than 250 mm (9.84 inches). Conventional classifications are: hot and dry, semi-arid, coastal and…

Insects eliminate waste by passing food and water through malpighian tubules that convert the waste into uric acid, which is then excreted from the insect's body. Find out more about a bug's excreted…

Maggots are essentially the larval stage of flies, and they're often found in carcasses and other decaying matter. Learn about the hooks that maggots use for feeding with information from an…

Lice are microscopic insects that have little hooked claws that grab onto hair or feather shafts. Learn about the medical importance of lice with information from an entomologist in this free video on…

Earwigs are dark, elongated, semi-flattened insects that can range from 6 to 35 millimeters in length. Learn about the pincers on the rear end of an earwig's abdomen with information from an…

Ladybugs are voracious predators that feed on a lot of pest insects, including aphids, which are a main part of the ladybug's diet. Discover how ladybugs are beneficial for controlling the aphid…

Bats are the only flying mammals in the entire world. Moreover, they can be incredibly dexterous fliers, able to wheel and pivot on short notice in order to capture insects in mid-flight. Since…

Scale insects are tiny creatures that look as if they have no legs. They will attach themselves to trees, shrubs and even indoor plants and feed off of the sap. This can cause serious damage to the…

Insects belong to a group of animals called arthropods and can be found in nearly every habitat on Earth. There are more than one million known species of insects, with another estimated 10 million…

Beetles comprise the largest group of life forms on earth. They make up an astounding one quarter of all known members of the entire animal kingdom, not just insects. Thus far there are about 350,000…

In North America, armadillo eating habits have traditionally only been the concern of residents of the southern United States, who know the nine-banded armadillo well as a digging garden pest. But the…

All swallows eat insects. Swallows don't wait for dinner to come to them, they go to the meal. Swallows the world over catch their food in the same manner--on the wing, Swallows are able to fly fast…

All insects spend their entire lives mating, and the mating process for most insects is generally the same. They use various skills to track down a mate: For instance, insects like the fly rely on…

If you are in a survival situation, searching for something to eat in the environment around you, consider insects. You'll need protein and insects are surprisingly simple to find and prepare,…

Most of us aren ot comfortable eating insects and arachnids, but if they are clean and pesticide free, they are perfectly safe to eat, and are actually very high in protein. If you're determined to…

Soft-bodied insects include worms and larvae as well as insects like aphids or silverfish whose bodies lack a hard exoskeleton. Unlike hard-bodied insects, they cannot normally be pinned on a board.…

Hard-bodied insects are easier to preserve than soft-bodied insects because their carapaces are tougher to damage. Even so, they take special handling in order to preserve them correctly, and need to…

If you have ever had a can of soda at a picnic in the summer, then you are most likely familiar with yellow jackets. These aggressive wasps are best left alone; however, knowing how to spot a yellow…

People often refer to all members of the insect order, Odonata, as dragonflies. Many don't realize there are two separate Suborders. Dragonflies are the Suborder Anisoptera, which means…

Biological weapons are hard to use effectively as weapons of mass destruction. Biological weapons are diseases intentionally spread with malicious intent. While aerosol and airborne agents exist, the…

Collecting insects can be an exciting and educational pastime. Insects are 6-legged creatures and belong to the class Hexapoda in the phylum Arthropoda. They have an exoskeleton and three distinct…

You may have thought that the words "cricket" and "grasshopper" were interchangeable for one animal. Actually, these two insects are not the same. Though they look similar and share some common…

Labeling your insect collection correctly can make it appear more professional looking, facilitating learning and providing an attractive and organized appearance. It can also help in communicating…

Learning proper specimen-handling techniques is important for having a successful insect collection. One of the most important techniques to learn is how to kill insects properly, without damaging…