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detailed digital reconstruction of all the neurons in a fly brain, depicted in a wide array of colors. Each hemisphere of the brain somewhat resembles a colorful bunch of balloons with a bundle of nerves trailing out of the bottom

1st complete map of an insect's brain contains 3,016 neurons

By Nicoletta Lanese published

Scientists created a map of an entire larval fruit fly brain that shows all 548,000 synapses in the organ.

Insects
This tiny sharpshooter insect urinates and forms a droplet of pee on its anal stylus (aka 'butt flicker’), before flicking it off.

Insect that flings pee with a butt catapult is 1st known example of 'superpropulsion' in nature

By Charles Q. Choi published

Glassy-winged sharpshooters rapidly fire their pee out of butt catapults.

Insects
A queen bumblebee.

Wild queen bees attempt to invade commercial hives, but get slaughtered by rival workers

By Harry Baker published

Wild queen bumblebees get killed by worker bees inside commercial hives after they are lured in by vibrant colors and the promise of usurping the resident queen.

Bees & Wasps
Bees might not have knees like ours, but their legs do have joints that help them move.

Do bees have knees?

By JoAnna Wendel published

Bees do have a femur and a tibia, but do they have a kneecap like ours?

Bees & Wasps
short video clip shows a wasp escaping from a frog's mouth after the frog attempting to eat it

This wasp uses its prickly penis to escape certain death

By Nicoletta Lanese published

Male mason wasps have no venom, but they can still stab predators with their genitals.

Bees & Wasps
Close-up photo of an ant's face.

Horrifying close-up photo of an ant is the stuff of nightmares

By Jennifer Nalewicki last updated

A zoomed-in photo of an ant is giving the internet the chills.

Ants
A frontal view of a bee swarm.

Swarming bees may potentially change the weather, new study suggests

By Ben Turner published

Bees can electrify the air by as much as 1000 volts per meter, or more than a thunderstorm.

Bees & Wasps
Dangerous Zika Infected Mosquito Skin Bite. Leishmaniasis, Encephalitis, Yellow Fever, Dengue, Malaria Disease, Mayaro or Zika Virus Infectious Culex Mosquito Parasite Insect Macro.

Animal Sex: How Mosquitoes Do It

By Joseph Castro last updated

Mosquito reproduction involves swarms, behavior-altering seminal fluid and tons of eggs.

Mosquitos
Two red velvet whoopie pies.

The Truth About Red Food Dye Made from Bugs

By Luke Yoquinto last updated

If the idea of eating red food dye made from bugs grosses you out, consider that if it doesn't come from a bug, it may come from something worse.

Insects
With high-speed video, scientists have detailed, for the first time, how predatory mosquito larvae attack and capture prey in aquatic habitats.

Mosquito larvae launch their heads like tiny harpoons to nab prey, video reveals

By Mindy Weisberger last updated

Researchers have captured the first-ever footage of mosquito larvae flinging their heads at prey in deadly hunting strikes.

Mosquitos
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