Insects & Invertebrates
Think you’re seeing a giant, humongous spider? Think again… as all is not what it seems
Meet the puppet master...
It spans 6000 km of the coasts of Portugal, Spain, France and Italy – the animal that builds cities
How one super-sized ant colony could house half a billion ants
Which insect can be crowned the UK's largest? There's one that's an impressive 12cm long
The charity Buglife takes a look at the contenders for the UK's biggest insects
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Why do spiders have 8 eyes?
When it comes to eyes, spiders are spoilt for choice...
Butterflies are changing the way they behave – and climate change is to blame
Some red admirals now stay for winter instead of migrating south
“A beehive is as natural as a pasture of grazing sheep.” Why beekeeping is causing a huge problem for wild bees – according to scientists
A dramatic rise in the number of managed beehives is negatively impacting wild pollinating insects
Love spiders? 18 incredible, gob-smacking spider facts, from the biggest to the deadliest - and even how many are probably living in your house right now
Spiders are one of the easiest groups of invertebrates to watch and they're fascinating creatures. Here are some of our favourite fun spider facts.
Purple is nature's rarest colour but purple animals do exist: Meet 9 beautiful, incredible purple animals that look like they've been painted
Can a butterfly fight back before it’s even born? Can it really defend itself in the chrysalis?
Butterflies can defend themselves in their chrysalises, and not just by using camouflage or warning colours.
He chases her, impresses her with his dancing and then taps her body to assess her breeding condition. If she passes, he starts to serenade her...
Would this impress you?
Weird spider with no eyes found on remote Atlantic island. Arachnologists are baffled
By searching through museum specimens, scientists found two new, and rather peculiar, spiders species from St Helena: one eyeless and another with thick armour.
Do slugs freeze in winter?
Some do, but slugs are surprisingly adept at surviving freezing conditions – very low temperatures do not have a particularly negative impact on overall numbers for the following year.
10 real-life zombies: These deadly brain-hijacking parasites can create suicidal rats, pulsating snails, dancing fish – and can even infect humans
It might sound like a horror film, but did you know that zombie parasites not only infect – they also use mind control to kill their hosts. Aoife Glass takes a look at some the world's most horrific zombie parasites...
10 horrifyingly gross-looking animals that live on or inside you: If you're squeamish you may want to look away...
The human body is home to a spectacular array of organisms – some of which can be pretty horrible looking
It drinks the blood of its children to survive - despite causing them pain and trauma – is this nature's cruellest parent?
Has an animal ever been more aptly named?
Can insects repair themselves after injury? Can they mend their 'bones' like us?
Researchers have discovered how insects heal their injured bodies.
Ambush spiders found hiding beneath sand on Californian coast. DNA reveals exactly what they are
The newly identified species is a type of trapdoor spider, which lives in burrows sealed with a hinged door.
In 1875, 12.5 trillion animals engulfed the Rocky Mountains. Is ‘Albert’s swarm’ the largest wildlife gathering ever?
Known as Albert's swarm, a plague of locusts covered the Midwestern USA and wreaked havoc
“There were hundreds crawling across the trail.” Huge, hairy animals surround hiker in Texas desert
Tamara headed to a Texan national park with the hope of spotting a black bear – but stumbled across something more ominous
Up to 100 million crabs swarm and begin marching on a remote Australian island every year – and nothing will stop them from finding a mate
When conditions are just right, millions of crustaceans make their annual dash for the coast
10 greatest wildlife spectacles on the planet: Where and when Mother Nature puts on her biggest and most spectacular shows
Our top 10 of the largest concentrations of animals on Earth.
10 biggest spiders in the world: Discover gigantic, terrifying arachnids as big as dinner plates
Meet the ten largest spiders in the world - you wouldn't want to see these scuttling across your carpet!
Scared of spiders? Science says it can be cured – with wheels and long-legged chairs
Fear of spiders (known as arachnophobia) is widespread, but just why are we so terrified of our eight-legged friends?
"We believe this is the first time it has been attempted." Why scientists plan to freeze butterfly eggs in -196C liquid nitrogen
Researchers want to use a technique known as cryopreservation to boost numbers of one of Britain's rarest butterflies.