Insects & Invertebrates
Do insects have blood?
Insects don't have blood or haemoglobin like vertebrates do - so how does gas exchange occur, and what is the purpose of haemolymph?
The UK's best dads and mums in the animal kingdom
The RSPB takes a look at some of the best animal parents in the UK who deserve a medal for their efforts.
10 biggest spiders in the world: meet enormous 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!
22 notorious thieves found hiding in Pennsylvania. But it's not what you think
For a while, the thieves had experts stumped, until a series of scientific experiments gave them away...
Something amazing is happening on the side of this sleeping volcano – just 50 miles from Mexico City
Scientists are have come up with a plan that could help prevent one of the world's greatest migrations from collapsing.
What's the difference between slugs and snails - and why does the shell matter?
Is a slug just a snail without a shell?
Octopuses have been seen throwing things at each other. Here's why
Australia's gloomy octopuses need their personal space and they have a unique way of making sure they get it
Ant queens eat their own babies then recycle them to make new ones. Here's why
It may sound harsh, but it’s for the good of the colony.
How does a caterpillar turn into a butterfly? A guide to nature’s greatest transformation
The metamorphosis from caterpillar to butterfly is miraculous, but how does the process actually work, and what happens inside that pupa?
Prehistoric insects were absolutely massive. An entomologist explains why they needed to be so darn big
Richard Jones explains just why prehistoric insects were so large...
11 weirdest insects in the world - including a moth that looks like a like a poodle and a fly with eyes on stalks
The insect world is definitely a weird one - and there are some that are even weirder than the others. Discover some of the world's strangest and bizarrest insects
Tarantulas may have a fearsome reputation, but these fascinating facts show them in a new light
What are tarantulas? Why are these spiders so feared? Danniella Sherwood from the Natural History Museum explains all you need to know about tarantulas
Do insects have brains?
Wondering if insects have brains? Richard Jones explains
Discover the glittering rock 'n' roll Elvis worms, who have a penchant for fighting and getting 'all shook up'
Meet the Elvis worm, a deep-sea creature with iridescent scales, dazzles with its shimmering armour
10 deadliest insects: Discover the world's most dangerous insects to humans
Small but deadly! From disease spreaders to stingers to voracious swarms, read all about the world’s most deadly and dangerous insects.
What is a pigbutt worm? It's a worm that looks just like its name suggests for starters...
Meet the pigbutt worm - that looks just like it sounds. Never has a name been so apt...
Cannibal animals: 11 creatures that eat their own species - there may be some surprises...
It may seem gruesome, but many animals have been recorded feeding on their own species. Here are 11 cannibalistic animals, including some that might surprise you.
Butterfly emergency declared
Following stark results of this summer's Big Butterfly Count, wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation has declared a 'Butterfly Emergency’
Terrifying tiny millipede fires menacing Velcro-like bristles from its butt at assailants
With its unique, Velcro-like bristles that cling to predators, the tiny Porcupine-Velcro Millipede (Polyxenus fasciculatus) is a master of self-defence in the insect world.
6 blood-sucking animals - that aren't insects
While insects are best-known for feeding on blood, there's actually a few more species that target this protein-rich liquid.
Termites wear explosive 'backpacks' and blow themselves up to protect their colony
How a 'backpack' full of a toxic blue substance allows a termite to blow itself up, along with the threat, if its colony is threatened
Are these the weirdest eyes ever—and the biggest for their body size? Meet the bizarre stalk-eyed flies, nature's oddball insect
In the world of male stalk-eyed flies, size id everything when it comes to eyes says Nick Baker.
6 of the prettiest - and possibly weirdest - insects in the world that you might not know
There some amazingly beautiful, yet little known, insects on our planet. Stuart Blackman picks a few of his favourites
This metallic blue tarantula is the most beautiful spider in the world – and it's also one of the world's rarest
If ever proof were needed that spiders can be beautiful, then this is surely it. Meet the Gooty tarantula