Mental Floss
Insects section header

Insects

The Latest

This classic fall-time activity poses more risks than you may think, but there are things you can do to mitigate them.

Learn how to make an easy stink bug trap with common household items.
CaLea Johnson|
This giant moth rivals any butterfly with its beauty and grandeur.
Will McGough|
Blood, sweat, and tears (and a few other choice substances): It’s all on the menu.
Kate Horowitz|
A shocking discovery was made at a nuclear facility: wasp nests contaminated with radiation.
CaLea Johnson|
Sure, you know that bees pollinate our crops and give us honey. But there's so much more to these buzzing insects than that.
Lucas Reilly|
EDDMapS’s database has more than 9 million records of invasive species. See which ones hit close to home.
Ellen Gutoskey|
Firefly populations have been declining, but there may be light at the end of the tunnel for the glowing bugs.
CaLea Johnson|
Confused about pupae, chrysalises, and cocoons? Discover the key differences between these metamorphic terms.
CaLea Johnson|
Some swear by this summertime hack, and it does work. Unfortunately, though, the “bucket of doom” won’t solve all your mosquito woes this summer—here’s why.
Paul Anthony Jones|
Tiny bugs are causing huge problems in Hungary.
CaLea Johnson|
Don’t kill these insects—consider them your friends!
Miriam Porter|
Don’t want to bug out this summer? From Los Angeles to Houston and even Detroit, these are the U.S. cities that experts expect will have the worst problems with mosquitoes in 2025.
Rudie Obias|
Even if you don’t usually see them, spiders are in your house. And they’re paying rent, sort of.
Ellen Gutoskey|
Yelp reveals the top U.S. cities searching for bed bug help. Find out where infestations are raising red flags.
CaLea Johnson|
A rare grasshopper once believed to be extinct has been spotted for the first time since 1980—but habitat loss may threaten its future.
CaLea Johnson|
Asian needle ants may look small, but their stings are no joke.
CaLea Johnson|
Inhaling and ingesting tiny bits of plastic are giving bees memory issues—and can even kill them.
Jake Rossen|
Use this map from the University of Connecticut to check if 17-year periodical cicadas will appear in your neighborhood soon.
CaLea Johnson|
The Hawaiian caterpillar adorns itself in dead bug parts—and its gruesome habits might be key to its survival in spider webs.
CaLea Johnson|
Flies aren’t just decomposers—they’re also pollinators and pest predators. Researchers shows it’s time to appreciate these misunderstood insects.
CaLea Johnson|

More From the Animals Section

Is your new pet’s name on this list?
CaLea Johnson|
Cats sometimes act like a bowl of water is something to approach with extreme caution. There’s a reason for it, though.
Jake Rossen|
Toxic explosives were no barrier for the fish and invertebrates colonizing a World War II-era munitions dump in the Baltic Sea, according to a new study.
Nick Keppler|
Parking lots offer a lot of the benefits of gulls’ natural habitats, plus a few key perks.
Matt Soniak|
Scientists are finding new ways to listen to fish thanks to technological advancements.
CaLea Johnson|
It turns out the Force is strong with marine ecologists.
CaLea Johnson|
It’s important to be as prepared as possible before you and your pup hit the trail.
Alexia Kontolemos|
Coyotes that live in the eastern United States are hybrids with both dog and wolf DNA. Here are some more facts about the resourceful predator.
Michele Debczak|
Insects section header

Read More About Animals

AnimalsAmphibiansBirdsCatsDogsFishInsectsInvertebratesParasitesPetsReptilesZoos