30 Items Tagged

Entomology

An adult cicada from Brood X.

You've Heard of Cicadas, But Have You Heard of the Magicicada?

Cicada scientists share the secrets of this spring's rare double brood emergence. The last time it happened, Thomas Jefferson was president.

John Cooley and Chris Simon April 22, 2024

Butterfly Garden at Changi Airport

Where The Butterflies Roam

Ten places to enjoy the flight of the butterflies.

Jonathan Carey May 12, 2023

Japanese stag beetle (Prosopocoilus inclinatus).

Kamakura, Japan

‘Insect Mound’

Nestled among the bamboos in a temple complex, this art installation serves as a unique memorial to insects.

Scroll down to see a full-scale pain index, with Justin Schmidt's own poetic descriptions.

Ranking the Pain of Stinging Insects, From ‘Spicy’ to ‘Shockingly Electric'

Remembering one passionate entomologist who poetically described and classified more than 70 species' painful stings.

Lauren Young April 24, 2023

Taxidermied butterflies.

Amherst, Massachusetts

University of Massachusetts Entomology Collection

This miniature museum is home to a vast array of insects.

Army ants, which travel in massive units, play a critical role in ecosystem health.

How a Lone Researcher Faced Down Millions of Army Ants on the March in Ecuador

Renowned entomologist Frank Nischk remembers when the determined insects tried to invade a field station.

Frank Nischk March 1, 2023

All illustrations: John Mata for Atlas Obscura

Puzzle Monday: Totally Buggin' Crossword

AO Puzzles July 25, 2022

Giant ant models on the exterior of the Biology/Physics Building

Mansfield, Connecticut

Army Ant Guests Exhibit

A giant ant model welcomes visitors to an exhibit about symbiotic organisms that live with army ant colonies.

Cicada ceviche, made with (clockwise from top left) adults, tenerals, and nymphs.

The Chef Cooking a Cicada Recipe for Every Palate

From ceviche to caramel popcorn, Joseph Yoon is showing how Brood X can be a delicious part of your diet.

Sam O'Brien June 7, 2021

Home by yourself? You may as well make friends.

A Field Guide to the Miniature Menagerie Inside Your Own Home

And on your face.

Jessica Leigh Hester May 25, 2023

Welcome, neighbor!

This Is a Great Time to Busy Yourself With Bees

You can invite them over by planting some native plants on your deck or fire escape.

Jessica Leigh Hester April 2, 2020

A wiliwili flower in full bloom.

Can a War of the Wasps Save Hawai‘i’s Wiliwili Trees?

It's a classic good wasp/bad wasp situation.

Sabrina Imbler January 15, 2020

The dorsal side of Harvard's 150-year-old western branded skipper.

Scientists Just Geolocated a Victorian-Era Butterfly Using Its Genome

Their work affirmed the insect's taxonomy too. Because you can’t spell “named” without D-N-A.

Isaac Schultz September 6, 2019

David Ebmer uses his lice comb to gather samples from Valdivia's famous sea lions.

Scientists Invented a Lice Comb for Urban Sea Lions in Chile

The utensil helps researchers study marine mammals in the least disruptive way possible.

Danna Staaf June 21, 2019

Spherical cricket container, date unknown, artist unknown.

objects of intrigue

In Ancient China, Pet Crickets Spent the Winter in Opulent Gourds

More than functional, these fleshy fruits developed into a striking art form.

Claire Voon June 5, 2019

Noble chafers often live in orchards. But which ones?

If You’re in England, Keep Your Eyes Peeled for This Iridescent Beetle

Where, oh where, is the noble chafer?

Jessica Leigh Hester May 20, 2019

A lava cricket at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

A Peek Inside the Extremely Metal Life of Lava Crickets

The volcanic bugs survive on dead plants, sea foam, and a dangerous sex life.

Sabrina Imbler March 22, 2019

Fresh wasabi, nature's own fire ant fighter.

Scientists Are Fighting Fire (Ants) With Wasabi

What’s good for the sushi is not good for the Solenopsis invicta.

Rohini Chaki March 19, 2019