Why World War I cultivated an obsession with insects
The first fully industrialised war prompted many to draw parallels between human society and the insect world.
Academic rigour, journalistic flair
Articles on Insects
Displaying 1 - 20 of 112 articles
The common herb that could bring bees buzzing to your garden
Garden pollinators can turn their noses up at the flowers human eyes find most beautiful.
When evolution and biotechnologies collide
Simple and inexpensive gene-editing technology such as CRISPR has made the creation of genetically modified organisms much easier. But could nature still keep the upper hand?
How do fire ants form amazing towers and rafts without a master plan?
Researchers identified simple behavioral rules that allow these tiny creatures to collaboratively build elaborate structures, with no one in charge.
How a humble cockroach rewrote the history of New Caledonia
The theory that New Caledonia was a piece of land that separated from the ancient supercontinent of Gondwana was a seductive one. But then a cockroach rose up to challenge it.
How do animals see in the dark?
Nocturnal insects have eyes that act like cameras to enhance their light-gathering abilities.
Conservation efforts must include small animals. After all, they run the world
Small animals are the fabric of the world around us. Without them everything would crumble.
We taught bees to play football so we could learn about their brains
They shoot, they score ... if there's a sugary reward at the end of it.
Robot bees vs real bees – why tiny drones can’t compete with the real thing
Collecting pollen takes a surprising amount of teamwork.
Unusual conditions: delusional infestation with insects or spiders
Some people have terrifying delusions they are infested with insects, spiders or even small animals. But help is available.
Drugs from bugs: the next blockbuster medicine could be lurking inside an insect
We have barely begun to tap into the pharmaceutical potential of the most diverse animals of all.
Eating insects has long made sense in Africa. The world must catch up
Insects have often been described with words like "disgusting" and the idea of eating them horrifies some people. But this needs to change as they can be an important food source.
The best (and worst) ways to beat mosquito bites
This is what really works to beat the bite of summer mosquitoes!
Eradicating fire ants is still possible, but we have to choose now
Improvements in knowledge and control methods mean eradicating the Australian invasion is challenging, but still potentially feasible.
The captivating ‘personalities’ of the animal stars in I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here!
I'm an edible invertebrate ... get me away from there.
A tiny wasp could save Christmas Island’s spectacular red crabs from crazy ants
In the coming weeks, Parks Australia will release a 2mm wasp on Christmas Island to control the island's yellow crazy ant infestation.
From warm to swarm: why insect activity increases in summer
While the Bureau of Meteorology is predicting an increase in the average temperature this summer, entomologists are forecasting an increase in insect activity.
Insects can teach us how to create better technologies
Insects developed technology long before we did, so perhaps they can show us how to use it without damaging the planet.
Why protective parenting is key for the survival of tropical insects
The perils of bug parenting.
Review: Bugs on the Menu at the Environmental Film Festival
Humans have eaten insects for centuries, but western diets seem to have lost the taste for them.
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Top contributors
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Clinical Lecturer and Principal Hospital Scientist, University of Sydney
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Director of the Australian National Insect Collection, CSIRO
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Teaching Fellow, Ecology, Northumbria University, Newcastle
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PhD Candidate, Newcastle University
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Senior Lecturer in Insect Diversity, Stellenbosch University
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Postdoctoral research fellow, University of New England
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Professor; Dean, Melbourne School of Land and Environment, University of Melbourne
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Collection Manager, Australian National Insect Collection, CSIRO
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Adjunct Professorial Research Fellow, School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University
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Research Associate, University of Western Australia
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Professor of Zoology and Entomology, University of the Witwatersrand
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Researcher in Nematology, Parasitology, Systematics, Stellenbosch University
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Postdoctoral Research Fellow, CSIRO
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Demonstrator (Biosciences), Bournemouth University
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Susan Lawler is a Friend of The Conversation.
Associate Professor, Department of Ecology, Environment and Evolution, La Trobe University
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