Awesome Insects

It might take us just a second to chomp down a single slice of banana, but it takes quite a bit longer for ants to dine on such a treat. In this clip from Temponaut Timelapse, see how an army of ants gradually dismantles a bit of banana over the course of two days. Look away if you’re squeamish about bugs.

Wildlife photographer David Weiller introduces us to one of nature’s many strange and wonderful creations. This alien-looking spiny devil katydid (panacanthus cuspidatus) is both intimidating and adorable as it does a kung fu pose and stares us down with its beady magenta eyeballs.

Nature show host Ze Frank takes on some of the most varied and strange looking bugs out there. These planthoppers like to hang around on leaves and branches, sometimes mimicking other insects, other times standing out like a sore thumb. Most of the incredible macro images featured are by Dr. Andreas Kay.

Have you ever wondered why insects, birds, fish, and bats gather together into huge and coordinated groups? TED-Ed’s Maria R. D’Orsogna explores the fascinating science behind this behavior, which drives many species as a method of survival and group productivity.

Kurzgesagt already taught us how ants thrive on war. But it turns out that one particular ant species has used their fighting and strategic skills (with a little help from humans) to build a truly global empire. We wouldn’t doubt if their numbers were actually in the trillions.

Nature show host Zefrank1 is here to educate us on the Deinopis, also known as the “ogre-faced” spider. This creepy crawler has big beady eyes that see better than your best camera lens, and creates a stretchy net she holds between her legs to ensnare and cocoon her prey.

If you’re like most of us, you don’t want to go anywhere near a wasp nest. The guys at Stinger Creations, on the other hand, are more than up to the challenge. In this crazy clip, go inside of an old Chevy Malibu that has become a massive haven for thousands of nasty yellow jackets.

Think that humans fight and kill a lot? Kurzgesagt aims its magnifying glass at the tiny world of ant colonies, where billions of the bugs violently battle against other kinds of ants and insects every single day of their lives. From decapitations to cannibalism, life as an ant can be brutal.

National Geographic photographer Anand Varma captured this incredible macro time-lapse footage of the early stages of life a bee goes through in its hive, from a worm-like white larva to a fuzzy, flying insect. More here.

Illustrated by artist Immy Smith, these beautifully hand-drawn poker deck imagining a symbiotic relationship between insects and card players. There are bugs on each and every card. Available in two back and box variants, along with uncut sheets for framing.

This robot kit from Japanese toymaker Tamiya lets you build a creepy crawly insect inspired by real-life giant centipedes. This 15″ long critter isn’t quite as indimidating as the real deal thanks to its blue body, but anything with this many legs creeps us out.

Our favorite nature show host ZeFrank is here to school us about the Bolas spider – specifically, he’s here to introduce us to Nancy, a rotund little arachnid who enjoys luring in her buggy meals using sticky orbs she dangles from her butt ropes.

Supinfocom Rubika animation student Lorraine Desserre’s short film revolves around a simple premise – a praying mantis ingests something strange, and goes on a crazy hallucinogenic trip. A short, sweet, and entertaining clip melding traditional and CG styles.

“Now the anus of the dragonfly nymph is not your ordinary run-of-the-mill anus…” Yep, ZeFrank1 is back with another disturbing nature film, this time describing the weird and not-so-wonderful world of dragonflies, as they grow from larvae to adulthood.

It’s common knowledge that ants are great at working together to accomplish tasks. But we’ve never seen anything quite like this massive upside-down bridge structure that thousands of army ants built so they could storm into a wasps’ nest in Costa Rica.

The more legs something has, the more it freaks us out. As such, one of the creatures that makes our skin crawl most is the millipede. Why is it that they have so many tiny dangly legs? Anna’s Science Magic Show Hooray! delves into what makes these crawlies so creepy.