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Specialty Insects

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Amazon's Quirky Horsehead Grasshoppers: Proscopiidae Family Thrives in South American Rainforests

Amazon's Quirky Horsehead Grasshoppers: Proscopiidae Family Thrives in South American Rainforests

June 19, 2025, 2:03 pm EDT
The Stag Beetle (Lucanidae): Nature's Antlered Warriors and Silent Engineers

The Stag Beetle (Lucanidae): Nature's Antlered Warriors and Silent Engineers

June 19, 2025, 4:54 pm EDT
The Wasp Mantisfly: A Hybrid Predator That's Neither Mantis Nor Wasp

The Wasp Mantisfly: A Hybrid Predator That's Neither Mantis Nor Wasp

June 20, 2025, 3:13 pm EDT
When a beetle is infected by the cordyceps fungus, the following process occurs:

When a beetle is infected by the cordyceps fungus, the following process occurs:

June 20, 2025, 2:00 pm EDT
Fairyflies: The World's Tiniest Insects with a Mighty Role in Pest Control

Fairyflies: The World's Tiniest Insects with a Mighty Role in Pest Control

June 19, 2025, 3:53 pm EDT
More in Specialty Insects
When a beetle is infected by the cordyceps fungus, the following process occurs:

When a beetle is infected by the cordyceps fungus, the following process occurs:

Spore attachment and invasion: The spores of the cordyceps fungus adhere to the beetle's body and germinate. The fungal filaments then penetrate the beetle's exoskeleton and enter its body.

The Brazilian Four-Tubercled Treehopper: Nature's Bizarre 'Helicopter' Insect

The Brazilian Four-Tubercled Treehopper: Nature's Bizarre 'Helicopter' Insect

Deep in Brazil’s rainforests, a tiny insect has evolved an otherworldly appearance: the four-tubercled treehopper (Bocydium globulare), whose head is crowned with bulbous, hairy projections resembling a miniature helicopter. This remarkable bug, part of the family Membracidae, showcases nature’s most whimsical adaptation, blending survival strategy with an almost sci-fi aesthetic.

The Wasp Mantisfly: A Hybrid Predator That's Neither Mantis Nor Wasp

The Wasp Mantisfly: A Hybrid Predator That's Neither Mantis Nor Wasp

In the tropical and subtropical regions of the world, the wasp mantisfly (Climaciella brunnea) perplexes observers with its split identity: the front half resembles a praying mantis, while the rear mimics a wasp. This insect, part of the family Mantispidae, is a master of evolutionary mimicry, blending features of two fearsome species to create a creature that defies easy classification.

Scorpionflies: The Insects with a Deceptive 'Scorpion Tail'

Scorpionflies: The Insects with a Deceptive 'Scorpion Tail'

In forests and meadows worldwide, scorpionflies (order Mecoptera) perplex onlookers with a curious feature: a tail that resembles a scorpion’s stinger, but serves an entirely different purpose. Contrary to appearances, this bulbous, curved appendage at the insect’s rear is not a venomous weapon—but rather the male’s elaborate genitalia, a bizarre evolutionary trait that has fascinated entomologists for centuries.

Mysterious 'Poodle Moth' Captivates Scientists After 2009 Venezuelan Discovery

Mysterious 'Poodle Moth' Captivates Scientists After 2009 Venezuelan Discovery

A bizarre moth with a fluffy, poodle-like appearance has perplexed entomologists since its 2009 discovery in Venezuela’s Gran Sabana region. Named the Venezuelan poodle moth (Artace sp.), the species remains taxonomically unresolved due to limited specimens and conflicting theories about its evolutionary origins. Its dense, cottony fur and large, reflective eyes have sparked viral fascination, yet its behavior, habitat requirements, and ecological role remain shrouded in mystery .

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