Articles
100 articles on insects, identification, ecology, and the natural world.
What Is Metamorphosis?
A clear explanation of insect metamorphosis, covering both complete and incomplete transformation, with examples from familiar species.
ScienceThe Life Cycle of a Dragonfly
Follow the dragonfly life cycle from egg to aquatic nymph to aerial adult. Learn how these ancient predators spend years underwater before their dramatic emerge...
EcologyThe Ecological Importance of Wasps
Wasps are among the most ecologically valuable yet misunderstood insects. This article explores their vital roles as pest controllers, pollinators, decomposers,...
BehaviourHow Do Mantises Hunt?
A detailed exploration of praying mantis hunting strategies, including their ambush tactics, lightning-fast raptorial strikes, visual acuity, and the biomechani...
GardeningHow to Attract Butterflies to Your Garden
Practical advice on creating a butterfly-friendly garden with the right flowers, habitats, and management practices to attract and support butterflies year-roun...
ScienceHow Do Insects See?
An exploration of insect vision — from compound eyes with thousands of ommatidia to simple eyes, UV perception, polarised light detection, and motion sensitivit...
IdentificationHow to Identify Ant Species in the UK
A practical guide to identifying the most common ant species found in the United Kingdom, covering key identification features, habitat preferences, and behavio...
Species GuidesWhat Are Mayflies?
An introduction to mayflies (order Ephemeroptera), their aquatic nymph stage, famously brief adult lives, and ecological significance in freshwater ecosystems.
Species GuidesWhat Do Caterpillars Eat?
A comprehensive guide to caterpillar diets, from specialist feeders that depend on a single plant to generalists that eat almost anything green.
Species GuidesWhat Are the Smallest Insects?
Meet the tiniest insects on Earth — fairyflies, featherwing beetles, and others that are smaller than many single-celled organisms. Explore how miniaturisation ...
EcologyThe Importance of Insects in Food Chains
An ecological overview of the central role insects play in food chains and food webs, as prey for countless vertebrates and as predators and decomposers that re...
Species GuidesWhat Are Glow-Worms?
A comprehensive guide to glow-worms, covering their biology, bioluminescence, lifecycle, habitat, and where to find them in the UK, with a focus on the common E...