Producer Derek's video of leafcutter ants in action.

Attaantium (LEAFCUTTER ANTS)
Amanda and Dr Kelly Z talk about leaf cutter ants. This is an iconic ant. 'Nuff said!

Bug discussion begins around 6:00

Kelly's Field Notes: www.bugsneedheroes.com/episodes/att...

Send us questions and suggestions! BugsNeedHeroes@gmail.com

Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/buzzo...

Instagram: www.instagram.com/dr.beebabette

Patreon: www.patreon.com/cw/TheBeeBab...

ResearchGate: www.researchgate.net/profile/Kit-...

Youtube: www.youtube.com/@TheBeeBabette

We talk about naming an undescribed species after Tom Ellis, costuming, and the challenges of science outreach when discussing honeybees. Unfortunately this is an audio medium so you'll have to go to her socials to see pictures of her dog Zephyr, who has a species named after them now!

This episode we are joined by Dr Kit Prendergast to talk about wild bees! How do we protect these important pollinators from the many threats and what exactly are those threats? And what the heck is a lek?

Bringing Home A Baby Butterfly Kelly’s Field Notes Common Name: Large blue butterfly Order: Lepidoptera Family: Lycaenidae Genus: Phengaris Species: arion Description: Larvae (caterpillar): Upon hatching, caterpillars ...

Color coming later, Amanda has been sick!

Kelly's Field Notes: www.bugsneedheroes.com/episodes/bri...

Send us questions and suggestions! BugsNeedHeroes@gmail.com
Photo by PJC&Co, CC BY-SA 3.0, creativecommons.org/licenses/by-...

Bringing Home A Baby Butterfly Kelly’s Field Notes Common Name: Large blue butterfly Order: Lepidoptera Family: Lycaenidae Genus: Phengaris Species: arion Description: Larvae (caterpillar): Upon hatching, caterpillars ...

Amanda and Dr Kelly Z discuss the large blue butterfly (Phengaris arion) which is neither large nor especially blue. This species was once considered nearly extinct in Great Britain but has since made an incredible recovery.Tangents: Valentine's Day, overalls, ska.

Bug discussion begins at 10:45

There're 7 basic plots: Overcoming a monster, Rags to riches, Voyage, Comedy, Tragedy, Rebirth, & a Quest. The Very Hungry Caterpillar = all 7. Eric Carl said it's "a book of hope..about growing up, how scary it is, but how you can fly into the world with your talents." No, it's a book of conquest.

SciComm Spectre Kelly’s Field Notes Common Name: Australian stick insect, Spiny leaf insect, giant prickly stick insect, Macleay’s spectre (described by William Sharp Macleay, Australian entomologist, in 1826) (Aust...

Kelly's Field Notes: www.bugsneedheroes.com/episodes/sci...

Australian stick insect photo CC BY-SA 3.0

Amanda and Dr Kelly Z discuss a popular family of insects and one in particular that is very popular in zoos and museums, the giant-australian-prickly-walking-stick-insect (Extatosoma tiaratum). Tangents include Indiana Jones, pirates, and the weather.

Bug discussion begins around 9:00

#entomology

Tangents include carnivorous deer, ecological niches, and hit musicals.

Bug discussion begins around 12:00

This week Amanda and Dr Kelly Z discuss the Lord Howe Stick Insect (Dryococelus australis). This species was presumed extinct until a small extant population was found and efforts from captive breeding programs in zoos brought them back. It's not quite Jessica Park but we like it.

Sorry for the not colored in hero, your holidays are a busy time! We'll update with colors.

We take another dip into our spider-verse with a discussion of spitting spiders & spider sociality. Tangents include parenting & homework advice, hamster cannibalism, Superman, Fionna and Cake. It takes a friendly neighborhood to raise a spider (aka a crawl space)

Bug discussion begins around 7:10

Kelly & Joe didn't feel like putting a tree up this year so Kelly decided to pile gifts around this cat bed monstrosity. Finn is considering whether or not this is his jam. The ornaments are attached with one tiny strip of Velcro so we anticipate seeing them all over the house in the days to come.

Special attention is given to the Brown Mamorated Stink Bug (Halyomorpha halys) for being an agricultural pest and seasonal nuisance in winter. Tangents include children's names, eating bugs, and how Kelly was married by a sea captain.

This week Amanda and Dr Kelly Z discuss the family Pentatomidae, also known as shield bugs but more commonly known as stink bugs. You may have fought them in the video game Grounded.

Zotz has some demands.

#cats #sciencepodcast #podcaster #entomology #blackcat

Spider Rider Kelly’s Field Notes Common Name: Mantisfly, Mantidfly, Mantid lacewing, Mantispid Order: Neuroptera Family: Mantispidae Genus: There are many genera of Mantisfly, I have been unable to pin down a ...

Kelly's Field Notes and pictures from Kevin Weiner: www.bugsneedheroes.com/episodes/spi...
Send us questions and suggestions! BugsNeedHeroes@gmail.com
Join us on Reddit: www.reddit.com/r/BugsNeedHe...

This episode Amanda and Dr Kelly Z discuss mantidflies (Mantispidae), which are neither mantids nor flies. Tangents include movies, deviled eggs, and kicking robot dogs. And Kelly eats some ant sauce??? Thanks to Andrew for nominating this bug.
Bug discussion begins around 10:05

We're recording this weekend and the topic is spitting spiders! There's also been some news about social spiders Kelly's going to talk about so if you have social spider questions send those over too!

Thank you, Kevin Wiener, for the great photo.

Never say never! We might do a listener favorite bugs episode some day.

Thanks for letting us entertain while you clean! 🐜❤️

This episode Amanda and Kelly discuss long-horn beetles. Tangents include forest creatures, mimicry, and television's Survivor.

#entomology #sciencepodcast #biologypodcast

Send us your stink bug questions! You might also call them shield bugs. Kelly will answer your questions during the episode. :)

Image free from VistaCreate

#sciencepodcast #entomology #stinkbug #shieldbug #scicomm #ecology #entomologist #ecologist

Wow, it's beautiful! We do have them in the US but they are an invasive species here.

2 Biologists Review Guillermo Del Toro's Frankenstein #frankenstein #guillermodeltoro #biology YouTube video by Nerdy Naturalists

Friend of the pod Dr. Ped and I are starting a YouTube series where we explore the biology of movies. Our first video is about the new Frankenstein movie. We'e working out the issues but excited to post more.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4hU...

#scicomm #frankenstein #scienceyoutube

This episode Amanda and Dr Kelly Z discuss house centipedes. They are so fast! And so cute?! We learn a lot about these common domestic bugs, which are definitely not insects. Tangents include isopods, cats, Survivor, and piles of leaves (leave them!)

Bug discussion begins around 5:15

#entomology

We recorded an episode about house centipedes yesterday and loved answering listener questions! So we'll try to keep that theme up.

We're on to longhorn beetles! Please share your questions and comments here, or shoot us an e-mail. Thank you for your continued support!

This episode was originally recorded in Spring 2025, but an issue during recording caused it to be delayed until now.