Insects

Get a sneak peek at some of the incredible images and stories that’ll feature in our upcoming exhibition.

We’ve prized honey for thousands of years, but how do honeybees make it and is it good for us?

By speeding up the process of describing new species, scientists can help to protect the precious places they live.

Species can influence each other’s evolution – this is known as coevolution. Discover more about this phenomenon.

An international target to slash pesticide use by 2030 is unlikely to be met.

The new species is found in Madagascar, a country closely linked to Gerald’s conservation work.

Five former Thereus butterflies from South America have been revealed as 16 different species.

New research reveals that these insects likely evolved in the Mediterranean basin more than 1,000 years ago.

The unique organ was initially thought to be used for hearing, but actually carries a fungal symbiote around.

Wim van den Heever awarded the Grand Title for Wildlife Photographer of the Year 61.

Insects that lived alongside the dinosaurs have been discovered in Ecuador.

It crucially also reveals promising genetic targets for potential control. 

Dragonflies are an airborne terror for other winged insects.

Garden snails and aphids are venomous animals.

In order to better target interventions we need to know which causes have the biggest impacts.

Photographer Jaime Rojo brings to life the perilous journey of these iconic butterflies and the efforts to save them.

Even the most blurry photo can be consequential.

An evolutionary ‘air race’ may have been taking place in forests during the age of dinosaurs.

Our butterfly expert talks about her life, passions and the power of perspectives.

Humans are having a devastating effect on biodiversity, but the impacts might be worse than we thought.

With wingspans that stretched a whopping 71 centimetres, these epic insects would have blocked out the Sun as they flew past.  

We’ve been underestimating the importance of partially logged forests.

Find out what wildlife you can see at our ponds and how they support life in our gardens.

Discover the extraordinary diversity of sex and sexual behaviour in nature.

One of the world’s largest migrations is made by some of its smallest inhabitants.

Some of the UK’s most recognisable birds are vanishing before our eyes.

Taking part in the UK’s Big Butterfly Count has been found to reduce anxiety by almost 10%.

Invasive ants are reducing tree cover on the savannah, causing lions to hunt buffalo over zebra.

Katydids have been using ultrasounds for millions of years to try and avoid predators hearing them.

The tropical crops may face an uncertain future amid rising temperatures and habitat loss.

Find out if you're an above-average insect spotter with this quiz.

Rising temperatures and habitat loss could spell an uncertain future for bumblebees in Europe.

Red imported fire ants are one of the world’s most damaging invasive species.

A marine predator living over 500 million years ago might bridge the gap between insects and their ancient relatives.

The discovery of a new parasitoid wasp could help to save an Endangered Pacific butterfly.

Who's hitting the high notes in the insect orchestra? Despite their small size, they sure know how to make themselves heard.

An insect that can be hazardous to human health is spreading across southeast England.

Our top tips for how to see nocturnal animals as they go about their busy lives after dark. 

New research reveals that Yersinia pestis was widespread across Europe during the Bronze Age, thousands of years before the Black Death.

Justin chats about the challenges involved in getting a PhD placement and maintaining a work-life balance.

While there are currently only two members of the genus Saurona, many more as-yet-undescribed species are thought to exist.

Think you know your birds from your bees? 

Thai PhD student Chawatat investigates the hidden lives of Southeast Asian bumblebees.

While species focusing on bees produce more floral odours, those focusing on fruit flies make fruitier smells. 

The insects were frozen in time after being caught in amber, revealing rare evidence of how dinosaurs and insects interacted.

Find out why dung beetles eat poo and how some use the Sun and stars when they travel. 

Did you know that flies have been helping us solve crimes for hundreds of years?

Katydids are the earliest known animals to evolve complex communication using sound.

With their pincers, horns and armour, these minibeasts might look terrifying, but luckily for us they are tiny and harmless.

One of the most unusual self-defence techniques in the animal kingdom has been uncovered.

Catch up on season one of our interactive behind-the-scenes live stream.

Leeches, mites and plants found at the site are revealing the ecosystems ancient animals walked over 260 million years ago.

Left alone over time, many graveyards have become secluded sanctuaries where plant and animal life can thrive.

A process mosquitoes use to weather harsh conditions offers new opportunities in the fight against malaria.

But just when is daddy long legs season and how long does it last?

Mass producing the proteins in the saliva could provide a cheap and effective way to break down polyethylene waste. 

Termites could reduce the amount of carbon stored in wood as the world gets hotter and drier. 

Bumblebees are getting more stressed as the climate warms.

An insect last seen in 1869 has sung again, which could help give researchers clues about where the insect might still be living.

Pond dipping is a wonderful way to look at the creatures that live in and around pond water. 

In spring and summer, you might notice something looking like spit on a plant. 

The beetle usually lives on the warm Mediterranean coast.

A new report lays out how we can prioritise the best selection of habitats to give the UK's 24 species of bumblebee a boost.

The UK's insect population has fallen sharply as the invertebrates are affected by rising temperatures and fragmented habitats.

Air pollutants such as nitrogen oxides can cause as much as a 90% decline in pollinator visits to flowers.

The digitisation of these collections could be worth two billion pounds to the global economy.

Over 30 species around the world are named after Christmas Day because of their bright colours, where they come from or when they reproduce.

A log pile can give home and shelter to some of the smaller inhabitants of your garden.

Sewage in Britain's waterways has been hitting the headlines recently. But what effect does raw waste have on our rivers, streams and oceans? 

The brightly coloured spotted lanternfly is causing problems in parts of Asia and North America. 

Over recent weeks there have been plenty of sensational headlines about insects invading our homes and causing the evacuation of schools. 

In nature, species will sometimes form unexpectedly close bonds and work to their mutual benefit. 

Six new species of dragonflies and damselflies have arrived in Britain since the late 1990s.

Because sometimes more is more.

A garden pond is one of the best ways you can help Britain's wildlife. You can create one in even the tiniest of gardens.

Pollination is not just the work of honeybees. Meet some of the buzzing, bold and beautiful insects carrying out this critical task.

London is a particular stronghold of these magnificent, rare beetles. Discover why, where else they live and how you can help protect them.

In a titanic effort spanning many years, a team of butterfly experts have listed the butterflies found in Colombia to date.

Meet the delightfully fuzzy wasps with an arsenal of defences that make them nearly impervious to attacks by hungry predators.

Find out what eDNA is and how it can be used for conservation. 

They look like bees and pollinate flowers, but these fluffy flies have a gruesome teenage stage that makes them one of the most fascinating species in your local park.

Growing native wildflowers helps provide the right food for pollinating insects, making life better for your local wildlife.

Wildlife photographer and entomologist Dr Piotr Naskrecki introduces the peculiar insects that spend their entire lives clinging to bats for dear life.

We may often think of beetles as being relatively small, but there are some species that reach extraordinary sizes.

Give solitary bees a home by making this simple, DIY bee hotel.

The brown marmorated stink bug is a new invasive species in the UK.

This simple DIY insect hotel is perfect for ladybirds looking for somewhere to hibernate in winter.

They cover an enormous area of the UK and are home to many rare and declining wild plants, insects, amphibians and more.

Can you find these usual summer suspects on your walk?

Gilbert White's talent and passion for observing and recording nature inspired many future naturalists, including Charles Darwin.

With a dramatic nickname and a taste for honeybees, Asian giant hornets are causing panic in North America.

Are you a dazzling dragonfly, lovely ladybird or some other industrious insect? Find out with this quiz.

Meet the beetles that fire a boiling chemical brew at predators that get too close for comfort.

Put on a butterfly buffet and watch these intriguing insects feeding.

Discover some standout British beetles, including a particularly vibrant ladybird and a rare rainbow-coloured leaf beetle.

Create a colourful caterpillar and grow your own food all in one activity.

Attract bees to your lawn with clover, grow a mini wildflower meadow, add areas of aromatic thyme and more ideas.

Ecologist Sylvia Myers introduces some of our favourite finds and how we monitor the plants and animals present.

Singapore is losing its butterflies as forests decline and building programmes boom.

Find out how to help urban nature and attract more wildlife to your garden.

Did you know that there are more species of fly in the UK than there are mammals on the planet? And they perform some pretty important jobs.

Analysis of centipede venom reveals a huge difference between the groups.

Want to find out what small creatures are crawling around your garden? Follow our steps to set up a simple pitfall trap.

Weeping trees, teeth stronger than Kevlar and one of Earth's most spectacular natural events are all shaped by the Moon.

Get the facts on when and why ants grow wings and swarm.

Just how much of a threat is the harlequin to the UK’s native ladybirds?

Go behind the scenes at the Museum and discover the huge variety of beetles and parasites in the collection. 

This month on #NHM_Live we're putting animal dating strategies to the test.

Found in Indonesia, the bee lives inside termite mounds. 

Crashing numbers will have serious implications on our future.

They include new dinosaurs, an ancient wombat and a giant shark.

Find out what can happen when fieldwork doesn't go exactly as planned, and how to do a simple DIY science project at home.

Experts argue that changing the way we use land could help bees even more.

What nocturnal insects will you find where you live?

Discover the bioluminescent beetles putting on night-time light shows in Britain.

In spring and autumn, you might suddenly see lots of these ladybirds about as they seek somewhere to hibernate.

Our wasp expert explains how this invasive species could cause big problems for beekeepers in Britain.

Wasps and humans may have a rocky relationship. But should these insects be revered rather than feared?

As the weather warms up the UK is often swarmed with reports of biting horseflies. A Museum fly expert explains what is going on.

Scientists are studying the way dragonflies fly in the hope of making small planes more stable and robust.

For the first time, scientists have an image of what happens inside an ant's brain when it is infected with a parasitic worm.

Is a mosquito trapped in amber really the way to bring dinosaurs back from the dead? 

Discover how some species effectively use their colourful wings to deter predators.

Bees’ pollinating prowess often overshadows many of the insects working just as hard as them.

Meet the beetles that were unexpectedly found in Cambridgeshire, despite having been extinct in Britain for thousands of years.

Meet some of the animals whose search for a mate may actually be physically painful.

The adventures of a tenacious female explorer brought to life by comic artist Sammy Borras.

Whether liaising with cannibals or escaping giant spider webs, Evelyn Cheesman took the challenges of perilous fieldwork in her stride.

Are killer bees really as dangerous as their name suggests?

Dr Erica McAlister hints at why the beloved reindeer may have a bright red nose.

Better watch out - these insects consider your seasonal decor their dinner.

What insect sting feels like you’re walking over flaming charcoal? Is there anything more painful?

Most social wasps aren't fussy when it comes to finding a spot to settle down.

Armed with one of the most painful stings on the planet, tarantula hawks are a spider's worst nightmare.

Join the team from BBC TV programme The British Garden: Life and Death on Your Lawn to uncover some of the hidden wildlife you could spot throughout the year.

Living for a week at most, the Madagascan moon moth has a lot to accomplish in its short life.

Magnified images reveal the beauty of these tiny wasps, but mask their gruesome nature.

An X-ray film of a fly pupa undergoing metamorphosis has, for the first time, captured minute-by-minute details of the most dramatic part of the reorganisation process.

Take a look at these photos and see whether millions of years of evolution will outwit you.

While we humans associate pink with romance, in the natural world it can be a warning or part of an elaborate disguise.

A one-in-10,000 genetic sensation - discover the stunning split-sex butterflies.

Delve into the dark world of parasitic wasps and discover their grisly takeovers of living caterpillars. 

Meet some of the brightest and boldest creatures in the animal kingdom, where colour is a matter of life and death.

Miniscule moths are using the power of wind to soar over oceans and continents.

Discover the microscopic dimensions of the smallest moths on the planet.

For most butterflies, finding a mate to share their short lives with is their most important mission.

From moths eating their own mothers to carnivorous caterpillars on the rampage, the world of insects isn't always as it seems.

Discover the explorers responsible for the oldest butterfly collection in existence.

Insects aren't just an unusual accompaniment to wine - eating them could help sustain Earth's booming population.