insects

A Thai-language tech creator is drawing wide attention with a piece on making the fruit fly brain open source — sharing the full mapping of the insect's neural connections as openly available data. The topic taps into the landmark scientific effort to chart the complete fly brain connectome, letting researchers and hobbyists worldwide explore the wiring diagram freely.

An Irish bee expert is sharing daily bee facts, explaining that bees have neither lungs nor a nose. Instead, air enters their bodies through small external openings called spiracles, which run along the body. A simple gas exchange system then delivers oxygen to internal tissues and expels carbon dioxide, allowing the insects to breathe without the respiratory organs found in mammals.

Scientists have described a new species of true bug from China, named Kuwania hiemalis, in a paper published in Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift. The finding, highlighted among newly described species, is being shared with open-access links to the publication and its taxonomic treatment via Plazi, reflecting growing interest in biodiversity documentation.

Researchers at the University of Essex report that butterflies use optical illusions to avoid being eaten by predators. The study, published by the university, suggests the insects exploit visual trickery to confuse birds and other hunters, offering new insight into how survival strategies evolve. Readers are sharing the finding as a striking example of nature's ingenuity.

The Wesleyan Argus is running an 'Office Hours' feature with a Wesleyan University professor who talks through the roles of insects, plants and food webs in ecosystems. The interview-style piece breaks down how these organisms depend on one another, offering students and readers an accessible look at basic ecology and the interconnectedness of food chains.

Nature photographers are sharing close-up images of Chrysolina americana, the rosemary leaf beetle, a small iridescent green-and-purple insect commonly found on rosemary and other herbs. The striking macro shots are drawing attention from wildlife and insect photography enthusiasts, who praise the beetle's metallic colours and use the images to discuss garden insects and macro photography techniques.

The city of Beaumont, Texas has opened a new pollinator garden at Tyrrell Park. The garden is intended to support bees, butterflies and other pollinating insects, adding a conservation-focused feature to one of the city's main parks. Coverage of the opening has appeared in local news outlets serving the Beaumont area.

A new garden has been established in Beaumont, Texas, designed to support butterflies, bees and other local wildlife. The project highlights growing community interest in pollinator-friendly green spaces and urban habitats, adding to efforts in the region to protect insect populations and provide food and shelter for native species.

A wildlife photographer in Dongzhang Town photographed a black kite hunting: the raptor caught a flying insect, dropped it, and attempted to catch it again, a sequence the photographer managed to track through the viewfinder. The images are being shared and appreciated by nature and birdwatching enthusiasts.

A bumblebee was photographed feeding on a wild carrot flower (Bergaster) in Neukölln, Berlin. The image, shared under nature and insect photography tags, highlights urban wildlife finding habitat in the city. Observers of nature photography communities are engaging with the close-up shot of the insect at work.

A wildlife photographer spent time outdoors hoping to photograph a swallowtail butterfly and came away with a decent shot, but says the real highlight of the day was a small gray bee, with a crab spider as a bonus find. The macro insect images have been shared with nature and photography enthusiasts, who appreciate the unexpected encounters that come with patience in wildlife photography.

Nature photographers are sharing macro shots of two female banded demoiselles (Calopteryx splendens) under a photo prompt inviting images on the theme of the number two. The striking metallic damselflies, common along European streams, are the subject of posts tagged for insect and nature photography, with enthusiasts praising the detail and colour of the close-up images.

A wildlife photographer who usually captures at most one insect per image reports a rare stroke of luck: a photo showing not one but two lesser purple emperors (Apatura ilia), a butterfly species they often fail to photograph at all. The image, shared under a photo suggestion thread with the theme 'numbers: two', is drawing warm reactions for its unusual double sighting.

Inktober 2026 is underway, and one French-speaking illustrator is marking the start of the annual October drawing challenge by switching themes this year. Instead of continuing with Insektober, an insect-focused variant, they are taking part in Birdtober, drawing a different bird each day. Their first piece is a lilac-breasted roller, though they admit they are starting the challenge a little late.

A gardening article is encouraging people to move beyond ornamental flower beds and turn their backyards into wildlife havens. The piece suggests that gardens designed with native plants, shelter and water can support far more birds, insects and small animals than purely decorative planting, as interest in wildlife-friendly gardening continues to grow.