insects

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.