Insects
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Find out everything there is to know about insects and stay updated on the latest insect research with the comprehensive articles, interactive features and insect pictures at LiveScience.com. Learn more about these fascinating species as scientists continue to make amazing discoveries about insects.
Explore Insects
Latest about Insects
![Caterpillar of Papilio machaon butterfly with orange and black spots](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jhVpZ596HMj8AXeny8ZrMA-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jhVpZ596HMj8AXeny8ZrMA-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jhVpZ596HMj8AXeny8ZrMA-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jhVpZ596HMj8AXeny8ZrMA-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jhVpZ596HMj8AXeny8ZrMA-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jhVpZ596HMj8AXeny8ZrMA-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jhVpZ596HMj8AXeny8ZrMA-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jhVpZ596HMj8AXeny8ZrMA-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Caterpillars evolved their weird chubby little 'prolegs' from ancient crustaceans
By Richard Pallardy published
The extra legs caterpillars have appear have origins in the primitive crustaceans that insects evolved from during the Ordovician period over 400 million years ago.
![A red carpenter ant stretches to climb across bright green leaves.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nGpmLqb5XZz7dv7FRsQee6-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nGpmLqb5XZz7dv7FRsQee6-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nGpmLqb5XZz7dv7FRsQee6-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nGpmLqb5XZz7dv7FRsQee6-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nGpmLqb5XZz7dv7FRsQee6-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nGpmLqb5XZz7dv7FRsQee6-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nGpmLqb5XZz7dv7FRsQee6-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nGpmLqb5XZz7dv7FRsQee6-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Soldier ants turned into foragers by scientists reprogramming their brains
By Sneha Khedkar published
Scientists discovered an enzyme within the ant "blood-brain barrier" that helps control whether an ant ends up a soldier or a forager.
![a tortoise beetle larvae with a tringle-shaped shield made from feces](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/En5LSKwYYJLv4XMpRGUer-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/En5LSKwYYJLv4XMpRGUer-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/En5LSKwYYJLv4XMpRGUer-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/En5LSKwYYJLv4XMpRGUer-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/En5LSKwYYJLv4XMpRGUer-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/En5LSKwYYJLv4XMpRGUer-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/En5LSKwYYJLv4XMpRGUer-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/En5LSKwYYJLv4XMpRGUer-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Tortoise beetle larvae use their telescopic anuses to build shields from shed skin and poop
By Richard Pallardy published
Many tortoise beetle larvae create shields for themselves using faeces and old skin. Scientists have now looked at how and why they create these poop parasols.
![Image taken under binocular lens, corresponding to specimen details of the dorsum. This specimen was extracted from the sediment filling a cocoon.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EmVVemPERs8vrb7CeTsnhN-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EmVVemPERs8vrb7CeTsnhN-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EmVVemPERs8vrb7CeTsnhN-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EmVVemPERs8vrb7CeTsnhN-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EmVVemPERs8vrb7CeTsnhN-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EmVVemPERs8vrb7CeTsnhN-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EmVVemPERs8vrb7CeTsnhN-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EmVVemPERs8vrb7CeTsnhN-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
3,000-year-old mummified bees are so well preserved, scientists can see the flowers the insects ate
By Ethan Freedman published
The bees were preserved well enough for researchers to make out small features, like their legs and antennae.
![Closeup of yellow-legged hornet](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6AAFujiU3RcpoWT53xxioY-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6AAFujiU3RcpoWT53xxioY-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6AAFujiU3RcpoWT53xxioY-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6AAFujiU3RcpoWT53xxioY-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6AAFujiU3RcpoWT53xxioY-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6AAFujiU3RcpoWT53xxioY-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6AAFujiU3RcpoWT53xxioY-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6AAFujiU3RcpoWT53xxioY-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Invasive yellow-legged hornets spotted in US for 1st time, one nest eradicated
By Megan Shersby last updated
The invasive yellow-legged hornet, which preys on honey bees, has been spotted in Georgia for the first time.
![An asp caterpillar with brown and orange bristles sits on a leaf.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZW8UcZ2a8VqCrFfx3kTP3e-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZW8UcZ2a8VqCrFfx3kTP3e-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZW8UcZ2a8VqCrFfx3kTP3e-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZW8UcZ2a8VqCrFfx3kTP3e-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZW8UcZ2a8VqCrFfx3kTP3e-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZW8UcZ2a8VqCrFfx3kTP3e-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZW8UcZ2a8VqCrFfx3kTP3e-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZW8UcZ2a8VqCrFfx3kTP3e-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Fuzzy caterpillar has sting 'like being hit with a baseball bat," and now we know why
By Sascha Pare published
Scientists have discovered proteins in the caterpillars' venom that fold up "like a little donut" to punch holes in the victim's cells, delivering extremely potent pain signals to the brain.
![A pink- and caramel-colored elephant hawk-moth sitting on a leaf.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/e6us8LwKiDsnLRvHMns7zQ-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/e6us8LwKiDsnLRvHMns7zQ-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/e6us8LwKiDsnLRvHMns7zQ-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/e6us8LwKiDsnLRvHMns7zQ-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/e6us8LwKiDsnLRvHMns7zQ-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/e6us8LwKiDsnLRvHMns7zQ-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/e6us8LwKiDsnLRvHMns7zQ-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/e6us8LwKiDsnLRvHMns7zQ-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Ecologist Tim Blackburn: 'Moths pollinate a wider range of species than bees'
By Sascha Pare published
With colors ranging from candy pinks to golds and sometimes possessing wingspans as big as a bird's, moths are a fascinating group. Ecologist Tim Blackburn tells Live Science about the incredible, hidden world of moths.
![close up of a honey bee face on a plant with a black background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Q8oDYtiXxLDqmuNcY3Va98-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Q8oDYtiXxLDqmuNcY3Va98-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Q8oDYtiXxLDqmuNcY3Va98-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Q8oDYtiXxLDqmuNcY3Va98-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Q8oDYtiXxLDqmuNcY3Va98-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Q8oDYtiXxLDqmuNcY3Va98-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Q8oDYtiXxLDqmuNcY3Va98-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Q8oDYtiXxLDqmuNcY3Va98-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Where do honey bees come from? New study 'turns the standard picture on its head'
By Carissa Wong published
DNA analysis indicates the world's most common bee originated in northern Europe around 780,000 years ago, before spreading into East Africa and Arabia around 120,000 years later.
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