Bugs Need Heroes

This episode contains discussion of sexual cannibalism as we discuss the classic mantis and how they are centaurs. Tangents include eagles, ninjas, and Amanda's art tips.   Bug discussion begins around minute six.   Kelly's Field Notes: https://www.bugsneedheroes.com/episodes/x-mantis   Send us questions and suggestions! BugsNeedHeroes@gmail.com Join us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bugs...

This episode Amanda and Dr Kelly are joined by Dr Aaron Rodriques to discuss German cockroaches (Blattella germanica), overcoming fears, and social secretions. Tangents include crows, decapitations, and the nature of Love. We also wanted to share this short video about Aaron and this article that Amanda references during the conversation. Follow Aaron on instagram (@arr318)!   We did an episode ab...

Kelly and Amanda continue wet bug summer with a discussion of another true bug. These hemipterans have conquered the water surface of ponds, streams, rivers, lakes, and even the open ocean. Tangents include pokemon, New Jersey, doctor parties, mantis shrimps and some of our past characters. Also Amanda shares terrible story about almost eating a spider. Bug discussion begins around 10:15 Kelly's f...

This episode we discuss the Reduviidae family, colloquially known as assassin bugs. There are many different kinds and all of them are cunning hunters that turn their prey into Capri Suns and some turn them into fashion. While most are beneficial, there is a deadly exception! Tangents include Naruto ninjas, Elizabeth Wheatley, and Detective Comics Comics' character Ambush Bug.    Kelly's Field Not...

This week's episode is about a fairly unremarkable aquatic beetle. Tangents include AI generated images, Chris Angel, Hugh Jackman, and horror novels. Includes spoilers for The Prestige. VIDEO OF THE ESCAPE: https://youtu.be/_W0UJD_i3Mo   Kelly's Field Notes: https://www.bugsneedheroes.com/episodes/one-trick-magician Send us questions and suggestions! BugsNeedHeroes@gmail.com Join us on Instagram:...

Kelly has now become Dr Kelly. Much of the episode is about the process of earning a doctorate. The rest of the episode is devoted to discussion of fruit flies, art history, swords, and friend of the pod, Dr Ped. Dr Kelly's Field Notes on our website: https://www.bugsneedheroes.com/episodes/dr-drosophila Send us questions and suggestions! BugsNeedHeroes@gmail.com Join us on Instagram: https://www....

We are taking a break while Kelly mounts her defense.

Finally, a bug Amanda recognizes! Fortunately, she doesn't know anything about them still so we can have an episode all about spittlebugs (aka froghoppers) and what makes them a true bug. Tangents include the fabric arts, little kid germs, and the grief of aging (as relayed by Bluey).   Kelly's Field Notes on our website: https://www.bugsneedheroes.com/episodes/bubble-bug   Send us questions and s...

This time we are joined by Bradon Coy of Lil Dudes Insect Academy to discuss his programs, eusocial insects (particularly Argentine Ants), and our favorite bug movies. Lil' Dudes Insect Academy website Lil Dudes Insect Academy on Youtube Please check out our reading lists and feel free to recommend other books. We'll make Kelly read them before putting them on the list. The lists are not connected...

This week Kelly and Amanda talk about an insect that is a fly in name only. These aquatic insects are know for their large size and fierce appearance. These Tangents include peeing in the woods, gnats, and cats (always).   Kelly's Field Notes on our website: https://www.bugsneedheroes.com/episodes/heckgrammite   Send us questions and suggestions! BugsNeedHeroes@gmail.com Join us on Instagram: http...

This episode we are joined by another bug hero: Dr Emily Durkin! We talk about her research looking at tiny mites that ride around on fruit flies. Tangents include mosquitoes, hornworms, and pets --including pet jumping spiders!   Emily Durkin's website is here! You can follow Emily on Bluesky!   Send us questions and suggestions! BugsNeedHeroes@gmail.com Join us on Instagram: https://www.instagra...

Check out this page from the Mono Lake Committee to see images discussed in this episode.   This episode Kelly and Amanda discuss a strange family of flies that live in liquids that would kill other animals. There are around 130 genera described in Ephydridae, but we mostly focus on two species endemic to California which live in the La Brea Tar Pits and Mono Lake. Tangents include the musical Wic...

We talk to Christy Bills of the Natural History Museum of Utah about invertebrate collections, fireflies, and legacies.   Send us questions and suggestions! BugsNeedHeroes@gmail.com Join us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bugsneedheroes/ Join us on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/bugsneedheroes.bsky.social Join us on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/BugsNeedHeroes Hosted by Amanda Niday...

This time we are joined by Ben Knowlton and Zillah Smith of There Will Be Bugs Podcast to talk about one of their favorite bugs, the American Burying Beetle (Nicrophorus americanus). These beetles have it all: battles, mites, and an endangered species listing. But most importantly they have each other. Tangents include tattoos, cats (always!), scale insects, coyotes, and what it's like not being a...

Kelly and Producer Derek are back from the ESA conference in Pheonix and Kelly shares some stories. Technically this isn't a bug, but the evolutionary arms race between scorpions and their predators has created a truly terrific terror. Tangents include butterflies, the difference between venom and poison, Disney, and vikings. Kelly's Field Notes for this episode: https://www.bugsneedheroes.com/epi...

This is an episode we banked during the summer. Kelly and Amanda discuss velvet ants, which are not actually ants at all. And the Bee-Team lore expands ever onward! Tangents include Zendaya at the Met Gala, Ultraman, and anime villains.   Kelly's Field Notes for this episode: https://www.bugsneedheroes.com/episodes/the-moo-derer   Send us questions and suggestions! BugsNeedHeroes@gmail.com Join us...

Amanda tells us about the life and work of Dutch entomologist and painter Maria Sibylla Merian.    Send us questions and suggestions! BugsNeedHeroes@gmail.com Join us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bugsneedheroes/ Join us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/bugsneedheroes Join us on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/BugsNeedHeroes Hosted by Amanda Niday and Kelly Zimmerman with editing by Dere...

This time we are joined by our friend Dr Mike Glynn to talk about cats for our Halloween episode. Lots of stories of our dear pets both current and past. A few try to join the podcast! You can watch the recording from our panel at Rose City Comic Con in 2024 here: https://youtu.be/Zkl70GcOkYU   Send us questions and suggestions! BugsNeedHeroes@gmail.com Join us on Instagram: https://www.instagram....

We are back from hiatus and you can really tell with this episode. Kelly and Amanda get all the wiggles out with this very wiggly bug. This episode is more explicit than usual with a very unusual critter.   Kelly's Field Notes for this episode: https://www.bugsneedheroes.com/episodes/my-neighbor-velvet-worm   Send us questions and suggestions! BugsNeedHeroes@gmail.com Join us on Instagram: https:/...

We'll be back in the fall!

This week we are joined once again by Kevin Wiener of All Bugs Go To Kevin . Kevin has a deep love for brown recluses and hopes to dispel some of the fear around this significant arachnid. Tangents include grief, voice notes, and cats. And a special life update from Kevin at the end of the episode. Kevin's spider heartbeat video: https://youtu.be/BomIw3TjCRA JAMA paper about the NOT RECLUSE mnemon...

It's NATIONAL MOTH WEEK! We are celebrating by discussing a really hefty bug. A real chonker. There are over 1400 species of Sphingidae moths, and they start as juicy, mouthwatering caterpillars. It is a bug that Amanda has met and you may find in your garden on your tomatoes! We discuss some of their impressive adaptations as we create a character inspired by them. Tangents include ugly babies, s...

Amanda tries (and fails) to resist singing the hit single from 2009 by Owl City as we talk about the Lampyridae family of beetles. They have many names, all of them deceptive. They are not flies, they do not produce heat or lightning, and they are not worms, but they are very buggy. Tangents include the book/film adaptation Where'd You Go Bernadette , the Fey, and several other things that Produce...

It's a rambunctious episode as Just the Zoo of Us Podcast host Ellen Weatherford joins us to settle a debate: are shrimps bugs? Are mantis shrimps shrimps? We discuss how they may or may not be turning into crabs and what they might think of sunsets. Tangents include Godzilla, weddings, pet store stories, internet memes, Sailor Moon and anime translations.   Kelly's Field Notes for this episode: h...

Remain calm.   Send us questions and suggestions! BugsNeedHeroes@gmail.com Join us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bugsneedheroes/ Join us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/bugsneedheroes Join us on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/BugsNeedHeroes Hosted by Amanda Niday and Kelly Zimmerman with editing by Derek Conrad with assistance from Chelsey Bawden Created by Derek Conrad and Kelly Zimme...