Bugs Need Heroes

It's just about time for National Moth Week!   In this episode we talk about Producer Derek's favorite moth: the cinnabar moth (Tyria jacobaeae). Finally, a rival for Isabella Tigermoth. And this moth isn't alone in her fight against the noxious Stinking Willie; her fellow biocontrol agents include the tansy ragwort flea beetle (Longitarsus jacobaeae) and the ragwort seed head fly (Botanophila sen...

In this episode we talk about Kelly's cat's favorite bug: the spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula). Kelly rants about honeybees. Amanda teaches Kelly the term "caked up." Tangents include Sir Arthur Conan Doyle believing in faeries, crocuses, and trying to remember Adrien Brody's name. Plus a bonus taste test that makes Amanda uncomfortable.   The spotted lanternfly smashing app is called Squis...

In this episode, we discuss the arachnid order Opiliones, also known as Harvestmen or Daddy longlegs.  Easily confused with spiders, these detritivores have long had an urban legend about their mythical bite. But they are harmless and exhibit some impressive parental care. Also in this episode, Amanda talks about a car accident. Tangents include Bluey, Henry Cavill Sherlock, and a lot of talk abou...

This episode with interview entomologist Kaitlyn O'Donnell to talk about a range of topics, but particularly her work with the invasive winter moth (Operophtera brumata) and her work at Norfolk County Mosquito Control. Tangents include the film Jupiter Ascending, bald eagles, and Amanda opens a can of worms called the biological species concept. Producer Derek highly recommends the documentaries C...

We recorded this episode before the release of the 2023 animated film Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse to discuss the heroes we expect to see in the film (Miles Morales, Jessica Drew, Gwen Stacy, and Miguel O'Hara), what we love about these characters, and to make wild speculation about the plot based on some of the comics we have read. We previously published an episode about Peter Parker in S...

The vocab word of the day is cerci. Amanda proves she has been paying attention in this episode about perhaps the buggiest bug who ever bugged. This episode discusses the soil beasts who you may find in your bathroom and their outstanding parental care. Tangents in this episode include the moral capacity for evil in dolphins, garter snakes, and the films of Don Bluth (both real and imagined).    F...

Get ready to learn some entomology jargon! This episode is all about what a bug is. We discuss taxonomy, anatomy, how we are defining a "bug" in this podcast. If you've ever wondered if bugs are tasting you with their feet, this episode is for you. Tangents in this episode include eating ants, marine biology, and fiddler crabs in The Little Mermaid.   Field notes and artwork on our website: https:...

The star of the cover of the VHS box art of the 1991 film Silence of the Lambs is here. This aesthetic insect has a dark secret! What relationship does she have with the bees, poisonous plants, and bad omens? Tangents in this episode include Ikea trips, targeted advertisements, and spoilers for American Gods by Neil Gaiman. Episode notes and artwork: https://www.bugsneedheroes.com/episodes/the-got...

Introducing the final member of our "Bee Team". Fastidious and precise! Guaranteed to blow your mind! Although they look intimidating, Cicada Killers (Sphecius spp) have been described as "the gentle giants of the wasp world." These gregarious wasps have a surprisingly survival strategy. Also in this episode, Amanda forgets to turn off her discord notifications and learns about insect wings.    Sh...

It is time! We recorded this episode back in January and saved it until it was time. It is time! It is time to put out your mason bee houses! Kelly describes the natural history of these powerful pollinators and Amanda quickly becomes infatuated. These belly-flopping bees are lemon-scented friends and they are as beautiful as the orchards they visit. And if you want these beneficial bugs in your b...

Kelly and Amanda start this episode talking about oral surgery but pivot to something slightly less scary: The Last of Us. There are many types of infectious fungi, but we focus on the cordyceps/ophiocordyceps species which infect terrestrial arthropods. We talk about some of the common zombie tropes, how fungi partner with trees, and how ants avoid their own apocalyptic fungal infections.    Show...

This is an encore that you probably already heard before! Producer Derek accidently published this a second time, but its a good recap on ant behaviors before the CORDYCEPS episode. In this episode Amanda and Kelly discuss PAVEMENT ANTS (Tetramorium caespitum). You may have see them, their sand volcanos, or their wars. Kelly's field notes and Amanda's artwork for this character: https://www.bugsne...

This week we are joined by Dr. Pedram Daneshgar! We continue last week's discussion on plant super powers and their pollinators. We veer into plant defenses and regeneration, fungal relationships, gardening, and house plants! We tried to cover everything but if we didn't, we'd love another excuse to invite Ped back.   Ped's Lab Page: https://pedram34.wixsite.com/pedramdaneshgar Ped's Monmouth Univ...

This week we are joined by Dr. Pedram Daneshgar! With the Bee Team almost completed, we wanted to talk to a botanist about pollination, but we quickly got off topic. We talk about invasive species, pollination, art history, and our favorite plant super heroes. This conversation was great and will continue into a second episode next week.   Ped's Lab Page: https://pedram34.wixsite.com/pedramdaneshg...

The Bombardier Beetle is a bug we've wanted to cover since the beginning and now that Derek's basement isn't flooded, we can! There are over 500 species of these beetles with some surprising life histories and a shared appreciation of boiling enemies alive with fake acid.  Also Amanda and Kelly talk about weddings and dragons.   Kelly's field notes and Amanda's artwork for this character: https://...

We continue to assemble our Bee Team with a gentle giant. We discuss their similarities and differences in life history to the other two bees we have discussed. And it wouldn't be a Bugs Need Heroes episode without sneaking a little bit of art history discussion at the end!   Kelly's field notes and Amanda's artwork for this character: https://www.bugsneedheroes.com/episodes/the-fuzzy-friend   Sen...

The cave we keep Producer Derek in unfortunately flooded and he hasn't been able to polish off this week's episode! But no worries, Amanda is here with some apologetic bug jokes to tide you over until (hopefully) next week! She does not apologize for their badness. Happy Holidays!

Chocolate midges (Genus: Forcipomyia) are tiny flies that do one big thing for us. In size? Miniscule. In impact? Monstrous! It's a very distractible week on the pod. Topics range from super hero movies to royal journals to extinct birds! It's a very wild and sexy episode of Bugs Need Heroes.   Kelly's field notes and Amanda's artwork for this character: https://www.bugsneedheroes.com/episodes/the...

We decided to watch and discuss the new release on Disney+, the 2022 Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special. We talk about how Mantis, played by Pom Klementieff, compares to actual an actual mantis and whatever else wanders through our heads in this special holiday episode.   Recommended Links! Kevin Conroy's "Finding Batman" comic from DC Pride 2022 Annual #1: https://www.dcuniverseinfinite.com/...

Bust out the picnic baskets and settle in for some social wasp discussion. The newest member of the Bee Team is fast, thorough, and sharp as a tack. Amanda confronts her prejudices after being stung. Kelly has never been stung. Producer Derek has been stung over twenty times. Kelly's field notes and Amanda's artwork for this character: https://www.bugsneedheroes.com/episodes/ms-buzz Send us questi...

In this episode, Kelly and Amanda invite Producer Derek on to talk about his heroes: the bats! What if Bruce Wayne had been bitten by a radioactive bat? Is Robin really the perfect partner for the caped crusader? Do bats really love a dark night? And most importantly, what is the cutest bat?   Some references on the episode page: https://www.bugsneedheroes.com/episodes/bats-need-heroes   Send us q...

This episode focuses on a subspecies of the Eastern Honey Bee, Apis cerana japonica, which has some unique and impressive behaviors to thwart would-be predators. Kelly discusses the Better Common Names Project, bee balls, and jello. Amanda discusses the times she was nearly killed by toothpaste, the judgement of a toddler, and the "murder hornets" of Washington state. Kelly's field notes and Amand...

Content Warning for this episode: There is a story about the loss of a pet and brief mention of suicide from minutes 9-14.   In this episode, Amanda flexes her art history degree and Kelly adds another item to her shopping list. An example of remarkable behavioral convergence and sexual dimorphism gives us a double episode of big boy beetles with feudal stylings. Kelly's field notes and Amanda's a...

Respect the hyphen! This episode is all about Peter Parker and how his powers compare to actual spiders. Is Spider-man amazing or simply spectacular? Is Tom Holland the best Spider-man yet? Where did Peter get his sick dance moves? Does the MCU need more dancing??? We have a lot of thoughts about these things.  Kelly's field notes and Amanda's artwork: https://bugsneedheroes.com/episodes/the-frien...

Is she good? She is bad? This episode features the focal species of Kelly's PhD research and Amanda learns some startling facts about what mosquitoes are up to when they aren't biting her ankles. Kelly's field notes and Amanda's artwork for this character: https://bugsneedheroes.com/episodes/kellys-nemesis   Join us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bugsneedheroes/ Join us on Twitter: https:...