Bugs Need Heroes

This episode Amanda and Kelly discuss long-horn beetles. Tangents include forest creatures, mimicry, and television's Survivor.   Kelly's Field Notes and pictures from Kevin Weiner: https://www.bugsneedheroes.com/episodes/the-good-the-bad-and-the-bugly   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. ROTUNDA helped a little. Cr...

This episode Amanda and Dr Kelly Z discuss house centipedes. They are so fast! And so cute?! We learn a lot about these common domestic bugs, which are definitely not insects. Tangents include isopods, cats, Survivor, and piles of leaves (leave them!) Bug discussion begins around 5:15   Kelly's Field Notes and pictures from Kevin Weiner: https://www.bugsneedheroes.com/episodes/scooty   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...

This episode was originally recorded in Spring 2025, but an issue during recording caused it to be delayed until now. Kelly and Amanda discuss the rove beetle Ocypus olens (and a similar species in New Zealand). Tangents include cats, Bobby's World, and DC Comic's Gentleman Ghost and other Victorian spookyisms.   Bug discussion begins around 10:40   Kelly's Field Notes and pictures from Derek Conrad: https://www.bugsneedheroes.com/episodes/the-devils-uber   Send us questions and suggestions! BugsNeedHeroes@gmail.com Join us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bugsneedheroes/ J...

Amanda leads an episode about the history of silkworms and how they changed the world! Topic discussion begins around 7:10   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. The cats did not participate in editing. Created by Derek Conrad and Kelly Zimmerman. Character a...

This episode Amanda and Kelly discuss twisted-wing insects (Strepsiptera) with Dr Floria Mora-Kepfer Uy an assistant professor at the University of Rochester and a Levinson/Shapiro faculty schola . The name is deceptive because only the males have wings and they only have hours to use them to turn wasps into zombies! These rare insects have a strange and maybe even a little disturbing life history as parasitoids. Keep an eye out around goldenrod flowers and you might see the signs of an infected wasp! If you see any, tag #TeamWasp on your socials.   Bug discussion b...

This episode Amanda and Kelly discuss mud daubers. These wasps use mud to build their nests and fill those nests with paralyzed spiders, which is a very sexy behavior. Tangents include dinosaurs, the morals of relative television, Earthworm Jim, and Amanda's crochet tips.   Bug discussion begins around 5:20   Kelly's Field Notes and pictures from Derek Conrad: https://www.bugsneedheroes.com/episodes/mudwoman   Send us questions and suggestions! BugsNeedHeroes@gmail.com Join us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bugsneedheroes/ Join us on Twitter: https://twi...

Sometimes it's hard to name these characters, but not this week. Amanda and Kelly talk aeroplankton, animal communication, and ask what is a pest really. Tangents include John Singer Sargent, KPop Demon Hunters, and lots of fashion talk this week as Amanda walks us through her character creation process. Bug discussion begins around 7:40   Kelly's Field Notes and pictures from Kevin Weiner: https://www.bugsneedheroes.com/episodes/sharpshooter   Send us questions and suggestions! BugsNeedHeroes@gmail.com Join us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bugsneedheroes/ Join us...

This episode we are joined by Dr Scott Kight once again to talk about Belostomatidae. We initially planned to do this topic around Father's Day for reasons that will become apparent. Tangents include bears, science teachers, and that Coldplay concert.    Bug discussion begins around 4:20   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...

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/bugsneedheroes/ Join us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/bugsneedheroes Join us on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/BugsNeedHeroes Hosted by Amanda Nid...

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 about cockroaches previously with Arthro-Pod. You can see the cockroach field notes at https://www.bugsneedheroes.com/episodes/the-trash-man-and-tergal-lad You can see all our guest episodes at https://www.bugsneedheroes.c...

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 field notes: https://www.bugsneedheroes.com/episodes/the-salty-surfer Water strider jumping video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsD8wahyRq8   Send us questions and suggestions! BugsNeedHeroes@gmail.com </p...

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 Notes: https://www.bugsneedheroes.com/episodes/the-assassins   This Podcast Will Kill You episode about Chagas Disease: https://thispodcastwillkillyou.com/2021/09/07/episode-81-chagas-disease-the-reverse-triple-discovery/   Send us questions and suggestions! Bugs...

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: 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...

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.instagram.com/bugsneedheroes/ Join us on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/bugsneedheroes.bsky.social Join us on Reddit: 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 suggestions! BugsNeedHeroes@gmail.com Join us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bugsneedheroes/ Join us on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/bugsneedheroes.bsky.so...

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 to Amazon or anything so we make no money off of them. Adult list: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/189312.Bugs_Need_H...

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: https://www.instagram.com/bugsneedheroes/ Join us on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/bugsneedheroes.bsky.social Join us on Reddit: https://www.re...

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.instagram.com/bugsneedheroes/ Join us on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/bugsneedheroes.bsky.social Join us on Reddit: https://ww...

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 Wicked, bears, Christmas, Robin Hood, and deaths at National Parks.   Kelly's Field Notes for this episode: https://www.bugsneedheroes.com/episodes/sodanaut ...