Updated Articles and Resources

By Debbie Hadley, About.com Guide

The Insect Index - Sorted by Scientific Names Created: Saturday, November 03, 2007 Updated: Wednesday, May 08, 2013
An index of insects, spiders, and other arthropods profiled on this site, sorted alphabetically by scientific names.
The Insect Index - Sorted by Common Names Created: Saturday, November 03, 2007 Updated: Wednesday, May 08, 2013
An index of insects, arachnids, and other arthoprods profiled on this site, sorted alphabetically by common names.
Dung Beetles and Tumblebugs, Subfamily Scarabaeinae Created: Wednesday, May 08, 2013 Updated: Wednesday, May 08, 2013
Where would we be without dung beetles? We'd be buried in poop, that's where. Learn the habits and traits of dung beetles and tumblebugs (Subfamily Scarabaeinae).
Order Coleoptera - Characteristics of Beetles Created: Wednesday, January 16, 2008 Updated: Wednesday, May 08, 2013
The order Coleoptera is the largest group in the insect world, and comprises nearly a quarter of all the described animal species on Earth. These articles include profiles of beetles and their fami...
Inquiline Created: Tuesday, April 23, 2013 Updated: Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Definition of the term inquiline, with examples of inquilines.
Teneral Created: Friday, June 06, 2008 Updated: Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Definition of the term teneral.
10 Cool Facts About Dragonflies Created: Saturday, February 11, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Have you ever spent a summer day watching dragonflies flying around a pond or lake? Learn more about the biology and behavior of these incredible insects. Here are 10 cool facts about dragonflies.
Flabellate Created: Tuesday, March 26, 2013 Updated: Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Definition of the term flabellate.
Serrate Created: Sunday, February 26, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Definition of the term serrate.
What To Do If You Encounter Killer Bees Created: Sunday, March 21, 2010 Updated: Sunday, April 21, 2013
Though your chance of being stung by killer bees is fairly small, you should know what to do if you encounter them. Here's what you should (and shouldn't) do if you disturb aggressive bees.
Do We Really Have Bugs Living in Our Eyebrows? Created: Monday, April 08, 2013 Updated: Monday, April 08, 2013
Has anyone ever told you there are bugs living in your eyebrows and eyelashes? Did you believe it? Here's the truth about face mites.
Thigmotaxis Created: Tuesday, March 26, 2013 Updated: Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Definition of the term thigmotaxis, with examples of thigmotactic insects.
Lamellate Created: Wednesday, February 27, 2013 Updated: Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Definition of the term lamellate.
Capitate Created: Thursday, November 22, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Definition of the term capitate.
Plumose Created: Sunday, February 26, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Definition of the term plumose.
Clavate Created: Thursday, January 26, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Definition of the term clavate.
Aristate Created: Thursday, January 26, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Definition of the term aristate.
Moniliform Created: Wednesday, December 21, 2011 Updated: Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Definition of the term moniliform.
Setaceous Created: Wednesday, December 21, 2011 Updated: Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Definition of the term setaceous.
Filiform Created: Tuesday, December 20, 2011 Updated: Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Definition of the term filiform.
Insect Pupal Forms Created: Monday, March 25, 2013 Updated: Monday, March 25, 2013
Entomologists describe insect pupae using unusual terms: obtect, exarate, coarctate, decticous, and adecticous. Learn about these 5 types of insect pupae, and which terms apply to which insect orde...
Bess Beetles, Family Passalidae Created: Tuesday, November 23, 2010 Updated: Saturday, March 23, 2013
What could be cooler than bess beetles? Both males and females care for their young. They live together as families. And they make 14 different sounds to communicate with one another.
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Insect Poop Created: Thursday, January 01, 2009 Updated: Saturday, March 23, 2013
Do insects poop? Of course, but we call their poop frass. Insect poop is pretty important stuff. It keeps ecosystems in balance, feeds insect young, and even helps some bugs defend themselves from ...
Can Insects Learn? Created: Tuesday, September 16, 2008 Updated: Saturday, March 23, 2013
Most insect behavior is genetically programmed, or innate. A caterpillar with no prior experience or instruction, can spin a silken cocoon. But can an insect change its behavior as a result of its ...
Thrips, Order Thysanoptera Created: Thursday, March 21, 2013 Updated: Saturday, March 23, 2013
Thrips can be plant pests or beneficial predators of other plant pests. Learn the habit and traits of thrips, which all belong to the order Thysanoptera.
Insect Larval Forms Created: Friday, March 22, 2013 Updated: Friday, March 22, 2013
If you need to identify an insect larva, you will first need to recognize its larval form. There are 5 types of insect larvae, differentiated by body form.
A Guide to the Twenty Nine Insect Orders Created: Monday, October 29, 2007 Updated: Thursday, March 21, 2013
Familiarity with the twenty-nine insect orders is the key to identifying and understanding insects. This introduction will help you get acquainted with their scientific names and the major insect f...
10 Threats to Monarch Migration Created: Saturday, March 16, 2013 Updated: Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Although monarch butterflies are not endangered, scientists worry their record-breaking migration may be threatened by human activities. Learn 10 threats to monarch migration.
Tiger Moths, Subfamily Arctiinae Created: Thursday, November 15, 2012 Updated: Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Learn the habits and traits of the tiger moths, subfamily Arctiinae.
What Are Gallnippers? Created: Monday, March 11, 2013 Updated: Monday, March 11, 2013
Gallnippers inflict a painful bite, and can spoil your fun outdoors. Learn what gallnippers are, where they live, and what you can do to prevent bites.
Jerusalem Crickets, Family Stenopelmatidae Created: Friday, March 08, 2013 Updated: Friday, March 08, 2013
The first time you see a Jerusalem cricket, you may be startled by its large size and humanoid head. But don't be scared, it's perfectly harmless. Just don't stick your finger in its mouth! Learn m...
Pectinate Created: Friday, December 28, 2012 Updated: Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Definition of the term pectinate.