Insects for Fun!

The executioner! (wasp)

This week we are looking at a very specific species of paper wasp known as Polistes carnifex, aka the executioner wasp. On episode 91 of this show we talked about paper wasps in general, but this specific species stands out in many ways. In this episode we will also talk about and compare the sting of an executioner wasp with that of the bullet ant.  
 
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Email: Insectsfordummies@gmail.com 
Discord -> https://discord.gg/pDJH3CYcG6 
 
Music by HM Surf

These bugs are silent killers (Assasin Bugs!)

Today we’re diving into the shadowy world of one of nature’s most notorious insect hitmen: the assassin bugs. With a name like that, you know they’re not here to play nice. These insects are masters of stealth, ambush, and precision strikes, earning them a reputation as some of the most ruthless predators in the insect kingdom. But beyond their deadly image, assassin bugs are fascinating creatures with quirky behaviors, strange hunting tactics, and even a few surprising roles in human culture.
 
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IG: https://www.instagram.com/insects4fun/
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Email: Insectsfordummies@gmail.com 
Discord -> https://discord.gg/pDJH3CYcG6 
 
Music by: S N U G

Click Beetles!

This week, we look at the lives of click beetles and all the interesting tricks of their trade! We break down how click beetles pull off their acrobatic launches without using their legs, dive underground into the long, secret lives of their larvae, meet the bioluminescent tropical species, and explore their surprising roles in human history and agriculture.
 
Patreon -> https://www.patreon.com/user?u=46499107
IG: https://www.instagram.com/insects4fun/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100085443614825
Email: Insectsfordummies@gmail.com 
Discord -> https://discord.gg/pDJH3CYcG6 
 
 
Music by: Shingo Sekiguchi

Owlflies!

This week we look into a small and largely unknown group of insects known as Owlflies! They're so unique that people can't quite figure out where they belong in the tree of life, but one thing is for sure: they're a special group of insects. 
 
Patreon -> https://www.patreon.com/user?u=46499107
IG: https://www.instagram.com/insects4fun/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100085443614825
Email: Insectsfordummies@gmail.com 
Discord -> https://discord.gg/pDJH3CYcG6 
 
Music by "HM Surf"

Is it a mantis? Wasp? Fly? It's a Mantidfly!

This week, we're taking a deep look into the oddities that make mantidflies so unique. This includes their bizarre life cycle, and of course their strange adaptations which make them unique hunters in the insect world. 
 
Patreon -> https://www.patreon.com/user?u=46499107
IG: https://www.instagram.com/insects4fun/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100085443614825
Email: Insectsfordummies@gmail.com 
Discord -> https://discord.gg/pDJH3CYcG6 
 
Music by "Blue Wednesday"

Are we screwed? (Screwworms)

This week, we examine screwworms to learn about their impact on mammals and how they initiated a revolutionary practice of biological control. We also look at the current status of their outbreak in and how it happened.
 
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IG: https://www.instagram.com/insects4fun/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100085443614825
Email: Insectsfordummies@gmail.com 
Discord -> https://discord.gg/pDJH3CYcG6 

Tiny Creatures, BIG legends!

This week, we're doing a folklore-focused episode covering many myths and legends across the world surrounding popular insect groups and an honorable mention. 
 
Patreon -> https://www.patreon.com/user?u=46499107
IG: https://www.instagram.com/insects4fun/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100085443614825
Email: Insectsfordummies@gmail.com 
Discord -> https://discord.gg/pDJH3CYcG6 
 
Music by Murtoy. 

Mighty Mites!

This week we shrink down again to look at another tiny arthropod commonly mistaken for bugs. Except this one is very infamous. On this episode of Insects for Fun we take a deep dive into the territory known as "Mites" and learn all about the different kinds and what they do. 
Patreon -> https://www.patreon.com/user?u=46499107
IG: https://www.instagram.com/insects4fun/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100085443614825
Email: Insectsfordummies@gmail.com 
Discord -> https://discord.gg/pDJH3CYcG6 
 
Today's music by: Toshiki Hayashi

Tiny Insect Imposters! (Springtails)

This week, we dive into the micro world of springtails to learn about what they are, what they do, and why we need them. 
 
Patreon -> https://www.patreon.com/user?u=46499107
IG: https://www.instagram.com/insects4fun/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100085443614825
Email: Insectsfordummies@gmail.com 
Discord -> https://discord.gg/pDJH3CYcG6 
 
Today's music by: murtoy

Freshwater Goblins? (Dobsonflies!)

This week we are talking about an insect that looks both prehistoric and something straight from the Nether in Minecraft. Dobsonflies might be terrifying but honestly you have nothing to fear and in fact its actually a good thing if you see one! 
 
Patreon -> https://www.patreon.com/user?u=46499107
IG: https://www.instagram.com/insects4fun/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100085443614825
Email: Insectsfordummies@gmail.com 
Discord -> https://discord.gg/pDJH3CYcG6 
 
Today's music by: HM Surf