Bugs Need Heroes

This episode Amanda and Kelly are joined by Dr Floria Mora-Kepfer Uy of the University of Rochester to discuss twisted wing insects. 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! Bug discussion begins around 3:45 Follow Floria on Bluesky! Floria's faculty page (become her student!) 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. Cats did not participate in editing. Created by Derek Conrad and Kelly Zimmerman. Character artwork by Amanda Niday. Music is Ladybug Castle by Rolemusic.

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://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. Created by Derek Conrad and Kelly Zimmerman. Character artwork by Amanda Niday. Music is Ladybug Castle by Rolemusic. Special thanks to Kevin Weiner for sharing his photography and creating the All Bugs Go To Kevin group.

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 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. His cats were in the way this week. Created by Derek Conrad and Kelly Zimmerman. Character artwork by Amanda Niday. Music is Ladybug Castle by Rolemusic. Special thanks to Kevin Weiner for sharing his photography and creating the All Bugs Go To Kevin group.

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 Kelly Zimmerman with editing by Derek Conrad. His cats were present but unhelpful. Created by Derek Conrad and Kelly Zimmerman. Character artwork by Amanda Niday. Music is Ladybug Castle by Rolemusic. Special thanks to Kevin Weiner for sharing his photography and creating the All Bugs Go To Kevin group.

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 Niday and Kelly Zimmerman with editing by Derek Conrad. His cats did not help at all. Created by Derek Conrad and Kelly Zimmerman. Character artwork by Amanda Niday. Music is Ladybug Castle by Rolemusic. Special thanks to Kevin Weiner for sharing his photography and creating the All Bugs Go To Kevin group.

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.com/bug-heroes 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 several cats. Created by Derek Conrad and Kelly Zimmerman. Character artwork by Amanda Niday. Music is Ladybug Castle by Rolemusic.

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 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 Zimmerman. Character artwork by Amanda Niday. Music is Ladybug Castle by Rolemusic. Special thanks to Kevin Weiner for sharing his photography and creating the All Bugs Go To Kevin group.

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! 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 Zimmerman. Character artwork by Amanda Niday. Music is Ladybug Castle by Rolemusic. Special thanks to Kevin Weiner for sharing his photography and creating the All Bugs Go To Kevin group.

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/BugsNeedHeroes Hosted by Amanda Niday and Kelly Zimmerman with editing by Derek Conrad and some assistance from a few cats. Created by Derek Conrad and Kelly Zimmerman. Character artwork by Amanda Niday. Music is Ladybug Castle by Rolemusic.

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.reddit.com/r/BugsNeedHeroes Hosted by Amanda Niday and Kelly Zimmerman with editing by Derek Conrad and some hinderance from a few cats. Created by Derek Conrad and Kelly Zimmerman. Character artwork by Amanda Niday. Music is Ladybug Castle by Rolemusic.

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.social Join us on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/BugsNeedHeroes Hosted by Amanda Niday and Kelly Zimmerman with editing by Derek Conrad and some hinderance from a few cats. Created by Derek Conrad and Kelly Zimmerman. Character artwork by Amanda Niday. Music is Ladybug Castle by Rolemusic.

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_Heroes_Recommended_Reading Kid's list: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/189303.Bug_Books_For_Kids Happy reading! 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 and Kelly Zimmerman with editing by Derek Conrad and some assistance from Chelsey Bawden and a few cats. Created by Derek Conrad and Kelly Zimmerman. Character artwork by Amanda Niday. Music is Ladybug Castle by Rolemusic.

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.reddit.com/r/BugsNeedHeroes Hosted by Amanda Niday and Kelly Zimmerman with editing by Derek Conrad and some assistance from Chelsey Bawden and a few cats. Created by Derek Conrad and Kelly Zimmerman. Character artwork by Amanda Niday. Music is Ladybug Castle by Rolemusic.

This episode we are joined by another bug hero: Dr Emily Durkin!

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 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 and Kelly Zimmerman with editing by Derek Conrad with assistance from Chelsey Bawden Created by Derek Conrad and Kelly Zimmerman. Character artwork by Amanda Niday. Music is Ladybug Castle by Rolemusic.

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 and Kelly Zimmerman with editing by Derek Conrad with some assistance from Chelsey Bawden Created by Derek Conrad and Kelly Zimmerman. Character artwork by Amanda Niday. Music is Ladybug Castle by Rolemusic.

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 an entomologist. Check out Zillah's artwork on their instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zillahsmith/ Check out There Will Be Bugs on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/there_will_be_bugs/ Check out Zillah's website: https://www.zillahsmith.com/ 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 and Kelly Zimmerman with editing by Derek Conrad with assistance from Chelsey Bawden Created by Derek Conrad and Kelly Zimmerman. Character artwork by Amanda Niday. Music is Ladybug Castle by Rolemusic.

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/episodes/mousy-the-hunter 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 and Kelly Zimmerman with editing by Derek Conrad with assistance from Chelsey Bawden Created by Derek Conrad and Kelly Zimmerman. Character artwork by Amanda Niday. Music is Ladybug Castle by Rolemusic.

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 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 Zimmerman. Character artwork by Amanda Niday. Music is Ladybug Castle by Rolemusic. Special thanks to Kevin Weiner for sharing his photography.