The Asian hornet, or Vespa velutina, is an invasive species in western Europe that is also known by the name “Asian predatory wasp.” It is a close relative to the Asian giant hornet, or murder hornet, that was first spotted in the U.S. in 2019. Both species have raised immediate concerns for honeybee populations. Now, […]
Tag: Spiders
Spiders ‘Smell’ Using Their Legs, Research Finds
Most spiders have eight legs, no ears and use fine leg hairs connected to nerve cells or their webs to hear sounds in their environment. But how do they smell? A new study by an international team of researchers has found that male spiders “smell” with their legs, using olfactory hairs — wall-pore sensilla — […]
‘Learn how to safely catch funnel-webs’: Sydneysiders tasked with hunt for venom as spiders’ breeding season begins
Hunting for potentially deadly, silky spider burrows in the back yard may not be on every Sydneysiders’ bucket list. But that’s the request of the Australian Reptile Park (ARP) as breeding season begins for funnel-webs, encouraging residents to search shoes, piles of laundry, pools and garden debris for spiders and their egg sacs. A social […]
Giant spiders that can grow to size of human hand thriving in the UK
Thousands of giant spiders that can grow to the size of a human hand are thriving in the UK, thanks to a successful breeding programme from Chester zoo. The fen raft spider is a harmless arachnid that plays a vital role in aquatic ecosystems, but 15 years ago was on the brink of extinction because […]
Hordes of Tarantulas Are About to Swarm in The US, And Here’s Why
It’s late August, and summer is fading. While you’re busy wondering where last year’s Halloween decorations got to, some real-life horrors are emerging from the shadows in search of a little love. Every year, swarms of Texas brown tarantulas (Aphonopelma hentzi) take advantage of the cooling temperature across the southern US to look for a […]
Animals that can walk on water
Animals can walk, crawl, swim, or fly. Some animals have incredible abilities, such as walking on water. It’s something that humans consider a miracle. But for these animals, it’s just a basic ability. You can skip the section where you hire a dissertation writer to learn about them, and instead learn about the most amazing […]
Shine for love or shine to kill – Australia’s glow worms and fireflies
Lying 80 kilometres west of Sydney, the Blue Mountains National Park is one of the most popular bushwalking destinations in NSW. More than 8 million people visit the mountains each year trampling over 140km of tracks and trails. But what not many people realize, is that when the darkness falls and the trails are deserted, […]
My Favorite Florida Spiders
Since moving to Florida, I’ve had the opportunity to see some pretty enormous spiders. Golden-silk Orbweavers and Black and Yellow Argiopes are pretty large, and they’re spectacular-looking as well. Of course, not all our spiders are huge. But whenever I have the chance to get close enough to them for photographs, I’m always struck by […]