This is the country’s most elusive spider! The ladybird spider was down to just 56 spiders in 1994 but is now numbering around 1,000 thanks to habitat management at a secret location in Dorset. The females grow to up to 20mm but it’s the smaller males who have this distinctive red colour with four black dots.
Two new ‘flea’ beetles who can travel by leaping have been found in New Caledonia. But their discovery brings with it a mystery…they feed on unique plants that the scientists haven’t found on the islands! The archipegalo contains many species endemic to the area and scientists are particularly interested in the area because it appears the area may have been submerged until quite recently (in science terms!) so the ecosystem that has developed is much younger than other habitats.
Photo : Jesús Gómez-Zurita
Scientists have been investigating a certain coral fish which each night makes a cocoon from its own mucus from glands behind its gills.
They build this nest to protect themselves from skin parasites, gnathiids. During the day, the fish find ‘cleaner fish’ to remove them, only resorting to the mucus at night. Whilst these biting insects are a common problem, it’s not thought any other species uses this unique technique!
Photo : A Grutter
Incredible photos from John Hallmen giving us a closer look at a bug’s life. He magnifies the images to give us an extremely close up look at these intricate insects. Not for the squeamish, but you can even see the rainbow of colours making up their eyes!
Photo : John Hallmen/Barcroft Media
Beautiful slow shutter speed photography of fireflies and the weaving paths they create. Photographer Kristian Cvecek regularly explores his local wood in Nuremburg to capture these mesmerizing shots. Fireflies use bioluminescence to create light which was first thought to a warning to predators as they contain toxic chemicals but might now be used to attract mates.
New studies show that leafy tobacco plants have developed an ingenious ‘SOS’ signal that attracts predator insects to eat the plant’s attackers. The chemical released attracts Geocoris insects which rescue the plant from caterpillar larvae and eggs…and get a free meal too.
