Insects & invertebrates
Spider hunters find "epic lost species" on the Isle of Wight
The critically endangered wolf spider was last recorded in the UK in 1985.
Scientists to freeze butterfly eggs in world-first experiment to save rare swallowtail
The British swallowtail butterfly is almost entirely restricted to the Norfolk Broads in East Anglia and is under threat from climate change and habitat loss.
It feels like being “jabbed with a red-hot needle” – here's what to do if an invasive Asian hornet stings you
Sightings of invasive Asian hornets are increasing in the UK – so what should you do if you're stung by one?
null
undefined
It ambushes prey with jaw-like legs, breathes through a snorkel and is lurking near you right now – meet the water scorpion
A fearsome-looking underwater predator, the water scorpion hides among weeds, using stealth and speed to catch unsuspecting prey.
Spider season is here – will conkers keep them away?
It’s been said that conkers supposedly emit a toxic chemical that spiders will avoid – but is this actually true?
Hottest UK summer on record – why are butterflies still failing to thrive?
Butterfly numbers are up on 2024’s record lows but long-term declines continue, according to Butterfly Conservation’s 2025 Big Butterfly Count.
Do 'killer bees' deserve their deadly, notoriously aggressive reputation? Are they really more dangerous than the average honeybee?
Bigger than your thumb and armed with monster jaws: Meet the world’s largest bee – nicknamed the ‘Flying Bulldog'
This enormous black bee is almost 5cm long
There's a wasp boom in the UK. Here's what's causing it
Unusually warm and dry spring causes wasp surge across the UK, leading to earlier, larger colonies than in recent years.
Could any deadly or nasty bugs arrive in UK due to climate change?
Will there be another 'invasion' of 'biting' ladybirds like in the summer of 1976?
Footage of swarming ladybirds has been going viral this summer – with experts saying that many more are appearing this year in contrast to previous ones.
These bugs were used by Norsemen to predict harvests and can be cannibalistic – and they’re probably in your garden right now
Find out all about these spotted insects with our expert guide
You can help save Britain's butterflies – all you need is 15 minutes and your phone
Wildlife lovers are being urged to take part in the annual Big Butterfly Count – and what better reason to find a shady spot for 15 minutes?
Where have all the butterflies gone? You could help bring them back from the brink – here's how
Ahead of 2025’s Big Butterfly Count, Richard ‘Bugman’ Jones looks at the fate of the UK’s winged wonders and how we can all help to bring them back from the brink
The summer invasion we all dread is here: The phenomenon of Flying Ant Day (and why it actually happens)
It might be called Flying Ant Day, but flying ants actually stay around longer than a single day. We explain everything you need to know about flying ants – and whether seagulls really get drunk eating too many of these winged insects
Warning: see brutal footage of rare carnivorous caterpillar in Gloucestershire that has a gruesome survival strategy
The footage was captured as part of the David Attenborough-narrated series Wild Isles
Don’t mistake deadly invasive hornet for native endangered insect that mimics it, warn experts
As reports of the invasive Asian hornet increase, gardeners are being urged to distinguish it from the endangered hoverfly
The hermaphrodite slug with corkscrew penises as long as their bodies: Meet the world's biggest slug
The massive mollusc is one of the world’s largest land slugs – and surprisingly, it’s found here in the UK in our woodlands
“It's like bringing them back from the dead”: singing cicadas return to UK after three-decade absence
Once considered extinct, the New Forest cicada is back on British soil thanks to an ambitious reintroduction project.
What’s the most common spider in Britain?
While there are lots of commonly found species of spider in the UK, there’s one that’s more likely to darken your doorstep…
“Astonishing” and “rare” explosion of small blue butterflies recorded in Scottish Highlands
Over 500 small blue butterflies were spotted at a single site in Scotland, more than doubling the previous year's count.
What’s the biggest and deadliest wasp in the world – and has it ever been seen in Britain?
It has a terrifying 6mm stinger, but has the 'murder hornet' ever been spotted in the UK?
Why is the only British cicada so rare?
Just why has Britain's cicadas disappeared - and could they come back?
Why aren’t Britain’s insects better adapted to rain?
British insects are better adapted to wet wet wether than their Mediterranean cousins, but that doesn't mean they like the rain...