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Male and female orchid mantises aren’t just different in size and color – they also have radically different lifestyles. New research suggests the ability to prey on pollinating insects shaped the evolution of the orchid mantis, leading to bigger females that resemble flowers.. . . Read More

An earthworm named “Dave” has wriggled into the record books: at 16 inches long and weighing nearly an ounce, he is the largest-ever earthworm recorded in the UK. Read the whole story on National Geographic’s Weird & Wild news blog: Read More

Just when you thought it was safe to go in the water – look out for giant, swimming centipedes! Scientists have recently described the world’s first known amphibious centipede. It belongs to a group of giant centipedes called Scolopendra and grows up to 20 cm (7.9 inches) long.. . . Read More

Some termite species have developed a highly specialized, symbiotic relationship with fungi, which they cultivate in “gardens” within their subterranean nests. An international team of researchers has confirmed that this behavior evolved 25 million years ago with the discovery of. . . Read More

For some animals, sex can seem more like an act of war. A diverse array of animals – including nematode worms, spiders, snails, and bed bugs – use so-called “traumatic insemination.” In this bizarre mating strategy, the male stabs the female with his penis, injecting sperm. . . Read More