Bugs Need Heroes

Bubble Bug(True)

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
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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.

Lil Dudes Insect Academy

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 websiteLil 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.

The Heckgrammite (DOBSONFLIES)

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.

Mighty Emily (PHORETIC MITES with Dr Emily Durkin)

This episode we are joined by another bug hero: Dr Emily Durkin! We talk about her research looking at tiny mites that ride around on fruit flies. Tangents include mosquitoes, hornworms, and pets --including pet jumping spiders!
 
Emily Durkin's website is here!You can follow Emily on Bluesky!
 
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 ZERO assistance from Camazotz Conrad. 
Created by Derek Conrad and Kelly Zimmerman.
Character artwork by Amanda Niday.
Music is Ladybug Castle by Rolemusic.

The Sodanaut (BRINE FLIES)

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.

Bug Hero: Christy Bills (MUSEUM COLLECTIONS)

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.

Crypt Keeper and the Embalmer (BURYING BEETLES with THERE WILL BE BUGS)

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.

Mousy the Hunter (GRASSHOPPER MOUSE)

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.

The Moo-derer (COW KILLER)

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.

Bug Heroes: Maria Sibylla Merian

Amanda tells us about the life and work of Dutch entomologist and painter Maria Sibylla Merian. 
 
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.