Insects & invertebrates
5 surprising flea facts every dog and cat owner needs to know
Discover the surprising facts behind flea infestations – and why prevention is far easier than dealing with a home full of them.
Asian hornets: how to identify the invasive wasp and report a sighting
In our expert guide to Asian hornets, entomologist Richard Jones provides advice on how to identify, species facts and where to report a sighting
Bloodsuckers, stings and bites – how to outsmart Britain's most irritating insects this summer
Britain's insect population surges in spring and summer, with humans often becoming unfortunate prey. Here is our guide to UK insects that bite or sting with tips on how to protect against bug bites.
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Guide to British wasps: identify common species, lifecycles and discover why wasps sting
These stinging picnic pests don’t deserve our enmity and fear – they are impressive architects that belong to highly developed and complex societies – our expert guide to wasps looks at the common species, their lifecycle and why wasps sting.
This invasive species has a sting like "a red-hot needle" that can burn for several hours. Here's what to do if you're jabbed by an Asian hornet
Sightings of invasive Asian hornets are increasing in the UK – so what should you do if you're stung by one?
Deer-eating fish, wallabies, 6-foot snakes and scorpions? Meet the UK's most bonkers invasive species
Whether they've been accidental stowaways, purposeful relocations or zoo escapees, the UK is now home to plenty of non-native species
"It's the ultimate parental sacrifice" Meet the spider family where the children eat their mother alive. And to the death
Make your garden a wildlife paradise with the 20 best summer plants for bees and butterflies
Make your garden a haven for butterflies, bees and hoverflies with our guide to the best summer plants for pollinators.
Meet the venomous spider that's rapidly spreading its legs across Britain
The false widow spider, or Steatoda nobilis, has seen rapid expansion across the world
Why aren’t Britain’s insects better adapted to rain?
British insects are better adapted to wet weather than their Mediterranean cousins, but that doesn't mean they like the rain...
This long-legged animal makes mincemeat of big hairy house spiders. And it's probably in your home right now
This ubiquitous creature also spins in circles to scare off attackers...
Are these bees ‘flying under the influence’? Meet the boozy royal bees that go on a London ‘pub crawl’ in David Attenborough-narrated footage
Buckingham Palace is home to four beehives and when temperatures soar, their nectar starts to ferment – with hilarious consequences
The world's biggest ever scorpion was a prehistoric monster the size of a house cat – which once roamed Scotland
You wouldn't want to come across one of these in the woods
Which sting is worse – a bee's or a wasp's?
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 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.
