Sticky traps, stealth and aggressive mimicry: Assassin bugs, worthy of the name (Part 1)

April 13, 2018

The world is full of charismatic predators; big cats, wolves and crocodiles, which are commonly the focus of TV shows and documentaries, but some of the most interesting and successful predators are often overlooked. As far as numbers go, the predatory beetles are the most successful terrestrial predators, but we’ll forget that for a moment … More Sticky traps, stealth and aggressive mimicry: Assassin bugs, worthy of the name (Part 1)

Euscorpius flavicaudis: The Scorpion that lives in England

February 7, 2018

Scorpions, tough Chelicerata arachnids, well known for their association with the one of the most hostile, hottest environments on earth… deserts. But even when not living in deserts, scorpions still tend to be found in warm ecosystems, such as rainforests and savannas. However, believe it or not, there is a scorpion that braces the rather … More Euscorpius flavicaudis: The Scorpion that lives in England

Are Tarantulas Spiders? A Glimpse at Spider Evolution and Phylogeny

January 22, 2018

Are tarantula’s spiders? Short answer… yes, they are indeed spiders. Any of you who follow me on social media will know that I own a few tarantulas, and this is where this post comes from. The last few times that I have visited an exotic pet shop and asked to see their spiders, I have … More Are Tarantulas Spiders? A Glimpse at Spider Evolution and Phylogeny

Protection, Cannibalism and Self-Sacrifice: The World of Spider Parenting

July 27, 2017

When someone mentions parental care in the animal kingdom, birds and mammals are probably the organisms than spring to most people’s minds, and it’s most likely that invertebrates and specifically spiders are not high on peoples lists of the animal kingdoms most devoted parents. It is true, the invertebrate world is neglecting in parental care … More Protection, Cannibalism and Self-Sacrifice: The World of Spider Parenting

Salticidae – The Charismatic Spiders

April 18, 2017

Jumping spiders! Salticidae is the largest family of spiders, containing approximately 5,500-6,000 species, which accounts for around 13% of all spiders. These species are divided into 600+ genera, are typically small in size and famed for their incredible jumping abilities. Along with their impressive number of species and awesome acrobatics, they also possess some of … More Salticidae – The Charismatic Spiders

Microscope Madness

April 10, 2017

If you follow any of my social media accounts you have probably noticed that I have started uploading microscope pictures. Recently, I acquired a fantastic Brunel MX7T microscope for my birthday, it comes with a rotating turret with 20x and 40x magnification (although this can be increased through additional eyepieces). My primary reason for wanting … More Microscope Madness

The Mighty Stag Beetle

March 6, 2017

Sticking with the recurring theme of brilliant British beasts, this week the mighty stag beetle (Lucanus cervus). Being a beetle they are of course an insect and belong to the order Coleoptera (the beetles) which is actually the largest of the insect orders, containing approximately 360,000 species, with more being discovered all the time. There … More The Mighty Stag Beetle