Bugs Need Heroes

By BugsNeedHeroes

On each episode of Bugs Need Heroes, an ecologist and an illustrator team-up to create a new insect-inspired super hero. The finished characters are posted to our social media pages and at BugsNeedHe... more

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FAQs about Bugs Need Heroes:

How many episodes does Bugs Need Heroes have?

The podcast currently has 78 episodes available.

Bugs Need Heroes episodes:

February 12, 2024 The Good Katy (KATYDIDS)
This episode contains discussion of sexual behaviors in katydids, which is surprisingly gross.

This is our Valentine's Day episode. This week we try to discuss katydids (Family: Tettigoniidae) but we get awfully off track. Tangents include discounted chocolate, PalWorld vs Pokemon, the musical CATS, and many other things that we had to cut for time. And Kelly gives an update on becoming Dr Kelly.

Kelly's field notes and Amanda's artwork: https://www.bugsneedheroes.com/episodes/the-good-katy

Send us questions and suggestions! [email protected]
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.
...more
1h 22min
January 29, 2024 Roller Girls (TERRESTRIAL ISOPODS) with Dr Scott Kight
This episode contains discussion of sexual behaviors in isopods and other animals.

This week we are joined by Dr Scott Kight of Montclair State University to discuss terrestrial isopods. They are known by many common names and come in two basic shapes: runners and rollers. Dr Kight has used them to investigate questions about parental care and wider mysteries of biology. Tangents include the gut microbiome, tiktok, the pet trade, and the video games Death Stranding and Baldur's Gate 3 (no spoilers!). And a lot of discussion about sex and reproduction. We also ask if you can eat them and if shrimps is bugs (yes).

Scott Kight - Profile Pages - Montclair State University

Field notes and Amanda's artwork: https://www.bugsneedheroes.com/episodes/the-roller-girls

Send us questions and suggestions! [email protected]
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 Desdemona Conrad
Created by Derek Conrad and Kelly Zimmerman.
Character artwork by Amanda Niday.
Music is Ladybug Castle by Rolemusic.
...more
1h 36min
January 14, 2024 All Bugs Go To Kevin (bonus)
We talked to Kevin for quite a while so here's a bit more with him!
...more
27min
January 07, 2024 All Bugs Go To Kevin
This week we talk to Kevin Wiener about the facebook group he created that has attracted 160k would-be bug enthusiasts. We talk about overcoming fear, holding spiders, the importance of insects and integrated pest management.

Check out the All Bugs Go To Kevin facebook group: https://facebook.com/groups/allbugsgotokevin

Send us questions and suggestions! [email protected]
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 Desdemona Conrad
Created by Derek Conrad and Kelly Zimmerman.
Character artwork by Amanda Niday.
Music is Ladybug Castle by Rolemusic.
And thank you to the Entomological Society of America for the Chrysalis Fund grant.
...more
1h 11min
December 31, 2023 Sol de Janeiro Delícia Drench Body Butter (SPIDER LOTION?)
Kelly and Amanda catch up after the holidays to talk about the viral meme circulating around the Sol de Janeiro Delícia Drench Body Butter sold at Sephora. We talk about the precedent of perfumes and other scents being attractive to animals whether intentionally or not and how likely or unlikely that is for wolf spiders specifically. Kelly reviews the lotion and Amanda discusses her fear of big cats. The manufacturer has said that there is no evidence of their product attracting spiders, but we kind of wish it did.

For more reading, check this article in Newsweek about the meme: https://www.newsweek.com/sol-de-janeiro-body-lotion-attracting-wolf-spiders-1856504

Send us questions and suggestions! [email protected]
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 Desdemona Conrad
Created by Derek Conrad and Kelly Zimmerman.
Character artwork by Amanda Niday.
Music is Ladybug Castle by Rolemusic.
And thank you to the Entomological Society of America for the Chrysalis Fund grant.
...more
37min
December 18, 2023 Ms Johnson discovers the meaning of CHRISTMAS BEETLES
This episode we decided to three topics: christmas beetles, two species of hairstreak butterflies which feed on mistletoe, and where bugs go during the winter. Tangents include Hallmark movies, Norse mythology, and yule goats. And assistant producer Desdemona interrupts to have some cat yogurt.

Field notes and Amanda's artwork: https://www.bugsneedheroes.com/episodes/christmas-beetles

Send us questions and suggestions! [email protected]
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 Desdemona Conrad
Created by Derek Conrad and Kelly Zimmerman.
Character artwork by Amanda Niday.
Music is Ladybug Castle by Rolemusic.
...more
1h 8min
December 04, 2023 The Doodlebug (ANTLIONS)
Amanda says she's never heard of this bug, but I know she has because it was on an episode of Kratt's Creatures that we watched as kids. However, it is nothing like either ants or lions. This puny predator puts its prey in pits! Tangents include pigeons, anime, and Jurassic Park vs The Hunger Games. Somehow, we never even mentioned the Sarlacc Pit from Star Wars.

Check out the character art and Kelly's Field Notes here: https://www.bugsneedheroes.com/episodes/the-doodlebug

We adore the Doodlebug Oracle on Antlionpit.com

Send us questions and suggestions! [email protected]
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.
...more
1h 4min
November 20, 2023 Kelly’s Spidersona (WOLF SPIDERS)
Kelly finally saw Across The Spider-verse! There are some mild spoilers in her review and the discussion that follows. In this episode, we discuss Kelly's favorite spider family: Lycosidae. Amanda designs a costume for if Kelly was bitten by a radioactive wolf spider. Tangents include yelling cats, fearful husbands, and the cursed knowledge of bird songs.

Send us questions and suggestions! [email protected]
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.
...more
1h 17min
November 06, 2023 Bug Type Need Heroes (POKEMON with Just The Zoo of Us)
We invited Ellen Weatherford of Just The Zoo of Us podcast on to talk about Pokémon. As of generation 9, there are at least 92 different bug-type Pokémon. We discuss the hits, the misses, and the weird biology of these little guys and how they compare to the real world insect inspirations. Don't worry if you aren't familiar with the games, Kelly wasn't either.

Visual Aid for the parody of Fact or Fiction.

Check out /u/FallinDevast's fakemon on reddit.

Ellen's links!
Her podcast: Just The Zoo of Us
Her Instagram: ElksNeedle
Her TikTok: @ellen.weatherford

Send us questions and suggestions! [email protected]
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.
...more
1h 50min
October 31, 2023 ENCORE: Bats Need Heroes (DC’s BATMAN Special)
This is a special encore for Halloween. This episode was originally released in October 2022. A few new bat species have been recognized since then according to Bat Conservation International and the Bat Species of the World: A taxonomic and geographic database.

In this episode, Kelly and Amanda invite Producer Derek on to talk about his heroes: the bats! What if Bruce Wayne had been bitten by a radioactive bat? Is Robin really the perfect partner for the caped crusader? Do bats really love a dark night? And most importantly, what is the cutest bat?

Some references on the episode page: https://www.bugsneedheroes.com/episodes/bats-need-heroes

Send us questions! [email protected]
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.
Created by Derek Conrad and Kelly Zimmerman.
Character artwork by Amanda Niday.
Music is Ladybug Castle by Rolemusic.
...more
1h 17min

FAQs about Bugs Need Heroes:

How many episodes does Bugs Need Heroes have?

The podcast currently has 78 episodes available.

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