Are Insects Animals? 5 Factors Classifying Bugs and Insects

Insect anatomy is wildly different than our own. They have exoskeletons around their organs, instead of an endoskeleton. You may wonder how different other aspects of their anatomy is. Do insects have hearts? Here’s more about insect hearts and how their circulatory systems work.  Do Insects Have Hearts? Insects do hearts, and they are a …

If you see a squished bud, its insides won’t look red but green or yellowish. Do insects have blood? Instead of blood like humans, insects have a similar but distinctly different fluid. Learn about bug blood and about the insect circulatory system. Do Insects Have Blood? Bugs have a substance called hemolymph, which serves similar …

Known for their ability to survive, cockroaches are a group of insects that are part of the Blattodea order. While there are some variations within the 4,600 species of cockroaches, they have similar hearts. Their circulatory systems stand out in the animal kingdom for their number of chambers. So, how many heart chambers does a …

Borax is often confused with boric acid. Until this morning, I was also confused. When I wrote this guide to use borax for roach control, I used borax and boric acid interchangeably. But borax isn’t the same as boric acid. Thankfully, a reader corrected me. Here’s what I’ve learned in my research about these two …

Syrphid flies are beneficial garden insects. Their larvae eat both insects and fungi, depending on the species. And adult hover flies are proficient pollinators around the earth. You will commonly see this tiny fly collecting nectar on flowers in your garden. Adult hover flies collect both pollen and nectar. And hover flies are one of …

As you plant and cultivate milkweed, you’ll find that there are some common problems. A healthy supply of milkweed leaves is important for both attracting monarchs and for raising them indoors. Common milkweed leaf problems include pests (like aphids, beetles, and milkweed bugs), powdery mildew, leaf spots (fungal and bacterial), rust, and cucumber mosaic virus. …

Milkweed is probably best known as the sole host plant for monarch butterflies. But milkweed is also on the menu for many other insects and mammals. Milkweed nectar is an important food source for many species of bees, moths, butterflies, skippers, and beetles. Milkweed plants and flowers attract clouds of pollinators and pests. Some insects …

What are those bugs in your milkweed garden? Are milkweed bugs ‘good’ or ‘bad’ bugs? Why are they only on milkweed? If you found long red and black bugs, then you probably found one of two types of milkweed bugs. There are two types of milkweed bugs: Large Milkweed Bug (LMB for short) and Small …

If you discovered a tiny cream-white egg on a milkweed leaf, then you have probably found a monarch butterfly egg. In about 4 days (or less), a caterpillar is going to hatch and soon, you will be watching the life cycle of the gorgeous monarch take place. Raising monarch caterpillars into butterflies is a surprisingly …

My caterpillar hasn’t been moving. What’s wrong? Is it dead? Should I move it to another leaf? Put something else in there? HELP! I’m frantic! I’m in a panic! Okay, it is time to relax! That’s right. Relax. Breathe. Chances are that your caterpillar is ready to molt. Shed its skin and change instars. It …