Bugs Need Heroes Podcast
@bugsneedheroes.bsky.social
A podcast illustrating the inspiring abilities of insects! Each episode an artist and entomologist create a new bug-themed superhero.
www.bugsneedheroes.com or wherever you get your podcasts!
www.bugsneedheroes.com or wherever you get your podcasts!
This episode Amanda and Dr Kelly Z discuss house centipedes. They are so fast! And so cute?! We learn a lot about these common domestic bugs, which are definitely not insects. Tangents include isopods, cats, Survivor, and piles of leaves (leave them!)
Bug discussion begins around 5:15
#entomology
Bug discussion begins around 5:15
#entomology
October 29, 2025 at 4:40 PM
This episode Amanda and Dr Kelly Z discuss house centipedes. They are so fast! And so cute?! We learn a lot about these common domestic bugs, which are definitely not insects. Tangents include isopods, cats, Survivor, and piles of leaves (leave them!)
Bug discussion begins around 5:15
#entomology
Bug discussion begins around 5:15
#entomology
We recorded an episode about house centipedes yesterday and loved answering listener questions! So we'll try to keep that theme up.
We're on to longhorn beetles! Please share your questions and comments here, or shoot us an e-mail. Thank you for your continued support!
We're on to longhorn beetles! Please share your questions and comments here, or shoot us an e-mail. Thank you for your continued support!
October 20, 2025 at 3:57 PM
We recorded an episode about house centipedes yesterday and loved answering listener questions! So we'll try to keep that theme up.
We're on to longhorn beetles! Please share your questions and comments here, or shoot us an e-mail. Thank you for your continued support!
We're on to longhorn beetles! Please share your questions and comments here, or shoot us an e-mail. Thank you for your continued support!
Kelly and Amanda discuss the rove beetle Ocypus olens (and a similar species in New Zealand). Tangents include cats, Bobby's World, and DC Comic's Gentleman Ghost and other Victorian spookyisms.
Bug discussion begins around 10:40
Bug discussion begins around 10:40
October 17, 2025 at 11:15 PM
Kelly and Amanda discuss the rove beetle Ocypus olens (and a similar species in New Zealand). Tangents include cats, Bobby's World, and DC Comic's Gentleman Ghost and other Victorian spookyisms.
Bug discussion begins around 10:40
Bug discussion begins around 10:40
Coming up, an episode about house centipedes (thanks to listener Laura for the request).
Send your house centipede questions here or via e-mail at bugsneedheroes@gmail.com! Let us know if you'd like us to read them on the podcast or keep it anonymous.
Art by FreeDesignFlie
Send your house centipede questions here or via e-mail at bugsneedheroes@gmail.com! Let us know if you'd like us to read them on the podcast or keep it anonymous.
Art by FreeDesignFlie
October 12, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Coming up, an episode about house centipedes (thanks to listener Laura for the request).
Send your house centipede questions here or via e-mail at bugsneedheroes@gmail.com! Let us know if you'd like us to read them on the podcast or keep it anonymous.
Art by FreeDesignFlie
Send your house centipede questions here or via e-mail at bugsneedheroes@gmail.com! Let us know if you'd like us to read them on the podcast or keep it anonymous.
Art by FreeDesignFlie
Amanda leads an episode about the history of silkworms and how they changed the world!
Topic discussion begins around 7:10
Silk moth creative commons Wikipedia.
#silkmoth #entomology #sciencepodcast #scicomm #
Topic discussion begins around 7:10
Silk moth creative commons Wikipedia.
#silkmoth #entomology #sciencepodcast #scicomm #
September 29, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Amanda leads an episode about the history of silkworms and how they changed the world!
Topic discussion begins around 7:10
Silk moth creative commons Wikipedia.
#silkmoth #entomology #sciencepodcast #scicomm #
Topic discussion begins around 7:10
Silk moth creative commons Wikipedia.
#silkmoth #entomology #sciencepodcast #scicomm #
This episode Amanda and Kelly discuss twisted-wing insects (Strepsiptera) with Dr Floria Mora-Kepfer Uy an assistant professor at the University of Rochester and a Levinson/Shapiro faculty scholar. @avispatica.bsky.social
September 24, 2025 at 1:02 PM
This episode Amanda and Kelly discuss twisted-wing insects (Strepsiptera) with Dr Floria Mora-Kepfer Uy an assistant professor at the University of Rochester and a Levinson/Shapiro faculty scholar. @avispatica.bsky.social
This episode Amanda and Kelly discuss mud daubers. These wasps use mud to build their nests and fill those nests with paralyzed spiders, which is a very sexy behavior. Tangents include dinosaurs, the morals of relative television, Earthworm Jim, Amanda's crochet tips.
Bug discussion begins at 5:20
Bug discussion begins at 5:20
September 1, 2025 at 4:10 PM
This episode Amanda and Kelly discuss mud daubers. These wasps use mud to build their nests and fill those nests with paralyzed spiders, which is a very sexy behavior. Tangents include dinosaurs, the morals of relative television, Earthworm Jim, Amanda's crochet tips.
Bug discussion begins at 5:20
Bug discussion begins at 5:20
This episode we are joined by Dr Scott Kight once again to talk about Belostomatidae. We initially planned to do this topic around Father's Day for reasons that will become apparent. Tangents include bears, science teachers, and that Coldplay concert.
Photo attributed to Frank Vassen from Wikipedia
Photo attributed to Frank Vassen from Wikipedia
August 23, 2025 at 3:33 PM
This episode we are joined by Dr Scott Kight once again to talk about Belostomatidae. We initially planned to do this topic around Father's Day for reasons that will become apparent. Tangents include bears, science teachers, and that Coldplay concert.
Photo attributed to Frank Vassen from Wikipedia
Photo attributed to Frank Vassen from Wikipedia
New episode! X-Mantis (Manitdae)! This episode contains discussion of sexual cannibalism as we discuss the classic mantis and how they are centaurs. Tangents include eagles, ninjas, and Amanda's art tips. #entomology #scicomm #sciencepodcast
July 24, 2025 at 3:45 PM
New episode! X-Mantis (Manitdae)! This episode contains discussion of sexual cannibalism as we discuss the classic mantis and how they are centaurs. Tangents include eagles, ninjas, and Amanda's art tips. #entomology #scicomm #sciencepodcast
Kelly & Amanda continue wet bug summer with another true bug. These hemipterans have conquered the water surface of ponds, streams, rivers, lakes, and even the open ocean. Tangents include pokemon, New Jersey, doctor parties, mantis shrimps and some of our past chars. Amanda almost eats a spider.
June 24, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Kelly & Amanda continue wet bug summer with another true bug. These hemipterans have conquered the water surface of ponds, streams, rivers, lakes, and even the open ocean. Tangents include pokemon, New Jersey, doctor parties, mantis shrimps and some of our past chars. Amanda almost eats a spider.
While most are beneficial, there is a deadly exception! Tangents include Naruto ninjas, Elizabeth Wheatley, and Detective Comics Comics' character Ambush Bug.
Photos by our buddy Kevin Wiener
Photos by our buddy Kevin Wiener
June 9, 2025 at 9:07 PM
While most are beneficial, there is a deadly exception! Tangents include Naruto ninjas, Elizabeth Wheatley, and Detective Comics Comics' character Ambush Bug.
Photos by our buddy Kevin Wiener
Photos by our buddy Kevin Wiener
This episode we discuss the #Reduviidae family, colloquially known as assassin bugs. There are many different kinds and all of them are cunning hunters that turn their prey into Capri Suns and some turn them into fashion. ⬇️
June 9, 2025 at 9:07 PM
This episode we discuss the #Reduviidae family, colloquially known as assassin bugs. There are many different kinds and all of them are cunning hunters that turn their prey into Capri Suns and some turn them into fashion. ⬇️
This week's episode is about a fairly unremarkable aquatic beetle. Tangents include AI generated images, Chris Angel, Hugh Jackman, and horror novels. Includes spoilers for The Prestige. #scicomm #sciencepodcast #entomology
May 26, 2025 at 3:21 PM
This week's episode is about a fairly unremarkable aquatic beetle. Tangents include AI generated images, Chris Angel, Hugh Jackman, and horror novels. Includes spoilers for The Prestige. #scicomm #sciencepodcast #entomology
Kelly has now become Dr Kelly @fillsyourniche.bsky.social . Much of the episode is about the process of earning a doctorate. The rest of the episode is devoted to discussion of fruit flies, art history, swords, and friend of the pod, Dr Ped.
May 22, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Kelly has now become Dr Kelly @fillsyourniche.bsky.social . Much of the episode is about the process of earning a doctorate. The rest of the episode is devoted to discussion of fruit flies, art history, swords, and friend of the pod, Dr Ped.
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: mosquitoes, hornworms, pets, and jumping spiders! Check out how cute her dog Pfeffer is!
Follow Emily here on Blue Sky @miteymle.bsky.social
Follow Emily here on Blue Sky @miteymle.bsky.social
February 7, 2025 at 8:03 PM
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: mosquitoes, hornworms, pets, and jumping spiders! Check out how cute her dog Pfeffer is!
Follow Emily here on Blue Sky @miteymle.bsky.social
Follow Emily here on Blue Sky @miteymle.bsky.social
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, an endangered species listing. But most importantly they have each other.
December 24, 2024 at 5:11 PM
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, an endangered species listing. But most importantly they have each other.
Kelly and Producer Derek are back from the ESA conference in Pheonix and Kelly shares some stories. Not a bug, but the evolutionary arms race between scorpions and their predators has created a truly terrific terror. Tangents: butterflies,Disney, and vikings.
(Image credit: Minden Pictures/Alamy)
December 14, 2024 at 5:58 PM
Kelly and Producer Derek are back from the ESA conference in Pheonix and Kelly shares some stories. Not a bug, but the evolutionary arms race between scorpions and their predators has created a truly terrific terror. Tangents: butterflies,Disney, and vikings.
(Image credit: Minden Pictures/Alamy)
This female Pseudomethoca sp. is a real beauty! Thanks to Kevin Wiener of All Bugs Go to kevin (FB page) for the photo.
November 27, 2024 at 4:20 PM
This female Pseudomethoca sp. is a real beauty! Thanks to Kevin Wiener of All Bugs Go to kevin (FB page) for the photo.
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. #scicomm #sciencepodcast #entomology #entomologypodcast
November 27, 2024 at 4:16 PM
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. #scicomm #sciencepodcast #entomology #entomologypodcast
Kelly and Producer Derek had a great time at #EntSoc24 conference in Phoenix! We talked to a lot of folks about coming on the pod to talk about their favorite bugs! Please reach out if you'd like to be on. #entomology #scicomm #podcast
November 16, 2024 at 7:46 PM
Kelly and Producer Derek had a great time at #EntSoc24 conference in Phoenix! We talked to a lot of folks about coming on the pod to talk about their favorite bugs! Please reach out if you'd like to be on. #entomology #scicomm #podcast
Producer Derek dressed up as a mantis for Halloween and alongside his bug-themed kitties! Zotz the butterfly and Rotunda as a bee who is totally over it. #catsofbluesky #cats #halloween
November 5, 2024 at 7:34 PM
Producer Derek dressed up as a mantis for Halloween and alongside his bug-themed kitties! Zotz the butterfly and Rotunda as a bee who is totally over it. #catsofbluesky #cats #halloween
Kelly's chonky pirate boy Finn (one eye three legs)
October 28, 2024 at 3:56 PM
Kelly's chonky pirate boy Finn (one eye three legs)
Kelly's old man Darcy
October 28, 2024 at 3:55 PM
Kelly's old man Darcy
Producer Derek's wild boy Zotz
October 28, 2024 at 3:55 PM
Producer Derek's wild boy Zotz
This is Producer Derek's cat Desi, who often joins us for recordings!
October 28, 2024 at 3:54 PM
This is Producer Derek's cat Desi, who often joins us for recordings!