Part One: Plants Need Bugs (DC’s POISON IVY/SWAMP THING, Marvel’s GROOT)

The Viridian Villain (EMERALD ASH BORER): The first villain for the show is an invasive wood beetle that threatens to decimate our forests. See the heroes on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bugsneedheroes/ Join us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/bugsneedheroesJoin us on Reddit: https://www.... by Bugs Need Heroes

39 min listen

The Yellow-Blooded Hero (LADYBUGS): This episode Amanda and Kelly discuss LADYBUGS. What do they do? Why are they red? Are any of them blue? All of these questions and more are answered! See the hero here: Instagram.com/p/CfP2zLmJVxo/ Join us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/bugsneedheroesJ... by Bugs Need Heroes

32 min listen

Mini Episode: Bonus Bits: CONTENT WARNING: Amanda tells a gross story about eating spoiled food in this collection of cut bits.Send us questions! BugsNeedHeroes@gmail.com Join us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/bugsneedheroesJoin us on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/BugsNeedHer... by Bugs Need Heroes

15 min listen

Listener Questions Mini Episode: Black Widow, John Cena, Antz vs Bugs Life: Some cut discussion from previous episodes about Marvel's Black Widow, John Cena and wrestling, and whether Antz or A Bugs Life is more accurate. Send us questions! BugsNeedHeroes@gmail.com Join us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/bugsneedheroesJoin us on... by Bugs Need Heroes

11 min listen

The Last of Ants (CORDYCEPS): Kelly and Amanda start this episode talking about oral surgery but pivot to something slightly less scary: The Last of Us. There are many types of infectious fungi, but we focus on the cordyceps/ophiocordyceps species which infect terrestrial arthrop... by Bugs Need Heroes

64 min listen

A Boxing Day Delay (BUGJOKES): The cave we keep Producer Derek in unfortunately flooded and he hasn't been able to polish off this week's episode! But no worries, Amanda is here with some apologetic bug jokes to tide you over until (hopefully) next week! She does not apologize for... by Bugs Need Heroes

3 min listen

Explodey Joe (BOMBARDIER BEETLES): The Bombardier Beetle is a bug we've wanted to cover since the beginning and now that Derek's basement isn't flooded, we can! There are over 500 species of these beetles with some surprising life histories and a shared appreciation of boiling enemies... by Bugs Need Heroes

69 min listen

The Friendly Neighborhood Hero (Marvel’s SPIDER-MAN): Respect the hyphen! This episode is all about Peter Parker and how his powers compare to actual spiders. Is Spider-man amazing or simply spectacular? Is Tom Holland the best Spider-man yet? Where did Peter get his sick dance moves? Does the MCU need more... by Bugs Need Heroes

64 min listen

The Bean Bosses (CHOCOLATE MIDGE): Chocolate midges (Genus: Forcipomyia) are tiny flies that do one big thing for us. In size? Miniscule. In impact? Monstrous! It's a very distractible week on the pod. Topics range from super hero movies to royal journals to extinct birds! It's a very... by Bugs Need Heroes

59 min listen

The Hungry, Hairy Heroes (WOOLLY BEAR/ISABELLA TIGER MOTH): This episode Amanda and Kelly discuss WOOLLY BEAR CATERPILLARS (Pyrrharctia isabella) and their adult moth form. See the heroes on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CfdQlDjLmyb/ Join us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/bugsneedheroesJoin us on Reddi... by Bugs Need Heroes

36 min listen

The Dashing Duo (DAMSELFLIES AND DRAGONFLIES): Amanda and Kelly discuss the order Odonata which includes dragonflies and damselflies with a fantasy twist. See the heroes on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bugsneedheroes/ Join us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/bugsneedheroesJoin us on Reddit: ... by Bugs Need Heroes

52 min listen

Ms. Buzz (YELLOWJACKETS): Bust out the picnic baskets and settle in for some social wasp discussion. The newest member of the Bee Team is fast, thorough, and sharp as a tack. Amanda confronts her prejudices after being stung. Kelly has never been stung. Producer Derek has bee... by Bugs Need Heroes

68 min listen

Kelly’s Nemesis (MOSQUITOES): Is she good? She is bad? This episode features the focal species of Kelly's PhD research and Amanda learns some startling facts about what mosquitoes are up to when they aren't biting her ankles. See the heroes on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/b... by Bugs Need Heroes

71 min listen

The Burning Bee (JAPANESE HONEY BEES): This episode focuses on a subspecies of the Eastern Honey Bee, Apis cerana japonica, which has some unique and impressive behaviors to thwart would-be predators. Kelly discusses the Better Common Names Project, bee balls, and jello. Amanda discusses the ... by Bugs Need Heroes

63 min listen

The Anti-hero (PAVEMENT ANTS): This episode Amanda and Kelly discuss PAVEMENT ANTS (Tetramorium caespitum). You may have see them, their sand volcanos, or their wars. See the heroes on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bugsneedheroes/ Join us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/bugsnee... by Bugs Need Heroes

49 min listen

Bats Need Heroes (DC’s BATMAN Special): 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 mos... by Bugs Need Heroes

76 min listen

The Big Boys (RHINOCEROS BEETLE/STAG BEETLE): Content Warning for this episode: There is a story about the loss of a pet and brief mention of suicide from minutes 9-14. In this episode, Amanda flexes her art history degree and Kelly adds another item to her shopping list. An example of remarkable ... by Bugs Need Heroes

75 min listen

Bug Hero: Kaitlyn O’Donnell (WINTER MOTHS, BIOCONTROL, CATTAIL MOSQUITOES): This episode with interview entomologist Kaitlyn O'Donnell to talk about a range of topics, but particularly her work with the invasive winter moth (Operophtera brumata) and her work at Norfolk County Mosquito Control. Tangents include the film Jupit... by Bugs Need Heroes

69 min listen

The Cottagecore Queen (MASON BEES): It is time! We recorded this episode back in January and saved it until it was time. It is time! It is time to put out your mason bee houses! Kelly describes the natural history of these powerful pollinators and Amanda quickly becomes infatuated. The... by Bugs Need Heroes

69 min listen

Holiday Special (Marvel’s MANTIS/Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special): We decided to watch and discuss the new release on Disney+, the 2022 Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special. We talk about how Mantis, played by Pom Klementieff, compares to actual an actual mantis and whatever else wanders through our heads in this... by Bugs Need Heroes

73 min listen

The Fuzzy Friend (BUMBLEBEES): We continue to assemble our Bee Team with a gentle giant. We discuss their similarities and differences in life history to the other two bees we have discussed. And it wouldn't be a Bugs Need Heroes episode without sneaking a little bit of art histor... by Bugs Need Heroes

56 min listen

Part One: Plants Need Bugs (DC’s POISON IVY/SWAMP THING, Marvel’s GROOT): This week we are joined by Dr. Pedram Daneshgar! With the Bee Team almost completed, we wanted to talk to a botanist about pollination, but we quickly got off topic. We talk about invasive species, pollination, art history, and our favorite plant sup... by Bugs Need Heroes

48 min listen

The Basic Bug (SILVERFISH): Get ready to learn some entomology jargon! This episode is all about what a bug is. We discuss taxonomy, anatomy, how we are defining a "bug" in this podcast. If you've ever wondered if bugs are tasting you with their feet, this episode is for you. T... by Bugs Need Heroes

84 min listen

The Killer Queen (CICADA KILLER): Introducing the final member of our "Bee Team". Fastidious and precise! Guaranteed to blow your mind! Although they look intimidating, Cicada Killers (Sphecius spp) have been described as "the gentle giants of the wasp world." These gregarious wasps ... by Bugs Need Heroes

55 min listen

Part Two: Plants Need Bugs (DC’s POISON IVY/SWAMP THING, Marvel’s GROOT): This week we are joined by Dr. Pedram Daneshgar! We continue last week's discussion on plant super powers and their pollinators. We veer into plant defenses and regeneration, fungal relationships, gardening, and house plants! We tried to cover everyt... by Bugs Need Heroes

59 min listen

The Harvestman as portrayed by Pedro Pascal (DADDY LONG LEGS): In this episode, we discuss the arachnid order Opiliones, also known as Harvestmen or Daddy longlegs. Easily confused with spiders, these detritivores have long had an urban legend about their mythical bite. But they are harmless and exhibit some im... by Bugs Need Heroes

63 min listen

Team Jacobaea (CINNABAR MOTH): It's just about time for National Moth Week! In this episode we talk about Producer Derek's favorite moth: the cinnabar moth (Tyria jacobaeae). Finally, a rival for Isabella Tigermoth. And this moth isn't alone in her fight against the noxious Stin... by Bugs Need Heroes

67 min listen

Throw Dirt at Bees with Dr Mathias Nordvig (NORDIC MYTHOLOGY): This episode we interview Dr. Mathias Nordvig, Professor or Pre-Christian mythologies and Scandinavian folklore at the University of Colorado, Boulder. We chat about the differences between Norse and Nordic, bees in Nordic mythology, and why there is... by Bugs Need Heroes

80 min listen

The Brown Beetle (DUNG BEETLES): We talk about poop in this episode. A lot. You know this bug from the nature documentaries, but with seven thousand species, there's a lot you don't know about this romantic beetle. Tangents include whether Kelly has seen Across the Spider-verse yet ... by Bugs Need Heroes

76 min listen

Across the Spider-People (MILES MORALES, JESSICA DREW, MIGUEL O’HARA): We recorded this episode before the release of the 2023 animated film Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse to discuss the heroes we expect to see in the film (Miles Morales, Jessica Drew, Gwen Stacy, and Miguel O'Hara), what we love about these charac... by Bugs Need Heroes

80 min listen

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Part One: Plants Need Bugs (DC’s POISON IVY/SWAMP THING, Marvel’s GROOT)

Part One: Plants Need Bugs (DC’s POISON IVY/SWAMP THING, Marvel’s GROOT)

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