Bugs Need Heroes

Latest Episodes:

The Bouncing Brute (SPOTTED LANTERNFLY) Jul 02, 2023

Show notes

In this episode we talk about Kelly's cat's favorite bug: the spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula). Kelly rants about honeybees. Amanda teaches Kelly the term "caked up." Tangents include Sir Arthur Conan Doyle believing in faeries, crocuses, and trying to remember Adrien Brody's name. Plus a bonus taste test that makes Amanda uncomfortable.

The spotted lanternfly smashing app is called Squishr.

The taste test was of "DoomBloom" from The Philadelphia Bee Company

Field notes and artwork on our website: https://www.bugsneedheroes.com/episodes/the-bouncing-brute

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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 by Rolemusic.

The Harvestman as portrayed by Pedro Pascal (DADDY LONG LEGS) Jun 18, 2023

Show notes

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 impressive parental care. Also in this episode, Amanda talks about a car accident. Tangents include Bluey, Henry Cavill Sherlock, and a lot of talk about things dads enjoy (farts).

Kelly mentioned a video from Vine that showed the clumped up daddies. That has been rehosted here: https://youtu.be/JG3WXlykzhY

Kelly's Field Notes: https://www.bugsneedheroes.com/episodes/the-harvestman-as-played-by-pedro-pascal

Send us questions and suggestions! BugsNeedHeroes@gmail.com

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Hosted by Amanda Niday and Kelly Zimmerman

Editing by Derek Conrad with assistance from Chelsey Bawden.

Created by Derek Conrad and Kelly Zimmerman.

Character artwork by Amanda Niday.

Music by Rolemusic.

Bug Hero: Kaitlyn O’Donnell (WINTER MOTHS, BIOCONTROL, CATTAIL MOSQUITOES) Jun 04, 2023

Show notes

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 Jupiter Ascending, bald eagles, and Amanda opens a can of worms called the biological species concept. Producer Derek highly recommends the documentaries Cane Toads: An Unnatural History and Ferrets: The Pursuit of Excellence but really any film by Mark Lewis is worth checking out.

Follow Kaitlyn on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/entomol_oh_gee/

Send us questions and suggestions! BugsNeedHeroes@gmail.com

Join us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bugsneedheroes/

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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 by Rolemusic.

Across the Spider-People (MILES MORALES, JESSICA DREW, MIGUEL O’HARA) May 21, 2023

Show notes

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 characters, and to make wild speculation about the plot based on some of the comics we have read. We previously published an episode about Peter Parker in September 2022 discussing how that Spider-Man's powers compare to real life spiders. Tangents include Disney's Encanto, the dystopian setting of Marvel's Spider-Man 2099, the trouble with multiverse stories, and what Brian Michael Bendis is like as a college professor (adjunct).

This episode contains minor spoilers for The Mitchell's Vs The Machines and Spider-Man: No Way Home but does not have spoilers for Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse unless we got lucky.

Field notes and artwork on our website: https://www.bugsneedheroes.com/episodes/across-the-spider-people

Send us questions and suggestions! BugsNeedHeroes@gmail.com

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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 by Rolemusic.

The Super Mom (EARWIGS) May 07, 2023

Show notes

The vocab word of the day is cerci. Amanda proves she has been paying attention in this episode about perhaps the buggiest bug who ever bugged. This episode discusses the soil beasts who you may find in your bathroom and their outstanding parental care. Tangents in this episode include the moral capacity for evil in dolphins, garter snakes, and the films of Don Bluth (both real and imagined).

Field notes and artwork on our website: https://www.bugsneedheroes.com/episodes/the-super-mom

Send us questions and suggestions! BugsNeedHeroes@gmail.com

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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 by Rolemusic.

The Basic Bug (SILVERFISH) Apr 23, 2023

Show notes

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. Tangents in this episode include eating ants, marine biology, and fiddler crabs in The Little Mermaid.

Field notes and artwork on our website: https://www.bugsneedheroes.com/episodes/the-basic-bug

Send us questions and suggestions! BugsNeedHeroes@gmail.com

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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 by Rolemusic.

The Goth Moth (DEATH’S-HEAD HAWKMOTH) Apr 09, 2023

Show notes

The star of the cover of the VHS box art of the 1991 film Silence of the Lambs is here. This aesthetic insect has a dark secret! What relationship does she have with the bees, poisonous plants, and bad omens? Tangents in this episode include Ikea trips, targeted advertisements, and spoilers for American Gods by Neil Gaiman.

Episode notes and artwork: https://www.bugsneedheroes.com/episodes/the-goth-moth

Send us questions and suggestions! BugsNeedHeroes@gmail.com

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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 by Rolemusic.

The Killer Queen (CICADA KILLER) Mar 25, 2023

Show notes

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 have a surprisingly survival strategy. Also in this episode, Amanda forgets to turn off her discord notifications and learns about insect wings.

Show notes and hero: https://www.bugsneedheroes.com/episodes/the-killer-queen

Send us questions and suggestions! BugsNeedHeroes@gmail.com

Join us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bugsneedheroes/

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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 by Rolemusic.

The Cottagecore Queen (MASON BEES) Mar 13, 2023

Show notes

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. These belly-flopping bees are lemon-scented friends and they are as beautiful as the orchards they visit. And if you want these beneficial bugs in your backyard, you can set up a house for Osmia and other insects to use. Also in this episode, Amanda tries to show Kelly her ears.

Show notes and hero: https://www.bugsneedheroes.com/episodes/the-cottagecore-queen

Send us questions and suggestions! BugsNeedHeroes@gmail.com

Join us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bugsneedheroes/

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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 by Rolemusic.

The Last of Ants (CORDYCEPS) Feb 26, 2023

Show notes

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 arthropods. We talk about some of the common zombie tropes, how fungi partner with trees, and how ants avoid their own apocalyptic fungal infections.

Show notes and hero: https://www.bugsneedheroes.com/episodes/the-last-of-ants

Send us questions and suggestions! BugsNeedHeroes@gmail.com

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 by Rolemusic.