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Bugs Need Heroes

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 BugsNeedHeroes.com

Email us questions about bugs at BugsNeedHeroes@gmail.com

Created by Derek Conrad and Kelly Zimmerman.

Hosted by Amanda Niday and Kelly Zimmerman.

Edited by Derek Conrad.

Character artwork by Amanda Niday.

”Ladybug Castle” by Rolemusic is licensed under a Attribution 3.0 International License.

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  • 25 episodes
  • fortnightly
  • Avg 1 hr 7 min
  • English

Episodes 25

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Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.
  • #93
    Dec 29, 2025 · 1 hr 19 min

    Auntie Spider (SOCIAL AND SPITTING SPIDERS)

    We take another dip into our spider-verse with a discussion of spitting spiders and spider sociality. Tangents include parenting and homework advice, hamster cannibalism, Superman, Fionna and Cake. It takes a friendly neighborhood to raise a spider (aka a crawl space). Bug discussion begins around 7:10 Kevin's Spider Video: Spitting Spider (Scytodes longipes) exhibiting its "spitting" behavior. Kelly's Field Notes: https://www.bugsneedheroes.com/episodes/auntie-spider 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. Zotz did not help, but he tried to. Created by Derek Conrad and Kelly Zimmerman. Character artwork by Amanda Niday. Music is Ladybug Castle by Rolemusic. Special thanks to Kevin Weiner for sharing his photography and creating the All Bugs Go To Kevin group.

  • #92
    Dec 15, 2025 · 1 hr 20 min

    The Rising of the Stink Hero (SHIELD BUGS)

    This week Amanda and Dr Kelly Z discuss the family Pentatomidae, also known as shield bugs but more commonly known as stink bugs. You may have fought them in the video game Grounded. Special attention is given to the Brown Mamorated Stink Bug (Halyomorpha halys) for being an agricultural pest and seasonal nuisance in winter. Tangents include children's names, eating bugs, and how Kelly was married by a sea captain. Bug discussion begins around 10:30 Kelly's Field Notes: https://www.bugsneedheroes.com/episodes/rising-of-the-stink-hero 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. Zotz did not help. He got in the way. A lot. Created by Derek Conrad and Kelly Zimmerman. Character artwork by Amanda Niday. Music is Ladybug Castle by Rolemusic. Special thanks to Kevin Weiner for sharing his photography and creating the All Bugs Go To Kevin group.

  • #91
    Dec 1, 2025 · 1 hr 9 min

    Spider Rider (MANTIDFLIES)

    This episode Amanda and Dr Kelly Z discuss mantidflies (Mantispidae), which are neither mantids nor flies. Tangents include movies, deviled eggs, and kicking robot dogs. And Kelly eats some ant sauce??? Thanks to Andrew for nominating this bug. Bug discussion begins around 10:05 Kelly's Field Notes and pictures from Kevin Weiner: https://www.bugsneedheroes.com/episodes/spider-rider 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. Zotz helped a little. Created by Derek Conrad and Kelly Zimmerman. Character artwork by Amanda Niday. Music is Ladybug Castle by Rolemusic. Special thanks to Kevin Weiner for sharing his photography and creating the All Bugs Go To Kevin group.

  • #90
    Nov 17, 2025 · 1 hr 10 min

    The Good, The Bad, and the Bugly (LONGHORN BEETLES)

    This episode Amanda and Kelly discuss long-horn beetles. Tangents include forest creatures, mimicry, and television's Survivor. Kelly's Field Notes and pictures from Kevin Weiner: https://www.bugsneedheroes.com/episodes/the-good-the-bad-and-the-bugly 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. ROTUNDA helped a little. Created by Derek Conrad and Kelly Zimmerman. Character artwork by Amanda Niday. Music is Ladybug Castle by Rolemusic.

  • #89
    Oct 27, 2025 · 1 hr 3 min

    Scooty! (HOUSE CENTIPEDES)

    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 Kelly's Field Notes and pictures from Kevin Weiner: https://www.bugsneedheroes.com/episodes/scooty 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. ROTUNDA helped a little. Created by Derek Conrad and Kelly Zimmerman. Character artwork by Amanda Niday. Music is Ladybug Castle by Rolemusic. Producer Note: Derek accidentally uploaded the wrong file version initially. This has been fixed.

Showing 21–25 of 25 episodes