These are the stories about birds, bugs, fish and mammals that surprised and delighted readers the most this year.
Tag: Insects
He Was a Stick, She Was a Leaf; Together They Made History
A surprise clutch of eggs has solved a century-old leaf insect mystery.
You Can’t Escape Lice, Even 6,500 Feet Below the Ocean
A species of insect tags along with elephant seals as they spend months at sea, enduring the crushing pressure changes of the mammals’ dives.
Citrus Flavoring Is Weaponized Against Insect-Borne Diseases
The E.P.A. has approved nootkatone, which is found in cedars and grapefruit. It repels ticks, mosquitoes and other dangerous bugs for hours, but is safe enough to eat.
India’s Capital Faces a ‘Swarmageddon’ of Locusts
The country is weathering its worst invasion in more than two decades. With the monsoon season looming, scientists worry that the worst is yet to come.
‘Never Say Die’: Genetic Sleuths Rediscover Extinct Species
The rediscovery of an insect in Wales hints at environmental DNA sampling’s potential to change endangered species protection.
‘Like an Umbrella Had Covered the Sky’: Locust Swarms Despoil Kenya
At first, villagers thought the dark, dense blot in the sky was a harmless cloud. Then came the terrifying realization that the locusts had arrived.