It’s not illegal to keep a mantis as a pet (mostly)

This has to be one of the most common things I hear from kids and teachers: “I want to keep a praying mantis as a pet, but it’s illegal!” or “I want to keep them, but they’re endangered!”
The other big myth associated with mantids is that it’s illegal to kill them.
These are myths. If [...]

The spider(s) that ate Texas

This awesome photo is the subject of much discussion among entomologists lately. (larger photo here)
Is it from a massive dispersal of spiderlings?
Or is it part of a communal web?
Many people don’t realize that a few (fairly uncommon) spiders actually live together in a group. It’s not like ants and bees–all the spiders in a [...]