As the crisp air of autumn gives way to the cold of winter, many of us wonder: where do all the bugs go? These tiny creatures, plentiful in warmer months, seem to disappear when the temperatures drop. But while it might seem like they vanish entirely, insects have some fascinating ways of surviving the cold. From hibernating in hidden nooks to migrating to warmer climates, bugs have evolved a variety of clever strategies to weather the winter. In this blog, we'll explore where bugs go during the colder months and how they manage to survive until spring returns.   Where Do Bugs Go in Winter? HIBERNATION You might think that hibernation is reserved for the bears and hedgehogs of the world, but insects can hibernate, too! This version of hibernation is known as diapause and shows the wonderful ways that animals can adapt to their environment. Insects will slow their heart rate enough to enter a state of torpor. They find a nice place to shelter, such as in leaf litter, under logs, and even in homes and enter a dormant state for the colder months. Some insects even produce chemicals that keep the cells and tissues inside their bodies from freezing and rupturing their delicate bodies.  These chemicals consist of glycerol, proteins, and sugars, and are known as ‘cryoprotectant compounds’.   Bees have some really interesting hibernation tendencies. They vary from species to species. In some species, only the queen hibernates, and in others, like honeybees, they simply huddle together in their hives for warmth. Some butterflies also hibernate, hanging upside down inside sheds and sheltered spaces.   MIGRATION There are a few insects that do migrate in the colder months, allowing them to escape the harshest elements of the winter season. Monarch butterflies are a good example of this, flying all the way from the US to Mexico, and sometimes even the UK. Several other butterfly species migrate to warmer climates during the winter, like Painted Ladies and Clouded Yellows. For these insects, it is usually a one-way journey, and the next generation will travel back with the return of the warmer weather in spring.   SURVIVAL As you’ll know, a large amount of insects do remain active. Take a look in any living room or hallway during the winter months, and you’ll see your fair share of spiders sheltering in the warmth. A few insects are even finishing up mating at the start of the winter, laying their eg gs in leaf piles or underwater to protect them from the harsh elements. Some even take this a step further by finishing their lifecycles before the harshness of winter sets in, dying after laying their eggs so that the next generation can hatch with the warmth of spring.  These insects utilise warm, sheltered environments to their advantage, and some have adapted over generations to protect themselves from the cold.

For me, there’s no greater pleasure than spotting an animal in the wild. That’s why I dedicate so much effort to travelling to remote locations - just in the hope of seeing some rare species. Whether by luck or skill, I’ve had some spectacular animal encounters over the years. So, in celebration of National Wildlife Day, here are my top 5... Natureman's Top 5 Animal Experiences 1. Blue Whales in Sri Lanka Being the largest animal to ever exist, you’d think a blue whale would be easy to see, but in the vast ocean and with their surprising camouflage, they aren’t as easy to find. I chartered a boat to explore the busy shipping lanes around the southern coast. After a few hours, I was rewarded with a plume of water and air in the distance. It was a Blue Whale! It’s difficult to explain the enormity of its form. It was like seeing a building moving under the waves! I’d estimate it was 4 x the length of the boat I was standing on. Occasionally, its tail would break the water, and it looked like the size of an articulated lorry! 2. Tigers in India This was a very special experience. Tigers are an iconic species, and they are nothing less than majestic. I have seen many other big cats, but Tigers are the ones that I had only dreamt of seeing. Tracking them down was an exciting activity. Listening out for warning calls from deer gives you an idea of where the tiger could be. Then.. you sit and wait. If you are lucky, the tiger will break cover, and you might get a few seconds to observe it. I don’t think any species on earth combines beauty and power like tigers! 3. Rhinoceros viper in Uganda Snakes in general can be extremely difficult to detect, and they often turn up when you don’t expect them to. I witnessed a rhinoceros viper getting killed by some farm workers on a road in rural Uganda. I was very sad when I saw this, as it was a very rare species. I decided to spend the next day walking the roads in the hope of finding one. By that evening, I gave up - no luck at all. On my way back home, I decided to explore an old trail in the forest where I heard some birds attacking something. I looked deep into the bush and saw the side of a massive viper! I carefully moved it out, and it sat nicely on the path as I photographed it! Nearly 20 years later, I consider it the most amazing snake I’ve found! 4. Starling murmuration in the UK In late March, I get incredible murmurations of starlings in a nature reserve near my house. I have seen many of these, but a few years ago, I had a special encounter where there were tens of thousands of them, and while it’s normally something I see off in the distance, this time they were directly overhead. The sound of thousands of wings moving creates a roaring sound, and when they went over, it started to rain poop! The swirling patterns were totally mesmerising, and for half an hour I just looked up in awe. It was an important reminder to myself that sometimes the most amazing sightings can occur in your own village! 5. Octopus in the Mediterranean Octopuses are my favourite animal, and even as a child, I dedicated any time I had on holiday to finding one. It took years. I remember being around 7 and in the car on the way to the airport, wondering whether this would be the time that I would find one. After a long day lifting rocks on the beach, my family went to the hotel to get ready for dinner. I said I’d catch up to them as I wasn’t quite ready to give up! Suddenly, I saw what I’d been looking for! The octopus seemed to be just as surprised and shot under a huge boulder. I decided to sit on top of the rock and wait. A few minutes later, it slipped back out, and I gently picked it up. It crawled up my arm and around my neck. I then released it back into the water. I ran to tell my family, only to see my mum in the hotel lift. “Mum! You won’t believe it!”... “You found an octopus”, she said. I asked, “How do you know?” I then caught my reflection in a mirror and saw my whole upper body was covered in tiny ‘love bites’ made by its suckers!

It's time for World Clean Up Day once again! Every September, people come together across the world to pick up litter in their local area, leaving it better than how they found it. And, once again, ZooLab are taking part! What is World Clean Up Day? Every September, people across the world come together to celebrate World Clean Up Day. Over 11 million people in 221 countries have taken on the task of fighting waste in their local area - that's 1.4% of the world's population! This can be groups, organisations, businesses, and even individuals who go out for a walk in their local area and pick up any litter they see. Last year, it even became an official International Day in the United Nations Calendar! Why is it celebrated? Almost 48% of people admit to dropping litter. According to the Marine Conservation Society , around 2,000 pieces of litter are collected per kilometre by their litter pickers along our coastline.  Waste is a huge problem across the world. Cities, beaches, towns, forests... nowhere is safe from waste. It's incredibly harmful to our environment, contributing to climate change, endangering animals, increasing the risk of disease, and so much more. By getting rid of even a small amount of litter, we can improve the look of our local area and everyone who calls it home. ZooLab gets involved! We have been participating in World Clean Up Day since 2020. In that time, we've managed to clear over 150 bags from our local communities across the UK. We find this an incredibly fulfilling activity, and every little helps in the protection of our wildlife and environment. Take a look at some pictures of us on our litter picks! How can I get involved? It really is as simple as going out in your local area and picking up all the litter you see! You don't need any fancy kit, just a bin bag and ideally a litter picker or some gardening gloves. Pick up all the waste (although be careful of sharp or dangerous objects) and dispose of them in a rubbish bin! Let us know in the comments if you take part!

The days are drawing in and the chill is setting in, which can only mean one thing… winter will soon be upon us! So, this World Mental Health Day, let’s look at 10 ways that you can take care of your mental health and enjoy the best that the season has to offer. Top 10 Ways to Care for Your Mental Health in Winter this World Mental Health Day. Make the most of the daylight hours With the shorter daylight hours, it’s more important than ever to soak up as much sun as possible. This can help alleviate symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and generally make us feel better. Try investing in a light box for areas you’re in regularly that mimics natural light, and keep curtains open as much as possible.   Embrace the slow life Winter is the perfect opportunity to embrace the slow, cosy life. The dark days and chilly weather are the perfect excuse to stay wrapped up on the sofa with a good book and a warm drink. Taking time to slow down can help us rest and rejuvenate, improving our mental health. It’s the closest we can get to hibernating!   Stay connected with friends and family Social media can only get us so far when it comes to staying connected to the people around us. There’s nothing like spending quality time with those we love to boost our mood and feel like we have a community. This could be as simple as a phone/video call, but even better is arranging something in person. It gives you something to look forward to!   Spruce up your environment Spring cleaning doesn’t have to just be for spring! Giving your place a good clean and sorting out can make your space feel completely new and clear some mental clutter too! Plus, decorating for the spooky and festive season is a brilliant creative outlet!   Engage in your hobbies (or start a new one) On the topic of creative outlets, engage in your hobbies! Whether that’s crochet/knitting, painting, board games, or anything in between, investing in yourself and your hobbies has a host of benefits. They give a sense of purpose, boost self-esteem, reduce stress, and can even promote social connection! Starting a new hobby can also increase our confidence and give our brains a workout!   Start a project Hobbies can give us the perfect opportunity for long-term projects to see us through the dark days. It could be crocheting a blanket, redecorating your bathroom, learning a new language – anything that requires a bit of commitment. These activities can give us a sense of purpose and something to think about and look forward to! Then, once yoy’ve finished, you get the satisfaction of a job well done!   Create a routine and stick to it Everything changes so much at this time of year: the light levels, the weather, plans. It’s more important than ever to put together a routine that works for you. Having predictable activities every day can help you feel more in control and better able to handle whatever life throws your way.   Exercise A regular exercise schedule is a great way to improve and sustain your mental health. Studies have shown that the endorphins released when exercising are great stress-relievers and make us feel good. The cold weather may mean you don’t fancy going outside to exercise, so maybe consider a home workout or online exercise class. It could even be as simple as jogging in place for 10-15 minutes.   Eat a balanced diet It may sound obvious, but eating a good diet can help your mental health enormously, especially in the colder months. Making sure your body is fuelled correctly and has all the nutrients it needs does wonders for your wellbeing. It can help support your immune system, give you enough energy to keep your body warm through the cold, and vitamin D in particular can help defend against SAD.   Spend time with animals We would be amiss if we didn’t talk about the wonders of spending time with animals for our mental health. Animal therapy is a really useful tool to promote mental wellbeing and is recognised as an occupational therapy, suggesting that animals bring us together. Sound good? Learn more about animal therapy for mental well-being here and get in touch to book yours today!

It’s National Technology Day! Celebrating the contributions of technology to society, the day aims to inspire people to get excited about (and maybe even join) the technology field. We have a range of curriculum-based workshops that encourage your students to get excited about all things Technology. Here are some of our favourite technology workshops... Biomimicry Our new workshop combines the wonders of science and the ingenuity of technology to discover how scientists and engineers worldwide use animal-inspired technology to solve the issues of today. With fun experiments and some animal encounters, this workshop helps us learn why snake venom is being used in medication, how gecko feet inspired sticky tape, and how cockroaches may help in natural disasters.   ‘Biomimicry is the science of applying nature-inspired designs in human engineering and invention to solve human problems.’ Scientists and Engineers study plants and animals, looking for nature-inspired solutions to solve the problems of today. Thanks to evolution, plants and wildlife have come up with ingenious ways to survive and thrive in their natural environment. We can then use similar strategies to solve our own issues, like using the science of shark skin to reduce drag on aeroplanes or creating cockroach-like robots to explore the rubble of disaster sites.  Build A Dinosaur This is a great workshop for any budding engineers in your setting! Combining scientific work and imagination, we uncover the big ideas of science and stimulate keen interest in young minds. Using the characteristics of preexisting animals, we create our own, brand-new dinosaurs!   Animals have evolved over millions of years to have characteristics that increase their chance of individual survival as well as the survival of their species. Some species have even survived from the time of the dinosaurs to today with little change! Researching these animal species and their dino descendants gives scientists a better picture of the timeline of our planet and the creatures that inhabit it. Z.E.T: ZooLab Environmental Time-Machine ZET: ZooLab Environmental Time Machine looks at the negative effects of humanity on the environment and how technology affects the world around us. Z.E.T is an environmental time machine travelling through time, looking at climate data such as fossil fuels, sea ice, rainforests and extinctions. Our climate-themed workshop compares data from different eras, which allows students to form a direct comparison between human behaviour and climate change.   Climate change is generally defined as a significant variation of average weather conditions, such as conditions becoming warmer, wetter, or drier over several decades or more. It’s these longer-term trends that differentiate climate change from natural weather variability. This workshop provides a comprehensive look at the long-term changes in the Earth’s atmosphere, oceans, land surfaces, and cryosphere (frozen water systems). Discover what caused these changes and what lessons we can learn from the past and apply to the future to help reverse the climate change process. Biomimetics In this workshop, we look at a section of complex behaviours from the animal world (including Batesian mimicry, parthenogenesis and camouflage) and how animal adaptations influence technological advancements! What can humans learn from these marvels? Find out how nature-inspired solutions are influencing scientific, medical and engineering discovery.   Animals and plants have developed special characteristics to survive in their particular habitat. Adaptations include biological changes to body functions or structure, behavioural and physiological changes to meet the environment. Adaptations became widely discussed after Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace developed the theory of natural selection - i.e survival of the fittest, where the best adapted life forms survive and pass the most desirable characteristics to offspring.

Animals constantly fight for survival - predators, fighting for breeding rights, and the environment are just some of the things animals face daily. These pressures have produced many spectacular evolutionary adaptations. Let's look at some amazing animals and how they survive!  The Deep Sea Hagfish The deep sea hagfish is an eel-like fish often observed by deep-sea submersibles; they are scavengers, feeding on the deceased bodies of fish and other animals that sink deep towards the ocean's bottom. They appear like very primitive fish, which is correct as they are the only known animal with a skull but no 'true' spinal column, just primitive vertebra. Their unique survival strategy involves slime and lots of it! Should a predator attempt to eat a hagfish, special glands inside its body secrete slime, combined with seawater, which produces extremely fibrous slime. One hagfish can easily turn a bucket of seawater into slime. Most predators that make the mistake of trying to eat a hagish soon learn their lesson and won't try it again! The Pufferfish Another unusual fish is the pufferfish! With huge, cute eyes, their appearance captures many people's attention; they are, however, armed with many anti-predator abilities. The pufferfish will puff up like a living balloon, as their name suggests - preventing it from being swallowed by predators. Some species even have sharp spines that will jab their way into the predator's mouth; there have even been cases where the predator has died from a pufferfish stuck in their throat. It doesn't stop there; many pufferfish have tetrodotoxin, which interferes with nerve signals, prevents muscle movement and will kill large animals if they successfully swallow the pufferfish. Exploding Ants One truly bizarre defence mechanism is self-destruction. The exploding ants found in Asia give their lives for the 'greater good' of the colony. The smaller workers of the ant species Camponotus saundersi and C. explodens can willingly rupture their body walls, which results in their toxins getting sprayed in all directions. The liquid acts as glue and has a corrosive property and a chemical irritant! Although the colony loses important workers, this strategy must be a net positive behaviour, or it simply wouldn't have evolved into existence. The Tardigrade One animal is so tough that it stands head and shoulders above nearly everything else on Earth (and even OFF Earth!)! The tardigrade or 'water bear' is a tiny, near-microscopic animal associated with damp places. These little animals are a maximum of 1.2mm long and have four pairs of legs with little hooked claws. They have survived all mass extinctions on Earth, can happily go without water for over a decade (one specimen showed some movement after being 'dried' for 120 years!), and even survive the Antarctic's coldness and the Mariana Trench's deep-sea pressures. In fact, they can survive a temperature range of 300 ° F to absolute zero (-459.67 ° F !). It achieves this by cryptobiosis, where its metabolic activities almost completely halt - it's not dead but barely technically alive. They have a special protein that coats their DNA and prevents damage from radiation. When added to human cells, this protein reduced radiation damage by 40%! They can repair DNA and produce fatty acids, which is something our bodies cannot do. Here's the crazy part: on April 11th 2019, an Israeli moon lander 'Beresheet' failed its landing and crashed into the moo; its payload was several thousand tardigrades! Given their resistance, they probably survived the crash and entered that state of cryptobiosis and are, in fact, still alive. These animals are the greatest survivors on earth (and beyond)!

Our native biodiversity is in decline. The State of Nature Report, 2013 , shows that 16% of the UK’s species are classified as threatened, with one in six at risk of extinction. The report states that the UK is one of the world’s most nature-depleted areas.  ZooLab is passionate about raising awareness of our region's endangered animals. This is the second post in our new series, exploring each UK county and spotlighting at-risk species, as well as the conservation efforts to protect them. This time, we look at endangered animals in England. 5 Endangered Animals in England The Greater Mouse-Eared Bat Let’s start with a lonely giant: t he greater mouse-eared bat, is Europe’s largest bat and Britain's rarest mammal.  It is so rare that it was thought to be extinct. In 2002, a single male was spotted hibernating in a disused railway tunnel in Sussex. A year later, another male was found in a tunnel, and in 2025, a female was discovered . It is thought that these species may be crossing the channel from France to hibernate here. The UK population is thought to be 2 .  Conservation Efforts:  Disturbance and habitat loss are huge threats to UK bat species. Natural England’s Species Recovery Team has funded a project for the Vincent Wildlife Trust to support UK populations by protecting roosts, monitoring their populations, and exploring the possibility of reintroduction.  Daniel Hargreaves from the Vincent Wildlife Trust states, “By providing suitable roosts, restoring habitats and reducing anthropogenic threats such as artificial light and noise, this species might just stand a chance of recovering.” The Horrid Ground-Weaver Spider Found nowhere else in the world but (now) two abandoned limestone quarries around Plymouth, the horrid ground-weaver spider is critically endangered. This tiny spider is at great risk. With one site already lost to development, habitat destruction is a current reality with both others facing development.  This has led to the horrid ground-weaver being titled ‘one of the rarest spiders in the world’ by BugLife. Conservation Efforts:  BugLife   has orchestrated campaigns to protect the horrid ground-weaver.  In 2015 , BugLife and other organisations, along with local groups, helped to halt a housing development being built on Radford Quarry, protecting not only the horrid ground-weaver but also threatened butterflies and bats.  In 2017, Buglife worked with Plymouth City Council to reroute and create a new cycle path to avoid habitat distribution in Billacombe. Unfortunately, in 2025 , BugLife had to appeal to Plymouth Council again due to campsites and Christmas markets being held near the spiders in Radford Quarry. New Forest cicada The New Forest cicada is/was the UK’s only native cicada , which lived across Hampshire’s New Forest. Once a population of over 100, this species is thought to be extinct in the area, with the last confirmed sighting of the species being in the 1990s. The Species Recovery Trust believes that habitat loss and land management in the forest has resulted in a decline of the species.  Conservation Efforts:  A reintroduced project led by Species Recovery Trust has seen 11 cicadas from Slovenia introduced to a specially created area. Young cicadas spend years underground and it is hoped that once they reemerge, they can be released in secret locations throughout the New Forest to bring the species back to life in the park. Read more on the reintroduction .   Sand Lizard  Sand lizards are the UK’s rarest lizard and a protected species under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981. Sand lizards require special sand dune and heathland habitats, which are themselves in decline in the UK . This has resulted in fragmentation, with the species only residing naturally in protected sites in Dorset, Hampshire, Merseyside, and Surrey.   Conservation Efforts:  Hundreds of sand lizards have been reintroduced to the South East, South West, Lancashire, and Wales as part of a collaboration between wildlife organisations, including the Wildlife Trusts , Amphibian and Reptile Conservation , Forestry Commission , and Marwell Zoo . Conservationists have been able to replicate the habitat of sand lizards through restoration and effective land management. Together with education programmes, it’s hoped that sand lizard populations will increase.  Natterjack Toads Once widespread with larger populations, 80% of natterjack toad populations have been lost in the last century.  The remaining 50 populations can be found in coastal sand, salt marsh, and lowland heath in southeast England, northwest England, East Anglia, and a single colony in Cumbria. Decline is due to several factors, including habitat loss, agriculture, fragmentation, urbanisation, and climate change. Conservation Efforts:   Amphibian and Reptile Conservation works on protecting and linking existing sites, while providing new territories by creating shallow ponds and restoring heathlands. In 2021, 28 toadlets were released in South Downs National Park as part of a reintroduction programme to help the species make a comeback.  These animals are all adapted to their own unique environments within England. To learn more, check out our Habitats and Adaptations workshops.

Every culture has its own collection of strange and wondrous creatures — beings that blur the line between myth and reality. Some are guardians, others are tricksters, and a few are downright terrifying. You’ve probably heard of dragons and unicorns, but what about the scorpion men of Mesopotamia or the shapeshifting seals of the sea? Let’s dive into the world of forgotten folklore and meet some mythical animals you might not know — but won’t soon forget. Animals From Folklore You Might Not Know Aqrabuamelu These monsters are from ancient Mesopotamia, specifically Babylon. They have the body of a scorpion and the upper half of a man – similar to a centaur. They were supposedly created to wage war against the gods and protect those who might be in danger. Selkie Selkies come from Celtic and Norse mythology. These creatures can transform from a seal into a human and back again. They do this by physically putting on and taking off a self-skin. They’re similar to mer-folk and are known to be friendly yet dangerous and vengeful.   Basilisk You may know these from their appearance in a well-known children’s book, but their history stretches long before then, having appeared in works by Chaucer and Leonardo Da Vinci. These are creatures of European legend. Serpentine in appearance, they can kill simply by looking at you. In turn, they can be killed by looking at their own reflection. Chimera Chimaeras come from Greek mythology. They’re usually depicted as being a lion merged with a goat and a snake. They can breathe fire and are often quite ferocious. In recent years, the name Chimaera has come to mean multiple animals that have been fused together.     Kelpie You may have heard of the famous Kelpies statue in Scotland, but this was inspired by Scottish folklore. Kelpies are shape-shifting spirits that inhabit the lochs of Scotland. They take the form of horses that can transform into humans. They were invented to keep children safe around dangerous waters.     Griffin Griffins are hybrids of lions and eagles from Persian and Egyptian mythology. These powerful creatures have the hindquarters and body of a lion with the head, wings, and talons of an eagle. Traditionally, griffons were guardians of treasure. Want to learn about more animals from folklore? Get in touch to hear about our Myths & Legends workshop!

Below are a selection of locations where you can see ZooLab in October. Please check with each venue for times and ticket information. 5th October - Wigtown Book Festival , Dumfries & Galloway - Story Creators 13th and 16th October - Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, Ayr - Myths & Legends  (13th) & Zoo on the Broom  (16th) 18th October - The Carriage Works , Leeds - Fun Kids Science Weekly – LIVE 21st October - Chelmsford Theatre, Essex - Fun Kids Science Weekly – LIVE  25th October - 2nd November - Blenheim Palace, Woodstock - Potions 25th and 26th October - Trentham Estate, Stoke-on-Trent - Halloween Festival 26th October - Lullingstone Castle, Kent - Halloween Magic Event 26th October - Traquair House and Garden, Innerleithen - Halloween Fun Day 27th October - Princess Pavilion, Cornwall 27th October - RHS Gardens Hyde Hall, Essex - Minibeasts 27th - 31st October - RHS Garden Harlow Carr, Harrogate - Creepy Critters 27th - 31st October - RHS Wisely, Surrey - Pumpkin Palooza 27th, 29th and 31st October - Weston Park Garden, Shropshire - Creepy Critters 28th October - Fulham Pier, London - Creepy Critters 28th October - Fleetwood Library, Wyre - Creepy Crawly Halloween 28th October - RHS Garden Rosemoor, Devon - The Secret Life of Pumpkins 28th October - Thornton Library, Wyre 28th October - Whalley Library, Clitheroe - ZooLab Animal Explorer's 28th and 30th October - IKEA, Gateshead - ZooLab Halloween Encounters 28th October - 1st November - Bowood House Garden s, Wiltshire - Creepy Critters 29th October - Denbies Wine Estate, Surrey - Creepy Critters 29th October - RHS Bridgewater, Salford - Pumpkins 29th October - Trebah Garden, Cornwall - Creepy Critters 30th October - Bamburgh Castle, Northumberland - Castle Critters 30th October - Bodmin Jail, Cornwall 30th October - Tilbury Library, Essex - Zoo on the Broom 30th October - Stalybridge Library, Greater Manchester - Zoo on the Broom 31st October - Alice Holt, Surrey - Creepy Critters 31st October - Hall Place, Kent - Zoo on the Broom 1st November - Ascot Racecourse, Ascot 8th November - Islington Ecology Centre, London 23rd November - Natural History Museum, London - Dinosnores for Kids Come back in a few weeks time to see where you can see ZooLab in November or contact us if you would like ZooLab to visit your setting.

Stick insects, belonging to the order Phasmatodea, represent one of the most extraordinary examples of evolutionary adaptation in the insect world. Their uncanny resemblance to twigs and leaves isn’t just for show - it’s a sophisticated survival strategy honed over millions of years. In this post, we’ll uncover some of our favourite stick insect facts. 5 Facts About Stick Insects You Didn't Know Three stick insect species live in the UK in the wild Although there are no British stick insect species, three have become naturalised in the wild from New Zealand. They mainly live in the southwest of England and on the Isles of Scilly. They are the Prickly Stick Insect, the Unarmed Stick Insect, and the Smooth Stick Insect, with the Unarmed being the most common. It is believed that they arrived in the UK hidden as eggs in plants imported for the horticultural trade.   Some of the largest stick insects are bigger than you’d think! The Jungle Nymph, native to Malaysia, is often considered one of the largest insects in the world. Females can measure up to 15cm and males an equally impressive 10cm. They are also considered the second heaviest insect in the world, behind the Big Beetle.   Stick insects are experts at camouflage Stick insects have evolved over millions of years to blend in with the forest habitats they call home. Species like Macleay’s Spectre (aka Giant Prickly Stick Insects) are particularly good at this. They look awfully like spiny, thorny sticks, and when they moult, they’ll even hang under leaves to blend in. Even their eggs resemble seeds and often get carried into ants’ nests.   Stick insects can regrow limbs! These creatures are experts at disguise but, if a predator isn’t fooled and grabs the insect, our talented stick insects can detach their limbs at will and escape. These will then grow back bit by bit with every moult.   Stick insects have some great defence mechanisms As well as being able to detach their limbs, stick insects have some other brilliant ways of defending themselves against predators. American Walking sticks and Peruvian firesticks are both capable of spraying a chemical which makes their attackers temporarily blind and feel intense pain.

Many celebrities, scientists, politicians, and athletes have had new species named after them. Sometimes this is done to honour their legacy and contributions; other times, it's a clever PR move to raise awareness about the species, its habitat, or conservation efforts. Naming a plant or animal after a public figure is a guaranteed way to attract media attention. Below is a few of our favourites.  5 Animals Named After Famous People   Greta Thunberg - Greta Thunberg’s rainfrog ​This tiny frog species was discovered in 2012 in the cloud forest of Mount Chucantí, Panama. ​ In 2018, Rainforest Trust held an auction to name the species, and so Greta Thunberg’s rainfrog was born ( Pristimantis gretathunbergae ).  Greta’s pledge to highlight the urgency of climate change is closely linked to the issues facing her namesake, where climate change and global warming are threatening their habitat. More ​ Taylor Swift - Swift twisted-claw millipede Dr. Derek Hennen of Virginia Tech discovered Nannaria swiftae, the Swift twisted-claw millipede, in Fall Creek Falls State Park, Tennessee, in 2022. It was one of 17 new species identified during his research. ​ Dr. Hennen named the species after Taylor Swift, crediting her music for helping him through tough times and accompanying his millipede research trips across Ame rica.  More Steve Irwin - Irwin's turtle Steve and Bob Irwin discovered the Irwin turtle ( Elseya irwin i ) in 1990 on the Burdekin River, Queensland. One of its distinctive features is that it breathes underwater through its bum!  Steve Irwin took photos and sent them to turtle expert John Cann, who described and named the species after the Irwin’s.  To this day, Australia Zoo is part of a collaboration to establish an insurance population, with the aim of breeding and releasing the turtles in the future.  More info Jackie Chan -  Jackie’s day gecko Endemic to only the Vairavankulam Reserve Forest, Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu, the Cnemaspis jackieii was discovered in 2021. The herpetologists who found the species were reminded of Jackie Chan due to the nimble nature of the gecko. Saunak Pal stated, “Whenever we attempted to catch it, it would spring from one rock to the other, and crawl into the smallest of crevices to escape us” .   David Attenborough - Attenborough’s long-beaked echidna Described in 1961, the Zaglossus attenboroughi was classed as a lost species until it was rediscovered in 2023 in the Cyclops Mountains of Indonesia. Combining local Indigenous knowledge with camera-trapping, scientists from Expedition Cyclops captured photo and video evidence of the now ‘critically endangered’ species.  The species was named after Sir David Attenborough for raising awareness of New Guinean fauna and flora.  More info Thousands of new species are discovered each year, with more and more animals named after famous people. Would you like this to become a new blog series to discover even more?

Around 500,000 different species of animals call Costa Rica home. Due to its neotropical climate, it can support a wealth of different plants and animals and even has a bunch that are endemic to the region. So, come with us as we discover some of the coolest creatures of Costa Rica…   Top 10 Animals from Costa Rica American Crocodile When it comes to crocodiles in Costa Rica, nothing quite beats the American Crocodile. They live in brackish (or slightly salty) waters and are quite often encountered on the Tarcoles River by people on boat tours! They are some of the largest crocodiles of Costa Rica and the world, reaching lengths of more than 7 metres! Resplendent Quetzal These birds are considered some of the most amazing in Central America. They are known for their brilliant plumage and their long tail, which males can grow even more of during mating season. These birds were so sacred to the ancient Maya and Aztec civilisations that priests and royalty would wear their feathers during official events.   Cocos Finch This finch is the only one of Darwin’s famous finches that was not native to the Galápagos Islands. They are not considered ‘true’ finches, as they actually belong to the tanager family of birds.   Rufous-Eyed Brook Frog Rufous-Eyed Brook Frogs are endemic to Costa Rica, where they mainly live in wet forests and rainforests in mountainous regions within a certain band of elevation. Their tadpoles can be found in standing water pools. They face loss of habitat, which poses some threat to their population, although numbers are currently stable.   Grey-Crowned Central American Squi rrel Monkey These monkeys may have a very long name, but their habitat is comparatively small! They are endemic to the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. They get their name from the black cap of colouring on top of their head, and there is debate between different animal authorities on how similar this colour is to other monkeys in the species.   Hummingbirds Hummingbirds are very well acquainted with Costa Rica. Over 50 different species call it home. There are two endemic species – the coppery-headed emerald and the mangrove. They are vital pollinators for the local ecosystem, flitting from different tropical flowers to drink nectar.   Green Iguana Green Iguanas are some of the largest lizards in the Americas, measuring up to 6.5 feet long! They are an essential part of seed distribution in the country, eating plants and spreading the seeds through their poop!   Sloths These guys are the national animal of Costa Rica! Both the two-toed and three-toed varieties can be found lazing about across the country. They are surprisingly good swimmers, using their long arms to help them propel through water far faster than they can walk on land.   Tapirs Tapirs are the country’s largest land mammal, roaming around its rainforests. They’re in the same family as horses and rhinoceroses. They use their short trunk to grab branches and pluck fruit. They are also great seed dispersers, thanks to their fruit and plant-heavy diet.   Sea Turtles The beaches around Costa Roca are great nesting grounds for the country’s sea turtles. Many species inhabit the island, such as Leatherback, Green, and Olive Ridley turtles. Many spots on the island have become hotspots for watching turtles hatch and make their way to the ocean. Interested in biodiversity? Check out our dedicated workshop !