The scientists were performing an experiment to determine the effects of pesticides in soil on bumblebees. As part of the experiment, hibernating queen bumblebees were placed in tubes filled with soil to mimic their natural environment. During colder seasons, male and worker bumblebees die while the queen makes its way underground and enters the state of hibernation to survive the harsh environment.

During the experiment, the tubes with queen bumblebees were placed in a refrigerator, which caused some of them to be filled with water due to condensation. However, it turned out that the water didn’t cause any harm to queen bumblebees.

The scientists then decided to run another experiment, this time filling the tubes with various degrees of water. The queen bumblebees were kept in the tubes for various amounts of time, including 21 of them being fully submerged in the water for one week to no effect. Eight weeks later, 17 of them were still alive. The control group, featuring bees that were kept dry at all times, had a similar survival rate, with 15 out of 17 queen bumblebees still being alive after eight weeks.

Scientists are not exactly sure how queen bumblebees are able to survive so long underwater, but believe it has something to do with diapause. This occurrence is common in the insect world and sees insects closing the openings in their bodies and keeping their oxygen intake at a minimum to survive in unfavorable surroundings. Queen bumblebees probably evolved to be able to survive underwater due to flooding that can take place while they are hibernating underground.

“One-third of all bumblebee species around the world are in decline right now, and so if we are able to discard flooding as being a potential threat to bees, then we can focus our attention on other threats that we know for sure are harming them,” ecologist Sabrina Rondeau, co-author of the study, told Globe and Mail.

The post Queen Bumblebees Can Survive Underwater For a Week While Hibernating appeared first on Our Funny Little Site.

Ants Can Live Up to 30 Years

Being so small and fragile, most ants don’t end up welcoming the old age. However, if they manage to avoid the dangers of the world, some ants can actually live a long life. For example, queen ants are known to live for up to 30 years.

Ants Live on All Continents Expect Antarctica

Ants are similar to humans when it comes to their habitat; they can live almost anywhere. You can find ants on every continent on Earth except Antarctica.

Ants Don’t Have Ears

Ants don’t have ears, but that doesn’t stop them from “hearing” things. They make up for their lack of ears by sensing the vibrations in the ground using their feet.

Ants Have Two Stomachs

Ants have a different anatomy compared to most other insects, including the fact that they basically have two stomachs. One stomach is a regular one they use for the consumption of food like anyone else, while the other is called a “social” stomach. In this second stomach, ants store food so they can later share it with the queen or other ants. 

The post Fun Facts About Ants You Probably Didn’t Know appeared first on Our Funny Little Site.

Eksuzian fell in love with ceramics during her time at the Minnesota Northern Clay Center, and this experience inspired her to start her own small business in 2018. Umami Pottery was born, and she received a lot of support from the Minnesota State Arts Board since opening her own art studio.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Katharine Eksuzian (@umamipottery)

Nature is Eksuzian’s main source of inspiration, and she’s on a mission to fully reflect the fragile natural concepts through her art and stress the importance of nature’s protection.

“Her work is driven by a respect for nature and attention to intricate detail. With a focus on ecological themes, she creates scientifically accurate to-scale sculptures that are consciously crafted and completed in a high-fire soda kiln,” she explains on her official website.

Eksuzian is endlessly fascinated by insects, and her creations often take the shape of moths, butterflies, bees, crickets, and caterpillars. There are expectations to this rule, but even when she’s not sculpting insects, nature is always Eksuzian’s main driving force.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Katharine Eksuzian (@umamipottery)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Katharine Eksuzian (@umamipottery)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Katharine Eksuzian (@umamipottery)

The post Katharine Eksuzian’s Ceramics Celebrate Insects’ Underappreciated Beauty appeared first on Our Funny Little Site.

Tweed was camping when he noticed something unusual on a leaf of mat rush (lomandra) plant. Initially thinking it was bird droppings, the researcher took a closer look and to his amazement, it turned out to be a red and black longhorn beetle that was covered in patches of white hair, giving it an unusually fluffy look.

Once he returned from his camping trip, Tweed wanted to find out more about the insect but discovered that he couldn’t find anything similar using scientific literature and online sources. Upon contacting the Australian National Insect Collection, he was notified that he not only discovered a new species but a whole new longhorn beetle genus.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by CSIRO (@csirogram)

Tweed had the honor of naming the beetle, choosing the name Excastra albopilosa.

“We chose the name Excastra for the genus, which is Latin for ‘from the camp’, and for the species name, we decided on albopilosa which translates to ‘white and hairy’,” Tweed said in a press release shared by University of Queensland.

The researchers are now looking to gather more information about the fluffy beetle. They are particularly puzzled by its white hair, which they assume might be a defense mechanism, mimicking the effects of insect-killing fungus.

“I’ve been back several times to look for more of them but haven’t had any luck,” Tweed added.

The post New Fluffy Beetle Discovered in Australia appeared first on Our Funny Little Site.

According to Zaycman, this technique also requires a lot of precision. “I studied math at university, and geometry and technical drawing at school,” she shared with the Etsy blog. “I appreciate the precision and clarity of exact sciences, and I like how they require perseverance and intense concentration.”

Having an understanding of geometry is useful in calculating complex shapes, while being practiced at technical drawing helps her achieve precision in my sketches. “I like them to be accurate, and I don’t eyeball anything, because it affects every other stage of production,” she notes.

Each piece begins with a detailed sketch. But most often than not, before sitting down to sketch a design, Zaycman already has an idea in mind. “While I’m sketching, the idea may stay the same, but it might also transform into something new,” she says. “Often I’ll come up with a completely new collection.”

And while shipments of her glass sculptures have temporarily stopped, until post-service returns to normal, you can still admire her work online, by following her Instagram account.

The post Elena Zaycman’s Glass Butterflies Make For Fantastic Gifts appeared first on Our Funny Little Site.

“I spent the majority of my childhood playing in our secluded and overgrown back garden,” she recalled in an interview with Enchanted Living Magazine. “I was absolutely fascinated by animals, and I was desperate for them to be my friend.”

Having spent her entire childhood immersed in nature, nature is also the driving force behind her art work. “At a young age I became pretty good at identifying birds and insects, and that connection has remained with me,” she notes.

Known for her incredible textile art, her work reminds of traditional taxidermy, but with no animals hurt during the process. Moths, butterflies, bees, but also moss and mushrooms, are meticulously recreated using fabrics, threads, and paint. “When starting on anything new, I almost always begin by researching three things: the creature, its colorings, patterns, and structure; the techniques I’ll need to use; and the materials I’ll require,” explains Yeadon.

And while the creation process itself takes time and effort, inspiration comes relatively easy. “Woodlands and forests are a huge inspiration for me,” says Yeadon. “I regard them as being my ‘magical place,’ a place deep in nature that awakens my imagination.”

Prepare to be amazed:

The post Look Closer: These Aren’t Real Insects! appeared first on Our Funny Little Site.

“Creations from man-made objects discarded as refuse and reinterpreted to form objects found in nature are the inspirations for my art,” the artist shared on his personal website.

“The simple spoon forms the body of a rainbow trout; a discarded children’s toy becomes the foundation for a moose; horseshoes transform into armadillos. Sensing exactly what a certain item is to become just by its very shape, material and innate energy sculptures literally grow from that humble beginning.”

You can find his work on social media and on his personal website where he publishes images of his creations. He is currently open for commissions, so if you want to have your own creature, contact him via e-mail.

The post Jason Lyons Creates Insect Sculptures Using Recycled Materials appeared first on Our Funny Little Site.

The enchanting portraits are unique and created by flowers, twigs, leaves, and stems from Inoue’s garden. When he is finished with his sculptures he photographs them and shares the images on his Instagram page and website.

Growing up, the artist loved to spend his summer holidays with his grandmother in the countryside near Hiroshima. It was then when his love for insects, animals, and nature bloomed.

“One day, it was very windy so most of the delicate petals from the rose bush fell onto the ground. I picked them up and made the very first floral insect. I have made many insects since then and now, I strive to push the boundaries of floral art,” the artist told Bored Panda.

You need to check out his beautiful work! Follow him on Instagram for future updates.

The post Raku Inoue Makes Insect Portraits Using Flowers appeared first on Our Funny Little Site.

Not only is this praying mantis Samantha’s pet, but the mantis also loves posing and trying out miniature furniture that her owner finds for her. From sofas and chairs to tables and bathtubs, you name it – Mavis has tried it all.

Samantha even created an Instagram account for her pet and she documents Mavis’ furniture reviews with the most amazing shots. Mavis already has more than 7 thousand followers, and we can assume that they’re all huge fans of these unusual creatures.

Of course, if you’re not a fan of insects or you’re scared of them, we do not suggest visiting her Instagram page. On the other hand, if you find them interesting and lovely, Mavis’ page is the right place for you.

The post Mavis, the Praying Mantis Loves Trying Out Mini Furniture appeared first on Our Funny Little Site.

Not all spider silks are equal, and this is mostly influenced by the chemical composition of the silk. One of the most widespread spired families, the orb-weavers, lives across the world and includes over 3,500 species. Each individual orb-weaver can generate eight or nine types of silks, depending on what they need them for. For example, the softest silk is used for protecting the eggs while the other varieties are much firmer.

As recently discovered, each strand of spider silk is made up of thousands of parallel nanostrands of nanofibrils. “Each of these thin nanostrands is made up of protein and measures less than a millionth of an inch in diameter – hundreds of thousands of times thinner than the width of a human hair, say the scientists from the College of William and Mary in Virginia,” writes the website Silence Alert.

So, the next time you see a spider’s web, know that you’re witnessing one of the most amazing wonders of life.

The post Spider Webs Can Be Stronger Than Steel appeared first on Our Funny Little Site.

The scientists were performing an experiment to determine the effects of pesticides in soil on bumblebees. As part of the experiment, hibernating queen bumblebees were placed in tubes filled with soil to mimic their natural environment. During colder seasons, male and worker bumblebees die while the queen makes its way underground and enters the state of hibernation to survive the harsh environment.

During the experiment, the tubes with queen bumblebees were placed in a refrigerator, which caused some of them to be filled with water due to condensation. However, it turned out that the water didn’t cause any harm to queen bumblebees.

The scientists then decided to run another experiment, this time filling the tubes with various degrees of water. The queen bumblebees were kept in the tubes for various amounts of time, including 21 of them being fully submerged in the water for one week to no effect. Eight weeks later, 17 of them were still alive. The control group, featuring bees that were kept dry at all times, had a similar survival rate, with 15 out of 17 queen bumblebees still being alive after eight weeks.

Scientists are not exactly sure how queen bumblebees are able to survive so long underwater, but believe it has something to do with diapause. This occurrence is common in the insect world and sees insects closing the openings in their bodies and keeping their oxygen intake at a minimum to survive in unfavorable surroundings. Queen bumblebees probably evolved to be able to survive underwater due to flooding that can take place while they are hibernating underground.

“One-third of all bumblebee species around the world are in decline right now, and so if we are able to discard flooding as being a potential threat to bees, then we can focus our attention on other threats that we know for sure are harming them,” ecologist Sabrina Rondeau, co-author of the study, told Globe and Mail.

The post Queen Bumblebees Can Survive Underwater For a Week While Hibernating appeared first on Our Funny Little Site.

Ants Can Live Up to 30 Years

Being so small and fragile, most ants don’t end up welcoming the old age. However, if they manage to avoid the dangers of the world, some ants can actually live a long life. For example, queen ants are known to live for up to 30 years.

Ants Live on All Continents Expect Antarctica

Ants are similar to humans when it comes to their habitat; they can live almost anywhere. You can find ants on every continent on Earth except Antarctica.

Ants Don’t Have Ears

Ants don’t have ears, but that doesn’t stop them from “hearing” things. They make up for their lack of ears by sensing the vibrations in the ground using their feet.

Ants Have Two Stomachs

Ants have a different anatomy compared to most other insects, including the fact that they basically have two stomachs. One stomach is a regular one they use for the consumption of food like anyone else, while the other is called a “social” stomach. In this second stomach, ants store food so they can later share it with the queen or other ants. 

The post Fun Facts About Ants You Probably Didn’t Know appeared first on Our Funny Little Site.

Eksuzian fell in love with ceramics during her time at the Minnesota Northern Clay Center, and this experience inspired her to start her own small business in 2018. Umami Pottery was born, and she received a lot of support from the Minnesota State Arts Board since opening her own art studio.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Katharine Eksuzian (@umamipottery)

Nature is Eksuzian’s main source of inspiration, and she’s on a mission to fully reflect the fragile natural concepts through her art and stress the importance of nature’s protection.

“Her work is driven by a respect for nature and attention to intricate detail. With a focus on ecological themes, she creates scientifically accurate to-scale sculptures that are consciously crafted and completed in a high-fire soda kiln,” she explains on her official website.

Eksuzian is endlessly fascinated by insects, and her creations often take the shape of moths, butterflies, bees, crickets, and caterpillars. There are expectations to this rule, but even when she’s not sculpting insects, nature is always Eksuzian’s main driving force.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Katharine Eksuzian (@umamipottery)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Katharine Eksuzian (@umamipottery)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Katharine Eksuzian (@umamipottery)

The post Katharine Eksuzian’s Ceramics Celebrate Insects’ Underappreciated Beauty appeared first on Our Funny Little Site.

Tweed was camping when he noticed something unusual on a leaf of mat rush (lomandra) plant. Initially thinking it was bird droppings, the researcher took a closer look and to his amazement, it turned out to be a red and black longhorn beetle that was covered in patches of white hair, giving it an unusually fluffy look.

Once he returned from his camping trip, Tweed wanted to find out more about the insect but discovered that he couldn’t find anything similar using scientific literature and online sources. Upon contacting the Australian National Insect Collection, he was notified that he not only discovered a new species but a whole new longhorn beetle genus.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by CSIRO (@csirogram)

Tweed had the honor of naming the beetle, choosing the name Excastra albopilosa.

“We chose the name Excastra for the genus, which is Latin for ‘from the camp’, and for the species name, we decided on albopilosa which translates to ‘white and hairy’,” Tweed said in a press release shared by University of Queensland.

The researchers are now looking to gather more information about the fluffy beetle. They are particularly puzzled by its white hair, which they assume might be a defense mechanism, mimicking the effects of insect-killing fungus.

“I’ve been back several times to look for more of them but haven’t had any luck,” Tweed added.

The post New Fluffy Beetle Discovered in Australia appeared first on Our Funny Little Site.

According to Zaycman, this technique also requires a lot of precision. “I studied math at university, and geometry and technical drawing at school,” she shared with the Etsy blog. “I appreciate the precision and clarity of exact sciences, and I like how they require perseverance and intense concentration.”

Having an understanding of geometry is useful in calculating complex shapes, while being practiced at technical drawing helps her achieve precision in my sketches. “I like them to be accurate, and I don’t eyeball anything, because it affects every other stage of production,” she notes.

Each piece begins with a detailed sketch. But most often than not, before sitting down to sketch a design, Zaycman already has an idea in mind. “While I’m sketching, the idea may stay the same, but it might also transform into something new,” she says. “Often I’ll come up with a completely new collection.”

And while shipments of her glass sculptures have temporarily stopped, until post-service returns to normal, you can still admire her work online, by following her Instagram account.

The post Elena Zaycman’s Glass Butterflies Make For Fantastic Gifts appeared first on Our Funny Little Site.

“I spent the majority of my childhood playing in our secluded and overgrown back garden,” she recalled in an interview with Enchanted Living Magazine. “I was absolutely fascinated by animals, and I was desperate for them to be my friend.”

Having spent her entire childhood immersed in nature, nature is also the driving force behind her art work. “At a young age I became pretty good at identifying birds and insects, and that connection has remained with me,” she notes.

Known for her incredible textile art, her work reminds of traditional taxidermy, but with no animals hurt during the process. Moths, butterflies, bees, but also moss and mushrooms, are meticulously recreated using fabrics, threads, and paint. “When starting on anything new, I almost always begin by researching three things: the creature, its colorings, patterns, and structure; the techniques I’ll need to use; and the materials I’ll require,” explains Yeadon.

And while the creation process itself takes time and effort, inspiration comes relatively easy. “Woodlands and forests are a huge inspiration for me,” says Yeadon. “I regard them as being my ‘magical place,’ a place deep in nature that awakens my imagination.”

Prepare to be amazed:

The post Look Closer: These Aren’t Real Insects! appeared first on Our Funny Little Site.

“Creations from man-made objects discarded as refuse and reinterpreted to form objects found in nature are the inspirations for my art,” the artist shared on his personal website.

“The simple spoon forms the body of a rainbow trout; a discarded children’s toy becomes the foundation for a moose; horseshoes transform into armadillos. Sensing exactly what a certain item is to become just by its very shape, material and innate energy sculptures literally grow from that humble beginning.”

You can find his work on social media and on his personal website where he publishes images of his creations. He is currently open for commissions, so if you want to have your own creature, contact him via e-mail.

The post Jason Lyons Creates Insect Sculptures Using Recycled Materials appeared first on Our Funny Little Site.

The enchanting portraits are unique and created by flowers, twigs, leaves, and stems from Inoue’s garden. When he is finished with his sculptures he photographs them and shares the images on his Instagram page and website.

Growing up, the artist loved to spend his summer holidays with his grandmother in the countryside near Hiroshima. It was then when his love for insects, animals, and nature bloomed.

“One day, it was very windy so most of the delicate petals from the rose bush fell onto the ground. I picked them up and made the very first floral insect. I have made many insects since then and now, I strive to push the boundaries of floral art,” the artist told Bored Panda.

You need to check out his beautiful work! Follow him on Instagram for future updates.

The post Raku Inoue Makes Insect Portraits Using Flowers appeared first on Our Funny Little Site.

Not only is this praying mantis Samantha’s pet, but the mantis also loves posing and trying out miniature furniture that her owner finds for her. From sofas and chairs to tables and bathtubs, you name it – Mavis has tried it all.

Samantha even created an Instagram account for her pet and she documents Mavis’ furniture reviews with the most amazing shots. Mavis already has more than 7 thousand followers, and we can assume that they’re all huge fans of these unusual creatures.

Of course, if you’re not a fan of insects or you’re scared of them, we do not suggest visiting her Instagram page. On the other hand, if you find them interesting and lovely, Mavis’ page is the right place for you.

The post Mavis, the Praying Mantis Loves Trying Out Mini Furniture appeared first on Our Funny Little Site.

Not all spider silks are equal, and this is mostly influenced by the chemical composition of the silk. One of the most widespread spired families, the orb-weavers, lives across the world and includes over 3,500 species. Each individual orb-weaver can generate eight or nine types of silks, depending on what they need them for. For example, the softest silk is used for protecting the eggs while the other varieties are much firmer.

As recently discovered, each strand of spider silk is made up of thousands of parallel nanostrands of nanofibrils. “Each of these thin nanostrands is made up of protein and measures less than a millionth of an inch in diameter – hundreds of thousands of times thinner than the width of a human hair, say the scientists from the College of William and Mary in Virginia,” writes the website Silence Alert.

So, the next time you see a spider’s web, know that you’re witnessing one of the most amazing wonders of life.

The post Spider Webs Can Be Stronger Than Steel appeared first on Our Funny Little Site.