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Insectoid

Insectoid is an adjective and noun denoting any creature, being, or object that resembles an insect in form or traits, such as a segmented exoskeleton, multiple limbs, compound eyes, or mandibles.^[1] In scientific and literary contexts, the term combines "insect" with the suffix "-oid," implying similarity rather than literal classification within the biological class Insecta.^[2] The concept of insectoids has been prominently explored in science fiction since at least the early 20th century, where it typically describes extraterrestrial aliens modeled after Earth arthropods, evoking themes of otherness, evolution, and ecological horror.^[3] These fictional entities often exhibit behaviors inspired by insects, such as hive-based societies resembling ant colonies or predatory instincts akin to mantises, serving as metaphors for collective intelligence or invasive threats in narratives. Scholarly analyses highlight how insectoid depictions in post-atomic literature and film reflect cultural anxieties about technological catastrophe and environmental degradation, portraying such beings as symbols of unchecked proliferation or alien invasion.^[4] Beyond fiction, the term occasionally appears in ufology to describe reported encounters with tall, mantis-like entities, though these remain unverified and outside mainstream scientific discourse.^[1] Overall, insectoids embody a blend of biological mimicry and imaginative speculation, influencing genres from speculative evolution to speculative xenobiology.

Definition and Etymology

Definition

Insectoid is primarily an adjective denoting resemblance to an insect in form, structure, or behavior, often characterized by features such as a segmented body divided into head, thorax, and abdomen, an exoskeleton, compound eyes, antennae, and multiple paired limbs.^[1]^[5] This usage evokes the typical anatomy of insects from the class Insecta within the phylum Arthropoda, where such traits enable diverse adaptations like flight or burrowing.^[6] The term emphasizes superficial or analogical similarity rather than taxonomic classification, applying to non-insect entities that mimic these attributes. As a noun, insectoid refers to a creature or being exhibiting insect-like qualities, most commonly in speculative fiction, ufology, or conceptual designs where it describes hypothetical aliens, robots, or organisms.^[2] For instance, in robotics, "insectoid robots" are engineered to replicate insect locomotion for enhanced mobility in complex terrains.^[7] The earliest documented use of the term appears in 1937, in Olaf Stapledon's novel Star Maker, to portray extraterrestrial populations with insect-resembling forms.^[8] Insectoid differs from broader terms like "arthropod," which specifically names animals in the phylum Arthropoda—including insects but also spiders, crabs, and centipedes—defined by jointed limbs and chitinous exoskeletons across a wider array of body plans.^[9] It is also distinct from "entomomorphic," a more precise descriptor for structures or forms directly modeled on insect morphology, often in biological or artistic contexts. While insectoid allows for looser analogies in behavior or appearance, these related terms highlight varying degrees of specificity in describing insect-inspired traits.

Etymology

The term "insectoid" is derived from "insect," which stems from the Latin insectum, meaning "segmented" or "cut into sections," a reference to the divided body structure of insects, as coined by Linnaeus in the 18th century, combined with the suffix "-oid," from the Greek -oeidēs, signifying "having the form of" or "resembling."^[10] The word's first attested use dates to 1937 in Olaf Stapledon's science fiction novel Star Maker, where it describes small, conscious units resembling insects within an alien civilization.^[3]^[11] This appearance marked the term's emergence in early 20th-century speculative literature, rapidly expanding in fiction to characterize alien or fantastical entities with insect-like traits. In scientific nomenclature, "insectoid" parallels terms like "arachnoid" (spider-like) and "crustaceoid" (crustacean-like). These suffixes facilitate precise descriptions of morphological similarities in biology and paleontology. Following its literary debut, the term's application evolved post-1950s from predominantly speculative contexts to include biological and paleontological descriptions of insect-resembling fossils and arthropod traits, enhancing conceptual clarity in scientific discourse without implying direct lineage.^[12]

Biological Context

Insect-Like Traits in Arthropods

The term "insectoid" is used informally in biological contexts to describe non-insect arthropods and closely related taxa that display morphological features analogous to those of insects, including a chitinous exoskeleton, jointed appendages, body segmentation, and in some cases compound eyes, all stemming from their common evolutionary heritage within or near the phylum Arthropoda. These shared traits form the foundational body plan of arthropods, enabling diverse adaptations while retaining core similarities to the insect form, such as the hexapod structure briefly outlined in basic insect anatomy. Myriapods, encompassing centipedes (Chilopoda) and millipedes (Diplopoda), exemplify insect-like segmentation and jointed appendages through their elongated, multi-segmented bodies bearing numerous pairs of legs—up to 1,306 in some millipedes—allowing for agile terrestrial locomotion akin to elongated insect forms.^[13] Centipedes often possess compound eyes, while millipedes typically lack them, relying instead on simple ocelli for light detection. Certain crustaceans, particularly terrestrial isopods such as woodlice (e.g., Armadillidium vulgare), exhibit compound eyes for enhanced vision, alongside a hardened exoskeleton and jointed appendages that facilitate movement in leaf litter and soil environments.^[14] Closely related to arthropods, velvet worms (phylum Onychophora) serve as living fossils, preserving primitive traits like a flexible, chitin-reinforced cuticle and lobopodial appendages—stumpy, unjointed legs used in a worm-like undulating gait that echoes early arthropod and insectoid locomotion patterns from over 500 million years ago.^[15]^[16] Horseshoe crabs (class Xiphosura, e.g., Limulus polyphemus), ancient marine arthropods, possess book gills—layered, flap-like respiratory organs that structurally parallel the book lungs of terrestrial arachnids and indirectly evoke the efficient gas-exchange adaptations seen in insect spiracles and tracheae.^[17]^[18] These insect-like traits in non-insect arthropods and relatives have arisen through convergent evolution, particularly in response to terrestrial challenges, where impermeable exoskeletons prevent desiccation, jointed appendages enable precise movement over uneven substrates, and segmented bodies allow flexibility and specialization. Such adaptations facilitated multiple independent invasions of land by arthropod lineages, with myriapods representing early terrestrial pioneers alongside insects.^[19] Due to this shared ancestry, approximately 78% of estimated terrestrial arthropod species follow an insectoid body plan dominated by insects themselves, highlighting the phylum's unified evolutionary blueprint.^[20]

Usage in Scientific Descriptions

In modern biology and paleontology, the term "insectoid" is employed informally to describe organisms exhibiting morphological or behavioral traits reminiscent of insects, particularly in contexts beyond strict arthropod taxonomy. For instance, extinct trilobites are frequently characterized as insect-like due to their segmented exoskeletons, jointed appendages, and overall body plan, which evoke the appearance of modern insects despite being marine arthropods that thrived from approximately 521 to 252 million years ago.^[21] Similarly, Cambrian explosion fossils like Anomalocaris canadensis, dated to around 520 million years ago, are noted for insect-like features such as compound eyes and grasping appendages, aiding descriptions of their predatory role in ancient ecosystems.^[22]^[23] In exobiology, "insectoid" appears in discussions of hypothetical extraterrestrial life forms that might parallel Earth's arthropods, with speculations on potential insect-like organisms on other planets based on convergent evolution principles. Such descriptions draw from evolutionary models suggesting that alien life could develop exoskeletal, multi-limbed structures adapted to diverse environments, though empirical evidence remains absent.^[24] Within ecology, the adjective "insectoid" labels analogous behaviors in non-insect species, such as the swarming patterns of krill (Euphausia superba), which mirror the coordinated, density-driven aggregations seen in insect swarms like locusts, facilitating predator avoidance and resource exploitation in marine settings.^[25] Despite these applications, "insectoid" holds an informal status in taxonomy, where precision terms like "hexapod-like" or "arthropod-resembling" are preferred to avoid implying direct phylogenetic links to the class Insecta, ensuring clarity in formal classifications.^[26]

Fictional Depictions

Common Characteristics

In speculative fiction, insectoid entities are frequently depicted with a chitinous exoskeleton that provides armored protection, distinguishing them from vertebrates and emphasizing their otherworldly resilience.^[27]^[28] This outer shell, often glossy and segmented, covers a body structured into distinct head, thorax, and abdomen regions, much like terrestrial arthropods. Multifaceted compound eyes grant panoramic vision, while antennae serve as sensory organs for detecting environmental cues, and appendages typically number six to eight, enabling versatile locomotion such as scuttling or flight. Many portrayals incorporate metamorphosis, with entities progressing through larval, pupal, and adult stages, underscoring cycles of transformation that heighten their unpredictability.^[27] Behaviorally, insectoids often exhibit eusocial organization, forming hive-mind collectives where individual agency subordinates to the group's survival, facilitated by telepathic links or pheromone-based communication. This structure promotes aggressive swarming tactics, where vast numbers overwhelm threats through coordinated assaults, evoking the relentless efficiency of ant or locust colonies. Such behaviors reinforce their portrayal as inexorable forces, driven by instinct over emotion.^[28]^[27] Variations in depiction range from pure insect forms—resembling enlarged arthropods—to humanoid-insect hybrids that blend bipedal upright posture with chitinous features, allowing for more relatable yet unsettling interactions. Size scales dramatically, from microscopic swarms infiltrating hosts to colossal beings towering over landscapes, amplifying threats from subtle infestation to cataclysmic invasion. These draw loosely from real insect biology, where exoskeletons and compound eyes enable survival in diverse environments.^[27]^[28]^[29] Thematically, insects embody alienness through reproductive strategies alien to humans, such as parasitism or oviposition in hosts, which evoke visceral horror and disrupt norms of individuality. Their lack of expressive faces, masked by rigid mandibles and unblinking eyes, further alienates them, stripping away relatable emotions and projecting cold, inscrutable intent.^[27]^[29]^[28]

Origins in Literature and Media

The concept of insectoid beings in literature emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, drawing on observations of social insect societies to depict alien collectives that challenged human individualism. H.G. Wells pioneered this trope in works such as The First Men in the Moon (1901), where lunar Selenites form a rigid hive-like civilization of ant-like entities specialized for their roles, and "The Empire of the Ants" (1905), portraying intelligent ants evolving to dominate humans in colonial settings.^[30] These stories influenced subsequent portrayals by emphasizing insect societies as organized threats, blending scientific curiosity with imperial anxieties.^[31] The mid-20th century saw a surge in insectoid depictions during the pulp era, particularly post-World War II, as science fiction magazines popularized "bug-eyed monsters" (BEMs) as archetypal antagonists. Publications like Astounding Science Fiction (launched 1930) featured lurid covers and stories of monstrous insects invading Earth or space, with the May 1931 issue's artwork by H.W. Wesso sometimes cited as an early example of the BEM visual motif.^[32] Robert A. Heinlein's Starship Troopers (1959) amplified this trend, introducing the Arachnids—hive-minded, insectoid aliens—as faceless enemies in a militaristic interstellar war, reflecting Cold War fears of collective ideologies. Insectoid concepts expanded into visual media during the late 20th century, adapting literary roots for broader audiences. Paul Verhoeven's 1997 film Starship Troopers loosely based on Heinlein's novel, amplified the bugs' grotesque, swarm-based horror through special effects, grossing over $121 million and spawning sequels that entrenched the archetype in popular culture.^[33] Television series like the Star Trek franchise incorporated insect-inspired elements, such as hive-like alien collectives like the Borg evoking ant colonies, influencing episodes with parasitic or swarm threats that explored otherness.^[27] Cultural portrayals shifted from predominantly horrific invasions to more sympathetic or nuanced views in later decades, mirroring evolving attitudes toward ecology and diversity. Early horror-focused narratives, like giant ant films such as Them! (1954), gave way to empathetic explorations in New Wave science fiction and beyond, including Adrian Tchaikovsky's Children of Time (2015), where uplifted spiders develop complex societies worthy of understanding.^[27] This evolution highlighted insectoids not merely as villains but as mirrors for human societal flaws, fostering themes of coexistence in modern fantasy. This trend continues in contemporary media, such as the 2025 series Alien: Earth, featuring new insect-like extraterrestrial threats.^[34]^[30]

Notable Examples

In Science Fiction

In science fiction, insectoid aliens frequently embody hive-based societies and overwhelming swarms, serving as formidable antagonists in interstellar conflicts. One seminal example is the Arachnids, or "Bugs," from Robert A. Heinlein's 1959 novel Starship Troopers, depicted as a highly organized, arachnid-like species originating from the planet Klendathu, with specialized castes including warrior forms that engage in coordinated planetary invasions. These creatures operate under a collective intelligence, utilizing plasma discharges and burrowing tactics to challenge human Mobile Infantry forces in a war of extermination.^[35] Similarly, the Formics, also known as Buggers, in Orson Scott Card's 1985 novel Ender's Game represent an insectoid alien race with a queen-led hive structure, where queens oversee drone workers and warriors in a gestalt consciousness that enables interstellar colonization efforts. The Formics' misunderstanding of human sentience leads to aggressive incursions on Earth, culminating in a genocidal conflict resolved through strategic simulations, highlighting their rapid adaptive evolution and reproductive capacity as key to their threat level. This portrayal draws from ant-like social dynamics, emphasizing a unified, non-individualistic society that contrasts with human individualism.^[36] In the Star Trek universe, the Jem'Hadar serve as warriors bred by the Dominion's Founders as short-lived, fanatically loyal soldiers, exhibiting reptilian features with scaly skin, ridges, and a combat-driven lifecycle that matures in days, often deployed in swarms from bug-shaped attack ships. Though primarily reptilian in physiology, their hive-like obedience to the Vorta and emphasis on relentless assault evoke insectoid horde tactics during the Dominion War arc of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. The Borg Collective, while ultimately cybernetic humanoids, originated in concept as an insectoid species with a hive mind focused on assimilation, retaining insect-inspired elements like drone subservience and queen-like oversight in later depictions, such as the Borg Queen introduced in Star Trek: First Contact (1996).^[37] Video games have further popularized insectoid threats, as seen with the Zerg in Blizzard Entertainment's StarCraft series, debuting in 1998, where this arthropodal swarm assimilates genetic material from other species to evolve units like zerglings and hydralisks, driven by an Overmind's psychic control and characterized by exponential reproduction through larval spawning. The Zerg's strategy revolves around overwhelming numbers and adaptability, turning planets into creep-covered hives that propagate across the Koprulu sector. Likewise, the Tyranids in Games Workshop's Warhammer 40,000 universe, introduced in 1987, form bio-engineered hordes from extragalactic Hive Fleets, comprising insectoid bioforms such as gaunts and carnifexes guided by a psychic Hive Mind, which directs their consumption of biomass for endless replication and adaptation. These swarms strip worlds bare, posing an existential peril to the galaxy's factions through their insatiable hunger and shadow in the warp that disrupts psychic communication.^[38]^[39] Across these narratives, insectoid species are often framed as existential threats due to their rapid reproduction rates, enabling unchecked expansion that mirrors invasive ecological pressures in speculative fiction. This trope underscores fears of uncontrollable proliferation, where hive structures allow for swift mobilization and genetic versatility, outpacing individualistic human or allied defenses.^[40]

In Fantasy and Other Genres

In fantasy settings, insectoid beings often embody structured, hive-based societies infused with supernatural elements. Formians, introduced in the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game during the 1980s, are depicted as ant-like centaurs originating from lawful planes such as Mechanus, where they form rigid, militaristic hives dedicated to expansion and order.^[41] These creatures exhibit a caste system, with workers, warriors, and queens coordinating through a collective hive mind, emphasizing themes of inescapable hierarchy and conquest in fantasy narratives.^[42] Similarly, thri-kreen from the same game represent nomadic mantis warriors, characterized by their six limbs, poisonous bites, and predatory instincts suited to arid wastelands.^[43] Often portrayed as pack hunters with chameleon-like camouflage and leaping prowess, thri-kreen integrate magical enhancements such as innate psionic abilities for mental communication and environmental adaptation, allowing them to blend seamlessly into fantasy adventures as agile scouts or berserkers.^[44] In horror genres, insectoids evoke visceral dread through overwhelming swarms and grotesque transformations. The 1932 film The Mummy features scarab beetles as instruments of ancient Egyptian punishment, where hordes of flesh-eating insects are unleashed to devour the condemned, symbolizing eternal torment in a supernatural curse.^[45] This motif recurs in the 1997 horror film Mimic, where genetically engineered "Judas breed" insects—hybrids of termites and praying mantises—evolve into intelligent, humanoid cockroach-like predators that mimic human forms to hunt in urban subways, highlighting themes of scientific hubris and uncontrollable mutation.^[46] Beyond traditional fantasy and horror, insectoids appear in comic books and folklore-inspired media as antagonists or mystical entities. Abner Jenkins, debuting as the Beetle in Marvel Comics' Strange Tales #123 in 1964, is a human inventor who dons a beetle-themed armored suit with wing-like appendages and enhanced strength, serving as a recurring villain against heroes like the Human Torch and Spider-Man.^[47] In Japanese folklore adapted to anime, insect yokai such as shinchū—elephant-sized silkworm moths with saucer-like eyes and sharp teeth—act as divine insects that devour evil demons and yōkai to protect humans from disease and misfortune, inspiring moth-like yōkai in series such as InuYasha.^[48] Distinct from purely physical traits, many fantasy insectoids possess magical enhancements that amplify their otherworldly menace, such as formians' innate spell-like abilities including charm monster and detect thoughts, which they channel through communal rituals rather than individual incantations.^[41] Thri-kreen further exemplify this by using mandibles to deliver venom laced with psionic effects, enabling brief telepathic links or illusions during combat, blending biological ferocity with arcane subtlety in speculative storytelling.^[44]

Cultural and Symbolic Interpretations

Symbolism in Fiction

Insectoids in fiction often symbolize dehumanization through their hive mind structures, which strip individuals of autonomy and reduce them to interchangeable parts of a collective whole. This trope underscores tensions between collectivism and individualism, portraying insectoid societies as antithetical to human values of personal agency. For instance, in Cold War-era science fiction, hive minds frequently serve as allegories for communist threats, depicting insectoid aliens as faceless hordes intent on subsuming individuality under a unified, expansionist will.^[49] The horror elements of insectoids amplify fears of personal space invasion and body horror, particularly through motifs of metamorphosis that erode human identity. In adaptations of The Fly (1958 and 1986), the protagonist's fusion with an insect via scientific mishap symbolizes the uncontrollable violation of bodily integrity, evoking dread of genetic contamination and the loss of self amid technological hubris. This transformation highlights the fragility of the human form, where incremental changes—such as shedding skin or developing insectile traits—represent an irreversible descent into the abject and unrecognizable.^[50]^[51] Conversely, insectoids can embody positive symbolism of resilience and adaptation, especially in eco-fiction set in post-apocalyptic worlds where they thrive amid environmental collapse. Such depictions draw on insect-like traits to illustrate survival through collective adaptability, as seen in Octavia E. Butler's Lilith's Brood, where insectoid aliens facilitate humanity's regeneration after nuclear devastation via symbiotic gene-trading. This portrays insectoids not as destroyers but as harbingers of ecological renewal, emphasizing interspecies cooperation in rebuilding shattered ecosystems.^[52] Cultural critiques embedded in insectoid symbolism often reveal gendered and racialized dimensions, with queen-centric societies reinforcing matriarchal hierarchies that challenge patriarchal norms. Feminist science fiction, such as Charlotte Perkins Gilman's Herland, uses insect-like all-female collectives to celebrate communal motherhood and non-hierarchical bonds, positioning queens as symbols of empowered multiplicity over male individualism.^[53] Similarly, swarms evoke racialized othering, framing insectoids as unassimilable masses that provoke disgust and exclusionary violence. In District 9, the insect-resembling aliens embody xenophobic fears of the racial "other," their horde-like presence critiquing apartheid legacies through visceral revulsion toward their leaky, invasive forms.^[54]

Real-World Inspirations and Influences

The coordinated swarm raids of army ants, involving thousands to millions of individuals forming fan-shaped hunting formations, have provided a key biological model for depictions of collective, overwhelming insectoid behaviors in fiction. These raids, observed in species like Eciton burchellii, demonstrate emergent group intelligence without central control, influencing tropes of unstoppable hordes.^[55]^[56] Eusocial insects such as bees exhibit rigid hierarchical structures with division of labor among castes—workers, soldiers, and reproductives—serving as inspiration for fictional hive societies where individuals subordinate to the collective. In honeybee colonies (Apis mellifera), queens and workers cooperate through pheromonal communication to maintain colony function, a dynamic mirrored in sci-fi narratives of specialized, interdependent insectoid communities.^[57]^[58] Twentieth-century insect plagues in the United States, including the 1930s grasshopper outbreaks during the Dust Bowl that devastated Midwest crops and led to widespread crop failures, heightened societal entomophobia and fears of invasive swarms. These events, affecting millions of acres and exacerbating economic hardship, reinforced cultural anxieties about insects as uncontrollable destroyers, shaping perceptions that permeate fictional portrayals.^[59]^[60] In the 2010s, DARPA-funded biomimicry projects developed insect-inspired drones, such as the Harvard RoboBee micro-robot weighing 80 mg and capable of flapping-wing flight, drawing from ant and bee locomotion for applications in surveillance and disaster response. These advancements highlight how insect agility and efficiency inform robotic designs, paralleling fictional insectoid mobility. Climate change has amplified fears of insect invasions by expanding suitable habitats for pests like locusts, with warmer temperatures and erratic weather projected to increase swarm frequency and range by up to 25% in coming decades, intensifying societal concerns over ecological disruptions.^[61]^[62]^[63] Cross-culturally, the towering mounds of African termites, such as those built by Macrotermes species reaching heights of several meters with internal ventilation systems for temperature regulation, have inspired architectural biomimicry that extends to fictional models of organic, self-sustaining insectoid structures. These mounds, constructed from soil and saliva in savanna ecosystems, demonstrate passive cooling efficiency, influencing designs in both real buildings like Zimbabwe's Eastgate Centre and imaginative depictions of alien habitats.^[64]^[65]

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Thri-kreen - AD&D Complete Compendium
Thri-kreen are a race of large, intelligent insects often referred to as “mantis warriors”. They are found in most areas of Athas and they prefer to roam ...
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Thri-kreen - DND 5th Edition - Wikidot
You have the magical ability to transmit your thoughts mentally to willing creatures within 120 feet of yourself. A contacted creature doesn't need to share ...
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The Mummy (1932) - Filmsite.org
in the concluding scene, Helen was lured and summoned to the Cairo Museum by Bey, and appeared in Egyptian royal garb; during a visionary flashback with Helen ...<|separator|>
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Mimic (1997) - IMDb
Rating 6/10 (58,753) Susan Tyler (Mira Sorvino) genetically created an insect to kill cockroaches carrying a virulent disease . For thousands of years, man has been evolution's ...Full cast & crew · Parents guide · Mimic · Mimic 2
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Beetle (Abner Jenkins) Comics | Marvel - Marvel.com
Marvel.com is the official site of Marvel Entertainment! Browse official Marvel movies, characters, comics, TV shows, videos, & more.Missing: 1960s | Show results with:1960s
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https://horrorhomeroom.com/visions-of-mutation-scientific-discovery-in-the-fly/
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[PDF] A Collision of Cultures in Starship Troopers and Ender's Game
May 20, 2011 · Ender's Game (1985) allegorically treat U.S. Cold War fears of invasion by the Soviet Union. ... aliens from beyond the moon: essentially, war.<|separator|>
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Metamorphosis as Fantasy of the Hybrid. Postmodern Horror and ...
Aug 9, 2025 · Metamorphosis as Fantasy of the Hybrid. Postmodern Horror and the Destiny of the Human Body in The Fly (David Cronenberg, 1986). January 2000 ...
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https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17533171.2024.2420435
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Bugs After the Bomb: Insect Representations in Postatomic ...
... insectoid figuration became a powerful political register for articulating concerns about American social order, language, dehumanization, and xenophobia. I ...<|control11|><|separator|>
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drones, swarms and becoming-insect - Feminist Review
Oct 13, 2017 · The trope of woman-as-insect in feminist science fiction makes positive associations between women and insect life. Graham Murphy (2008) ...
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Full article: District 9, disgust and the insect apocalypse
Dec 26, 2024 · The article argues that District 9's aliens, resembling insects, explore unassimilable otherness, and the film uses disgust to engage the body.Missing: othering symbolism
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How army ants' iconic mass raids evolved - Phys.org
May 26, 2021 · The raids are a coordinated hunting swarm of thousands and, in some species, millions of ants. The ants spontaneously stream out of their nest, ...
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Battles among Ants Resemble Human Warfare - Scientific American
Dec 1, 2011 · The advancing phalanxes of army and marauder ants are reminiscent of the fighting formations that humans have used from ancient Sumerian times ...
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The build-up of dominance hierarchies in eusocial insects - PMC
Jan 10, 2022 · Dominance hierarchy has a crucial role in some species in regulating which individuals reproduce. Compared with those in vertebrates, the ...Missing: fictional | Show results with:fictional
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How Insects Inspire the Look of Sci-Fi and Fantasy Films
Nov 14, 2018 · Viewed up close, many insects evoke in human minds a sense of something alien. Their fantastic forms and colors often look like something ...
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The Most Devastating Plagues in US History Caused by Insects
May 14, 2021 · 24/7 Tempo compiled 20 of the most devastating insect plagues in US history, including not only incidents of ravenous swarms but also the less visible, equally ...
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Our Entomophobic Culture | Psychology Today
Nov 17, 2017 · Entomophobia is reinforced by social messages, literature portraying insects as scary, invading, and as "horrors of nonindividual groups" that ...
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Gas Mask: a cultural icon | Military History Matters
Nov 3, 2010 · The German war artist Otto Dix captured the horrors and ironies of the gas mask, which seemed to transform men into monsters on the Western ...
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Review on bio-inspired flight systems and bionic aerodynamics
Wood, under the continuous funding of DARPA developed the world's smallest insect-like micro-robot RoboBee in 2013. The RoboBee weighs 80 mg and has a ...
[66]
DARPA chooses two to develop insect-size robots for complex jobs ...
ARLINGTON, Va. – U.S. military researchers have chosen two organizations to develop enabling technologies for insect-size robots able to perform complex jobsMissing: biomimicry projects 2010s
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Locust Swarms Could Expand Their Range in a Hotter, Stormier World
Feb 14, 2024 · Rising temperatures could expand the area of the globe under threat from crop-devouring locusts by up to 25 percent in the coming decades, a new study found.Missing: fears society
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How termite mounds get their shape
Feb 12, 2019 · The model explains how differences in the environment lead to the distinct morphologies of termite mounds in Asia, Australia, Africa, and South America.
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These self-cooled buildings were inspired by termites and frogs | Grist
Sep 6, 2019 · Perhaps the most famous example of nature-inspired architecture comes from Mick Pearce, a Zimbabwean architect whose designs model termite ...