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Artwork for Bugs Need Heroes

Bugs Need Heroes

BugsNeedHeroes
Ecology
Bugs Need Heroes
Entomology
Insects
Tiger Beetle
Oil Beetles
Stink Bugs
Mantis Fly
Bed Bugs
Devil's Coach Horse Beetle
Lord Howe Island Stick Insect
Moths
Maria Sibylla Merian
Velvet Ants
Velvet Worm
House Centipede
Pest Control
Conservation
Mosquitoes
Joro Spider

On each episode of Bugs Need Heroes, an ecologist and an illustrator team-up to create a new insect-inspired super hero. The finished characters are posted to our social media pages and at BugsNeedHeroes.com Email us questions about bugs at BugsNeedHeroes@gmail.com Created by Derek Conrad and Kelly Zimmerman. Hosted by Amanda Niday and Kelly Zimmerman. Edited by Derek Conrad. Character artwork by ... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes108Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NatureEducationScience

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Artwork for Bugs Need Heroes

Latest Episodes

Producer Derek messed up the summer schedule so things will be intermittent until everyone gets back from family/travel/bug related adventures.

YouTube

Kelly guests on Spooko Podcast to talk about the film Prince of Darkness and discuss bug wranglers, 'pre'-biotics, and why so many horror movies about satan assume bugs are bad guys.

Follow Spooko on Insta: @_spooko_

Join the Feel Bad Club on our d... more

YouTube

Dr Kelly Z is out today and filling in for her is Ellen Weatherford of Just The Zoo of Us podcast to discuss lovebugs (Plecia nearctica). Many tangents in this episode including Florida mullets, Pablo Escobar's cocaine hippos, "shadow daddies," and a... more

YouTube

Amanda and Kelly share their thoughts about the 1998 Disney/Pixar movie A Bug's Life.

Movie discussion begins at 5:30

Send us questions and suggestions! BugsNeedHeroes@gmail.com

Join us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/bugsneedheroes/

Join... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Dr. Kelly Zimmerman
Bug expert and entomologist, on-screen consultant for the episode
Independent entomology researcher
Episode: Dr Kelly Zimmerman on Spooko Podcast
Ellen Weatherford
Guest from Just The Zoo of Us
Just The Zoo of Us
Episode: The Vampire Hunters? (LOVEBUGS) with Ellen Weatherford
Joey Santore
Special guest, host of Crime Pays But Botany Doesn't
Crime Pays But Botany Doesn't
Episode: Bug Heroes: Joey Santore
Jesus Rivera
Entomologist who discovered the diabolical ironclad beetle
Dr. Jesus Rivera, entomology researcher
Episode: The Larva Face (IRONCLAD BEETLES)
Dr. Prendergast
Bee Babette, entomologist and science communicator
University/affiliation not explicitly stated in transcript
Episode: Bug Hero: The Bee Babette (Dr KIT PRENDERGAST)
Dr. Nina Jenkins
Insect Pathologist and Chief Technology Officer at ConidioTec.
ConidioTec
Episode: Bug Hero: Dr Nina Jenkins (BED BUGS)
Floria Uy
Assistant Professor at the University of Rochester specializing in parasitic insects
University of Rochester
Episode: The Biohacker (STREPSIPTERA with Dr Floria Uy)
Dr. Scott Kight
An entomologist and researcher at Montclair State University
Montclair State University
Episode: Dude Dad Diaper Bug (GIANT WATER BUGS aka TOE-BITERS)
Dr. Aaron Rodriguez
Researcher focusing on German cockroaches and associated proteins
Episode: Tergal Lad (COCKROACHES with Dr Aaron Rodriques)

Hosts

Amanda Niday
Host and illustrator; frequent co-host with ecological background.
Kelly Zimmerman
Co-host and communications-focused, with a scientific voice.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 97 ratings
  • This podcast is amazing!!!

    I love bugs and I love listening to people talk about them!!! Keep making more episodes!!! Ĩ łøvê ǐț! Țhě bẽşț büğ pőðċäšt ęvėř!!! ËVĒŘ!!!

    ( “ )

    \_ _/

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ZenPenguin
    United States7 months ago
  • This podcast is amazing!!!

    I love bugs and I love listening to people talk about them!!! Keep making more episodes!!! Ĩ łøvê ǐț! Țhě bẽşț büğ pőðċäšt ęvėř!!! ËVĒŘ!!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ZenPenguin
    United States8 months ago
  • 🎀

    Great podcast. I love tuning in to each new episode and looking at the fun, creative title that has some sort of turn or twist to it. Congrats on a pod well done!

    Sincerely,

    A girl who loves 🐌✨

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    jtpav
    United States8 months ago
  • Good

    I suggest the pod weird bugs they are new

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Cleo1717🩷Podlover
    United Statesa year ago
  • Good

    Bug🐞🐜🐜🦟🪲🪲🪳🕷️🐞🐛🦟🪲🪳🪲🐜

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Cleo1717🩷Podlover
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Many enjoy the educational yet entertaining approach to bugs and nature.
Audience appreciates practical takes on conservation and native species.
Listeners praise the duo's banter and the accessible science."

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#219
United States/Science/Nature
Apple Podcasts
#25
Philippines/Science/Nature
Apple Podcasts
#75
Hong Kong/Science/Nature
Apple Podcasts
#104
South Korea/Science/Nature
Apple Podcasts
#122
Sweden/Science/Nature
Apple Podcasts
#191
Mexico/Science/Nature

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Vampire Hunters? (LOVEBUGS) with Ellen Weatherford
Q: So what bug did you select for us today?
Ellen responds that the chosen bug is the love bug, a pair-bonded fly with distinctive appearance and interesting mating behavior.
Bug Hero: The Bee Babette (Dr KIT PRENDERGAST)
Q: What practical steps can listeners take to support native bees in their own yards or communities?
Listeners can plant native flowering plants that support specialist bees, create patches of bare ground for ground-nesting species, avoid excessive mulching, reduce lawn areas, and encourage habitat diversity across patches to sustain bee communities amid climate change.
Bug Hero: The Bee Babette (Dr KIT PRENDERGAST)
Q: What makes native bees in Australia particularly interesting or important to study, and what conservation issues did you highlight?
Native bees show enormous diversity in life histories, nesting, and social structures, and they are under-described and under-protected; habitat loss, lack of taxonomy funding, and misallocation of resources toward honeybees threaten their survival, making conservation action and better policy essential.
Bug Hero: The Bee Babette (Dr KIT PRENDERGAST)
Q: Can you describe the naming rights around describing a new species and any rules that govern how you choose names?
Naming rights belong to the describer, but there are rules to follow, such as avoiding naming after oneself and considering roots like the plant the species was found on, as well as honoring colleagues, places, or even notable cultural references, while avoiding defamatory or racist terms.
The Rising of the Stink Hero (SHIELD BUGS)
Q: Do stink bugs only stink when you kill them?
They also spray to scare off predators, but they need to be threatened or crushed to release the stink.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Bugs Need Heroes

What is Bugs Need Heroes about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Two hosts blend ecology and illustration to craft insect-inspired superheroes, pairing accessible science with creative worldbuilding. Episodes center on bugs' biology, behavior, and ecological roles, often featuring guests who expand on native species, pest control, or conservation stories, all while the hosts bring humor and tangents that make science approachable and entertaining. Noteworthy is the consistent emphasis on education through engaging storytelling, cross-promo with social media, and a distinctive knack for turning entomology into character design and pop-culture-friendly concepts. Listeners likely get practical insights for nature education, conservation, and bug-themed outreach, along with a playful, nerdy vibe that appeals... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Bugs Need Heroes?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Bugs Need Heroes:

1. Ologies with Alie Ward
2. Crime Pays But Botany Doesn't
3. No Such Thing As A Fish
4. Crime Junkie
5. The Deck

How many episodes of Bugs Need Heroes are there?

Bugs Need Heroes launched 4 years ago and published 108 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Bugs Need Heroes?

Recent guests on Bugs Need Heroes include:

1. Dr. Kelly Zimmerman
2. Ellen Weatherford
3. Joey Santore
4. Jesus Rivera
5. Dr. Prendergast
6. Dr. Nina Jenkins
7. Floria Uy
8. Dr. Scott Kight

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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