The Brain Scoop
Camel Spiders: Neither Camels, Nor Spiders
Camel spiders eat live birds by liquefying the birds in their mouths and sucking the meal down their throats. The video presents the facts and myths about these interesting animals as part of a Brain Scoop playlist on Insects and Other...
The Brain Scoop
How to Pin an Insect
Have you ever tried to pinpoint the exact type of insect captured? Scientists collect insects and pin them for future study to do just that. The video explains how to properly pin an insect to display the unique body parts and features....
The Brain Scoop
Insect Cribs
Which sounds like the worst way to die: being paralyzed until you are eaten or being imprisoned until you are licked to death? Both of these scenarios happen in nature, and a frightening Brain Scoop video explains the details as part of...
The Brain Scoop
Chicago Adventure, Part 8: How to be an Insect
Have you ever seen a wingless fly or a katydid larger than many birds? The eighth part of a series on the Field Museum in Chicago shares both of these unique insects. The resource explains the location and features of some of the...
The Brain Scoop
Insect Adventure, Part 3
After scientists collect insects, what do they do with them? The final Brain Scoop video wraps up an adventure to a field to collect insects. It details how they sort, study, and pin insects for future study. An Insect playlist allows...
The Brain Scoop
Insect Adventure, Part 2
Scholars look forward to using the pooter, otherwise known as an aspirator, to collect insects. The video demonstrates how to collect bugs in mesh nets, canvas nets, and in pooters to better study them. The second installment of a...
The Brain Scoop
Insect Adventure, Part 1
Have you ever wondered why scientists use rotten chicken liver? The video explains this and more on a Field Museum trip to a prairie. Brain Scoop presents the first part of their insect adventure as part of the playlist on Insects.
The Brain Scoop
The Tiger Beetle
Have you observed larvae hunting for prey? The tiger beetle larvae hunt in a way similar to the adults. These interesting insects star in the video produced by Brain Scoop; their unique habits and appearance enhance the Insect playlist.
The Brain Scoop
Romantic Ants
Almost every ant you have ever seen in your life is female. The video, part of an Insect playlist by Brain Scoop, discusses the unique sex lives of ants. It explains the unique anatomy and habits that are conducive to all-female colonies.
The Brain Scoop
Dissecting Ants
Scientists study the gut bacteria in ants to better understand their digestive process. Brain Scoop presents the proper way to dissect ants as part of their Insects playlist. The video shows the steps and explains why each is necessary...
The Brain Scoop
Crystal and Her Water Beetles
Water beetles live underwater their entire lives, getting air from a bubble they carry with them. The video, part of an Insect playlist by Brain Scoop, explains how they breathe and why they are fascinating for evolutionary studies. It...
The Brain Scoop
Beetles, Mites, Cockroaches Oh My!—Insect Collection Tour
The Field Museum houses 12 million insects. Brain Scoop presents the insect collection at the Field Museum as part of its Insect playlist. From brilliant purple beetles to tiny mites, all the way to giant cockroaches, the organization of...
Deep Look
What Gall! The Crazy Cribs of Parasitic Wasps
It turns out some wasps have a lot of gall! An engaging video lesson presents parasitism at its finest. Certain species of wasps trick oak trees into creating and maintaining homes for their larva. These homes have the appropriate name...
Deep Look
These Termites Turn Your House into a Palace of Poop
Everyone knows that termites are bad news for the wooden parts of a home. How do they do it, and how can we stop them? Go inside a termite (literally) to discover the scores of bacteria and protists that help make wood taste good. The...
Deep Look
These Fighting Fruit Flies Are Superheroes of Brain Science
What can fighting fruit flies tell us about our own brains? Junior geneticists explore the common genes of fruit flies and humans and learn how scientists are using the tiny insects to help study depression, anger, and Alzheimer's...
Deep Look
A Real Alien Invasion Is Coming to a Palm Tree Near You
What happens when you plant large numbers of non-native trees in an area? Well, sometimes it attracts the wrong kind of attention! Meet the South American palm weevil, an insect that spends its entire life cycle destroying palm...
Deep Look
Where Are the Ants Carrying All Those Leaves?
Ants don't eat leaves, they use them for farming. The video focuses on this practice, which ants have done for 60 million years. It explains how they use the leaves to grow fungus and build entire underground cities. They even assign...
Deep Look
Sticky. Stretchy. Waterproof. The Amazing Underwater Tape of the Caddisfly
Did you know that the caddisfly creates a tape that is not only water proof, but also stretches like a rubber band. Learn more about caddisflies with a video explains What scientists are discovering about an insect with aquatic larvae.
Deep Look
This Is Why Water Striders Make Terrible Lifeguards
Water striders ... amazing aquatic acrobats or ferocious predators? Introduce life science scholars to these tough little insects using an engaging video. The narrator explains the strider's ability to walk on water and how it uses this...
MinuteEarth
Bedbugs. Seriously!?
Want to drastically reduce the number of naps attempted in class? Show a video about bedbugs! Learners discover a pest so persistent that entomologists are confounded by their resilience and adaptability. The narrator discusses our...
TED-Ed
Why Don't Ants Get Stuck In Traffic?
Ants don't get stuck in traffic jams because they work together. View an intriguing video that explores the flow of ant traffic by comparing it to car road traffic. If ants can keep their flow of movement steady, then why can't humans?
TED-Ed
The Insanely Painful Sting of the Bullet Ant
Milking venomous ants? Dissecting bullet ants? Watch a very interesting and informative video on the anatomy of a bullet ant and the power of its venomous sting.
Curated OER
Life Cycle of a Dragonfly
Did you know that dragonflies don't go through complete metamorphosis, but rather a series of nymph stages? View this video to find out what life is like for a dragonfly from egg to adult! You'll learn all you need to know. A good video...
Curated OER
Dragonfly Metamorphosis
Nothing is stranger and more fascinating than witnessing the emergence of an insect. Watch as a dragonfly breaks free from its hardened chrysalis and takes flight. Kids are sure to find this clip very interesting.