Common insects and spiders

Plenty of bugs can be found without leaving the home or garden, from house spiders weaving away in the corner of your loft to May bugs crashing into your living room windows. Find out about the life cycle and behaviour of some you might encounter, along with tips on identification. Is that false widow spider really as black as you thought it was? And what are the most abundant insects in the world? Find out here.

Cockchafer or May bug (video)

Watch the cockchafer beetle on film and discover its key characteristics. Also known as the May bug, this relatively large beetle is normally seen flying between May and July.
Large willow aphid

Read about one of the largest aphid species in Britain. Why have no males ever been recorded?
The Biology of the Collembola (Springtails)

University of Reading lecturer Steve Hopkin introduces us to the most abundant insects in the world.
Dragonflies, mayflies and stoneflies

Steve Brooks introduces us to a primitive group of insects that share an aquatic lifestyle and acrobatic flying skills.
Hemiptera...it's a bug's life

Explore the world of bugs, and their extremely diverse range of sizes, shapes and colours, with Jon Martin and Mick Webb.
Horseflies, robberflies and blowflies

Pests, predators and parasites – find out about this hugely diverse, widespread and successful collection of insects.
Hornet sightings create a buzz - 03/05/2007 (video)

Stuart Hine, manager of the Museum's Insect Identification Service, talks about the large number of hornet sightings he has had from the public.
Studying cockroaches - 30/07/2007 (video)

Watch George Beccaloni talk about cockroaches and his work on the first online database of the world's cockroaches, the Blattodea Species File Online (BSF) in this short video.
Mystery Museum garden insect - 15/07/2008 (video)

Watch this short video with Museum insect expert Max Barclay talking about the mystery insect discovered living in the Museum's Wildlife Garden.
The world of spiders - 03/01/2003 (video)

Whether you loathe them or love them, explore the fascinating world of spiders with Museum scientist Paul Hillyard.
False widow spider - 22/05/2007 (video)

Stuart Hine, Manager of the Identification and Advisory Service at the Museum, talks about the false widow spider.