World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/bull-shark): Bull Shark — wildlife guide.

## Encounters with people
Because bull sharks are large, bold, and often swim in the shallow, murky water where people swim, they are considered one of the shark species most likely to be involved in bites on humans. Their tolerance of rivers and estuaries brings them into contact with people far from the open sea. Serious incidents are still rare, and most bull sharks show little interest in people. Sensible caution in murky coastal and river water reduces the already low risk.

## Conservation status
The bull shark is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN. Like many sharks it is slow to mature and produces relatively few young, so populations recover slowly from pressure. Overfishing, capture for fins and meat, and the loss of the coastal and estuary habitats it uses as nurseries all threaten its numbers. Protecting river mouths and limiting catches are key to keeping the species healthy.

## WARN work
WARN does not run a dedicated bull shark programme — this guide is part of the World Animal Rescue Network's free educational library. The bull shark faces documented conservation pressure in the wild, which is why clear, sourced public information about it matters. Building public understanding of species like the bull shark supports the broader conservation awareness that underpins WARN's partner-led rescue work across its network.

## Donation hook
If clear, science-based wildlife guides like this help you understand and value animals, please consider supporting the World Animal Rescue Network's educational and rescue work so we can keep producing them.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/bull-shark): Bull Shark — wildlife guide.

## Can bull sharks live in freshwater?
Yes. Bull sharks are among the few sharks that can survive in freshwater. Special adaptations let them control their body's salt balance, so they swim far up rivers and into lakes.

## How big do bull sharks get?
Bull sharks grow up to about 3.5 m (11 ft) long and can weigh around 130 kg (290 lb). Females are typically larger and heavier than males.

## Are bull sharks dangerous to humans?
Bull sharks are considered one of the species most likely to bite people because they are large, bold, and share shallow, murky water with swimmers. Even so, serious incidents remain rare.

## What do bull sharks eat?
Bull sharks are opportunistic carnivores with a very broad diet, including bony fish, other sharks and rays, turtles, crustaceans, seabirds, and occasionally dolphins.

## How fast can a bull shark swim?
Bull sharks can swim in short bursts of up to about 40 km/h (25 mph). They use these bursts of speed to ambush prey in shallow, cloudy water.

## How long do bull sharks live?
Bull sharks live for around 16 to 25 years in the wild. Like many sharks they mature slowly, which makes their populations sensitive to overfishing.

## Where do bull sharks live?
Bull sharks inhabit warm coastal seas, rivers and lakes worldwide. They have been recorded thousands of kilometres up the Amazon and Mississippi and living in Lake Nicaragua, thanks to kidneys and gills adapted to control salt balance in freshwater.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/electric-eel): Electric Eel — wildlife guide.

## One-line answer
The electric eel (Electrophorus electricus) is a freshwater fish of South America famous for generating powerful electric shocks to stun prey and defend itself. Despite the name it is not a true eel but a knifefish, growing up to 2.5 m long and weighing around 20 kg.

## Introduction
The electric eel (Electrophorus electricus) is a freshwater fish of South America famous for generating powerful electric shocks to stun prey and defend itself. Despite the name it is not a true eel but a knifefish, growing up to 2.5 m long and weighing around 20 kg. It is a slow, undulating swimmer that lives in murky streams and pools and breathes air at the surface. Electric eels live about 15 years and are listed as Least Concern.

## Takeaway
Despite its name, the electric eel is not a true eel at all but a type of knifefish, more closely related to catfish and carp than to the eels of the sea.

## Takeaway
Most of the electric eel's body is packed with specialised cells called electrocytes, stacked like the cells in a battery.

## Takeaway
The electric eel is a carnivore that preys on fish, amphibians, and invertebrates.

## Not a true eel
Despite its name, the electric eel is not a true eel at all but a type of knifefish, more closely related to catfish and carp than to the eels of the sea. It gets its name from its long, cylindrical, eel-like body, which can reach 2.5 m in length. It swims slowly by rippling a long fin that runs along the underside of its body. This undulating motion lets it move forward or backward with equal ease through cluttered water.

## How it generates electricity
Most of the electric eel's body is packed with specialised cells called electrocytes, stacked like the cells in a battery. When the eel discharges, thousands of these cells fire at once, producing a jolt strong enough to stun prey or deter a predator. It also emits weaker pulses used for navigation and to sense its surroundings in murky water. This makes electricity central to both hunting and communication.

## Hunting and diet
The electric eel is a carnivore that preys on fish, amphibians, and invertebrates. It hunts by releasing high-voltage discharges that stun or immobilise nearby prey, then swallows the helpless animal whole. Weak electric pulses help it locate targets it cannot see in cloudy, sediment-filled water. Because its eyesight is poor, it depends heavily on its electrical sense to find food.

## Breathing air
Electric eels live in oxygen-poor waters and cannot rely on their gills alone, so they gulp air at the surface using a specialised, blood-rich lining in the mouth. They must surface every few minutes to breathe, and would drown if unable to reach the surface. This adaptation lets them survive in stagnant, muddy pools where many other fish could not. It also means they spend much of their life near the surface.

## Habitat and range
Electric eels are found in the murky freshwater streams, pools, and floodplains of northern South America, including the Amazon and Orinoco basins. They prefer slow-moving, muddy water with plenty of cover. This dim, sediment-rich environment suits an animal that hunts by electricity rather than sight. They spend most of their time near the bottom, rising only to breathe.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/electric-eel): Electric Eel — wildlife guide.

## Life and conservation
Electric eels live about 15 years in the wild. During the dry season, a male builds a nest of saliva into which the female lays her eggs, and he guards the developing young. The species is widespread across its range and is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. Its remote, murky habitat has helped keep populations stable.

## WARN work
WARN does not run a dedicated electric eel programme — this guide is part of the World Animal Rescue Network's free educational library. The electric eel is currently widespread and not globally threatened, and this guide helps readers understand the pressures that can change that. Building public understanding of species like the electric eel supports the broader conservation awareness that underpins WARN's partner-led rescue work across its network.

## Donation hook
If clear, science-based wildlife guides like this help you understand and value animals, please consider supporting the World Animal Rescue Network's educational and rescue work so we can keep producing them.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/electric-eel): Electric Eel — wildlife guide.

## Is an electric eel a real eel?
No. Despite its name, the electric eel is not a true eel but a knifefish, more closely related to catfish and carp. It earned the name from its long, eel-like body shape.

## How does an electric eel produce electricity?
Most of its body is filled with specialised cells called electrocytes, stacked like a battery. When thousands fire together, they release a powerful electric discharge used to stun prey and defend against predators, along with weaker pulses for navigation.

## What do electric eels eat?
Electric eels are carnivores that eat fish, amphibians, and invertebrates. They stun prey with high-voltage shocks and then swallow the immobilised animal whole.

## How big do electric eels get?
Electric eels can grow up to 2.5 m long and weigh around 20 kg, making them large among freshwater fish. Their long, cylindrical bodies are packed with electricity-producing cells.

## Do electric eels breathe air?
Yes. Electric eels live in oxygen-poor water and gulp air at the surface using a blood-rich lining in the mouth. They must surface every few minutes and would drown without access to air.

## How long do electric eels live?
Electric eels live about 15 years in the wild. They are widespread across northern South America and are listed as Least Concern.

## Where do electric eels live?
Electric eels live in murky freshwater streams, pools and floodplains of northern South America, including the Amazon and Orinoco basins. They prefer slow-moving, sediment-rich water with cover and spend most of their time near the bottom, rising to gulp air at the surface every few minutes. The species grows up to 2.5 m long, weighs around 20 kg and is listed Least Concern.

## Are electric eels dangerous?
Electric eels can be dangerous. Thousands of specialised electrocytes can discharge a powerful jolt strong enough to stun prey or deter predators, and repeated shocks can harm a person wading in muddy water. They are not aggressive hunters of humans but defend themselves when disturbed. Adults reach up to 2.5 m and weigh around 20 kg, relying on electricity for navigation as much as defence because eyesight is poor in cloudy water.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/great-white-shark): Great White Shark — wildlife guide.

## One-line answer
The great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) is a large predatory fish found in cool and temperate coastal waters worldwide. It grows to around 4 to 4.6 m (13 to 15 ft), with some individuals exceeding 6 m, and can weigh up to 1,100 kg (2,400 lb).

## Introduction
The great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) is a large predatory fish found in cool and temperate coastal waters worldwide. It grows to around 4 to 4.6 m (13 to 15 ft), with some individuals exceeding 6 m, and can weigh up to 1,100 kg (2,400 lb). A powerful hunter of seals, sea lions, fish, and rays, it can swim in short bursts of up to 56 km/h (35 mph) and may live as long as 70 years. The IUCN lists it as Vulnerable.

## Takeaway
Great white sharks are the largest predatory fish on Earth, typically measuring 4 to 4.6 m (13 to 15 ft), though exceptional individuals exceed 6 m.

## Takeaway
Great whites are carnivores that feed mainly on seals, sea lions, fish, and rays, shifting toward larger marine mammals as they grow.

## Takeaway
Great whites have an extraordinary array of senses tuned for hunting in open water.

## Size and appearance
Great white sharks are the largest predatory fish on Earth, typically measuring 4 to 4.6 m (13 to 15 ft), though exceptional individuals exceed 6 m. Mature adults commonly weigh between 680 and 1,100 kg (1,500 to 2,400 lb), and some are heavier still. Their name comes from the stark white underside, which contrasts with a slate-grey back that camouflages them against the seabed when viewed from above. This countershading lets them approach prey from below almost unseen.

## Hunting and diet
Great whites are carnivores that feed mainly on seals, sea lions, fish, and rays, shifting toward larger marine mammals as they grow. They often attack from directly beneath their target, rushing upward in a single explosive strike that can briefly reach 56 km/h (35 mph). Rows of serrated, triangular teeth are continuously replaced throughout the shark's life, so a worn or broken tooth is quickly succeeded by a fresh one behind it. After a heavy meal, a great white can go weeks before needing to feed again.

## Senses and navigation
Great whites have an extraordinary array of senses tuned for hunting in open water. Special jelly-filled pores called the ampullae of Lorenzini detect the faint electrical fields produced by other animals, allowing the shark to sense prey even when it cannot see it. A keen sense of smell can pick up traces of blood diluted in vast volumes of seawater, and a sensitive lateral line registers pressure changes and movement nearby. Together these senses make the great white a formidable and precise predator.

## Habitat and range
Great white sharks live in cool and temperate coastal waters across the globe, from the coasts of South Africa and Australia to California and the Mediterranean. They favour productive areas near seal colonies, rocky reefs, and offshore islands, but they also undertake long migrations across open ocean. Satellite tracking has revealed individuals crossing entire ocean basins and diving to considerable depths. This wide, patchy distribution makes the species difficult to survey accurately.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/great-white-shark): Great White Shark — wildlife guide.

## Reproduction and growth
Great whites are slow to mature, with females often not breeding until around 30 years of age. They are ovoviviparous, meaning the young develop inside eggs that hatch within the mother, and pups are born live after a gestation thought to last roughly a year. Litters are small, usually a handful of pups, each already more than a metre long and independent from birth. This slow reproductive pace, combined with a lifespan of up to 70 years, means populations recover only very gradually from losses.

## Why it is vulnerable
The IUCN classifies the great white shark as Vulnerable, reflecting long-term declines in many regions. Accidental capture in fishing gear, targeted hunting for jaws and teeth, and the depletion of prey have all taken a toll, made worse by the species' late maturity and low birth rate. Great whites are effectively impossible to keep in aquariums, as they fare poorly in captivity and rarely survive long. Legal protection in countries such as South Africa, Australia, and the United States has become central to safeguarding the remaining population.

## WARN work
WARN does not run a dedicated great white shark programme — this guide is part of the World Animal Rescue Network's free educational library. The great white shark faces documented conservation pressure in the wild, which is why clear, sourced public information about it matters. Building public understanding of species like the great white shark supports the broader conservation awareness that underpins WARN's partner-led rescue work across its network.

## Donation hook
If clear, science-based wildlife guides like this help you understand and value animals, please consider supporting the World Animal Rescue Network's educational and rescue work so we can keep producing them.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/great-white-shark): Great White Shark — wildlife guide.

## How big do great white sharks get?
Great white sharks typically reach 4 to 4.6 m (13 to 15 ft) in length, though some individuals exceed 6 m. They usually weigh between 680 and 1,100 kg (1,500 to 2,400 lb), and occasionally more, making them the largest predatory fish alive today.

## How fast can a great white shark swim?
A great white shark can swim in short bursts of up to about 56 km/h (35 mph) when ambushing prey. It cannot sustain that speed for long and cruises far more slowly while patrolling or migrating.

## How long do great white sharks live?
Great white sharks are long-lived and may reach around 70 years of age. They grow and mature slowly, with females often not breeding until roughly 30 years old.

## What do great white sharks eat?
Great white sharks are carnivores that feed on seals, sea lions, fish, and rays. Younger sharks eat mostly fish and smaller prey, switching to larger marine mammals as they grow bigger and stronger.

## Are great white sharks endangered?
Great white sharks are listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN, not yet endangered but at real risk. Accidental capture in fishing gear, targeted hunting, and declining prey, combined with their slow breeding, all threaten their numbers.

## Can great white sharks be kept in aquariums?
No. Great white sharks are effectively impossible to keep in captivity, as they fare very poorly in aquariums and rarely survive more than a short time. Most attempts have ended with the shark being released or dying, so there are no long-term captive great whites.

## Where do great white sharks live?
Great White Sharks live in Cool and temperate coastal waters worldwide. The great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) is a large predatory fish found in cool and temperate coastal waters worldwide.

## Are great white sharks dangerous?
Great White Sharks are not generally dangerous to people. The great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) is a large predatory fish found in cool and temperate coastal waters worldwide. Give wild individuals space and do not corner or handle them.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/ant): Ant — wildlife guide.

## One-line answer
Ants are small social insects of the family Formicidae, found almost everywhere on Earth except the far polar regions. Ranging from 1 to 13 mm depending on species, they live in highly organised colonies of dozens to millions of individuals, each with a queen, workers, and cooperative roles.

## Introduction
Ants are small social insects of the family Formicidae, found almost everywhere on Earth except the far polar regions. Ranging from 1 to 13 mm depending on species, they live in highly organised colonies of dozens to millions of individuals, each with a queen, workers, and cooperative roles. Famous for their strength and teamwork, ants can lift many times their own body weight and are one of the most successful animal groups on the planet.

## Takeaway
Ants are among the most social of all insects, living in colonies built around a strict division of labour.

## Takeaway
For their size, ants are astonishingly strong, and many species can carry objects many times their own body weight in their jaws.

## Takeaway
Ants rely heavily on chemical signals called pheromones to coordinate their colony.

## Colony life and castes
Ants are among the most social of all insects, living in colonies built around a strict division of labour. A colony centres on one or more egg-laying queens, supported by large numbers of sterile female workers who forage, build, and care for the young. Males exist mainly to mate, and a single colony can range from just a few dozen ants to several million. This teamwork lets a colony behave almost like a single organism.

## Strength and teamwork
For their size, ants are astonishingly strong, and many species can carry objects many times their own body weight in their jaws. By working together, columns of ants can move loads and overcome obstacles far beyond the ability of any individual. Some species even link their bodies together to form living bridges and rafts, allowing the colony to cross gaps and floods.

## Communication with scent
Ants rely heavily on chemical signals called pheromones to coordinate their colony. A forager that finds food lays a scent trail on the way home, and nestmates follow and reinforce it, which is why ants so often march in orderly lines. They also use touch and antenna-tapping to share information, and different scents can raise an alarm or identify intruders from another colony.

## Diet and foraging
Most ants are omnivores whose exact diet varies widely by species. Many feed on seeds, nectar, and the sugary honeydew produced by aphids, which some ants tend and protect like livestock. Others are hunters that scavenge or capture insects and small invertebrates. Leafcutter ants take a different path, harvesting leaves to grow an underground fungus that the colony then eats.

## Lifespan and the colony cycle
Lifespan varies enormously across the caste system. Worker ants may live only weeks to about a year, while a queen can survive for 15 years or more, laying eggs throughout her long life. New colonies begin when winged males and young queens leave the nest in a mating flight; after mating, a founding queen sheds her wings and starts a new colony largely on her own.

## Diversity and success
There are more than 12,000 known ant species, occupying nearly every land habitat from tropical rainforest to city pavements, and absent only from the coldest polar regions. This diversity, combined with their social organisation, makes ants one of the most successful groups of animals on Earth. As a group they are common and listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, though some individual species are far rarer.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/ant): Ant — wildlife guide.

## WARN work
WARN does not run a dedicated ant programme — this guide is part of the World Animal Rescue Network's free educational library. The ant is currently widespread and not globally threatened, and this guide helps readers understand the pressures that can change that. Building public understanding of species like the ant supports the broader conservation awareness that underpins WARN's partner-led rescue work across its network.

## Donation hook
If clear, science-based wildlife guides like this help you understand and value animals, please consider supporting the World Animal Rescue Network's educational and rescue work so we can keep producing them.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/ant): Ant — wildlife guide.

## How much can an ant lift?
Ants are extremely strong for their size, and many species can carry objects many times their own body weight in their jaws. By cooperating, groups of ants can move loads far larger than any single ant could manage alone.

## How do ants communicate?
Ants communicate mainly through chemical scents called pheromones. A forager lays a scent trail to guide nestmates to food, which is why ants march in lines, and other scents can sound an alarm or identify intruders from rival colonies.

## How long do ants live?
It depends on their role. Worker ants generally live from a few weeks up to about a year, while queens are far longer-lived and can survive for 15 years or more, laying eggs throughout their lives.

## What do ants eat?
Most ants are omnivores, and their diet varies by species. Common foods include seeds, nectar, and the sugary honeydew from aphids, while some ants hunt other insects and leafcutter ants farm fungus on harvested leaves.

## How big can an ant colony get?
Colony size ranges enormously, from just a few dozen ants in small species to several million in large ones. Each colony is organised around one or more queens supported by many sterile female workers.

## Where do ants live?
Ants are found almost everywhere on land, from tropical rainforests and deserts to gardens and city streets, and are absent only from the coldest polar regions. With over 12,000 species, they are one of the most widespread animal groups on Earth.

## Are ants dangerous?
Most ants are harmless to people, though some species bite or sting when defending a nest. Fire ants and bulldog ants can deliver painful stings. Ants as a group are listed Least Concern, ranging from 1–13 mm depending on species in colonies of dozens to millions.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/dragonfly): Dragonfly — wildlife guide.

## One-line answer
Dragonflies are fast, agile flying insects with long bodies, huge eyes, and two pairs of transparent wings. They are skilled aerial predators that catch other insects in mid-air, and they spend most of their lives as aquatic larvae before becoming adults.

## Introduction
Dragonflies are fast, agile flying insects with long bodies, huge eyes, and two pairs of transparent wings. They are skilled aerial predators that catch other insects in mid-air, and they spend most of their lives as aquatic larvae before becoming adults. Adult dragonflies usually live only a few weeks to a few months.

## Takeaway
Dragonflies are among the most agile fliers in the insect world.

## Takeaway
A dragonfly's huge compound eyes can each contain tens of thousands of lenses and wrap around much of its head, giving it nearly all-around vision.

## Takeaway
Most of a dragonfly's life is spent underwater as a larva, sometimes for a year or more, where it hunts aquatic insects, tadpoles, and even small fish.

## Masters of flight
Dragonflies are among the most agile fliers in the insect world. They can move each of their four wings independently, allowing them to hover, fly backward, and change direction instantly. This control makes them highly effective at catching other insects in mid-air, with a very high hunting success rate.

## Remarkable vision
A dragonfly's huge compound eyes can each contain tens of thousands of lenses and wrap around much of its head, giving it nearly all-around vision. This excellent sight helps it spot and track fast-moving prey while flying, and judge the path needed to intercept it.

## Life in water and air
Most of a dragonfly's life is spent underwater as a larva, sometimes for a year or more, where it hunts aquatic insects, tadpoles, and even small fish. When ready, the larva climbs out of the water, its skin splits, and the winged adult emerges. The adult stage lasts only weeks to a few months.

## Habitat and importance
Dragonflies live near fresh water such as ponds, lakes, rivers, and wetlands, where they breed. Because their larvae are sensitive to pollution, the presence of dragonflies is often a sign of healthy water. They also help control populations of mosquitoes and other small insects.

## WARN work
WARN does not run a dedicated dragonfly programme — this guide is part of the World Animal Rescue Network's free educational library. The dragonfly is currently widespread and not globally threatened, and this guide helps readers understand the pressures that can change that. Building public understanding of species like the dragonfly supports the broader conservation awareness that underpins WARN's partner-led rescue work across its network.

## Donation hook
If clear, science-based wildlife guides like this help you understand and value animals, please consider supporting the World Animal Rescue Network's educational and rescue work so we can keep producing them.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/dragonfly): Dragonfly — wildlife guide.

## How fast can a dragonfly fly?
Dragonflies are strong fliers and can reach speeds of around 50 km/h (30 mph) in short bursts. Their independent wing control also lets them hover and even fly backward.

## What do dragonflies eat?
Adult dragonflies are carnivores that catch flying insects such as mosquitoes, flies, and gnats in mid-air. Their aquatic larvae eat other water insects, tadpoles, and small fish.

## How long do dragonflies live?
Adult dragonflies usually live only a few weeks to a few months. They spend much longer as underwater larvae, sometimes more than a year, before becoming winged adults.

## Do dragonflies bite or sting?
Dragonflies do not sting, and they are harmless to people. A large one might pinch if handled, but they have no venom and pose no danger.

## Are dragonflies good for the environment?
Yes. Dragonflies help control mosquitoes and other small insects, and because their larvae need clean water, their presence is a good sign of healthy freshwater habitats.

## Why do dragonflies have such big eyes?
A dragonfly's large compound eyes give it nearly all-around vision, which helps it spot and track fast prey in flight. Each eye can have tens of thousands of tiny lenses.

## Where do dragonflies live?
Dragonflies live near fresh water — ponds, lakes, rivers and wetlands — where females lay eggs and larvae develop underwater, sometimes for a year or more. Adults hunt flying insects over the water and nearby vegetation. Because larvae are sensitive to pollution, dragonflies are often a sign of healthy freshwater. The group is widespread globally and listed Least Concern.

## Are dragonflies dangerous?
Dragonflies are not dangerous to people. They do not sting, have no venom and are harmless unless a large one pinches when handled. Adults are skilled aerial predators of mosquitoes, flies and gnats, reaching around 50 km/h in short bursts. Their huge compound eyes give nearly all-around vision for catching prey in flight, not for attacking humans.

## How big is a dragonfly?
A dragonfly's size varies by species, with wingspans from about 2 to 13 cm. Typical body length is around 7 cm, and many adults weigh about 1 g. Despite their small mass, they are among the most agile fliers in the insect world, moving each of their four wings independently to hover, fly backward and change direction instantly when hunting other insects in mid-air.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/grasshopper): Grasshopper — wildlife guide.

## One-line answer
Grasshoppers are plant-eating insects famous for their powerful hind legs, which let them leap many times their own body length. They live in grasslands and fields, where they feed on leaves and stems, and many produce a chirping sound by rubbing body parts together.

## Introduction
Grasshoppers are plant-eating insects famous for their powerful hind legs, which let them leap many times their own body length. They live in grasslands and fields, where they feed on leaves and stems, and many produce a chirping sound by rubbing body parts together. Most grasshoppers live for about a year or less.

## Takeaway
Grasshoppers have large, muscular hind legs that store energy like a spring, letting them launch into leaps many times their own body length.

## Takeaway
Grasshoppers are herbivores that feed on grasses, leaves, and other plants using strong chewing mouthparts.

## Takeaway
Many grasshoppers produce a chirping or buzzing sound, often by rubbing a hind leg against a wing, a behavior called stridulation.

## Powerful jumpers
Grasshoppers have large, muscular hind legs that store energy like a spring, letting them launch into leaps many times their own body length. Jumping helps them escape predators quickly, and many species can also fly to cover longer distances. The legs are the grasshopper's most distinctive feature.

## Diet and feeding
Grasshoppers are herbivores that feed on grasses, leaves, and other plants using strong chewing mouthparts. Most cause little harm, but when conditions allow certain species to gather in huge numbers as swarming locusts, they can strip crops and become serious agricultural pests.

## Sound and senses
Many grasshoppers produce a chirping or buzzing sound, often by rubbing a hind leg against a wing, a behavior called stridulation. These calls are used mainly to attract mates. Grasshoppers hear through simple ear-like organs located on the body rather than the head.

## Life cycle and habitat
Grasshoppers develop through incomplete metamorphosis, hatching as small wingless nymphs that grow through several molts into winged adults. They are found in grasslands, meadows, and fields on most continents, and are an important food source for birds, reptiles, and other animals.

## WARN work
WARN does not run a dedicated grasshopper programme — this guide is part of the World Animal Rescue Network's free educational library. The grasshopper is currently widespread and not globally threatened, and this guide helps readers understand the pressures that can change that. Building public understanding of species like the grasshopper supports the broader conservation awareness that underpins WARN's partner-led rescue work across its network.

## Donation hook
If clear, science-based wildlife guides like this help you understand and value animals, please consider supporting the World Animal Rescue Network's educational and rescue work so we can keep producing them.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/grasshopper): Grasshopper — wildlife guide.

## How far can a grasshopper jump?
Grasshoppers can leap around 20 times their own body length thanks to their powerful spring-like hind legs. For a human, that would be like jumping the length of several buses.

## What do grasshoppers eat?
Grasshoppers are herbivores that feed on grasses, leaves, and stems. Most eat small amounts, but swarming species known as locusts can damage crops over wide areas.

## How do grasshoppers make sound?
Many grasshoppers chirp by rubbing a hind leg against a wing, a process called stridulation. These sounds are mainly used by males to attract mates.

## What is the difference between a grasshopper and a locust?
Locusts are certain grasshopper species that can change behavior and form massive migrating swarms when crowded. Otherwise they are closely related plant-eating insects.

## How long do grasshoppers live?
Most grasshoppers live for about a year or less. They typically hatch in spring, mature over the summer, and die as colder weather sets in.

## Do grasshoppers bite?
Grasshoppers can give a small nip if handled, but they are harmless to people. They have no venom and rely on jumping to escape rather than biting in defense.

## Where do grasshoppers live?
Grasshoppers live in Grasslands, meadows, fields, scrub. Grasshoppers are plant-eating insects famous for their powerful hind legs, which let them leap many times their own body length. They live in grasslands and fields, where they feed on leaves and stems, and many produce a chirping sound by rubbing body parts together.

## Are grasshoppers dangerous?
Grasshoppers are not generally dangerous to people. Grasshoppers are plant-eating insects famous for their powerful hind legs, which let them leap many times their own body length. They live in grasslands and fields, where they feed on leaves and stems, and many produce a chirping sound by rubbing body parts together. Give wild individuals space and do not corner or handle them.

## How big is a grasshopper?
A Grasshopper is about About 1 year or less. Grasshoppers are plant-eating insects famous for their powerful hind legs, which let them leap many times their own body length. Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN).


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/firefly): Firefly — wildlife guide.

## One-line answer
Fireflies are winged beetles of the family Lampyridae, famous for the cold, glowing light they flash to attract mates on warm summer nights. Most measure about 1 to 2.5 cm long and fly slowly over meadows, woodland edges, marshes and gardens.

## Introduction
Fireflies are winged beetles of the family Lampyridae, famous for the cold, glowing light they flash to attract mates on warm summer nights. Most measure about 1 to 2.5 cm long and fly slowly over meadows, woodland edges, marshes and gardens. Adults live only around two to four weeks, though the predatory larvae can survive a year or more before maturing. Worldwide the group is common and listed as Least Concern.

## Takeaway
Despite the name, fireflies are not flies at all but soft-bodied beetles belonging to the family Lampyridae.

## Takeaway
A firefly's light comes from a chemical reaction in special cells in its abdomen, where a compound called luciferin reacts with oxygen.

## Takeaway
The flashing has one main purpose: bringing males and females together to breed.

## Not a fly but a beetle
Despite the name, fireflies are not flies at all but soft-bodied beetles belonging to the family Lampyridae. There are around 2,000 known species spread across much of the world, most active on warm, humid evenings. Adults are generally small, at roughly 1 to 2.5 cm long, with soft wing cases that cover membranous flight wings. In some species the females are wingless and stay on the ground, and these are often called glow-worms.

## How and why they glow
A firefly's light comes from a chemical reaction in special cells in its abdomen, where a compound called luciferin reacts with oxygen. This is 'cold light', producing almost no heat and making it one of the most efficient forms of light in nature. The insect can switch its glow on and off and control the rhythm of its flashes. Even the eggs and larvae of many species glow faintly, which is thought to warn predators that they taste unpleasant.

## Flash signals and finding a mate
The flashing has one main purpose: bringing males and females together to breed. Each species uses its own pattern of flashes, timed and coloured just so, allowing individuals to recognise their own kind in the dark. Typically flying males signal and waiting females answer with a matching flash. In some tropical regions huge numbers of fireflies famously synchronise their flashes, lighting up whole trees at once.

## From glowing larva to adult
Fireflies spend most of their lives as larvae rather than as the glowing adults we notice. The larvae are fierce carnivores that hunt snails, slugs and worms, often for a year or more, injecting prey with digestive fluids. After pupating, the adult emerges to live only about two to four weeks, its short life focused entirely on breeding. Many adult fireflies eat little or nothing at all, relying on the reserves built up during the larval stage.

## Habitat and where to see them
Fireflies favour damp, vegetated places such as meadows, forest edges, marshes and quiet gardens, where their larvae can find plenty of snails and slugs. They are most visible on warm, still nights in late spring and summer, usually near water or long grass. Because they need moisture and darkness, undisturbed habitat matters a great deal to them. A single warm evening in the right spot can reveal dozens flashing over a field.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/firefly): Firefly — wildlife guide.

## Status and threats
As a whole the family is common and listed as Least Concern, but many individual firefly populations are thought to be declining. Light pollution is a particular problem, because artificial glow drowns out the flashes they rely on to find mates. Loss of the damp meadows and wetlands they breed in, along with pesticide use, adds further pressure. Reducing outdoor lighting and protecting moist habitat are simple ways to help them.

## WARN work
WARN does not run a dedicated firefly programme — this guide is part of the World Animal Rescue Network's free educational library. The firefly is currently widespread and not globally threatened, and this guide helps readers understand the pressures that can change that. Building public understanding of species like the firefly supports the broader conservation awareness that underpins WARN's partner-led rescue work across its network.

## Donation hook
If clear, science-based wildlife guides like this help you understand and value animals, please consider supporting the World Animal Rescue Network's educational and rescue work so we can keep producing them.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/firefly): Firefly — wildlife guide.

## Are fireflies flies?
No. Despite the name, fireflies are beetles in the family Lampyridae, not true flies. There are around 2,000 species worldwide.

## How do fireflies glow?
Fireflies glow through a chemical reaction in their abdomen, where a substance called luciferin reacts with oxygen. This produces 'cold light' with almost no heat, making it extremely efficient.

## Why do fireflies flash?
Fireflies flash mainly to attract mates. Each species has its own flash pattern, so males and females can recognise and find one another in the dark.

## How long do fireflies live?
Adult fireflies live only about two to four weeks, during which they focus on breeding. The larvae, however, can live for a year or more before becoming adults.

## What do fireflies eat?
Firefly larvae are carnivores that hunt snails, slugs and worms. Many adult fireflies eat little or nothing, living off energy stored during the larval stage.

## Why are fireflies disappearing in some areas?
Many firefly populations are declining because of light pollution, which masks their mating flashes, along with habitat loss and pesticide use. Reducing outdoor lighting and protecting damp habitat can help them recover.

## Where do fireflies live?
Fireflies favour damp, vegetated places such as meadows, forest edges, marshes and quiet gardens, where predatory larvae can find snails, slugs and worms. They are most visible on warm, still nights in late spring and summer, usually near water or long grass. Most adults measure about 1 to 2.5 cm long. The family is listed Least Concern globally, though many local populations decline from light pollution.

## Are fireflies dangerous?
Fireflies are not dangerous to people. They are soft-bodied beetles — not flies — whose cold bioluminescent flashes attract mates on warm summer nights. Larvae inject digestive fluids into snails and slugs but adults of many species eat little or nothing. There is no sting or venom. Declining populations in some areas reflect habitat loss and artificial light drowning out mating flashes, not any hazard to humans.

## How big is a firefly?
Most fireflies measure about 1 to 2.5 cm long (0.4–1 in), with soft wing covers over membranous flight wings. There are around 2,000 known species in family Lampyridae. Their abdomen produces cold light through a luciferin reaction with almost no heat wasted. Adults live only about two to four weeks, focusing on breeding, while larvae — fierce hunters of snails and slugs — may survive a year or more before pupating.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/cockroach): Cockroach — wildlife guide.

## One-line answer
Cockroaches are flattened, fast-moving insects known for their toughness and ability to thrive in many environments. Most of the thousands of species live in the wild, but a few have become common household pests.

## Introduction
Cockroaches are flattened, fast-moving insects known for their toughness and ability to thrive in many environments. Most of the thousands of species live in the wild, but a few have become common household pests. They are omnivores that eat almost anything and can survive for weeks without food.

## Takeaway
Cockroaches have flat, flexible bodies that let them squeeze into tiny cracks, and they can move very quickly to escape danger.

## Takeaway
As omnivores, cockroaches eat almost anything organic, including plants, crumbs, grease, paper, and decaying matter.

## Takeaway
Only a small number of cockroach species are household pests, but those that are can contaminate food and trigger allergies in some people.

## Built for survival
Cockroaches have flat, flexible bodies that let them squeeze into tiny cracks, and they can move very quickly to escape danger. They are highly adaptable, tolerating a wide range of conditions and going for weeks without food. These traits have made them successful for hundreds of millions of years.

## Diet and behavior
As omnivores, cockroaches eat almost anything organic, including plants, crumbs, grease, paper, and decaying matter. Most species are active at night and prefer dark, warm, humid hiding places. They are social to a degree and often gather in groups, guided by chemical scent trails.

## Pests and ecology
Only a small number of cockroach species are household pests, but those that are can contaminate food and trigger allergies in some people. The great majority of cockroach species live outdoors in forests and other habitats, where they help recycle decaying plant material and serve as food for other animals.

## Life cycle
Cockroaches develop through incomplete metamorphosis, hatching from egg cases as small nymphs that look like wingless adults. They molt several times as they grow. Many females carry or hide a protective egg case called an ootheca, which holds multiple eggs.

## WARN work
WARN does not run a dedicated cockroach programme — this guide is part of the World Animal Rescue Network's free educational library. The cockroach is currently widespread and not globally threatened, and this guide helps readers understand the pressures that can change that. Building public understanding of species like the cockroach supports the broader conservation awareness that underpins WARN's partner-led rescue work across its network.

## Donation hook
If clear, science-based wildlife guides like this help you understand and value animals, please consider supporting the World Animal Rescue Network's educational and rescue work so we can keep producing them.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/cockroach): Cockroach — wildlife guide.

## What do cockroaches eat?
Cockroaches are omnivores that eat almost any organic material, including food crumbs, grease, plants, paper, and decaying matter. This flexible diet helps them survive in many places.

## How long can a cockroach live without food?
Cockroaches are very hardy and can survive for several weeks without food, drawing on stored energy. Access to water is generally more important to their survival than food.

## Are all cockroaches pests?
No. Only a small number of the thousands of cockroach species are household pests. Most live outdoors in forests and other habitats, where they help break down decaying material.

## How long do cockroaches live?
Depending on the species and conditions, cockroaches generally live from several months to about a year. They grow through several molts before reaching adulthood.

## Why are cockroaches so hard to get rid of?
Cockroaches are fast, reproduce quickly, hide in tiny cracks, and can survive on very little food. These traits make household infestations difficult to eliminate without thorough effort.

## Can cockroaches fly?
Some cockroach species have functional wings and can fly or glide short distances, while others have reduced wings or cannot fly at all. Most rely on running to escape danger.

## Where do cockroaches live?
Cockroaches inhabit forests, burrows and human buildings worldwide. Most of the thousands of species live in the wild, but a few have become common household pests. They tolerate a wide range of conditions and can move at about 5 km/h — very fast for their size.

## Are cockroaches dangerous?
Household pest species can contaminate food and trigger allergies in some people, but cockroaches are not aggressive toward humans. Most species live outdoors and help recycle decaying plant material. Typical length is about 1–8 cm depending on species, with a weight around 1 g.

## How big is a cockroach?
Cockroaches measure about 1–8 cm depending on the species, with a typical length of roughly 0.03 m (3 cm) and weight around 1 g. They have flat, flexible bodies that let them squeeze into tiny cracks and move quickly at about 5 km/h to escape danger.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/cricket): Cricket — wildlife guide.

## One-line answer
Crickets are jumping insects closely related to grasshoppers, best known for the chirping sound males make to attract mates. They are mostly active at night and feed on plants, fungi, and small insects.

## Introduction
Crickets are jumping insects closely related to grasshoppers, best known for the chirping sound males make to attract mates. They are mostly active at night and feed on plants, fungi, and small insects. Crickets are also widely raised as food for pets and, increasingly, for people. Most live for about a year or less.

## Takeaway
The chirping associated with crickets is made mostly by males, who rub a sharp edge on one wing against a rough surface on the other, a process called stridulation.

## Takeaway
Crickets are omnivores that eat plant matter, fungi, and small insects, scavenging a wide range of foods.

## Takeaway
Crickets are raised in large numbers as a reliable food source for pet reptiles, amphibians, and birds, and they are increasingly farmed as a protein source for human food in some regions.

## The familiar chirp
The chirping associated with crickets is made mostly by males, who rub a sharp edge on one wing against a rough surface on the other, a process called stridulation. The calls attract females and warn off rival males. Because chirping rate rises with temperature, the calls can even give a rough sense of how warm it is.

## Diet and behavior
Crickets are omnivores that eat plant matter, fungi, and small insects, scavenging a wide range of foods. They are mostly active at night, hiding by day under stones, logs, or vegetation. Like their grasshopper relatives, crickets have strong hind legs and can jump to escape danger.

## Crickets and people
Crickets are raised in large numbers as a reliable food source for pet reptiles, amphibians, and birds, and they are increasingly farmed as a protein source for human food in some regions. In several cultures their chirping is seen as a pleasant sound or even a sign of good luck.

## Life cycle and habitat
Crickets develop through incomplete metamorphosis, hatching as nymphs that resemble small wingless adults and molting as they grow. They live in grasslands, forests, gardens, and sometimes inside buildings, and are found across much of the world in warmer climates.

## WARN work
WARN does not run a dedicated cricket programme — this guide is part of the World Animal Rescue Network's free educational library. The cricket is currently widespread and not globally threatened, and this guide helps readers understand the pressures that can change that. Building public understanding of species like the cricket supports the broader conservation awareness that underpins WARN's partner-led rescue work across its network.

## Donation hook
If clear, science-based wildlife guides like this help you understand and value animals, please consider supporting the World Animal Rescue Network's educational and rescue work so we can keep producing them.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/cricket): Cricket — wildlife guide.

## Why do crickets chirp?
Male crickets chirp to attract females and to ward off other males. They make the sound by rubbing their wings together, a process called stridulation.

## What do crickets eat?
Crickets are omnivores that eat plant material, fungi, and small insects. They are scavengers that will feed on a wide variety of organic matter.

## How long do crickets live?
Most crickets live for about a year or less. They hatch as nymphs, grow through several molts, and the adults usually die off after the breeding season.

## Can you eat crickets?
Yes. Crickets are edible and are farmed as a protein source for people in some parts of the world. They are also widely raised as food for pet reptiles, amphibians, and birds.

## Do crickets bite?
Large crickets can give a small nip if handled, but they are harmless to people. They have no venom and rely on jumping to escape rather than biting in defense.

## What is the difference between a cricket and a grasshopper?
Crickets and grasshoppers are related jumping insects, but crickets usually have longer antennae, are active mainly at night, and chirp by rubbing their wings, while grasshoppers are active by day and rub a leg against a wing.

## Where do crickets live?
Crickets live in Grasslands, forests, gardens, buildings. Crickets are jumping insects closely related to grasshoppers, best known for the chirping sound males make to attract mates. They are mostly active at night and feed on plants, fungi, and small insects.

## Are crickets dangerous?
Crickets are not generally dangerous to people. Crickets are jumping insects closely related to grasshoppers, best known for the chirping sound males make to attract mates. They are mostly active at night and feed on plants, fungi, and small insects. Give wild individuals space and do not corner or handle them.

## How big is a cricket?
A Cricket is about About 1 year or less. Crickets are jumping insects closely related to grasshoppers, best known for the chirping sound males make to attract mates. They are mostly active at night and feed on plants, fungi, and small insects. Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN).


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/bumblebee): Bumblebee — wildlife guide.

## One-line answer
The buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) is a large, fuzzy, black-and-yellow bee found in meadows, gardens, and farmland. Measuring about 1.5 to 2.5 cm (0.6 to 1 in) long, it flies at up to around 24 km/h (15 mph) and feeds on nectar and pollen, making it one of the most important pollinators in temperate regions.

## Introduction
The buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) is a large, fuzzy, black-and-yellow bee found in meadows, gardens, and farmland. Measuring about 1.5 to 2.5 cm (0.6 to 1 in) long, it flies at up to around 24 km/h (15 mph) and feeds on nectar and pollen, making it one of the most important pollinators in temperate regions. Workers live only a few weeks, while a queen can live about a year. The IUCN lists the species as Least Concern.

## Takeaway
Bumblebees are round, robust bees covered in dense fuzzy hair, which gives them their soft appearance and helps them stay warm.

## Takeaway
Bumblebees are strong, agile fliers that can reach speeds of around 24 km/h (15 mph) as they move between flowers.

## Takeaway
Bumblebees feed entirely on nectar and pollen, and in gathering them they pollinate a huge range of wild plants and crops.

## Appearance and identification
Bumblebees are round, robust bees covered in dense fuzzy hair, which gives them their soft appearance and helps them stay warm. The buff-tailed bumblebee is one of the largest common species, about 1.5 to 2.5 cm (0.6 to 1 in) long, with bands of black and yellow and a pale buff-coloured tail on the queen. Their thick coat, called pile, also traps pollen as they visit flowers. Queens are noticeably larger than the workers and males of the colony.

## Flight and foraging
Bumblebees are strong, agile fliers that can reach speeds of around 24 km/h (15 mph) as they move between flowers. They can warm up their flight muscles by shivering, which lets them fly in cooler and cloudier weather than most other bees. This gives them a long working day, foraging from early morning into the evening. A single bumblebee may visit hundreds of flowers on one trip, gathering nectar and pollen to carry back to the nest.

## Pollination and diet
Bumblebees feed entirely on nectar and pollen, and in gathering them they pollinate a huge range of wild plants and crops. They are especially valuable because of "buzz pollination", in which they grip a flower and vibrate their muscles to shake loose pollen that many other insects cannot reach. This makes them key pollinators of tomatoes, blueberries, and other crops. Their work in gardens and farmland supports both wild plant communities and food production.

## Colony life
Bumblebees are social insects that live in small colonies, usually of a few dozen to a few hundred individuals, far smaller than a honeybee hive. In spring a lone queen starts a new nest, often in an old rodent burrow or a tussock of grass, and raises the first workers herself. Those workers then take over foraging and brood care while the queen concentrates on laying eggs. Later in the year the colony produces new queens and males before the old colony dies off.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/bumblebee): Bumblebee — wildlife guide.

## Life cycle and lifespan
The bumblebee colony follows a yearly rhythm. Only newly mated queens survive the winter, sheltering underground until spring, when each founds a fresh colony; a queen can live for about a year in total. Workers, by contrast, live just a few weeks during the active season. In late summer the new queens mate and go into hibernation while the rest of the colony, including the old queen and the workers, comes to an end.

## Bumblebees and people
Bumblebees are gentle and rarely sting unless their nest is threatened, and unlike honeybees a female can sting more than once. They are widely valued by gardeners and farmers, and buff-tailed bumblebees are even reared commercially to pollinate greenhouse crops. While this particular species is common and listed as Least Concern, many other bumblebees have declined, so wildflower-rich gardens and hedgerows help support them all.

## WARN work
WARN does not run a dedicated bumblebee programme — this guide is part of the World Animal Rescue Network's free educational library. The bumblebee is currently widespread and not globally threatened, and this guide helps readers understand the pressures that can change that. Building public understanding of species like the bumblebee supports the broader conservation awareness that underpins WARN's partner-led rescue work across its network.

## Donation hook
If clear, science-based wildlife guides like this help you understand and value animals, please consider supporting the World Animal Rescue Network's educational and rescue work so we can keep producing them.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/bumblebee): Bumblebee — wildlife guide.

## Do bumblebees sting?
Bumblebees can sting but are very gentle and rarely do so unless their nest is threatened. Unlike honeybees, a female bumblebee can sting more than once because her sting is not barbed.

## What do bumblebees eat?
Bumblebees feed entirely on nectar and pollen from flowers. They use nectar for energy and collect pollen as protein-rich food for the growing larvae back in the nest.

## How fast can a bumblebee fly?
Bumblebees are strong fliers that can reach speeds of around 24 km/h (15 mph). They can also warm their muscles by shivering, letting them fly in cooler weather than many other bees.

## How long do bumblebees live?
Worker bumblebees live only a few weeks during the active season, while a queen can live for about a year. Only mated queens survive the winter to start new colonies in spring.

## Why are bumblebees important pollinators?
Bumblebees pollinate many wild plants and crops, and they perform buzz pollination by vibrating flowers to release pollen other insects cannot reach. This makes them vital for crops such as tomatoes and blueberries.

## How big are bumblebee colonies?
Bumblebee colonies are small, usually a few dozen to a few hundred individuals, far smaller than a honeybee hive. A single queen founds each colony in spring and it lasts a single season.

## Where do bumblebees live?
The buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) is found in meadows, gardens, farmland and woodland edges across temperate regions. Measuring about 1.5 to 2.5 cm long, it is one of the most important pollinators in these landscapes.

## Are bumblebees dangerous?
Bumblebees are not dangerous to people under normal circumstances. They sting only when a nest is threatened, and unlike honeybees their sting is not barbed, so a female can sting more than once — though they are generally very gentle foragers.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/hornet): Asian Giant Hornet — wildlife guide.

## One-line answer
The Asian giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia) is the world's largest hornet, with queens reaching up to 5 cm long and a wingspan close to 7.5 cm. Native to the forests and low mountains of East and Southeast Asia, it is a powerful predator that hunts other insects and can fly at up to 40 km/h.

## Introduction
The Asian giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia) is the world's largest hornet, with queens reaching up to 5 cm long and a wingspan close to 7.5 cm. Native to the forests and low mountains of East and Southeast Asia, it is a powerful predator that hunts other insects and can fly at up to 40 km/h. Colonies last a single year, and despite its fearsome reputation the species is common and listed as Least Concern.

## Takeaway
The Asian giant hornet earns its name: queens can reach about 5 cm in length, with workers a little smaller at around 3.5 to 4.5 cm, and a wingspan approaching 7.5 cm.

## Takeaway
Asian giant hornets are carnivores that prey on other insects, particularly bees and wasps.

## Takeaway
Like other social wasps, the Asian giant hornet lives in an annual colony that lasts a single year.

## The world's largest hornet
The Asian giant hornet earns its name: queens can reach about 5 cm in length, with workers a little smaller at around 3.5 to 4.5 cm, and a wingspan approaching 7.5 cm. Its large orange-yellow head, dark thorax and boldly banded abdomen make it unmistakable. Powerful wings let it fly at speeds of up to 40 km/h and cover long distances in a day. This impressive size and strength make it a formidable hunter of other insects.

## Hunting and diet
Asian giant hornets are carnivores that prey on other insects, particularly bees and wasps. Adults hunt widely, using their large jaws to dismember prey, and carry protein-rich meat back to feed the colony's developing larvae. They are best known for raiding honeybee hives, where a small group of hornets can slaughter thousands of bees to seize the brood inside. In turn the adult hornets feed largely on sugary secretions produced by their own larvae.

## Colony life and life cycle
Like other social wasps, the Asian giant hornet lives in an annual colony that lasts a single year. A mated queen emerges in spring to found a nest, usually in a burrow or hollow at ground level, and raises the first workers herself. Through summer the colony grows as sterile female workers, which live only a few weeks each, expand the nest and gather food. In autumn the colony produces new queens and males; the old colony then dies, and only young mated queens survive the winter to start again.

## The sting and danger to people
The Asian giant hornet has a sting several millimetres long that can pierce ordinary clothing, delivering a potent venom. A single sting is very painful, and multiple stings can be dangerous, especially to people who are allergic. In parts of its range it is responsible for a number of deaths each year, usually where victims disturb a nest and are stung many times. That said, the hornet is not aggressive away from its nest and generally ignores people who leave it alone.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/hornet): Asian Giant Hornet — wildlife guide.

## Range and habitat
The species is native to eastern and southern Asia, from Japan and the Korean Peninsula through China to parts of Southeast Asia. It favours forests and low mountains, where it can find both prey and suitable ground sites for nesting. Nests are typically hidden underground in abandoned rodent burrows or among tree roots. The hornet is widespread across this range and is classed as Least Concern by the IUCN.

## The "murder hornet" reputation
The Asian giant hornet drew worldwide attention when a few individuals turned up in North America, earning it the sensational nickname 'murder hornet'. The alarm centres on its ability to devastate honeybee colonies, which threatens both wild pollinators and beekeeping. Interestingly, some Asian honeybees have evolved a defence, swarming over an intruding hornet and cooking it to death with their combined body heat. Efforts to detect and remove any nests outside its native range aim to protect local bees.

## WARN work
WARN does not run a dedicated asian giant hornet programme — this guide is part of the World Animal Rescue Network's free educational library. The asian giant hornet is currently widespread and not globally threatened, and this guide helps readers understand the pressures that can change that. Building public understanding of species like the asian giant hornet supports the broader conservation awareness that underpins WARN's partner-led rescue work across its network.

## Donation hook
If clear, science-based wildlife guides like this help you understand and value animals, please consider supporting the World Animal Rescue Network's educational and rescue work so we can keep producing them.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/hornet): Asian Giant Hornet — wildlife guide.

## How big is the Asian giant hornet?
It is the largest hornet in the world. Queens reach up to about 5 cm long, workers are around 3.5 to 4.5 cm, and the wingspan can approach 7.5 cm.

## What do Asian giant hornets eat?
They are carnivores that hunt other insects, especially bees and wasps. They famously raid honeybee hives to seize the brood, and adults also feed on sugary fluids produced by their own larvae.

## How dangerous is an Asian giant hornet sting?
A single sting is extremely painful and its long stinger can pierce ordinary clothing. Multiple stings can be dangerous, particularly to people with allergies, though the hornet is not aggressive when away from its nest.

## How fast can an Asian giant hornet fly?
Asian giant hornets are strong fliers and can reach speeds of up to about 40 km/h, allowing them to cover long distances while hunting.

## How long do Asian giant hornets live?
Colonies last a single year. Workers live only a few weeks each, while a queen lives about a year, founding a nest in spring and dying after new queens are produced in autumn.

## Why is it called the murder hornet?
The nickname comes from its ability to wipe out honeybee colonies, with a small group killing thousands of bees to reach the brood. It gained the name after a few appeared in North America, raising fears for local bees.

## Where do asian giant hornets live?
Asian Giant Hornets live in Forests and low mountains. The Asian giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia) is the world's largest hornet, with queens reaching up to 5 cm long and a wingspan close to 7.5 cm.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/dung-beetle): Dung Beetle — wildlife guide.

## One-line answer
Dung beetles are beetles that feed on animal droppings, and many are famous for rolling dung into balls and pushing them away to bury as food or a brood chamber. They are remarkably strong for their size and play a vital role in recycling waste, improving soil, and reducing pests.

## Introduction
Dung beetles are beetles that feed on animal droppings, and many are famous for rolling dung into balls and pushing them away to bury as food or a brood chamber. They are remarkably strong for their size and play a vital role in recycling waste, improving soil, and reducing pests. Found on every continent except Antarctica, dung beetles include species that roll, tunnel, or simply dwell in dung.

## Takeaway
Dung beetles use dung in different ways depending on the species.

## Takeaway
Dung beetles are among the strongest animals for their size.

## Takeaway
Both adults and larvae feed on dung, which provides nutrients and moisture.

## Rollers, tunnelers, and dwellers
Dung beetles use dung in different ways depending on the species. Rollers shape dung into balls and push them away to bury, tunnelers dig down beneath a dung pat to store it, and dwellers simply live within the dung itself. The rolling species are the most famous, navigating in straight lines sometimes using the sun, the moon, or even the band of the Milky Way.

## Remarkable strength
Dung beetles are among the strongest animals for their size. Some species can pull loads many hundreds of times their own body weight, the equivalent of a person hauling several loaded trucks. This strength helps them move dung balls far larger and heavier than themselves across uneven ground.

## Diet and reproduction
Both adults and larvae feed on dung, which provides nutrients and moisture. Many species form a brood ball in which the female lays an egg, so the hatching larva has a ready food supply. By burying dung, the beetles also plant it underground where it nourishes the soil.

## Ecological importance
By burying and consuming dung, dung beetles recycle nutrients, improve soil structure, and reduce the breeding grounds of pest flies and parasites that thrive in droppings. They also help disperse seeds contained in dung. These services make them valuable to farmers and to natural grassland ecosystems worldwide.

## WARN work
WARN does not run a dedicated dung beetle programme — this guide is part of the World Animal Rescue Network's free educational library. The dung beetle is currently widespread and not globally threatened, and this guide helps readers understand the pressures that can change that. Building public understanding of species like the dung beetle supports the broader conservation awareness that underpins WARN's partner-led rescue work across its network.

## Donation hook
If clear, science-based wildlife guides like this help you understand and value animals, please consider supporting the World Animal Rescue Network's educational and rescue work so we can keep producing them.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/dung-beetle): Dung Beetle — wildlife guide.

## Why do dung beetles roll dung?
Rolling species shape dung into balls and push them away to bury as a food store or as a brood chamber for their eggs. Moving the dung away reduces competition from other beetles at the original pile.

## How strong are dung beetles?
Dung beetles are among the strongest animals relative to their size, with some species able to pull many hundreds of times their own body weight. This lets them move dung balls far heavier than themselves.

## What do dung beetles eat?
Dung beetles feed on animal droppings, which provide both nutrients and moisture. Both the adults and their larvae rely on dung as their main food source.

## Are dung beetles useful?
Yes. By burying dung they recycle nutrients, improve soil, disperse seeds, and reduce pest flies and parasites. These services make them valuable to farming and natural ecosystems.

## How do dung beetles navigate?
Rolling dung beetles move in straight lines using cues such as the position of the sun or moon, and some can even orient by the band of the Milky Way. This keeps them from circling back to the dung pile.

## Where do dung beetles live?
Dung beetles are found on every continent except Antarctica, in habitats ranging from grasslands and farmland to forests and deserts. They live wherever grazing animals leave droppings to feed on.

## Are dung beetles dangerous?
Dung beetles are not dangerous to people. They have no sting or venom and do not bite humans in normal circumstances. These small beetles feed on animal droppings, recycling nutrients into the soil and reducing pest flies at dung piles. Some rolling species can pull loads many hundreds of times their own body weight. They are listed Least Concern.

## How long do dung beetles live?
Dung beetles typically live around one to three years, though this varies by species and climate. Both adults and larvae feed on dung, with many females laying an egg inside a brood ball that provides food for the hatching larva. By burying dung underground, beetles improve soil structure and disperse seeds contained in droppings — services that benefit farming and natural grassland ecosystems worldwide.

## How big is a dung beetle?
Dung beetles range from about 0.5 to 3 cm in length depending on species, with a typical length around 2.5 cm and weight near 3 g. Despite their small size, they are among the strongest animals relative to body mass, with some species moving dung balls far heavier than themselves across uneven ground. Rollers, tunnellers and dwellers use dung in different ways across grasslands, farmland, forests and deserts.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/cicada): Cicada — wildlife guide.

## One-line answer
Cicadas are large sap-feeding insects of the family Cicadidae, famous for the loud song of the males and for spending most of their lives underground. Adults are 2 to 5 cm (0.8 to 2 in) long, fly on clear membranous wings, and feed on plant sap.

## Introduction
Cicadas are large sap-feeding insects of the family Cicadidae, famous for the loud song of the males and for spending most of their lives underground. Adults are 2 to 5 cm (0.8 to 2 in) long, fly on clear membranous wings, and feed on plant sap. Nymphs live underground for years, while adults survive only a few weeks. They are found in forests and grasslands worldwide.

## Takeaway
Cicadas are stout, broad-headed insects measuring 2 to 5 cm (0.8 to 2 in) long depending on the species, with prominent bulging eyes set wide apart.

## Takeaway
Male cicadas produce one of the loudest sounds of any insect using paired ribbed membranes called tymbals on the sides of the abdomen.

## Takeaway
Cicadas spend the great majority of their lives as nymphs living underground, where they feed on sap from plant roots.

## Appearance and identification
Cicadas are stout, broad-headed insects measuring 2 to 5 cm (0.8 to 2 in) long depending on the species, with prominent bulging eyes set wide apart. They have two pairs of clear, well-veined membranous wings that are held roof-like over the body at rest. Many species are green, brown, or black, sometimes with striking red or gold eyes. Adults are strong fliers but clumsy, and are often heard long before they are seen.

## The famous song
Male cicadas produce one of the loudest sounds of any insect using paired ribbed membranes called tymbals on the sides of the abdomen. Muscles buckle these membranes rapidly in and out, and the largely hollow abdomen amplifies the clicks into a continuous, penetrating call. The song is used mainly to attract females, and different species have distinct calls so that mates find the right partner. In large choruses the combined sound can be intense enough to be uncomfortable at close range.

## Life cycle underground
Cicadas spend the great majority of their lives as nymphs living underground, where they feed on sap from plant roots. Depending on the species this stage lasts from a couple of years to many years, and some North American periodical cicadas emerge together after 13 or 17 years. When ready, the nymphs dig to the surface, climb a plant or tree, and moult into winged adults, leaving behind the familiar empty shell. The adult stage that follows lasts only a few weeks.

## Diet and feeding
Both nymphs and adults are herbivores that feed on plant sap rather than solid food. Using needle-like mouthparts, nymphs draw sap from roots underground, while adults feed on the fluids of twigs and branches. Because the sap is watery and low in nutrients, cicadas process large volumes and are not considered serious pests of crops in most cases. Their feeding and egg-laying can, however, cause minor damage to young twigs.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/cicada): Cicada — wildlife guide.

## Predators and defence
Cicadas are eaten by birds, small mammals, reptiles, and predatory insects, and they have few active defences beyond flight and camouflage. Periodical species rely on a strategy of overwhelming numbers, emerging all at once so that predators cannot possibly eat them all before they breed. A specialised wasp known as the cicada killer hunts them to provision its nest. When handled, adults may emit a sharp distress squawk and take off quickly.

## WARN work
WARN does not run a dedicated cicada programme — this guide is part of the World Animal Rescue Network's free educational library. The cicada is currently widespread and not globally threatened, and this guide helps readers understand the pressures that can change that. Building public understanding of species like the cicada supports the broader conservation awareness that underpins WARN's partner-led rescue work across its network.

## Donation hook
If clear, science-based wildlife guides like this help you understand and value animals, please consider supporting the World Animal Rescue Network's educational and rescue work so we can keep producing them.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/cicada): Cicada — wildlife guide.

## Why are cicadas so loud?
Male cicadas make sound with ribbed membranes called tymbals on the abdomen, which they buckle rapidly while the hollow abdomen amplifies the noise. The call attracts females, and large choruses rank among the loudest sounds made by any insect.

## How long do cicadas live?
Cicadas spend most of their lives as nymphs underground, which can last from a few years up to 13 or 17 years in periodical species. The winged adults that emerge live only a few weeks.

## What do cicadas eat?
Cicadas are herbivores that feed on plant sap. Nymphs draw sap from roots underground, while adults feed on the fluids of twigs and branches using needle-like mouthparts.

## Do cicadas bite or sting?
Cicadas do not bite or sting and are harmless to people. Their mouthparts are built for piercing plants to feed on sap, not for defence.

## Why do periodical cicadas emerge every 13 or 17 years?
Emerging together after 13 or 17 years floods the area with so many cicadas that predators cannot eat them all, ensuring many survive to breed. The long, prime-numbered cycles are also thought to make it harder for predators to sync with them.

## Are cicadas the same as locusts?
No. Cicadas are a separate group of sap-feeding insects and do not swarm to destroy crops. Locusts are a type of grasshopper, and the two are often confused only because of the noise and large numbers of emerging cicadas.

## Where do cicadas live?
Cicadas live in forests and grasslands worldwide. Adults are 2 to 5 cm (0.8 to 2 in) long, fly on clear membranous wings and feed on plant sap. Nymphs spend years underground on tree and shrub roots before emerging to moult into winged adults.

## Are cicadas dangerous?
No. Cicadas are harmless to people and do not bite or sting. Their mouthparts pierce plants to feed on sap. Adults survive only a few weeks above ground, and their loud male song — among the loudest of all insects — is for attracting mates, not aggression.

## How big is a cicada?
Adult cicadas measure 2 to 5 cm (0.8 to 2 in) long depending on the species, with prominent bulging eyes and two pairs of clear, well-veined wings. Typical length in this guide's summary stats is about 0.04 m (4 cm), with adults weighing around 2 g.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/housefly): Housefly — wildlife guide.

## One-line answer
The housefly (Musca domestica) is a small grey fly, about 6 to 7 mm long, found almost everywhere people live. It feeds by sponging up liquids and decaying matter, flies at up to around 8 km/h (5 mph), and completes its entire life cycle from egg to adult in a week or two.

## Introduction
The housefly (Musca domestica) is a small grey fly, about 6 to 7 mm long, found almost everywhere people live. It feeds by sponging up liquids and decaying matter, flies at up to around 8 km/h (5 mph), and completes its entire life cycle from egg to adult in a week or two. Adults live only about two to four weeks and the species is of Least Concern.

## Takeaway
A housefly measures just 6 to 7 mm and weighs a tiny fraction of a gram, yet it is one of the most agile fliers in the insect world.

## Takeaway
Houseflies cannot bite or chew because they have no jaws.

## Takeaway
Few animals breed as fast as the housefly.

## Anatomy and flight
A housefly measures just 6 to 7 mm and weighs a tiny fraction of a gram, yet it is one of the most agile fliers in the insect world. It has a single pair of working wings, while the hind pair is reduced to club-shaped halteres that act as gyroscopes and let it change direction almost instantly. In level flight it moves at up to roughly 8 km/h (5 mph), and its large compound eyes, each built from thousands of lenses, detect movement so quickly that a looming hand is spotted long before it lands. Sticky pads on its feet allow it to walk upside down across ceilings and glass.

## Feeding and mouthparts
Houseflies cannot bite or chew because they have no jaws. Instead they use a soft, sponge-like mouthpart called a proboscis to soak up liquids, and they dissolve solid food such as sugar or dried residue by dribbling saliva onto it first. Their diet is broadly omnivorous, taking in anything from spilled drinks and rotting fruit to animal waste and decaying matter. Taste receptors on their feet mean a fly effectively samples a surface the moment it touches down.

## Life cycle and reproduction
Few animals breed as fast as the housefly. A female lays batches of around 100 to 150 white eggs, often several times in her short life, in moist decaying material such as manure, compost, or rubbish. The eggs hatch within a day into pale legless larvae known as maggots, which feed and grow before pupating and emerging as winged adults. In warm conditions the whole cycle takes little more than a week, so a single pair can give rise to enormous numbers in a season.

## Where houseflies live
The housefly is one of the most widespread insects on Earth, following humans to almost every inhabited place from the tropics to cool temperate cities. It thrives around farms, kitchens, markets, and waste, wherever warmth and decaying organic matter provide food and breeding sites. It cannot survive hard winters outdoors in cold regions, but heated buildings let it persist year-round. This close association with people is why it carries the name housefly.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/housefly): Housefly — wildlife guide.

## Houseflies and human health
Because houseflies move freely between waste and food, they can carry bacteria and other pathogens on their bodies and mouthparts, and are linked to the spread of illnesses such as food poisoning and dysentery. They transfer germs by landing, walking, and regurgitating saliva onto surfaces where we eat. Good hygiene, covered food, sealed bins, and fly screens are the most effective ways to keep numbers down. Despite the risks, adult houseflies live only about two to four weeks, so populations turn over quickly.

## Role in nature
For all the nuisance they cause indoors, houseflies and their maggots are important recyclers of decaying material, helping to break down dung and dead matter and return nutrients to the soil. They are also a ready food source for birds, spiders, frogs, and countless other predators. Their rapid breeding and short generation time have made them a favourite laboratory animal for studying genetics and development. The species remains extremely common and is classed as Least Concern.

## WARN work
WARN does not run a dedicated housefly programme — this guide is part of the World Animal Rescue Network's free educational library. The housefly is currently widespread and not globally threatened, and this guide helps readers understand the pressures that can change that. Building public understanding of species like the housefly supports the broader conservation awareness that underpins WARN's partner-led rescue work across its network.

## Donation hook
If clear, science-based wildlife guides like this help you understand and value animals, please consider supporting the World Animal Rescue Network's educational and rescue work so we can keep producing them.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/housefly): Housefly — wildlife guide.

## How long does a housefly live?
An adult housefly lives only about two to four weeks. Its full life cycle from egg to adult, however, can be completed in as little as a week in warm weather, which is why the flies appear in such large numbers.

## What do houseflies eat?
Houseflies are omnivores that feed on liquids and decaying matter, including spilled food, rotting fruit, sugar, and animal waste. They cannot chew, so they use a sponge-like mouthpart to soak up liquid and dissolve solids with their saliva first.

## How fast can a housefly fly?
A housefly flies at up to around 8 km/h (5 mph). It is not fast in a straight line, but its club-shaped halteres act as balance organs that let it turn and dodge almost instantly, making it very hard to swat.

## Why are houseflies so hard to swat?
Houseflies have huge compound eyes that detect movement extremely fast and process it far quicker than we do, so an approaching hand looks slow to them. Combined with their rapid, jerky flight and quick take-off, this gives them plenty of time to escape.

## Do houseflies spread disease?
Yes. Because they move between waste and food, houseflies can carry bacteria and other pathogens on their bodies and are associated with illnesses such as food poisoning and dysentery. Covering food, sealing bins, and using fly screens greatly reduces the risk.

## How big is a housefly?
An adult housefly is small, about 6 to 7 mm long (roughly a quarter of an inch). Females tend to be slightly larger than males, and the body is grey with four dark stripes on the thorax.

## Where do houseflies live?
Houseflies live in Almost everywhere humans live. The housefly (Musca domestica) is a small grey fly, about 6 to 7 mm long, found almost everywhere people live.

## Are houseflies dangerous?
Houseflies are domesticated animals and are not dangerous to people in the wild-predator sense. The housefly (Musca domestica) is a small grey fly, about 6 to 7 mm long, found almost everywhere people live. Usual risks are husbandry and handling, not unprovoked attacks.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/flea): Flea — wildlife guide.

## One-line answer
Fleas are tiny, wingless insects that live as parasites on the bodies of mammals and birds, feeding on their blood. They are renowned for their jumping ability, able to leap many times their own body length thanks to powerful hind legs and a spring-like protein.

## Introduction
Fleas are tiny, wingless insects that live as parasites on the bodies of mammals and birds, feeding on their blood. They are renowned for their jumping ability, able to leap many times their own body length thanks to powerful hind legs and a spring-like protein. Fleas can be a nuisance to pets and people and can transmit disease, and they are found nearly worldwide.

## Takeaway
Fleas are famous for their extraordinary jumps, able to leap distances and heights many times their own body length.

## Takeaway
Fleas are external parasites that feed on the blood of mammals and birds, with each species often favoring particular hosts.

## Takeaway
A flea's life cycle moves through egg, larva, pupa, and adult, much of it taking place off the host in bedding, carpets, or nests.

## Built for jumping
Fleas are famous for their extraordinary jumps, able to leap distances and heights many times their own body length. The power comes from a rubber-like protein called resilin that stores energy and releases it like a spring. This lets a flea launch onto a passing host with explosive acceleration.

## A parasitic lifestyle
Fleas are external parasites that feed on the blood of mammals and birds, with each species often favoring particular hosts. Their bodies are flattened from side to side, helping them slip easily through fur and feathers, and backward-pointing bristles make them hard to remove. Mouthparts adapted for piercing skin let them feed on blood.

## Life cycle
A flea's life cycle moves through egg, larva, pupa, and adult, much of it taking place off the host in bedding, carpets, or nests. Eggs laid on a host often fall into the surrounding environment, where the larvae feed on debris before pupating. Adults emerge ready to jump onto a host and feed, sometimes after waiting for the right cue such as warmth or vibration.

## Fleas and disease
Beyond the irritation of their bites, fleas can transmit diseases and parasites. Historically, certain fleas spread the bacteria responsible for plague, and fleas can also carry tapeworms and other pathogens between animals. Controlling fleas on pets and in the home helps protect both animals and people.

## WARN work
WARN does not run a dedicated flea programme — this guide is part of the World Animal Rescue Network's free educational library. The flea is currently widespread and not globally threatened, and this guide helps readers understand the pressures that can change that. Building public understanding of species like the flea supports the broader conservation awareness that underpins WARN's partner-led rescue work across its network.

## Donation hook
If clear, science-based wildlife guides like this help you understand and value animals, please consider supporting the World Animal Rescue Network's educational and rescue work so we can keep producing them.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/flea): Flea — wildlife guide.

## How far can a flea jump?
Fleas can leap many times their own body length, an extraordinary feat for their size. The jump is powered by a spring-like protein called resilin that releases stored energy in an instant.

## What do fleas eat?
Fleas are parasites that feed on the blood of mammals and birds. Different species tend to favor particular hosts, such as cats, dogs, or rodents.

## How long do fleas live?
Adult fleas typically live several weeks to a few months when they have a host to feed on. Much of the life cycle, including the egg, larva, and pupa stages, takes place off the host.

## Can fleas spread disease?
Yes. Fleas can transmit diseases and parasites, and historically certain fleas spread the bacteria that cause plague. They can also carry tapeworms between animals, which is why flea control matters.

## Why are fleas so hard to get rid of?
Much of the flea population lives off the host as eggs, larvae, and pupae in bedding and carpets, so treating only the animal misses many fleas. Effective control treats both the pet and its environment.

## Do fleas have wings?
No. Fleas are wingless insects. Instead of flying they rely on their powerful hind legs to jump onto hosts and move between them.

## Where do fleas live?
Fleas live in On the bodies of host animals worldwide. Fleas are tiny, wingless insects that live as parasites on the bodies of mammals and birds, feeding on their blood.

## Are fleas dangerous?
Fleas are not generally dangerous to people. Fleas are tiny, wingless insects that live as parasites on the bodies of mammals and birds, feeding on their blood. Give wild individuals space and do not corner or handle them.

## How big is a flea?
A Flea is about Several weeks to a few months. Fleas are tiny, wingless insects that live as parasites on the bodies of mammals and birds, feeding on their blood. Conservation status: Varies by species.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/hermit-crab): Hermit Crab — wildlife guide.

## One-line answer
Hermit crabs are crustaceans that protect their soft, spiraled abdomens by living inside empty snail shells. As they grow, they leave their old shell and move into a larger one, sometimes lining up to swap shells in sequence.

## Introduction
Hermit crabs are crustaceans that protect their soft, spiraled abdomens by living inside empty snail shells. As they grow, they leave their old shell and move into a larger one, sometimes lining up to swap shells in sequence. Found on shorelines and seabeds worldwide, many species live 10 to 30 years, and they are popular, low-cost pets.

## Takeaway
Unlike true crabs, most hermit crabs have a soft, curled abdomen with no hard shell of its own.

## Takeaway
As a hermit crab grows it outgrows its shell and must find a larger one.

## Takeaway
Hermit crabs are omnivorous scavengers that feed on algae, plankton, food scraps, and dead animals, helping clean the shoreline.

## Borrowed homes
Unlike true crabs, most hermit crabs have a soft, curled abdomen with no hard shell of its own. To protect it, the crab backs into an empty snail shell and carries it everywhere, gripping the inside with specially shaped rear legs. The shell shields the crab from predators and from drying out.

## Shell swapping
As a hermit crab grows it outgrows its shell and must find a larger one. When a good empty shell appears, crabs sometimes gather and form a line by size, each moving into the next-biggest shell in a chain swap. Competition for shells can be intense where suitable shells are scarce.

## Diet and behavior
Hermit crabs are omnivorous scavengers that feed on algae, plankton, food scraps, and dead animals, helping clean the shoreline. They are mostly active at night and use their antennae and claws to find and handle food. Many species are social and gather in groups, especially around food or fresh shells.

## As a pet
Land hermit crabs are common, inexpensive pets that need humid, warm enclosures, a choice of empty shells to grow into, and both fresh and salt water. With good care they can live well over a decade, far longer than many owners expect. They are wild-caught in some regions, so responsible sourcing matters.

## WARN work
WARN does not run a dedicated hermit crab programme — this guide is part of the World Animal Rescue Network's free educational library. The hermit crab is currently widespread and not globally threatened, and this guide helps readers understand the pressures that can change that. Building public understanding of species like the hermit crab supports the broader conservation awareness that underpins WARN's partner-led rescue work across its network.

## Donation hook
If clear, science-based wildlife guides like this help you understand and value animals, please consider supporting the World Animal Rescue Network's educational and rescue work so we can keep producing them.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/hermit-crab): Hermit Crab — wildlife guide.

## Why do hermit crabs live in shells?
Most hermit crabs have a soft, vulnerable abdomen and no shell of their own, so they move into empty snail shells for protection from predators and from drying out.

## Do hermit crabs change shells?
Yes. As they grow, hermit crabs must move into larger empty shells. They sometimes gather and line up by size to swap shells in a chain, each taking the next-biggest one.

## What do hermit crabs eat?
Hermit crabs are omnivorous scavengers. They eat algae, plankton, food scraps, and dead animals, which makes them useful cleaners of the shoreline.

## Are hermit crabs good pets?
Hermit crabs can make low-cost, low-maintenance pets, but they need a warm, humid tank, spare shells to grow into, and both fresh and salt water. With proper care they can live for over a decade.

## Are hermit crabs actually crabs?
Hermit crabs are crustaceans closely related to true crabs but in a different group. Unlike true crabs, they have a soft, asymmetrical abdomen that they protect inside a borrowed shell.

## Where do hermit crabs live?
Hermit Crabs live in Shorelines, tide pools, and seabeds worldwide. Hermit crabs are crustaceans that protect their soft, spiraled abdomens by living inside empty snail shells. As they grow, they leave their old shell and move into a larger one, sometimes lining up to swap shells in sequence.

## Are hermit crabs dangerous?
Hermit Crabs are not generally dangerous to people. Hermit crabs are crustaceans that protect their soft, spiraled abdomens by living inside empty snail shells. As they grow, they leave their old shell and move into a larger one, sometimes lining up to swap shells in sequence. Give wild individuals space and do not corner or handle them.

## How long do hermit crabs live?
Hermit Crabs typically live 10–30 years (varies by species). Hermit crabs are crustaceans that protect their soft, spiraled abdomens by living inside empty snail shells. Wild and captive figures can differ; use the sources listed on the guide for the underlying studies.

## How big is a hermit crab?
A Hermit Crab is about 10–30 years (varies by species). Hermit crabs are crustaceans that protect their soft, spiraled abdomens by living inside empty snail shells. As they grow, they leave their old shell and move into a larger one, sometimes lining up to swap shells in sequence. Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN, most species).