It’s A Bug’s Life, We’re Just Living In It, with Jessica Ware

Go to https://ground.news/startalk to stay fully informed on the latest Space and Science news. Save 40% off through our link for unlimited access to the Vantage plan this month. Why are bugs so weird? Neil deGrasse Tyson and Negin Farsad sit down with entomologist, Jessica Ware, to dig into the extraordinary world of bugs, insects the size of navel oranges, how they invented flying and so much more. What actually is a bug? Learn how the way an insect eats determines whether they are a bug or not. Jessica traces insects back 400 million years to their single common ancestor. Discover how dragonflies were the original flying design for living things. Why are insects so successful on Earth? They predate dinosaurs by hundreds of millions of years, were the first animals to fly, and have had enough time to fill every ecological niche on the planet. Learn about dragonfly eyes and how their methods for mating impact their vision. What do dragonfly brains actually look like and what can they remember? Would territorial dragonflies have larger brains than non-territorial ones? Do migratory insects develop bigger brains to navigate? Is there a single common ancestor for all insects? We talk about the species unique to New York, cockroaches that only reluctantly share our spaces, and how warming weather will make our future more buggy. What would actually happen if we eliminated mosquitoes entirely? Jessica walks through why wiping out the three most dangerous species would be a net positive for humans, while the things that eat mosquitoes would largely survive. The episode closes on the alarming collapse of insect populations worldwide. We break down all the ways that humans impact insects from light pollution disrupting firefly mating, urbanization destroying habitat, and the sobering reality that all life on land came after insects and still depends on them. Plus: what did bed bugs feed on before beds existed, and just how big can an insect actually get? Thanks to our Patrons Farouk, David Arnold, Michael Gugel, Forbidjon, Lech Kaniuk, Jay C, Taylor -, Colton Harward, Patrick Duncan, Jimmy, William R. Turk IV, Melisa Benard, Bob Woitas, Louie W., Mohd Amri, Daniel Rodriguez, Michael Davison, Keith Knight, Lincoln, Trevor Forbess, Lisa Terry, Joseph Diaz, Kylrean, Steve, Steve, Lee T., Zilgaro, DJ Lenny Ducano, Jens Lundvang, Brian Moore, Richard Dressner, Cory Hartman, Joshie Versace, Leigh Miller, Tonya, aaron bremner, BeatBakker, Mark, Joe Brandt, Khalled Alves, David Eddy, Kai Shire, Ross Mackenzie, PreserveCommunity, Niko Schultz, Dave Baxter, Keith Spillane, Jessica Whitney, Brandon Doyle, Zach Free, Connie Tran, Daniel Haynes, Darryl Barotn, Aila Rousu, Joshua Dickerson, Red, XEnterprise, Ahmad Al Khalifa, Gaetan Nicodeme, and Vincent Bauer for supporting us this week. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction: Jessica Ware 04:58 - What Are Bugs? 08:35 - The OG flyers 14:46 - The Origins of Insects 20:49 - Manhat-ant & Insects in the City 28:28 - Climate Change Impacts on Insects 37:46 - Getting Rid of Mosquitos & Lantern Flies 44:54 - Lice & Bedbugs 50:51 - Smallest & Largest Bugs Get the NEW StarTalk book, 'Lost in Space: 5,000 Facts for Navigating the Universe' on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4cCD19e Check out our second channel, @StarTalkPlus Support us on Patreon:   / startalkradio   FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE to StarTalk: Twitter:   / startalkradio   Facebook:   / startalk   Instagram:   / startalk   About StarTalk: Science meets pop culture on StarTalk! Astrophysicist & Hayden Planetarium director Neil deGrasse Tyson, his comic co-hosts, guest celebrities & scientists discuss astronomy, physics, and everything else about life in the universe. Keep Looking Up! © 2026 Curved Light Productions. All rights reserved. STARTALK is a registered U.S. trademark of Curved Light Productions. Curved Light Productions also maintains rights in the A/legs design logo, STARTALK, STARTALK+, STARTALK PLUS in the U.S. and various countries throughout the world, and these and all other associated logos, marks, and trade dress are the property of Curved Light Productions. This video, including all audio, video, graphics, and accompanying materials, is the exclusive property of Curved Light Productions. No part of this video may be reproduced, distributed, publicly performed, transmitted, or used to create derivative works, in whole or in part, in any medium now known or hereafter devised, without the prior express written permission of Curved Light Productions. Unauthorized use, including reuploading, re-editing, or incorporation into third-party content, is a violation of United States and international copyright law and will be enforced. For licensing and permissions inquiries: licensing@startalkmedia.com #StarTalk #NeildeGrasseTyson