Target tarantula no. 4 for this trip Sri Lankan trip - the Ivory Ornamental (Poecilotheria subfusca).

"Reception also enjoyed a brilliant morning yesterday with bugsnstuff! They were so brave and enjoyed learning about the different animals."

Top camouflage on this Oriental Garden Lizard (Calotes versicolor) spotted near Yala National Park, Sri Lanka.

Years 3 and 4 had a great afternoon learning about and meeting, some interesting creatures including a tarantula, lizard, snake and even a glow in the dark scorpion!

Sri Lanka has some impressive millipedes such as this highly arboreal Spineplate millipede (Harpagophoridae) that can reach up to 25cm in length!

Target tarantula no. 3 for this trip Sri Lankan trip - the Fringed Ornamental (Poecilotheria ornata). Possibly the second largest of the genus after India's P. rufilata.

Sri Lanka's largest whip scorpion (Thelyphonus sepiaris). These non venomous arachnids defend themselves by spraying a vinegar-like, acetic acid from glands near their abdomen.

Sri Lanka. An impressive adult male Huntsman spider (Heteropoda venatoria) just chilling on our bathroom sink! Although venomous, they're not medically significant for humans so we let it stay to continue being a natural pest controller.

Our Rainforest workshop is our most popular session and is aimed at both the top end of KS1 and any year group in KS2 where teachers intend to study a specific habitat in far greater depth than is usual with our one hour workshops. To find out more, visit bugsnstuff.com

Sri Lanka. Lizards like this Otocryptis sp. can often be found sleeping at the end of thin branches at night as an anti-predator strategy. They select precarious perches that are too thin and fragile to support larger, nocturnal predators like snakes.

Sri Lanka. The Asian Common Toad (Duttaphrynus melanostictus), a species that grows to about 20 cm (8 in) long and is widely distributed in Southeast Asia.

"Today the children had a fantastic hands-on experience that sparked curiosity, encouraged respect for living things and gave the children a closer look at the amazing world of bugs and insects! Thank you so much to Guy for an unforgettable day!"

This stunning freshwater crab (Oziotelphusa hippocastanum) is endemic to Sri Lanka and southern India, living in lowland forests and swamps, and faces threats from habitat loss, leading to its endangered status in Sri Lanka.

"Elephant Road" in Sri Lanka, is famous for encounters with wild elephants that block the road, creating a unique travel experience and potential danger, highlighting the need for caution, distance, and no feeding, as these animals are wild despite their habituation to vehicles.

Our top nine images of 2025 over on our Instagram page! Although most are arachnids, not surprisingly, the Giant chameleon wins! www.instagram.com/bugsnstuff/

Target tarantula no. 2 for the Sri Lanka trip and one we relocated from a local residents kitchen! - the Ghost Ornamental (Poecilotheria vittata).

Sri Lanka. A decent sized forest scorpion (Srilankametrus sp.) that ran across our accommodations outdoor restaurant area after being flushed out by heavy rains.

Sri Lanka. A stunning Lanternfly (Pyrops maculatus), a species of planthopper that feeds on sap.

Sri Lanka. An impressive Tailless Whip-scorpion (Phrynichus sp.). The first pair of legs of this arachnid act as sensory organs and are not used for walking but are very thin and elongated, and can extend several times the length of the body.

Sri Lanka. The Sandalwood defoliator (Amata passalis). The average life cycle of the species is 62 days and they can have up to 11 generations per year! A great example of Batesian mimicry, deterring predators by resembling a stinging insect.

Documentary release day! The new lovetarantulas.com documentary TARANTULAS of COSTA RICA is now available! Filmed throughout Costa Rica, this 4 hour tarantula documentary is our most ambitious film project to date and features 13 different tarantula spider species.

The highly camouflaged Kelaart's dwarf toad (Adenomus kelaartii) is endemic to Sri Lanka and the IUCN has assessed it as being a "vulnerable" due to habitat loss.

Target tarantula no. 1 for this trip - the Sri Lankan Ornamental (Poecilotheria fasciata). Our research shows that these spiders are highly nomadic, only settling for longer periods during a moult or egg sac production.

A stunning Hump-nosed pit viper (Hypnale hypnale) found at our feet on a night walk. This species is one of the six venomous snakes in Sri Lanka and if not treated within a few hours, bites can potentially be fatal for human beings. Nice.

We're pleased to report we're back from this years field trip to Sri Lanka. We were caught up in the recent cyclone but thankfully returned home safely. Our thoughts are with the beautiful people of Sri Lanka as they cope with the worst flooding in decades.

"Year 2 have enjoyed an exciting morning meeting lots of amazing animals and learning some interesting science facts with Guy from bugsnstuff!"

Another very busy day t M The Galleries Washington for Halloween! Did you #bravethecage ? #bugsnstuff #researchedinthewild #bringlessonsalive #insectsineducation

"Year 2 have enjoyed an exciting morning meeting lots of amazing animals and learning some interesting science facts!"

How did that happen?! Yes, we're celebrating our 14th birthday here at bugsnstuff HQ! Thanks to all our supporters, followers and friends - we wouldn't be here without you!

"What a great Glowsticks Project session we had with bugsnstuff! Guy brought in a wonderful selection of bugs and reptiles for our young people to take a look at and handle. They could also take a look at a scorpion! Take a look at the photos and see how much fun everybody had!!"

It took some effort to find this Thai Bamboo spider (Taksinus bambus) during the Thailand field trip. As it's name suggests, this small tarantula species lives in bamboo and was only described in 2022.

The Pale Tussock (Calliteara pudibunda) caterpillar is one of the UK's most amazing. Their dense hairs serve as a physical defence, making them difficult to penetrate for predators like birds and parasitoid wasps. The hairs can also cause skin irritation in humans if touched.

"bugsnstuff have opened the children’s eyes here in Year 4! They have seen and heard about many of the animals that live in the rainforest!"

Mexico. Harvestmen (Opiliones) often roost communally during the day for protection, making them appear larger. These ones will return to the same spots using a chemical cues to attract other individuals.

Suriname. I giant toad with a giant tick! The Marine toad (Rhinella marina) is one of the largest on the planet reaching up to 38cm in length. Ticks are external parasites that feed on the blood of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians.

Did you know that being invertebrates, spiders can regenerate missing limbs? One of our re-homed Red knee tarantulas (Brachypelma hamorii) came to us with her right back leg missing but since moulting, it has been partially regrown. One more moult should see this leg back to its normal size again.

Communal caterpillars cover a tree in Thailand.

Target tarantula number six for the Thailand trip - the Electric blue (Chilobrachys natanicharum). They are usually found in burrows but can also be somewhat arboreal like other members of the genus.

"On Thursday, Guy from bugsnstuff brought a selection of creatures for the children to look at. A stick insect called Twiggy, a millipede with 250 legs and a black scorpion that shone blue in UV light! Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the session and learnt lots of amazing facts!"

The stunning Salem Ornamental tarantula (Poecilotheria formosa) filmed during our Indian field trip. To watch the full documentary of this trip, visit lovetarantulas.com

New field trip film up on our YouTube channel! Join us as we return to Tanzania to find a baboon spider that we failed to find last time - the Tanzanian black and olive baboon spider - Encyocratella olivacea. We also found Pterinochilus murinus!

#Tanzania Field trip flashback! An amazing encounter with mainland Africa's largest species - the Giant Meller's #chameleon (Trioceros melleri)! Males typically reach 61cm in length, but exceptionally large specimens have reputedly reached over 76 cm in length and have weighed 600g!

An impressive adult Black slug (Arion ater) spotted recently at Galloway Forest Park Scotland!

#Thailand The Empress cicada (Megapomponia imperatoria) is one of the loudest insects on earth using specialized structures called tymbals on their abdomens.

Bugvan level up!

"Year 1 had an absolutely brilliant time during their visit from bugsnstuff! Guy, our expert bug guide, taught us so many fascinating facts about all kinds of minibeasts. We learned about their habitats, what they eat, and some surprising secrets about their tiny lives!"

Costa Rica. Eurycotis spp. cockroaches often have the capability to secrete an unpleasant smell when threatened. Both sexes have a large gland in the rear part of the abdomen capable of secreting a milky, acidic fluid as either an oozing liquid, or up to a three-foot spray. Nice!

A roosting Brazilian Skipper (Calpodes ethlius), a widespread species whose caterpillars usually spend the day in rolled leaves and emerge after dark to eat.

We're raising a few Peacock butterfly (Aglais io) caterpillars here at bugsnstuff HQ. At this size, it won't be long before they start to pupate and emerge as adults in the coming weeks, ready for release.

Amazing patterns on this Gulf Coast toad (Incilius valliceps) photographed on a night walk through the forest in Costa Rica.