11. It’s babies develop inside WHERE?!?! (Vatican City)

Thank you so much for being here!!!For this episode, we’re heading to Vatican City to learn about two fascinating creeping things: Anagyrus vladimiri, a tiny parasitoid wasp that helps control mealybugs, & Myrmecina graminicola, a small, secretive ant species found in Italy and other parts of Europe.We’ll talk about how these tiny insects live, their unusual behaviors, and the important roles they play in their ecosystems. From a wasp that develops inside another insect to an ant that can curl into a ball when threatened, these little creatures gave us plenty to talk about!Want to actually see the animals we’re talking about?Follow us on Instagram or Facebook for photos, videos, and more from each episode!IG: @creepingthingspodcastThanks for creeping along with us!

Thank you so much for being here!This week on Creeping Things, we’re virtually traveling to Qatar to meet two fascinating animals!First up is the citrus swallowtail (Papilio demodocus), a beautiful butterfly with striking black and yellow wings and a fascinating life cycle. We’ll learn about its remarkable transformation from caterpillar to butterfly, its relationship with citrus plants, its defense mechanisms, and some of the surprising characteristics that make this species so interesting.Then we meet the eastern sandfish (Scincus mitranus), a desert-dwelling lizard with the incredible ability to swim through sand! We explore its unusual body shape, specialized adaptations, diet, and how it manages to survive in the harsh desert environment.Come virtually explore Qatar with us and learn more about these two incredible animals!🇶🇦 🦎 🦋Want to actually see the animals we’re talking about?Follow us on Instagram for photos, videos, and more from each episode!IG: @creepingthingspodcastThanks for creeping along with us!

Thank you so much for being here!This week on Creeping Things, we’re virtually traveling to Russia to meet two fascinating snakes!First up is the common European adder (Vipera berus), a venomous snake with an incredible ability to survive in some of the coldest environments inhabited by reptiles. We explore its enormous geographical range, unique adaptations, diet, venom, and fascinating connections to European folklore and language. We’ll also learn what makes this snake so different from many other vipers.Then we meet the Russian rat snake (Elaphe schrenckii), a beautiful, nonvenomous snake known for its striking coloration and impressive climbing abilities. We’ll explore its natural habitat, diet, behavior, and some of the characteristics that make this species so interesting.Come virtually explore Russia with us and learn more about two remarkable reptiles!Want to actually see the animals we’re talking about?Follow us on Instagram for photos, videos, and more from each episode!IG: @creepingthingspodcastThanks for creeping along with us!

Thank you so much for being here!!!For this special episode, we’re staying close to home and exploring two incredible creeping things found right here in Mariposa County, California: Hydromantes brunus, better known as the Limestone Salamander, & Sceloporus occidentalis, better known as the Western Fence Lizard!We’ll dig into what makes each of these animals so unique, from the limestone salamander’s incredible ability to curl up and roll down steep slopes to escape danger, to the western fence lizard’s beautiful blue coloring, adorable push-ups, and surprising connection to Lyme disease research. We’ll also explore where they live, what they eat, and some of the fascinating adaptations that help them survive.Although these two animals share the same county, their lives couldn’t be more different! One is a secretive salamander found only in a small region of Mariposa County, while the other is a familiar sight throughout much of the western United States. We’ll talk about their conservation status, the threats they face, and why protecting our local wildlife and their natural habitats is so important.We’ll also share a personal story about rescuing western fence lizards from a trash can on our property, including one very special little lizard named Rango, and our efforts to get him the care he needs.Sometimes we don’t have to travel across the world to discover extraordinary animals. They’re living right in our own backyards!Want to actually see the animals we’re talking about?Follow us on Instagram for photos, videos, and more from each episode!IG: @creepingthingspodcastThanks for creeping along with us!

Thank you so much for being here!!!For this episode, we’re heading to Mexico to learn about two incredible creeping things: Phrynosoma orbiculare, better known as the Mexican Plateau Horned Lizard, & Ambystoma mexicanum, better known as the Axolotl.We’ll dig into what makes each of these animals so unique, from the horned lizard’s incredible defenses and unusual appearance to the axolotl’s amazing ability to regenerate lost limbs and even parts of its organs. We’ll also explore where they live, what they eat, and some of the fascinating adaptations that help them survive.Although these two animals couldn’t look more different, they have something important in common. Both are native to Mexico and face conservation challenges in the wild. We’ll talk about the threats they face, why protecting their natural habitats is so important, and what makes these animals worth fighting for.Want to actually see the animals we’re talking about?Follow us on Instagram for photos, videos, and more from each episode!IG: @creepingthingspodcastThanks for creeping along with us!

Thank you so much for being here! Episode 6: Italy | Walser’s Viper & Tarantula Wolf SpiderThis week on Creeping Things, we’re virtually traveling to Italy and Italy gave us two especially fascinating animals.First up is the Walser’s viper (Vipera walser), a little-known venomous snake found in an incredibly small area of the Italian Alps. We get into its tiny range, unusual evolutionary history, habitat, venom, and why there’s still so much we don’t know about this rare European viper.Then we meet the tarantula wolf spider (Lycosa tarantula), the spider behind one of the most confusing names in the animal world. Despite its name, it isn’t actually a tarantula! We explore this large Italian wolf spider and the fascinating history connecting it to tarantism and the tarantella dance.Two very different creeping things, one incredible country. 🇮🇹🐍🕷️Come virtually travel Italy with us and meet two animals you may never have known existed.Want to actually see the animals we’re talking about?Follow us on Instagram for photos, videos, and more from each episode!IG: @creepingthingspodcastThanks for creeping along with us!

Thank you so much for being here!!!For this episode, we’re heading to Brazil to learn about two incredible creeping things: Phoneutria nigriventer, better known as the Brazilian Wandering Spider, & Bothrops insularis, better known as the Golden Lancehead.We’ll dig into what makes each of these animals so unique, how their venom works, where they live, and why both have earned such intimidating reputations. We’ll also separate some of the myths from the facts, including just how dangerous they actually are to humans.One roams the forests and sometimes turns up surprisingly close to people. The other lives naturally on just one tiny island off the coast of Brazil.Want to actually see the animals we’re talking about?Follow us on Instagram for photos, videos, and more from each episode!IG: @creepingthingspodcastThanks for creeping along with us!

Thank you so much for being here!!!For this episode, we’re heading to Egypt to learn about two incredible creeping things: Uromastyx aegyptia, better known as the Egyptian Uromastyx, & Pseudotrapelus sinaitus, better known as the Sinai Agama.We’ll dig into what makes each of these desert lizards so unique, how they survive Egypt’s extreme heat and dry conditions, and some of the adaptations that make life in such a harsh environment possible. We’ll also talk about the very different ways these two reptiles use color, behavior, and their surroundings to survive.These are two animals that gave us SO much to talk about, and we learned some seriously fascinating things while researching them.Want to actually see the animals we’re talking about?Follow us on Instagram for photos, videos, and more from each episode!IG: @creepingthingspodcastThanks for creeping along with us!

Thank you so much for being here!!! Please excuse the few minor audio issues we had during this episode with the dog panting and the wind. We WILL get better at this in time. :)For this episode, we’re heading to Norway to learn about two incredible creeping things: the Apollo butterfly, specifically the Jotunheimen mountain form, & Triturus cristatus, better known as the Great Crested Newt.One lives high in Norway’s mountains, where something as delicate looking as a butterfly has to survive some seriously harsh conditions. The other spends part of its life underwater & the males look a little bit like a tiny dragon.These are two animals we knew very little about before this episode, which made researching them even more fun.Want to actually see the animals we’re talking about?Follow us on Instagram for photos, videos, and more from each episode!IG: @creepingthingspodcastThanks for creeping along with us!

Thank you so much for being here!!!For this episode, we’re heading to Zimbabwe to learn about two incredible creeping things: Platycypha inyangae, also known as the Inyanga Jewel, & Dispholidus typus, better known as the Boomslang snake.We’ll dig into what makes each of these animals unique, where they live, how they survive in their very different environments, and some of the things that surprised us most while researching them.Want to actually see the animals we’re talking about?Follow us on Instagram for photos, videos, and more from each episode!IG: @creepingthingspodcastThanks for creeping along with us!