The Brazilian treehopper is one strange-looking bug with antenna-like spiky balls on its head—but don’t squish it! Scientists believe those odd spikes might help it scare off predators or even detect its surroundings, making it a fascinating creature to study. There are plenty of other bugs you shouldn’t touch either, like assassin bugs, which can carry diseases, or brightly colored caterpillars, some of which can sting with venomous hairs. Even harmless-looking ladybugs can release a stinky liquid when threatened. Bugs often have unique roles in ecosystems, like pollinating plants or controlling pests, so it’s best to leave them be. Instead of squishing, let these little critters go about their weird and wonderful lives! 🐛🕷️ Credit: Southernms / Reddit ricoimf / Reddit CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0: model of a Ball-bearing Treehopper: By Anagoria, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=25061586 Naturkundemuseum Berlin bocydium globulare: By Anagoria, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=25061586 CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0: Drosera Tentacles: By incidencematrix – https://flic.kr/p/jHonkM, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=64108097 Drosera Tentacles 2: By incidencematrix – https://flic.kr/p/jHqx2f, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=64108104 Velella velella: By Tim Buss – https://flic.kr/p/oPjYRt, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=130536252 CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/: Bocydium globulare: By Giancarlo Dessì, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bocydium_globulare.xcf Crinoid on the reef: By Alexander Vasenin, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=24925765 CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0: Museu Nacional: By Takemasa nakamura, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=78538815 Barbed wire siphonophore: By Peter Southwood, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=105987369 Eptatretus hexatrema: By Peter Southwood – https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/15727711, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=119933124 Eptatretus hexatrema 2: By Peter Southwood – https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/15727732, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=119933217 Nyctibius grandis: By Allissondias, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=69508043 CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0: Globe-bearing Treehopper: By Pavel Kirillov – https://flic.kr/p/ogxfLT, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=46852024 Bocydium globulare: By Pavel Kirillov – https://flic.kr/p/oxZoPy, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=46852023 Siphonophore: By Bernard DUPONT – https://flic.kr/p/dVA1Uq, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=40734741 Sixgill Hagfish: By Bernard DUPONT, https://flic.kr/p/2ogzGhq CC BY-SA 2.5 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5: Hagfish Slime Predator Deterrence: By Vincent Zintzen, Clive D. Roberts, Marti J. Anderson, Andrew L. Stewart, Carl D. Struthers & Euan S. Harvey, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=29715886 Animation is created by Bright Side. #brightside —————————————————————————————- Music from TheSoul Sound: https://thesoul-sound.com/ Listen to Bright Side on: Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/0hUkPxD34jRLrMrJux4VxV Apple Podcast – https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/idhttps-podcasts-apple-com-podcast-bright-side/id1554898078 —————————————————————————————- Our Social Media: Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/brightside/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/brightside.official/ Tik Tok – https://www.tiktok.com/@brightside.official?lang=en Snapchat – https://www.snapchat.com/p/c6a1e38a-bff1-4a40-9731-2c8234ccb19f/1866144599336960 Stock materials (photos, footages and other): https://www.depositphotos.com https://www.shutterstock.com https://www.eastnews.ru —————————————————————————————- For more videos and articles visit: http://www.brightside.me

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