Why “Insect” is being discussed
The most recent Hacker News stories and comments contributing to this topic's mentions.
The Wolbachia bacteria already infect a majority of insect species and are widespread. They are not "mutated" in the sense that they are lab created, but occur naturally. Birds…
by shellfishgene · Oct 6, 2026
It is possible to release large numbers, this is how the older sterile insect technique works. It requires large facilities that can breed millions of insects that are then rele…
by shellfishgene · Oct 6, 2026
Nature itself ain't in no long term stasis, its just us humans projecting our wishful thinking on our environment. Planet is warming since last ice age (ie all glaciers in the A…
by kakacik · Oct 6, 2026
The pesticide levels built up in the insect predators of mosquitos (and other bugs) which tended to kill the predators and let the mosquito population explode.
by Tangurena2 · Oct 5, 2026
Most things that eat mosquitoes are actually in the business of eating any flying insect that fits in their mouth. I'd be a bit more worried about, e.g. a species being the only…
by andrewflnr · Oct 5, 2026
A conservation success story for New Zealand's heaviest insect
by saikatsg · Oct 5, 2026 · 7 points
Interest
Proportion of Hacker News items mentioning "insect" over time.
Mentions
Total number of Hacker News items mentioning "insect" over time.
Insects are invertebrates of the class Insecta. They are the largest group within the arthropod phylum. Insects have an exoskeleton, a three-part body, three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and a pair of antennae. Insects are the most diverse group of animals, with more than a million described species; they represent more than half of all animal species. Read more on Wikipedia