Journey Into the Unseen World of Insects
Insects are the planet’s most populous creatures, but often the least appreciated. Bugs That Rule the World takes viewers on a fantastic voyage of discovery, revealing that although they always seem to be buzzing around us, we hardly know our fellow Earthlings at all.
Bugs That Rule the World journeys into the world of insects to explore their beauty and diversity, as well as their ecological importance. Ecologists and enthusiasts around the globe explore the complexity of these creatures, discovering cunning adaptations, bizarre behaviors and why insects are known as “the little things that run the world.”
Captured in stunning macro cinematography, the series showcases the color, complex body plans and surprisingly charming lives of these tiny earthlings in otherworldly detail, from intricate mating rituals to staggering physical transformations straight out of science fiction. Featured insects include essential pollinators like moths, bees and butterflies that bring color to the field and food to our plates, and the crucial clean-up crews that work the land and purify the soil.
While insects have been running the world since before the time of the dinosaurs, new investigations reveal that even in some of the planet’s most remote corners, our long history of dependence on insects may now be on the verge of collapse. The four-part series reveals the unseen and rapidly changing lives of these tiny creatures as populations decline. As scientists investigate this worldwide insect “apocalypse,” they highlight the critical roles that bugs play in our continued existence on earth and the bleak picture of a future without them.
Bugs That Rule the World premieres on Wednesday, May 7, at 10pm on CET and on the PBS App. Watch a preview of the series: https://watch.cetconnect.org/video/series-preview-y92jpy/.
Learn more about the episodes and the featured insects below:
Episode One ” Insect Apocalypse”
Wednesday, May 7, at 10pm on CET
Scientists and enthusiasts investigate the global insect “apocalypse,” revealing the crucial roles bugs play on our planet and the bleak picture of the future without them.
Episode Two “Lifegivers”
Wednesday, May 14, at 10pm on CET
Dive into the colorful world of Earth’s essential pollinators – bees, moths and butterflies. Scientists and enthusiasts discuss life without these resilient creatures, whose impact goes far beyond their delicate appearance.
Episode Three “Eat or Be Eaten”
Wednesday, May 21, at 10pm on CET
Uncover the ruthless realm of some of the stealthiest insects in the animal kingdom. From praying mantises and aquatic insects to dragonflies, nature has equipped these creatures with intelligence, agility and necessary hunting skills for survival.
Episode Four “Beetle Mania”
Wednesday, May 28, at 10pm on CET
As the world’s most diverse and abundant species, the tiny yet mighty beetle plays crucial ecological roles in nearly every environment. Why are these colorful and ingenious creatures often regarded as “the most important species on the planet?”
